get a life

Fancy a change? You won't be the only one. A recent ‘ Big Life Change’ survey revealed unprecedented levels of dissatisfaction among the UK workforce and highlights a new breed of ‘life swappers’ dedicated to achieving a fulfilling life rather than just financial reward.

Following the results of a nationwide survey*, One Life Live has launched a new initiative to offer practical help and to inspire people to make a change for a more rewarding life.  ‘The Big Life Change’ campaign encourages people to change the life they are leading for the one they want.  The research shows that over half of the UK workforce believes that they chose the wrong career, nearly 70% are bored with their job, four out of five people don’t think they are living life to the full and 86% of people dream of making a change for a new life. The good news is that a fifth of those who expressed dissatisfaction with their lives are actively doing something to change it.

‘The Big Life Change’ is one way forward - an online resource, seminars and an interactive forum providing access to the UK’s leading careers and life change experts.  The campaign will culminate at the next One Life Live event (29th Feb – 2nd March, Olympia, London), the UK’s largest ever event dedicated to helping people change their lives for the better.    Relentlessly Positive has five sets of tickets to give away (see pink box fo details)

Top Alternative Career Choices

Owning a restaurant, bar, hotel or B&B
Horticulture – landscape gardening, floristry and garden design
Teaching
Traditional trades - plumbing and carpentry
Working for a charity/not-for-profit organisation
Working in alternative and compeimentary therapies 

The most dissatisfied people work in ‘professional’ careers, with those in marketing and accountancy leading the way in career disillusionment.  Women are more likely to make a swap for a new life than men – one in five unhappy women have made a major career change in the last three years versus just one in ten men. 

What are the alternatives?

The most popular changes people would like to make are: emigrating to start a new life abroad (59%), with Australia topping the list of the best places to move to; retraining for a new career (56%); going to university (22%); starting a business (68%); writing a novel (21%); taking a career break to travel or volunteer overseas (54%); and achieving a better work/life balance (88%). 

“We spend an average 100,000 hours in the workplace, plus many more hours of commuting, work planning, and worrying or complaining about work.  Work can take up 80% of our energy – so the job we choose to do is one of most important life decisions we will ever make.” says John Lees, leading UK Career Transition Coach and author of How to Get a Job You’ll Love.  “‘The Big Life Change’ initiative gives people a chance to reflect on what they want from their lives and offers the practical tools needed to help people plan for a change.”

One Life Live 2008 will bring all elements of ‘The Big Life Change’ campaign together over three days at Olympia.  With over 150 seminars, a host of clinics offering free one-to-one consultations and nearly 300 exhibitors within six zones – the event is designed to offer practical support to help visitors achieve the life change they crave.

Zones at One Life Live 2008:

1. Be Your Own Boss: support to help visitors break free, start a business and become their own boss
2. New Careers: a chance to start again and retrain for a new career
3. Travel & Career Breaks: for those looking to take a sabbatical, travel the world, become a volunteer – ideas for some rewarding time out
4. Relocate: escape the rat race and live the dream of a life by the coast, in the country or overseas.  A chance for a better quality of life
5. Life Balance: from relaxation remedies and life coaches to new hobbies, volunteering opportunities and ideas to live a more green and ethical life – its all about here and now ways to improve your life
6. How to Retire: ideas and support for those looking to start a new life at 50 plus, whether you are looking to travel, go back to college or start a business

“The idea behind ‘The Big Life Change’ initiative and the One Life Live event is to provide those seeking a change to their lives with the inspiration, practical support and advice needed to make it happen” says Helen Marriott, one of the founders of One Life Live. “Life is too short to waste time doing things that make us unhappy – easy to say, but not always easy to achieve.  If we know what our options are and have the support needed to follow through on our choices, we really can achieve the career and life changes we crave.”

Exhibitors at One Life Live 2008 vary from vary from organisations such as Raleigh International, Gap Year for Grown Ups and Career Balance to the English Gardening School, Designer Courses, Middlesex School of Complementary Medicine, the Coffee Republic franchise and Business Link.

One Life Live 2008 takes place in Grand Hall Olympia, London from 29 February – 2 March.  Tickets are priced £12 in advance and £15 on the door and include entry to all zones, seminars, advice clinics and workshops.  To order tickets and to find out more about ‘The Big Life Change’ and One Life Live 2008 visit www.onelifelive.co.uk or call 0844 8483225.