GREAT NEWS – I’ve finally figured out what my professional goal is!

After months of agonizing over a career growth plan at work, it finally came to me: one day, I want to look at what I’m doing and say with confidence that I’m not doing it for the money. And I don’t mean taking a lousy salary for the sake of upward mobility – I mean doing something really great with my life that is truly fulfilling.

I know…it’s a tall order, but a guy can dream right?

But who says we should save all our good intentions for dreams?

After I came up with my oh-so noble goal, I decided to not just leave it at that. Instead, I asked myself what I would do if I didn’t have to work for the money? The answer was clear…and also entirely unrealistic.

To be honest, I would buy a big chunk of land and tend to a literal herd of puppies. From mini dachshunds like my own to Great Danes, I would love them all and gladly accept a salary of kisses and tail wags. Sure, it’s not particularly groundbreaking, world changing, or peace prize winning but it started to give me ideas…

Next thing I knew, I was on the phone with animal shelters and roping delightfully patient bloggers into helping me pull together an online fundraiser to help vulnerable and abandoned animals around the world.

Donate4Dachshunds was born – and in the few days since it was launched, we’ve already raised hundreds of dollars for animal shelters across Canada, the United States, and South Africa.

Sure, it’s not quite the unadulterated doggy cuddling I had envisioned, but I have to admit, giving a fighting chance to forgotten animals gives me the same warm and fuzzy feeling without the risk of being trampled to death.
There’s definitely something to be said for following your passion and there’s absolutely nothing keeping you from starting TODAY. Nobody’s saying you have to sprint for the philanthropist finish line right off the bat – we all need to make ends meet – but even baby steps will bring you closer to making a difference and feeling good about the legacy you’re leaving as you move forward.

Now if you don’t mind, I’ve got a fundraiser to rock but while I’m off fighting the good fight, tell me…what would you do if you didn’t have to work for money?

Donate4Dachshunds is a month-long online fundraiser for ten animal shelter organizations across Canada, the United States and South Africa. Skipping your Starbucks run and donating your coffee change could provide an abandoned puppy with a warm blanket while he receives medical attention and waits for a stable home.
You can donate and check out the many ways you can help spread the word on Who’s Your Dachshund.  Just a few clicks can make miracles happen…

Ben Boudreau is an east coast Canadian working in advertising and exploring his passions online – but not in a creepy, members-only websites kind of way. Now, Ben has set his sights on using his personal blog, No Ordinary Rollercoaster, and his communal dog blog, Who’s Your Dachshund, for good, not evil. Or at the very least striking a balance between the two…