Sunny Klein Lurie loves her job – which is helping other people to love their jobs. Lurie, president of Advanced Performance, Inc., holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Systems and consults companies on improving performance and creating satisfaction, and she assists individuals seeking fulfillment in a career path. Whether working with an entire organization or a single person, she seeks to discover talents and ambitions to determine how an individual can best be utilized, bringing greater contentment to employer and employee alike.

Lurie believes that job satisfaction is a vital key to a fulfilling life. “Freud said something which has always stuck in my head – that love and work are the two main areas of life. I think that is so true. The work ‘piece’ of our lives is so important regarding how we see and value ourselves. At any time in the life cycle, having some sort of a profession – some way to use our talent – is essential.”

The underpinning in all of Lurie's work is that everyone is good at something. “Everyone has a talent,” she says. “The key is to find that talent and then help people figure out how to incorporate it into their job. It amazes me that people spend months deciding what car to buy or planning a wedding – but when it comes to their careers, many people just say, 'Well, I met this guy down the street who's going to give me a job.' I hear that and think, 'You know, this is your life!'”

Lurie explains that it may take some time to find the perfect combination of your talents, your passion and the opportunity to use these to the best advantage, but it is time well spent. “People need to ask themselves, 'What makes me feel energized? What brings me joy?' These are very important questions to answer, and while it may take awhile, everyone can answer them. The path to your most fulfilling job may not be a direct route; in fact, it usually zigzags. Be patient.”

She maintains that job satisfaction is within reach for anyone, in any job, with a little imagination. “I once worked with a student who was a bagger at a grocery store,” she says. “You wouldn't think that would be a job with a great deal of room for happiness and creativity. But he got the idea of printing out little slips of paper with a thought of the day, and putting them in people's grocery bags. Everyone loved it, and he became one of the most popular employees there. There are ways to improve any position. Whether you are a C.E.O. or a maid in a hotel, the important thing is to add some part of yourself to the job. You just have to be creative.”

According to Lurie, one of the most satisfying aspects of her work is helping mothers get back into the job market. Many mothers find themselves with a great deal of free time on their hands when their children start school or go off to college, and they have no idea how to get back into the work force; they may even be entering it for the first time. Lurie implements her tried and true plan by first discovering the woman's talents and then contacting staffing firms and companies who can best utilize that skill set. If the woman still has school-age children at home, Lurie focuses her search on companies that are flexible in their scheduling.

In spite of the reigning pessimism regarding the current job market, Lurie insists that opportunities are abundant. “Despite the current economy, I see new trends and advances everywhere. If people keep an open mind, there are so many exciting things going on. I can never understand how people can say that there's nothing out there for them. Whatever your particular talent is, be excited about it. Go out and talk about it. Opportunities will present themselves; you just have to be confident.”

Lurie's enthusiasm is contagious. By evaluating her own passions and implementing her own talents, she has developed a company that provides a great service for our community. Her goal is for everyone in the work force to join her in proclaiming, “I love my job!” and she is making this a reality one person at a time.

Sunny Klein Lurie, PhD, is the president of Advanced Performance, Inc. She can be reached at (216) 595-9698 or by e-mail at lurie@peopleperform.com. Check out her website at www.peopleperform.com.