Meet one of the happiest employees in the world

Haven’t we all dreamed about quitting our day job to pursue the dream? You know, the dream — the one where you envision writing a book dans un pied-à-terre in Paris?

But Oshawa’s Greg Snell is one Canadian en route to making that happen. The 27-year-old tourism operator — currently working as an adventure tour leader in South America, which some would already define as the dream — is the only Canadian in the final round of Tourism Australia’s Best Jobs in the World contest (the winning prize is a job as South Australia’s Wildlife Caretaker).

Here, Snell shares with us his thoughts on pursuing the dream job in search of the ultimate happiness.

Q: You mentioned that “Being content is the pathway to happiness and I have a plan.” Can you elaborate? A: I believe in a philosophy and a ‘live life’ way that takes full advantage of every moment. I’m a traveller who lives for the moment, dreams of the future and relishes the experience. The greatest parts of life are the people you meet, the places you see and the friendships you create. The world is in constant motion, and I will never get caught standing still.

I was raised to take full advantage of every opportunity that crosses my path. I love life and live in a way that embraces patience, compromise and acceptance of another’s culture, habits, needs and addictions. I am content, and with this contentment comes unaltered happiness. The trick is to continue pushing the boundaries and opening new doors to new engaging experiences.

Q: How are you balancing the reality of the job you currently have and quitting it to go after a dream job? A: That’s been a small battle for me and I’m happy to say I’ve found a great solution. I work on set contracts and have just finished one, coinciding perfectly with the opportunity of obtaining one of the ‘Best Jobs in the World’ in Australia. I’ve got a great relationship with my current employer and they have assured me that if I wish to return in the future, and there is the availability, I’ll have my current job back.

In the meantime, I currently find my happiness in the contest and with my life here in South America. I am staying two blocks from Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for two weeks before flying to Australia. I’m incredibly excited and happiness comes easily to me right now. The trick is to keep this feeling going.

Q: So to you, what’s the connection between happiness and a dream job? A: The majority of us spend 80 percent of our lives working to provide for ourselves and our loved ones. If you can truly say you love your job -- and I bet most people can’t -- then happiness should come naturally. If you feel stifled or unchallenged or never look forward to going to work, maybe it’s time to think about a change. This is a big decision though and incredibly daunting. However happiness is worth the risk.

Q: What advice do you have for our readers on going after their dream job? A: The world is filled with possibility. We need only to open our eyes and see it. Think about your passions, your hobbies. Is there a sector of the market that employs people within what you would consider your dream job? I look at opportunities like these rationally. [Say], 'OK, this is a job, this is what I have to do to get it', sort some sort of a timeline and begin!

Want to follow Snell's adventures? Find him on Twitter, Facebook or Vimeo.

Tell us in the comment section below: What is your idea of the dream job?