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Executives Reveal 'Dream Jobs' in BusinessWeek Survey
NEW YORK -- A survey conducted by BusinessWeek Research Services found that 72% of 500 senior-level business executives said their current position is not their "dream job," and many named creative professions when asked their fantasy careers.Those surveyed included chief executive officers, presidents, controllers, department managers and consultants. While many have reached the top positions in their fields, they still dream of other careers.The responses were part of a larger survey addressing innovation in business and leadership in celebration of BusinessWeek's 75th anniversary.When asked what they considered to be a "dream job," nearly one-third responded "entertainment/events producer," followed by wine maker or brewmaster (30%) and chef or restaurateur (24%). A career as a pilot or a golf pro appealed equally to more than 1 in 5 survey respondents (22%), while a vocation in fashion design was the least popular (8%).Among the notable individual responses to the "dream job" were professional athlete, rock star, neurosurgeon and bed-and breakfast inn owner/operator.Asked to describe their current position, 45% called it "challenging" while 34% described it as "demanding" and 31% as "frustrating." Only 14% called their jobs "innovative."With the presidential campaign heating up, respondents were asked which business leader would get their vote during a hypothetical run for the nation's top job. Executives who participated said they would most likely elect Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffet (60%), Jack Welch (former General Electric CEO) (42%) or IBM's Lou Gerstner (32%).If the tables were turned, a remarkable 61% said former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani would make the most effective business executive, followed by Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan (53%) and former President Bill Clinton (34%). Only 15% said George W. Bush would be a top business executive, while 8% named John Kerry.Visit www.businessweek.com"