Which Type of Work Feels Right for You?
Imagine there are four objects on a table, each representing a different type of work. There’s actually a psychological test that can predict what sort of work you would prefer.
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Imagine there are four objects on a table, each representing a different type of work. There’s actually a psychological test that can predict what sort of work you would prefer.
I was on a walk in the mountains with some guys the other day and somebody said, referring to their existing career, “There has to be more to life than this.”
He was referring to having a mortgage to pay, family commitments, and how he’s providing for his family, but shoveling away doing something he doesn’t really like. It pays well, so he just needs to keep his head down.
Like many people who head for this mirage on the horizon, it’s like, “I just need to get to X. I just need to get the mortgage paid or reach retirement or whatever magical solution will be in the future. Then there’ll be an escape route.”
And I recognize this — there must be more to life than this — because I’ve felt it myself. This quiet despair. This dread.
It’s not ever-present. It’s something that pops up on a Sunday afternoon.
I’d like to share with you a decision-making technique. In this context, I’m focusing on careers and how to find more fulfilling work or align with your purpose. But this method can be used for many areas of life.
If your career feels off or you’re feeling restless, this technique can be surprisingly powerful in helping you find clarity.
It’s simple: ask yourself, where’s my energy at?
This is common advice given to people from friends or colleagues because they want somebody to find something they love or their passion, right?
But I suggest that that’s actually a really bad idea and can actually be counterproductive to your career.
In this article, I’ll describe what to do instead.
The official-looking letter from the taxman looks formal, black-and-white, and decisive. That’s how many people think their career decision is going to arrive: like ding! — here it is, in writing.
You’re going to be an astronaut. You start Monday. You’ll earn twice the salary, and you only have to work a four-day week.
People expect that level of perfect clarity just to turn up. And in the absence of it, they do nothing.
But the reality? It doesn’t show up like that.