“I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up?”
Have you ever heard anyone say this before? Have you said it yourself? Me too.
However, I’m having a bit of an epiphany lately. With all the various things I’ve been doing to lower my stress level and calm my thoughts, I’m getting a clearer and clearer picture of what I really want out of life.
So if you really don’t like your job but feel trapped, I hear you and I understand.
But, here is a little tough love for you – stop dicking around!!
Stop blaming your circumstances and start putting effort into getting out of your situation and taking control.
Life is super short! So I’ve put together a list of questions to ask yourself to get a clearer picture of where your passion lies.
Take this seriously!! Grab a pen and paper and think through each question. Then write down the answer.
Take your time, figure it out! I want you to be deliriously happy with your work, because we spend a ridiculous amount of our lives devoted to it.
Here we go, answer these questions:
- Choose a friend to change jobs with, who is it and why?
- What occupation have you always wondered what it would be like to have?
- If you had the right education or skill set, what job would you try?
- If you could go back to school, what would you major in?
- What do your co-workers or friends say you are really good at? (If you don’t know, ask them!)
- What task do you love doing at your current job?
- If your boss would let you, what would you like to do more of at your job?
- How long of a commute are you willing to have?
- What do you like to work with? (Ex: numbers, people, data, abstract ideas, animals, equipment)
- What kind of books do you have on your shelves?
- What type of events do you go to for fun?
- Do you prefer to be indoors or outdoors?
- What do you value? (Ex: if it’s money – then you need a job that pays well, if it’s helping other people – then you need a job that benefits other humans in some way, if it’s fun/spontaneity – then you don’t want a desk job)
- Do you prefer to work independently or collaborate with others?
- Do you enjoy supervising other people?
- Are you extroverted or introverted?
- Are you cooperative or competitive?
- Are you a big picture person (visionary, likes to think long term, come up with ideas) or are you a tasker (more concerned with the process of getting it done)?
- Are you creative?
- What hard skills do you already possess? (Ex: programming skills, know another language, fluent in software programs, trade skills)
- What soft skills do you already possess? (Ex: team player, people skills, time management)
- What did you want to be when you were younger? What games did you play when you were a kid? What activities did you enjoy?
- Where do you want to live? (Ex: urban, rural, by the water)
- Do you want to travel and how much?
- Do you have aspirations of working your way up through a company or happy staying in the same position?
- What are some things you would like to avoid in a job? (Ex: long commute, fast pace, no room for growth)
- What motivates you when working? (Ex: money only, appreciation, a job well done)
When you have finished working your way through these questions, some sort of pattern should emerge. Really focus on and analyze this pattern, and see what jobs come to mind or google what jobs are associated with what you enjoy doing.
Decide if you can apply aspects of your passion(s) to your current position to make it more satisfying or if there is something you can do on the side that would balance out your life or if you need to strike out on a whole new path.
And don’t just brush off the outcome thinking you aren’t talented enough, you don’t have the training, you don’t have the money, you don’t have the time. Fuck that!
This is important!! I do not want you to go one more day unhappy and uninspired.
Will it take time to get there? Undoubtedly. Is it scary to start something new? Yes. Is it worth it? If it’s going to make your life a lot more fulfilling, it absolutely is.
You deserve, as much as anyone else, to be happy and doing something that you love.
In Not in Love with Your Job: Make a Plan, I continue this journey by showing you how to break the dream down into steps to create a plan of action.
Because:
A dream written down with a date becomes a goal.
A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan.
A plan backed by action becomes REALITY.
Get busy!
Traci
For more information on finding your passion:
The Muse – 9 Questions That’ll Help You Find Your Dream Career
Compare Business Products – 15 Most Important Career Questions to Ask Yourself
Study.com – 10 Questions To Ask Yourself When Picking A Career
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