Friday, February 8, 2013

A fulfilling job AND a fulfilling life

It always seems easier to give advice to someone who knows what they want. You can be specific about your search and how you sell yourself to potential employers. What if you still haven't figured out what you want to do with your life?

I have been taking some time to really dig down on this issue. There seems to be a constant battle between finding fulfillment in a job and then just having a job to provide the lifestyle that you want. I still want both and I don't think that is too much to ask for.

Next steps....after talking to some good friends about this, I am working to better understand my strengths. No matter how much you tell yourself that you can do anything, it doesn't seem to change the fact that doing something you are good at is a much more rewarding experience. So I have been reaching out to former colleague, clients, and friends to ask for their honest opinion on this area. The results have been fantastic. Remember that your view of yourself is only one side of the story and the effect you have on other people could be eye opening for you.

If you are debating with similar issues regarding the next steps in your career or your life, don't be afraid to reach out for help. People, in general, like to help others and if you can make them part of your exciting journey of self discovery, they may provide more help than you ever imaged.

Recommendations:
Try the Myers-Briggs test. You should be able to find this online for free if you have not taken it before. It's a great first step to understanding yourself and your strengths and weaknesses.

Email former colleagues whom you trust. Ask for honesty when they provide feedback, if they are not comfortable with it, don't push. It is more important to get the truth. If they tell you what they think you want to hear, its may be a nice ego boost, but not going to help you get where you need to do.

Let me know if you have other ideas you want to share from your journey!

No comments:

Post a Comment