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Want a career that feels like your calling?

By Lori, on June 24th, 2011

Mike said, “I’ve been an architect all my life, and I hate it. I went to school to be an architect; I’ve only worked jobs as an architect. I don’t know anything else. I hate it, and I don’t want to start over.”

I then asked Mike, “So what if we were to wave a magic wand, and you could start down a different path, right now, what would you do?”

Mike took a deep breath, thought for a long moment, then looked at me with a bit of sadness and worry on his face, “I have no idea. That’s one of my problems; I don’t know what I would do. And I don’t know how to figure it out.”

So what is Mike to do? Give up? Work in misery as an Architect for the rest of his career? Do what he can, and take up drinking to numb his unhappiness?

Um, no. Or should I say, NO!

A really powerful way for Mike to begin is to follow the three step process I’m going to give you. These three steps are: 1-Unearth, 2-Imagine, and 3-Create.

Today I want to talk about the first one.

Stage 1: Unearth

What do you want? What do you offer? Grab a notebook and start writing.

  • Identify your values first; what is most important to you? So many people hate their job because they are in a situation that leaves them feeling trod upon, their values compromised.

    Sarah worked for a trading firm that was very competitive. Not just with other companies, but internally. Employees competed with each other on projects all the time. The best individuals were acknowledged and rewarded. The people who thrived there loved to compete with others, they enjoyed the rivalry. For most of them, it was like a game. But not for Sarah. Sarah on the other hand valued collaboration. She wanted to work together toward a common goal. She hated competition. In fact, she withered in a competitive environment. Once she recognized this, she also realized that in the right organization, her collaborative skills would be a real asset. So when she changed jobs, she made sure to look for a collaborative organization.

    It is important to understand your values. And to look for a career and environment where you don’t feel compromised, so you can thrive.

  • Identify your strengths and skills. What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? If you’re not sure, ask a few people you trust to tell you what they see as your strengths and skills.

    Mark created a list of his strengths and skills, and uses it when he reads job descriptions, to see if what he offers is what they need. He also references this list when he writes his cover letters, and takes it with him to reference on job interviews. “What are my strengths? Let me tell you what others have told me when I asked them.”

  • What are you passionate about? What things get your juices flowing? What activities leave you feeling like you are “in the zone”? Write it all down. Make a list of experiences you’ve had over the past year where you felt this way. Look for themes, patterns. These can give you clues to the type of business or industry you want to work for, and how you want to contribute.

    Lots of clients tell me they want “to help people” and my response is always the same. That’s fantastic. Tell me who, specifically, do you want to help? And what is the sort of help you want to offer them? How, specifically, do you want to help them?

Get a clear picture of yourself: your values, your skills, your strengths, your passions. These are what you offer the world. If you are using these in your career, you are guaranteed to thrive.

What have you discovered about yourself? I invite you to share your discoveries below.

If you want support to Unearth Your Worth™, contact me for your complimentary 30 minute Career Breakthrough Session.

Career Transformation, Job Search, News, Unearth (your strengths, skills, values, passions)   , , , , , ,  
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