We all have a purpose. Yet only less than 20% of us discover it and live it. Now that Summer has ended and you’re getting back to your grind and routine, here are seven simple questions that might offer the “aha!” moment you’ve been looking for to find or create your next career move.
1. What types of relationships drive you? A good place to start when thinking about what you were born to do begins not at looking at yourself, but at who or what you like working with. Are you someone who is motivated by groups or do you like working alone? Are you energized by working with kids or animals or a place where you don’t have to interact with anyone at all? Clarity regarding who you like working with and where you thrive can help you uncover your purpose.
2. When do you feel in your element and get that feeling that this is what I was born to do? There some things that come to us so naturally it’s like second nature. For natural leaders, no one ever had to tell them how to motivate and lead people they just knew.
What have you always done naturally? Are you most comfortable when you cheer others on or are when you are given a problem to fix?3. Where does your satisfaction and success intersect? There are things we like doing and then there are areas where we excel. For most people our “purpose” relates to where these two arenas meet. You may love doing something, but it may be something that you don’t do well. Do what you love and find ways to practice and increase your level of skill. Sometimes that extra focus and practice makes all the difference. For example, Michael Jordan was cut from the Junior Varsity basketball team, but practice and dedication helped him became one the best players of all time. However, there are things that, despite our dedication, are simply not something thing that we excel at doing. If that’s the case, we then should explore other pursuits. Remember that even Michael Jordan never became a phenom at baseball.
4. What motivates you to get out of bed? Some people are driven by the chance to help others while other individuals are motivated by solving problems? Are you drawn to learning new things or are you inspired by developing expertise in one area? Know what motivates you, and why?
5. What are your talents that you are willing to invest in? Where do you spend your time and money? Chances are the things you choose to invest your financial and other resources doing is something that you are really passionate about.
6. What’s your reoccurring topic of conversation? We all are passionate about certain causes and ideas, what are yours? I am deeply dedicated to empowering others to explore and live their passions and purpose. I also strongly believe in all people, especially women, becoming financially educated and independent.
And, I believe that all children need to be encouraged and supported to become the people who they were born to be. No matter where I am and who I meet, my conversations (even with strangers) tend to focus on one of these topics.
7. What do you do when you don’t know what to do? When you feel stuck, in a rut, or confused about which path to take, what is your “go to” move? I often turn to yoga, prayer and meditation, find ways to connect with nature, and talk to friends and family about my current feelings. Knowing the positive people and things that you turn to for answers can be a huge step in starting the process of change.
Making a career change begins with asking yourself big questions. This week, pick just one of these seven questions to help you gain clarity about not just what you love, but why you love it. Questions can empower you to create a new way of thinking, which in turn can help change what you do and perhaps even reveal that “thing” that you were born to do.