According to Gettysburg College, the average person will spend over 90,000 hours at work during their lifetime. That's 2,080 hours every year for about 45 years.
Since we will spend a third of our lives working, creating a career that challenges and inspires us will make that time feel productive, purposeful, and worthwhile.
Some of us may have known early on what we wanted to do when we "grew up," while others are still exploring the paths available. Whichever category you fit in, there are ways to guide you in discovering work you love.
Show up every day and do your best in the job you're in.
It sounds like a no-brainer, yet so many people don't do these two simple things. Even if your current job isn't "The One," give it your all. This hard work and dedication will help you establish a work ethic and set you apart.
In every job you hold, make a list of what you enjoy.
As humans, we often focus more on the negative than the positive. Keeping a list of the aspects that we enjoyed is a great way to discover the most appealing areas. These are the projects or tasks that we find engaging, creative, inspiring, or even challenging. This list not only gives us motivation daily but provides a course for our career journey. It also helps shift our attitude to one of positivity. After all, there is no such thing as the perfect job. Even people who have jobs they love are responsible for things that they don't always enjoy.
Since we will spend a third of our lives working, creating a career that challenges and inspires us will make that time feel productive, purposeful, and worthwhile.
Some of us may have known early on what we wanted to do when we "grew up," while others are still exploring the paths available. Whichever category you fit in, there are ways to guide you in discovering work you love.
Show up every day and do your best in the job you're in.
It sounds like a no-brainer, yet so many people don't do these two simple things. Even if your current job isn't "The One," give it your all. This hard work and dedication will help you establish a work ethic and set you apart.
In every job you hold, make a list of what you enjoy.
As humans, we often focus more on the negative than the positive. Keeping a list of the aspects that we enjoyed is a great way to discover the most appealing areas. These are the projects or tasks that we find engaging, creative, inspiring, or even challenging. This list not only gives us motivation daily but provides a course for our career journey. It also helps shift our attitude to one of positivity. After all, there is no such thing as the perfect job. Even people who have jobs they love are responsible for things that they don't always enjoy.
Realize it takes time to discover work you genuinely love.
Rome wasn't built in a day. Most people will hold several jobs before finding their true calling or a career they thoroughly enjoy. But, in every position you hold, you learn. You learn new skills, gain more experience, broaden your horizons, make more professional connections, and even discover areas you may have once thought would be a good fit, but you don't enjoy them like you thought you might.
Network network network
We have all heard the saying, "it is not what you know but who you know." The more people we know and who know us, the more opportunities arise. Find ways to meet and connect with a diverse group of people. If they know who you are, your experience, and your career aspirations, they may refer you for that dream job you've been searching for or at least a solid stepping stone in the right direction. And don't forget, those opportunities go both ways. If you know of a position and someone in your network meets the criteria, be sure to make an introduction or refer them.
Rome wasn't built in a day. Most people will hold several jobs before finding their true calling or a career they thoroughly enjoy. But, in every position you hold, you learn. You learn new skills, gain more experience, broaden your horizons, make more professional connections, and even discover areas you may have once thought would be a good fit, but you don't enjoy them like you thought you might.
Network network network
We have all heard the saying, "it is not what you know but who you know." The more people we know and who know us, the more opportunities arise. Find ways to meet and connect with a diverse group of people. If they know who you are, your experience, and your career aspirations, they may refer you for that dream job you've been searching for or at least a solid stepping stone in the right direction. And don't forget, those opportunities go both ways. If you know of a position and someone in your network meets the criteria, be sure to make an introduction or refer them.
Connect with people who have jobs or careers you want or are intrigued by.
Reach out to someone you respect who has a job you want to learn more about or that you aspire to attain. Request a half-hour of their time to learn about their position. Offer to take them to lunch or coffee, or even to have a short video conference. Be sure to have done your research on that person and have a list of questions prepared in advance.
Ask them what they like most and least about their positions.
Discover how they got to where they are and if they have suggestions for education, projects, or other areas that they feel would help you gain a foothold in your career journey.
Work with a coach
Just as an athlete works with a coach to better his or her performance, a coach can help guide you to the personal and professional growth necessary to attain your career goals. They offer objective insights and help you identify areas of improvement, opportunities to explore and help polish your interview skills.
If you are interested in discovering how a coach can help you, contact me for a complimentary phone consultation.
Article excerpts from Medium.
Reach out to someone you respect who has a job you want to learn more about or that you aspire to attain. Request a half-hour of their time to learn about their position. Offer to take them to lunch or coffee, or even to have a short video conference. Be sure to have done your research on that person and have a list of questions prepared in advance.
Ask them what they like most and least about their positions.
Discover how they got to where they are and if they have suggestions for education, projects, or other areas that they feel would help you gain a foothold in your career journey.
Work with a coach
Just as an athlete works with a coach to better his or her performance, a coach can help guide you to the personal and professional growth necessary to attain your career goals. They offer objective insights and help you identify areas of improvement, opportunities to explore and help polish your interview skills.
If you are interested in discovering how a coach can help you, contact me for a complimentary phone consultation.
Article excerpts from Medium.
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