What’s the first question exchanged when we meet
someone new? You guessed it: “So… What do you do?”
In our culture, what you do for a living is inextricably
tied to society’s perception of your worth. A stable job
with a good salary is highly regarded, but we often look
less lovingly upon the self-trained artist or entrepreneur
who gives blood, sweat, and tears to make their vision
possible.
Why is this? Is the number on your paycheck the true
meaning of success?
Instead of focusing on money or power, let’s focus on
what’s fundamental: happiness and a sense of purpose.
These two elements drive us to do more than status or
material gain.
People don’t succeed by migrating to a particular
industry or job. They thrive by getting curious about
answering questions about who they really are and
doing work they truly love. In doing so, they unleash
unthinkable creative and productive energy. To truly be
happy, our work must have meaning.
This is not a new idea. For decades, psychologists have
known that humans are more motivated by personally
meaningful goals than by external rewards such as
money or status. Put simply: When you love what you
do, it shows. You’re lit up by your passion, you put in
extra effort, you’re a source of great ideas. Others envy
your confidence.
Remember that 95 percent of the time finding oneself
doesn’t happen in one major epiphany. Clarity comes in
fits and spurts. Passion evolves.
All of us are born with innate strengths and aptitudes.
Nurture your interests and have patience when finding
ways to exercise passion for something — even if you
don’t see a way to make money from it yet. Be persistent
and remain open to the possibilities.
The first step is to simply explore your whims — those
little sparks of interest you’re not sure what to make of
yet. To help you figure out what you find meaningful and
inspiring in your life, try this exercise:
Get out some blank paper or open a fresh computer file.
Write for a minimum of five minutes straight. Do not
censor yourself. Write freely. Jot down whatever comes
to mind, no matter how silly or unformed the idea
seems.
Name the top 3 peak experiences in your life. What do
they have in common? What does this tell you about
yourself?
What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?
What are your strengths and values?
If money weren’t a problem, what would you spend your
every day doing?
What would you be doing if you knew you couldn’t fail?
What’s your favorite way to spend your free time?
What have you done in your life that you are especially
proud of?
What activity are you doing when it feels like time just
flies by?
When do you feel the most alive?
What kind of impact do you want to have?
What kind of professional and personal breakthroughs
do you want to experience?
What are things (a language, a sport) you want to learn?
How do you envision you will leave your goal or legacy
on people’s lives?
What are you excited, happy, and enjoying most in your
life right now ?
Life isn’t predictable. Often the path to success isn’t
clear-cut. The real secret to success is embracing life’s
twists and turns. By dispelling limiting beliefs, you’re
igniting a fire to help your interests grow and thrive. So
the next time someone asks you, “What do you do for a
living,?” you won’t have to know the final answer, but
you’ll already be taking the next step.

Hmm, real food for thought.

Nyc1 op.