Born for This

1. Discover Your Perfect Career Blend: Joy, Money, and Flow

"To find the work you were born to do, you need the right combination of joy, money, and flow."

Joy is essential. Your ideal career should bring happiness and fulfillment, aligning with your passions and values. It's not about loving every minute, but overall enjoyment of your work.

Money matters. While passion is crucial, your career should provide financial stability and growth. Aim for a balance between pursuing your interests and meeting your economic needs.

Flow is the secret ingredient. Seek work that allows you to enter a state of deep focus and engagement, where time seems to fly by. This indicates a perfect match between your skills and challenges.

• Evaluate potential careers using the Joy-Money-Flow model
• Regularly reassess your current position to ensure alignment
• Be open to adjusting your career path as your priorities evolve

2. Expand Your Options, Then Strategically Limit Them

"The goal isn't just to find any possible path but to find the path that's best for you."

Broaden your horizons. Start by exploring a wide range of career possibilities, even those that may seem unconventional or out of reach. This expansion phase helps you discover unexpected opportunities.

Narrow down strategically. After exploring, use the Joy-Money-Flow model to eliminate options that don't align with your goals and values. Focus on paths that offer the best potential for personal and professional fulfillment.

• Brainstorm diverse career options without self-censoring
• Research and experiment with promising paths through internships, informational interviews, or side projects
• Gradually refine your focus based on real-world experiences and self-reflection

3. Master Essential Skills to Boost Your Career Success

"To be so good they can't ignore you, focus your efforts on improving soft skills."

Develop versatile abilities. While technical skills are important, soft skills like communication, leadership, and adaptability are crucial for long-term success in any field.

Continuous improvement is key. Regularly assess your skillset and identify areas for growth. Seek out opportunities to learn and practice new skills, both within and outside your current role.

Essential skills to focus on:

• Written and verbal communication
• Negotiation and conflict resolution
• Time management and productivity
• Emotional intelligence and empathy
• Problem-solving and critical thinking
• Networking and relationship-building

4. Find Solutions by Listening to Your Network

"The more we focus on solving other people's problems, the more successful we will be."

Tune into needs. Pay attention to the questions and challenges that people in your network frequently bring to you. These recurring themes can reveal valuable opportunities for your skills and expertise.

Create value through problem-solving. Develop products, services, or expertise that directly address the needs you've identified. By focusing on solving real problems for others, you increase your own value and potential for success.

• Keep a record of common questions or issues raised by colleagues, clients, or friends
• Look for patterns in the types of help people seek from you
• Experiment with offering solutions, starting small and refining based on feedback

5. Embrace Calculated Risks to Advance Your Career

"To be luckier, take better chances."

Smart risk-taking is crucial. Career growth often requires stepping out of your comfort zone. However, it's important to distinguish between reckless gambles and calculated risks that can lead to significant rewards.

Develop a risk assessment strategy. Before taking a leap, carefully evaluate potential outcomes, prepare contingency plans, and ensure you have a safety net in place.

Steps for embracing calculated risks:

1. Identify potential opportunities for growth or change
2. Assess the potential benefits and drawbacks of each option
3. Develop backup plans for different scenarios
4. Start with smaller risks to build confidence and experience
5. Learn from both successes and failures to refine your approach

6. Transform Side Projects into Sustainable Income

"A side hustle can be a low-risk, low-commitment way to test the waters for something bigger—and earn some extra money at the same time."

Start small and experiment. Begin with projects that align with your interests and skills, requiring minimal upfront investment. Use these ventures to test ideas and gain valuable experience.

Grow strategically. As your side hustle gains traction, reinvest profits and gradually increase your time commitment. Be prepared to pivot or expand based on market response and your own goals.

Potential side hustle ideas:

• Freelancing in your area of expertise
• Creating and selling digital products (e-books, courses, templates)
• Offering consulting or coaching services
• Developing a niche blog or podcast
• Selling handmade goods or curated products online

7. Build Your Own Empire on Your Terms

"Create your own security by going Zero-to-One and building your own small (or not so small) empire from the ground up."

Embrace entrepreneurship. Building your own business allows for greater control over your career trajectory and potential for financial success. It also provides the opportunity to create something truly innovative.

Start with a unique value proposition. Identify a gap in the market or a problem that needs solving. Focus on creating something new or significantly improving existing solutions.

Key steps in building your empire:

1. Develop a clear vision and mission for your venture
2. Validate your idea through market research and customer feedback
3. Create a minimum viable product (MVP) to test your concept
4. Build a strong team or network of collaborators
5. Focus on sustainable growth strategies
6. Continuously innovate and adapt to market changes

8. Hack Your Job to Become Indispensable

"To be indispensable, be the busy person who gets things done—and keeps other things on track for the rest of the group."

Proactively add value. Look for opportunities to contribute beyond your official job description. Take on additional responsibilities that showcase your skills and dedication.

Develop a reputation for reliability. Consistently deliver high-quality work and meet deadlines. Become the go-to person for critical tasks and problem-solving within your organization.

Strategies to become indispensable:

• Anticipate needs and offer solutions before being asked
• Cultivate strong relationships across departments
• Continuously upgrade your skills to stay ahead of industry trends
• Take ownership of important projects or initiatives
• Share knowledge and mentor others within the organization

9. Cultivate a Loyal Fan Base for Creative Success

"The musicians, artists, and writers who thrive today understand that their success is due not only 'to the fans,' but also to the relationship the artist maintains with the fans."

Build genuine connections. Engage with your audience authentically, showing appreciation for their support and actively seeking their input.

Provide consistent value. Regularly create and share high-quality content or products that resonate with your fan base. Focus on meeting their needs and exceeding expectations.

Key elements for cultivating a loyal fan base:

1. Develop a unique voice or style that sets you apart
2. Use multiple platforms to reach and interact with your audience
3. Offer exclusive content or experiences for dedicated fans
4. Encourage and facilitate community-building among your followers
5. Be transparent about your creative process and journey
6. Show gratitude and give back to your supporters

10. Embrace Multiple Passions with Strategic Workshifting

"There's a time to explore and experiment, in his journey and in ours, and there's also a time to focus."

Recognize the value of diverse interests. Embracing multiple passions can lead to unique insights, creative problem-solving, and a more fulfilling career path.

Implement strategic workshifting. Develop a system for managing multiple projects or interests effectively. This allows you to pursue various passions without sacrificing productivity or quality of work.

Workshifting strategies:

• Time-based: Allocate specific time blocks to different projects or interests
• Outcome-based: Focus on one area until reaching a specific milestone, then shift to another
• Instinctive: Follow your natural rhythms and interests, shifting as needed
• Hybrid: Combine different approaches based on your unique needs and circumstances

Remember to regularly reassess your priorities and adjust your workshifting strategy as needed to maintain balance and progress across your various pursuits.

Last updated: September 20, 2024