Jul 11 2008
A New Way to Find Work that You Love
Published by Tom Volkar under Career Discovery | 
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I believe there’s a better process to finding work you love to do, so you can then build a profitable business around it. Traditional advice for discovering work you love involves journaling your passions, talents and joyous activities. This works for some and not for others. If you’re willing to try a fresh approach, you may find this new process to be very fruitful.
This process is based on the following theory: You have been created with unique capabilities, and when these are engaged and expressed in the work you were meant to do, you’ll enjoy greater freedom, fulfillment and prosperity. 
Discovering your authentic work and parlaying it into a profitable enterprise is where most folks have difficulty.
It’s funny how we throw the word authenticity around; everyone agrees it’s a very good thing, but few know how to actually be authentic in their work. The process of bringing forth the core of who you are and authentically expressing that in your work is so much easier said then done.
We agree that to be authentic means to be, genuine, open, unpretentious, honest and forthright. We also agree that authenticity is good for us. But we tend to disagree on how to get there, especially when it comes to our life’s work.
In two earlier posts What Will I Be When I Grow Up ?, I Wonder and Seize Your Greatness, I advised that discovering authentic work is better approached from a non-logical framework. For big questions like this, it works to explore peripherally, or to trick our mind into seeing something that is either not obvious, or too obvious to be found with a direct approach.
If you’ve tried the traditional ways to no avail, are you ready for a fresh approach?
Why the old way stops you.
During the discovery process, many folks run into a brick wall that they can’t scale because they try too hard to get the what exactly right. We think that it’s all about nailing the business idea or the exact career that will make our heart sing. That’s the objective, I agree, but searching for the exact what can be extremely frustrating and fruitless - and that’s a telltale sign. Consider your state of mind while feeling frustrated and stumped. Are you more likely to be creative? No. Are you more likely to hit on epiphanies in that state? Of course you aren’t.
Too much pressure thinking on the what stops you cold. Because in an uninspired state of mind, new discoveries are likely to be overly judged and we are likely to be full of self-doubt. In this stage, you could discover your life’s work and not recognize it as such.
The discovery of authentic work is best uncovered from an inspired state of mind - so that the discovery is more likely to be in authentic alignment with its creator.
What state of being do you find most productive and enjoyable? Think of a time when you were in the zone and eagerly creating. You were on a roll. How would you describe that state of mind when the unknown is more a delightful wonder than something to fear?
What’s your attitude like when you can’t wait to begin work? Many employees wonder if they’ll ever experience eagerly rolling out of bed whistling a happy tune as they arise on a workday. But we self-employed know that both our disposition and our destiny is up to us. We are at choice and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
So if you’ve yet to find your authentically delightful work, here’s a new process I’m advising you to try. First, begin your discovery work from the disposition of inspired confidence. Inspired confidence works because you are eagerly driven. You are so clearly in the present moment because there is no place you’d rather be. The future is of no stressful concern to you, and the past no longer has any hold on you.
Attaining the Flow of Inspired Confidence
- Choose an objective that really turns you on. It doesn’t have to be big. It just has to fire you up. For example, perhaps you too would like to bounce eagerly out of bed every workday.
- Imagine in detail how you’d feel in the midst of living your objective. See yourself boldly acting and joyously creating. Feel the inspiration pouring through your mind and being. Imagine each of your five senses in detail, to make the imagined experience vibrant.
- From that inspired state, delve more deeply into discovery by asking this series of questions.
- What small step could I take today that would get me closer to my objective?
- What could I create this week that would positively alter my perspective?
- If I must choose today, what work would I begin doing in the hopes that it could develop into work that I love?
- Write down your answers and boldly follow through. Without some beginning, you’ll remain at rest. By walking down some corridor, you don’t know what wonderful doors may open. In 1998, I was speaking before a business audience and a guy approached me after the talk to ask if I’d ever done any life coaching. At that time, I wasn’t even aware that the profession existed. And if I hadn’t become a speaker, I would not have stumbled onto my life’s work.
When you follow your bliss, doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors, and where there wouldn’t be a door for anyone else.
Joseph Campbell
We hear often how it’s the journey that counts, not the destination. Have you ever wondered why? Often just the possibility of delightful work is enough to raise our spirits to a somewhat inspired state. Just the possibility enhances our emotional reserve so our internal dial can stay tuned to joy and the expectation of greater joy. That’s enough to attract others who want some of that joy to rub off on them. From there you are on your way.
When our work is discovered while in a state of inspired confidence, it feels joyful. What’s created in joy and enjoyed has a much higher probability of remaining joyful. If you are not already experiencing your bliss, are you willing to give this a shot? If you are already enjoying delightful work, please tell us how you found it.
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I am well on my way to creating my passionate work experience. I am a science teacher and am worn out by the red tape of the public schools. I am also a creative person and I rock as a science teacher. I get so pumped while I teach that it is a high for me.
I have watched people come into our school to present science assemblies and I thought, “Man, I could do so much better than that!” And then one day it hit me to create this inflatable canyon that simulated erosion and deposition and has a fossil record and oil formation. I laid awake night after night thinking about how I could make it work. My teaching partner and I talked about it and she wanted in so she is now my buisness partner. We both quit our jobs to make this thing a reality. It is currently being manufactored in California. I am just giddy.
I have never imagined anything like this and then to take it to fruition is remarkable. While I am a creative person, I really believe that the idea was a gift from God. It just hit me while I was standing in the mail room at school. I had been beaten up by the district and was praying regularly for direction. It’s a perfect idea for me to make happen. And now…I have my next idea in mind. I’m hoping that by next year I’ll have that one being manufactored. Check out my website to see this awesome inflatable. It’s 15′ by 15′ by 30′. It a “grand” canyon! he he he
Great article, Tom! I think the issue with the old way of finding work we love is that it focuses on what we are doing. Your questions help us tune in to what generates a fulfilling state of being.
Our true purpose is self-expression - it is BEING who we are. That state of being certainly expresses itself into the world through action … but the action is just the expression, not the purpose itself.
Blessings,
Andrea
Andrea Hess|Empowered Souls last blog post..The Answer to Our Prayers
Laurie you are such an inspiration to others who are thinking about making their move to freedom. So it sounds like your idea just came out of the blue in answer to your prayers. That’s a wonderful way to find work that you love to do!
Andrea you are so right. When we do what we love to do from a state of being who we are we have hit the sweet spot of life. That’s a mighty fine place to be!
This is really an awesome article, one that resonates highly with me! I used to try to be analytical about what I would like to do. However, as you correctly pointed out, “The discovery of authentic work is best uncovered from an inspired state of mind - so that the discovery is more likely to be in authentic alignment with its creator.”
It took me a long time to realise that I can only be the best that I can be when there is perfect alignment to my Higher Purpose.
Thanks for sharing! Stumbled!
Evelyn
Evelyn Lims last blog post..Draw Inspiration From Never-Give-Up Success Stories
Tom ~ I’ve been educated as an engineer but for most of my life, I’ve done things that have no remote relationship with my education. First, I fell in love with programming - So I taught myself how to program and made good living out of that. Next, my passion for people kicked in with the hotel business and now I’m enjoying that a great deal. I tell my employees that we are in business of selling compassion. That is true. Money has always come to be as a by-product of what I love to do.
Shilpan
Shilpan | successsoul.coms last blog post..7 Habits to Master the Art of Winning against the Odds
Sorry - I misspelled - Money has always come to me as a ….
Shilpan
Shilpan | successsoul.coms last blog post..7 Habits to Master the Art of Winning against the Odds
Man, you said it! One of the things I really love about my work is that I get to help people expand their view of what’s possible, which in turn affects their entire experience of life and work.
For me, the challenge is to keep my eye on those possibilities, even when what I need to do in the moment doesn’t seem like it’s consistent with the larger picture.
Thanks for the post!
Erek
I agree wholeheartedly with all that Tom.
Whenever I talk to somebody that does what they love to do they simply can’t grasp why anybody would do otherwise. Maybe if we lived to be 500 it wouldn’t be so bad being miserable or at best unfulfilled for 40 years, but when they’re often the best years of our lives it’s a real head scratcher.
Having said all that, it took me 20 years to see the light and decide to do something that made me feel fulfilled. I guess hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Tim Brownsons last blog post..12 Ways To Become an Utter Failure at Work
Laurie’s story is inspiring! I like the idea of dreaming of what passionate, authentic work really feels like, and working back from there. Anything else is pretty much a shot in the dark.
For me, I’d also want to pay attention to the level of challenge involved in any type of work (Yay challenge!) and what would make me feel valued in that type of work. Those two things are big components of my overall enjoyment of work.
Sara at On Simplicitys last blog post..Three Things You’ve Given Up and Never Regretted
I found my delightful work by taking the pieces I loved of the work I was doing and letting go of worrying about others thinking they don’t ‘go together’.
I love the quizzical looks I get when people ask what I do for a living and I tell them I am a life coach and a web designer. No one but me seems to think those two things ‘go together’ - but for me? They do!
What’s funny is when coaching clients find out I build websites or web clients find out I’m a coach - many of them ask me to do both.
Talk about bouncing out of bed every morning! That’s me! I’m so blessed!
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Tom - this was a very good article.
You also quoted one of my favorite luminaries - Joseph Campbell!
Al at 7Ps last blog post..The Hidden Water of Life
I’m glad I stumble upon this website. You are so right. I am only now doing what I want to do and I am much better off for it. The best part of my job is that I also find people who are aiming for the same thing.
Hi Tom: I like the approach you suggest here: concentrate on how you want to feel, and then ask yourself what small step you can take to begin feeling that way. It reminds me of a quote by Howard Thurman: “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Marelisas last blog post..Create a Long List of Ways for You to Feel Good
Evelyn you’re right those very big questions don’t respond well to our analytical sides. I’m happy that life purpose works well for you as a concept. I’ve found that concept to be a bit limiting because my purpose changes often. Instead I focus on core values to guide and ground me. Thanks for the stumble!
Shilpan selling compassion is a wonderful image. I agree often our education simply gave us a structure to grow up within. Once we see that we are limited by nothing, including our investments and past decisions – life gets much easier.
Erek Creating expansion and seeing the possibilities are also some my favorite and fulfilling duties as a life and career coach. How be blessed we are.
Tim you best me by three years. It took me 23 years before I believed that work coyuld be joyful most of the time. Now I’m working on making it so all of the time. At least we don’t have to learn this lesson the next time around.
Sara welcome obviously rising to meet challenges is a delicious value for you. Once we understand what turns us on it gets much easier to choose.
Suzanne thanks for answering my question. I love it when commenters do that. Yes isn’t it fun to surprise and delight folks?
Brandon thanks for visiting.. One of our earlier commenters Andrea G Hess says that’s the definition of abundance, “having enough to do what you want to do.” I agree when we talk about our fulfilling work we attract others who want the same.
Marelisa yes I love that Thurman quote. What about your work makes you most alive?
Oh yes - surprising people is one of my favorite things to do. Delighting people? THAT is what bounces me out of bed each morning - I can’t wait sometimes to see who it’s going to be today. LOL
Hi Tom - I wish I’d read this a few years ago. I spent a lot of years doing things that would keep a roof over my head and promising that I would do the stuff I loved later on. It was a really bad idea.
I like this question: “If I must choose today, what work would I begin doing in the hopes that it could develop into work that I love?”
I’m going to print this out and share it with others who will benefit from it too. Thanks.
Cath Lawsons last blog post..Why I Don’t Like Zen Habits
Cath don’t sweat it. We all make choices for what we think are needs until we summon the courage to go for what we really want.
I like that question as well because it allows us to take an educated guess and get moving. Thanks for telling as many people as you can about this question. The answer to it is often very close to what they have been waiting on any way.
I learned in my very early days of coaching that any movement works.
Suzanne and I can attest that you are a delight to work with!
The Bible calls this concept Spiritual Gifts. I heard a lady speak once at a womens’ church retreat, and she described a quick and easy way to stumble upon yours:
What did you enjoy doing as a child?
I loved this. When I was a kid, I loved playing mommy and babysitting for babies (I’m now a mom and I’ve taught at the elementary school level), I loved the TV Show “Emergency” and anything to do with medicine (I’m now a volunteer EMT), and I loved to tool around in the kitchen (I’m known for my cooking and I’ve worked as a catering manager).
Viviana Suttons last blog post..Adapt, Adjust, Evolve–All in a Day’s Work
Vivianna yes when we can access what we loved to do as a child it gives us wonderful leads to follow. Parker Palmer says that our life is speaking to us all the time. Not just when we were kids but throughout life. What common themes have you noticed in your life? Now that’s a good question.
I’ve always loved going deep. I’d dig dams and alter the course of streams in my youth. I followed excavated gas line ditches for miles and miles. During college for three jobs in a row I went deeper and deeper into the earth, finnally working as a coal miner. Is it any wonder that my coaching business is called CoreU?
http://CoreU.com
Yet I didn’t realize why I named it that until I looked for these common threads.
[...] goals. He shares some excellent advice at Delightful Work including: The Missing Key to Success and A New Way To Find Work That You Love. Evelyn Lim is another inspiring person who is a firm believer in the power of the mind. She shares [...]