Needs, dreams, and actions.

The Daily Drip

This is one of those topics I will need to write a full-blown blog post about . . .

In just the last couple of weeks, I've heard multiple people talk about what kind of job they wish they had.

Usually, it's not very specific.

I hear things like "I just don't want to have a desk job."

Or, "I want to use my hands and be physical."

Or, "I'd like to actually use my brain."

None of these are jobs, so it's hard to help someone making these statements because it's hard to say "oh, I know someone who uses their brain at work, let me introduce to them."

So it's at this point that I recommend things like:

• Making a list of all the work projects you've done that make you proud and that you'd love to do again.

• Making a list of all the kinds of work that make you feel alive and excited.

• Making a list of all the work projects you've done that make you feel like you wasted your time and you'd never want to do again.

• Making a list of all the kinds of work that make you feel numb or dead inside.

From here, you may be able to see patterns in your work and traits of types of work you love.

With a little processing, we can turn these into job descriptions and start looking for what else is out there.

What do you do when you're not happy with your trajectory?

Do you spend a week in the mountains meditating?

Do you call 100 different companies just to see what their needs are?

Do you sit and have coffee with a mentor and tell her everything you're afraid of?

I'd love to hear your tactics for recalibrating your needs, dreams, and actions.