Choosing the Right Career

The most important factor in choosing the right career is exploration.  The more we explore and understand about ourselves and our likes and dislikes, the more likely we will be to find a fulfilling career.  Unfortunately, many put no more thought into choosing a career than they do in buying a new pair of jeans.  Unfortunately, you can't get a refund on 4 or 5 years of education if you decide you don't like it.

So what kind of exploration are we talking about? First you must explore yourself.  You need to find out everything that you can about your needs, desires, wants, aptitudes, talent and personal preferences.  Once you have a solid grasp on this then you begin exploring ways in which you can put this special combination of attributes to beneficial use for yourself and others and be well compensated as a result.

The exploration of yourself should involve discussion with friends, analysis of your background and experiences you have had both professionally and personally; tests and quizzes that will help you better understand yourself; deep reflection and meditation on your purpose in life; leaning to trust your feelings and instinct; and whatever else helps you to see inside of yourself.   The more you understand yourself, the more you will know about your purpose for life.  "Know thyself" is truly the first thing on the path to success and fulfillment.

The next stop is to explore ways in which you can put all of your resources to use in a productive manner for the benefit of yourself and others.  One simple way is to simply list all the things you love or that interest you.  Then look for opportunities to turn one of them into a career.

There are many other ways that can be helpful in choosing the right career.  Explore biographies and people you admire for inspiration and ideas.  Read new magazines and books and follow wherever your interests take you.

What you want to avoid is ending up like many people you probably know, who hate their job and find it difficult to even get out of bed and face a new day.  Life is too short for that.  Not only that, but work is where you spend approximately 1/3 of your life.  That is a lot of time to devote to something you are only mildly interested in or motivated by.

The key is to simply follow your "bliss" as the mythographer Joseph Campbell once said.  This in the end is the best advice you can receive.

Information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not be interpreted as financial or legal advice. This does not represent a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Please consult your financial advisor.