Build your own compass

The most frequent career advice I give. Here's how.

It’s a noisy world out there, and it can be hard to chart your course. There are so many possible paths, opportunities, disciplines, roles, stages of companies, etc.

And there is a LOT career advice out there—some of which is excellent. But when it comes to the fulfillment dimension of career, the most common conversation I have with friends and clients is this: build your own compass.

How? Here’s the process that’s emerged over many conversations:

(1) Take the VIA character strength survey

(2) Do the deMartini values survey

(3) Find your verbs: if you could spend the rest of your career doing just a few things you’re best at, what 3-5 verbs would you spend all your time at work doing? (Assume you’d be well-compensated.)

By understanding these, you will know what you actually value, what your innate strengths are, and how you channel those strengths into action. This sets you up to make career bets that are more likely to pay off in terms of fulfillment and give you the kind of experience you seek.

To go deeper on this, listen to short solo podcast episodes 42 and 48.