Finding Your Niche

From a young age we are asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" As if we're supposed to have it figured out - and apparently, responding to these types of people with "left alone" isn't the correct answer.

I'd say the majority of people don't know how to answer this question and some people spend their whole life trying to figure it out. Well, I'll let you in on a little secret - there's not just one answer and it will probably change over time.

So Let's Figure it Out

Don't Make a Plan

As someone who loves to be organized and has their week set up with reminders and calendar events, listen when I tell you, you can't make a life plan.

All of the road bumps, set backs and failures will make you feel like your plan is working against you. But the beauty of it is, they're not. Everything happens for a reason and you always get where you need to be. Here's how you can get there without as much disappointment:

Have Ideas

In fact, don't stop having ideas. Make a list of things that sound good to you and include personal life topics, too. Your career overlaps with your personal life in many ways, so even when it doesn't seem relevant for a job, it probably is.

A few things on your list will be obvious like obtaining a decent salary, having a work life balance, etc. Once you get through those, start drilling down on items that suit your personality. Do you enjoy quality time with people? Do you see yourself having a managerial role? Do you prefer freedom or structure? Maybe it's a mix of both. Build an ideal position based on your ideas.

Read Job Descriptions

At the end of the day, you're going to spend 40+ hours at your job per week. The average person will spend over 90,000 hours at work in their lifetime, according to an article from Gettysburg College - make the best of it. You have to enjoy some aspect of this and it's up to you how you weigh it all: compensation, satisfaction and inspiration. What's the most important part to you? What are you willing to compromise for? Even if you aren't sure what type of position you're after, read a variety of job descriptions and start gathering pieces you like and don't like about the roles. Keep note of "must haves" based on descriptions or responsibilities you're interested to have.

Accept Change

You might enjoy what you're doing for a year or ten, but you're allowed to change your mind. As the world evolves, so do jobs. Believe it or not, there was a time before computers and with it came along a bunch of jobs that no longer exist. Things change every day and the key is to adapt. Embrace change, don't fear it.

The last thing you want to do is stay in a job you're not passionate about and spend those 90,000 hours doing mindless work. Not every project will be exciting, but most of how we get through life is our reaction. Bring your talents to the table and always give your best effort. Changes can be challenging, but how we respond to them will make all the difference.

Surround Yourself with Inspiration

This may seem like an obvious one, but surrounding yourself with people or things that inspire you can be the motivation we sometimes need. Working with people who motivate us makes a huge impact on the work we produce and our attitudes we show up with each day. While you can't necessarily always choose who you work with, you can choose who fills up your time outside of work. Titles and compensation can be used for inspiration, but try to also think about life as a whole. Is there a place you've always wanted to visit? Are there hobbies you want more time for? Inspiration can be found in many places.

No Pressure

This is a tough one. We all put pressure on ourselves and live in a world where "hustle culture" is the norm. Remind yourself you have nothing but time and follow your gut throughout the process. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. You'll eventually align with a positive feeling you won't forget. If you follow this guidance, repeat that process as often as needed until you start to feel uncomfortable again.

By the way, uncomfortable = growth. No one wants to remain stagnant.