How to Create Your Ideal Career

Are you truly happy and fulfilled in your career? Do you wake up with a sense of excitement when going to work? Are you making the income and the impact you want by honoring your values, priorities and talents? If not, maybe it’s time to reinvent your current role or design a new, ideal career path. Yes, it is possible - if you ask yourself the right questions.

Dreams don’t have a shelf life.

This happens all the time. Whether it’s after you graduate high school or college, at some point, you fall into a job by choice or by necessity. However, since you’re new to the workforce, you may not always know for certain if this is the right job for you. Sure, you know you need to make money. Unfortunately, when money, time, ego, financial stress, bills, pressure from those around you or urgency become the driving factors, we then make career decisions based on need or Ego, rather than by choice and ensuring you honor who you are and your core values.

This urgency forces us to react to what is available in the job market, rather than taking a step back to first define who we are, what we really want and how to align our strengths, values, personality, lifestyle, and integrity with a career that would complement rather than be in conflict with your life, personal goals and priorities.

To compound this calamity, fast forward a few years. Other events, such as getting married, having children, relocation, or purchasing a home further embed your feet within a career that you feel less and less at choice around changing, reinventing or leaving. Or, maybe it’s because of an internal re-org, acquisition, a change in market conditions or even being laid off, which altered the parameters, possibilities and growth opportunities surrounding your career. Regardless, you feel you need a job and an income, fast.

Unfortunately, there are many people who spend their entire career jumping from job to job, trying to blindly fit into a position that was never a fit for them in the first place. Regardless, the common denominator in all of these scenarios as to why people often wind up in the wrong job is the lack of clarity around what their ideal position would look like. And this lack of clarity around what we really want pushes us to make a reactive decision based on need rather than choice.

Either you design your ideal career, or you let other people and circumstances design your career for you.

After coaching thousands of people throughout my career, regardless of the reason as to why most people are unhappy at their job or want to change careers, I have found there is one thing most people have in common. That is, less than 2% of the people I've worked with took the time to put on paper what their ideal career looks like.

Employee Engagement Is Your Company's Achilles’ Heel

An Achilles’ heel can be a deadly weakness. While the mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, idiomatic references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to downfall are common; employee engagement, for one. As such, in spite of the overall strength and profitability of any company, the level of employee disengagement present in today’s workforce can lead to any company’s demise.

Gallup gathered information in a recent study from 230,000 full-time and part-time workers in 142 countries. Bottom line. There are twice as many “actively disengaged” workers in the world as there are “engaged” workers who love their jobs.

Employers, use this exercise during your interview process. Now, you're leveraging this as a powerful assessment tool to determine who each candidate is, how they think, engage, and if they're a fit.

Overall, Gallup found that only 13% of workers feel engaged at work and in their career. That means they feel a sense of passion for their work, a deep connection to their company, their co-workers and leadership. They love what they do and have the opportunity to drive innovation, collaboration and move their company forward.

The vast majority, some 63% of workers are “not engaged,” meaning they are unhappy and fairly disconnected from their company, peers and boss. They work in a state of mediocrity, just trying to get through their days without even considering ways to find more meaning in their job or ways to improve their performance and the impact they can make at work.

Finally, 24% of those workers surveyed are what Gallup refers to as, “actively disengaged.” These are the people who for the most part, hate their jobs for a variety of reasons; their role and responsibilities, the company, their management, product or service, customers, and so on. This population of workers can have the most detrimental impact on the overall state of the company and its culture. These are the consummate complainers who often create problems, conflict and dissension among the team, to the point where they sabotage themselves and what their co-workers are trying to achieve. Why? Because of the dissatisfaction they have in their position!

At this point, everyone suffers; the dissatisfied employee, management, the company and ultimately; your customers, as well as your brand and reputation. Basically, 87% of workers worldwide are, as Gallup puts it, “Emotionally disconnected from their workplaces and less likely to be productive.”

For these employees, they often get to a point of accepting, “This is just how it is,” and consequently, tolerate their job and the environment they work in. Rather than experiencing fulfillment from their job, work is more often a source of toxicity, stress and frustration for nearly 90% of the world’s workforce.

Are you just as engaged at home as you are at work?

But there’s an even greater cost here. Consider how this affects your lifestyle, your health, your overall happiness, your family and your children. Not only does this impact how you now engage with people outside of work and at home but think about the message you may be sending to others when it comes to choosing and managing a career; especially your children.

There's a great cost to companies when the majority of employees do not feel fully integrated and aligned with the company vision and culture. However, as an employee, rather than waiting around for things to change for the better, consider the things that are in your power and what you can you do to improve your position, income, mindset and overall fulfillment in your career.

While there are opportunities present to improve conditions in your current job, you may be at the point where you have the evidence and confidence that it’s time to leave. If so, the first step before you even start searching for your next career is to know with extreme clarity, exactly what you really, really want and what you’re looking for. Otherwise, how will you know when you find it?

Design your career around your life, rather than trying to fit your life around your career.

Since work takes up approximately one third of your precious life, it’s essential to find something that is rewarding, satisfying, brings you joy and affords the lifestyle you want to create for yourself and family.

I remember my first job after college working in Corporate America. Soon after working for this global sales organization, I made a decision to exercise my entrepreneurial muscle and start a business. Things were going well, but I wasn’t happy. Then one day, I read one of the first articles about performance coaching back in the ‘80’s. It wasn’t long after that I sold my business to become an executive sales coach and further pursue my dream to be a writer.

Did I choose this career path because of the money I thought I could make, the prestige of the position or its level of security? Not at all. Besides, the coaching industry was so new, no one had even heard of this type of profession outside of sports.

I certainly didn’t make this choice because of the financial security it offered! I became a coach and author because it was aligned with my core values, and my passion for wanting to support and assist others in making their careers and lives more successful and fulfilling; beyond what they thought was even possible for themselves.

Rather than spending all of your time working on your resume, start with defining your ideal role. Otherwise, you run the risk of orienting your resume around the wrong job.

I remember the first year or so after opening up my new practice, how my income was cut dramatically. Yet, it wasn’t long after that my business took off, and I never, ever looked back. Why? Because I was happy. I was making a difference. I was honoring my integrity and core values. I was doing something that measurably impacted people’s lives.

I woke up excited about what new possibilities could be created each and every day. I was able to pick and choose the people I really enjoyed working with. And most important, I designed my practice and career around my life, rather than trying to fit my life around my career. Very soon, I had a hard time distinguishing between my avocation and occupation.

I feel blessed to say I've created my ideal career. And that's what I want for you.

Live with intention, not by reaction. Design your ideal career first. Then you can attract it. Otherwise, how will you know when you find it?

Below are 29 questions that will assist you in designing a rewarding, fulfilling and thriving career you love. Have fun with this! Don’t get hung up on what you think is feasible or what you feel you ‘should’ do. Finally, stay away from describing your current or past employment experiences, since all you'll be doing is recreating your current or past role.

Envision what you want most, as grandiose is it may sound, without any self-imposed limitations or assumptions around what you feel is possible, such as, "It sounds great, but that's not realistic."

There is no room for "buts" when designing a dream.

These questions will spark your imagination to think bigger so you can paint and design your dream job.

29 Questions to Design Your Ideal Career

1. What are you passionate about?
2. What type of career/position would be a reflection of your personality, priorities, core values and who you are?
3. What are your strengths and talents that you want to maximize in your role?
4. What does the company do (product/service/industry/profession)?
5. What kind of company culture do you thrive in?
6. What kind of reputation does the company have?
7. What would a typical day look like? What type of activities and results are you responsible for?
8. When would you start and end your workday? How many hours?
9. What is your desired income and what is your minimum required income? What benefit/incentive/bonus programs are important to you? What would your entire compensation package look like?
10. How would you like to be evaluated regarding your performance? (Scorecard, sales quota, specific key performance indicators, etc.)
11. Who are the people you are working with? Define the ideal characteristics/demographics of your co-workers, if any. (If you're a sole practitioner, this may not apply.)
12. What type of clients do you want to serve? Define your ideal client.
13. Where do you work? (Geographic location, office, home office, how much travel if any, and so on.)
14. What is the level of autonomy you would have?
15. What type of growth opportunities exist and how do they align with your career goals?
16. What kind of manager do you want to work with (if any)? How do you like to be managed, motivated and held accountable?
17. What type of environment/corporate culture do you thrive in (fast paced, stressful, relaxed, quiet, structured, a flat organization, innovative, collaborative, flexible, result driven, and so on)?
18. How does your career complement your lifestyle?
19. What skills/mindset do you need to develop, refine or improve?
20. What are the responsibilities, projects or tasks that you like/don't like?
21. Who will be your accountability partner to support you through this process of finding or creating your ideal career?
22. What needs to be present to make a smooth transition (from your current position) and be financially and personally responsible with the least amount of risk or error? Tip from the coach: If you’re currently employed, make sure you create a detailed transition strategy and a path to follow when you make the decision to leave. This also includes what you need to do before leaving your current job and transition into your ideal one.
23. Who in your circle of influence can support you through this transition or help guide you towards a career you love? Who do you know who's influential and can introduce you to potential employers? (Make a list of family, friends, coach, prior coworkers, people in your social network, etc.)
24. Who do you need to be (or become) in order to attract the right opportunity and succeed in this role? (We're talking characteristics, here. Not skill set.)
25. What assumptions do you need to challenge? What part of your attitude and mindset needs to change for the better?
26. What are the fears or negative beliefs you're holding onto about yourself, the job market, the profession or company that’s keeping you from moving forward without hesitation?
27. What are the barriers that may prevent you from creating your ideal career and how can you overcome them?
28. What new skills do you need to further develop or master in order to excel in your ideal role?
29. What is the legacy you want to leave behind? What do you want to be known for?

Imagine your career on a blank canvass. Let the questions be your paintbrush, and the colors design your masterpiece.

Create Your Ideal Job Description

Once you’ve answered all of the questions, move into the second part of this exercise. Looking at your responses to the questions, make a separate list of all the challenges that need to be addressed, as well as the environment, responsibilities, skills, attitude, and characteristics that need to be present which define your perfect career. Said another way, this becomes your ideal job description!

After completing this list, mark the ones that are non-negotiable. That is, if these things are not present or can't be created in the role you're considering, or in the role you are in, it’s a deal breaker.

Dreams Don’t Have a Shelf Life

Answering these questions will take some time, since most people have never even considered these questions. So, search within yourself. Listen to your heart, your hobbies, your strengths, values, dreams and passions. Then, let this be your foundation and guiding light to design your ideal career. Take the time to do this, and you will have a greater chance of attracting and creating the career you want most into your life.

This isn’t your practice life and there's no dress rehearsal. Choose to write your own narrative and enjoy your own show.

Honor the Universal Law of Attraction

A simple, yet timeless belief. When you know what you want, have a clear vision of what you want and then focus on what it is you really want, then you have a greater chance of manifesting or attracting it into in your life.

Conversely, when you continue to focus on what you don’t want, don’t like or don’t need, you are now investing all of your energy into what you want to avoid. Subsequently, because you are focusing on what you don’t want, then what you don’t want is what you’ll wind up continually attracting into your life.

So, if you know what you don’t want, but you’re not sure what you really do want, especially as it relates to your career, then your dreams and goals can’t stand a chance.

It may be some time since you’ve tried to rekindle an old dream. So, look on your shelf. Find where you’ve stored your dreams of yesterday. Take those dreams down and place them in front of you. Dust them off. You’ll be surprised how quickly and how well your dreams and goals retain their luster, because it’s never, ever too late to make make your dream your reality.

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About Keith Rosen, MCC - Founder and CEO, Coachquest

My life's work, passion and vision is to make a positive impact on millions of lives all over the world. If there's anything I can do to contribute to your success, send me a personal message at Coachquest or connect with me on LinkedIn.

To master your time, design your ideal career and life, and become a sales and leadership titan, check out, Own Your Day and Coaching Salespeople into Sales Champions, winner of Five International Best Book Awards and the #1 best-selling sales management coaching book on Amazon for 8 consecutive years.

Join our sales leadership group on LinkedIn for exclusive coaching tips and an opportunity to learn from other leaders and managers of world-class organizations around the world. I wish you extreme success.