How to find work you will love?

Why work? For the past two years, there is a disturbing social trend in which people have been questioning the rationale for working. From movements like China's “lying flat,” or tangping (躺平) in Mandarin (https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-lying-flat-took-chinas-overworked-millennials-by-storm), to the rise of the anti-work movement around the world (https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220126-the-rise-of-the-anti-work-movement), people are getting sick of work. The implications can be profound. According to a recent finding, the U.S. alone lost 4.4 million workers. Their reasons varied, but clearly dissatisfaction and disillusionment with their employment are two strong reasons.

I sympathize with the workers. After all, I quit a good job in 2012 with a company that I still think fondly of today. But my former boss was impossible to work with. My energy was down, and I no longer looked forward to work.?It was a mini midlife crisis. I first explored other options within the company, and when I could not make changes within the firm, I took a risk and moved on. Today, I am happier, healthier (pandemic notwithstanding), and making more of a difference to the world.

But for those who quit work or who are "lying flat", I truly hope that the hiatus is temporary. Taking time off can be nurturing and invigorating, but staying away from work is an exercise in self-destruction even if you can afford it.?As I mentioned to my graduate students this morning, I have way too many interests, and I never really know what I want to do - even today. But I wanted to accomplish something in this life. So here are the top three reasons why I work:

1. Work can be a source of tremendous satisfaction. It is satisfying to work with highly intelligent students (as I did this morning) and help to create the next generation of project leaders.?
2. Work pays the bill. I do not aim to be filthy rich and have my own personal jet, but as a person of six feet, I like to afford Economy Plus seats.?
3. What else am I going to do? I do not have plans to retire – ever. I can envision myself in the 90’s, assuming I have the health.?

There are many books about career and personal development. But for busy people, I have a simple technique that I learned in my teens, and I have been advocating its use ever since. For those who are search, consider doing the following:?

1. Draw three circles:?

a. One circle for what you truly like to do and boil it down to very simple components. For example: do you like to work with people, with number, with your hands on something concrete, and/or with your brain on abstract tasks??

b. A second circle for what you truly excel. What are your strengths? For example: Are you a good communicator? How about working with numbers? Do you like to build things and/or work with abstract ideas like developing strategies???

c. The third circle focuses on what are marketable skills. Unless you are born rich, we have to earn a living. For example, you may be great at math, but as seen in the movie “Hidden Figures”, the job of human calculator became obsolete with the arrival of computers. Thus, if you are really good at math and enjoy it, your focus should be not just on speed but also on depth and sophistication.?

d. By the way, if want to add an extra degree of precision in your search, in the three circles above, also explicitly write down the opposite, e.g., what you hate, what you are terrible at; and jobs you would not want to pursue.

2. Create a Venn diagram. The Venn diagram is an excellent to to visually analyze your choices. By examining the three circles and focusing on the overlaps, you can more readily see the sweet spot.

a. Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with a bright high schooler. Like me, she has many interests, but she also wants to focus, especially with college on the horizon. I advise this student to perform the above exercise and then repeat it yearly. This way, she can see change over time and guide her to make optimal choices.

3. Be objective with your plan. I see many young people develop an overly romanticized vision of certain jobs and careers. Whenever possible, validate your career choices by speaking with others. Better yet, try it. This tends to be easier for younger workers to switch careers. But even when you are a busy professional, consider taking on volunteer opportunities in which you can try another profession. By experimenting and learning, you can affirm or reject your choice.??

4. Integrate and adapt. A career may be a big part of your life, but it’s still just one dimension. Therefore, work with your family and integrate the career plan with the rest of your life’s priorities. Also, remember to adapt your plan as the situation changes or if things do not work out. Life has many turns, and what works at one stage (say when you are single) may not be the same once you become parents. So be flexible and account for the different life stages. Work is just one aspect of your life, even if it’s an important part.??

5. Finally, remember to be kind to yourself by knowing when to take a break and when to celebrate. For most of us, and with a bit of luck, life is a long journey and there can be many adventures along the way. There will be failures and heartbreaks, but there will also be winnings and celebrations. Hence, celebrate the small and big wins, and once a while, look back at the journey. You are likely going to be amazed at what you have accomplished through work.?

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Perhaps it's just me, but I am finding a strong and persistent negative-bias toward the very idea of "work". Perhaps it is the great resignations or pandemic induced dislike of work, it appears there is a greater tendency for people to demonize work, as if work is something we have to do but hate to do it. That's a real shame. Considering that most of us spend a significant portion of our life working, it would be worthwhile to find ways to make work more enjoyable and rewarding. Thus, I am planning to start a newsletter titled "Way of Work" to offer ideas to discuss work - how to have more fun, how to find better ways of working, how to achieve results, and how to maximize your contribution. Please stay tuned.?