How to find your perfect career

Hi Reader,?

I’ve always wondered if dream jobs really exist. I’ve enjoyed all my previous tech roles and now my current role as a keynote speaker and author. What I’ve come to learn over the years is that while no job is perfect, you can find the right fit for you depending on your goals and where you’re at in life (because these things will change!).?

This course from my friend and today’s guest writer, Simone Stolzoff, comes at the PERFECT time ahead of the new year. I know many of you reading this are always looking to grow and learn in your careers. Simone shares a take below that I think you’ll all find interesting—I know I certainly did (Spoiler: I’m often the maximizer! Reply to let me know which one you are!).

P.S. In last week’s newsletter, Yue Zhao shared her tips for speaking up in meetings, especially if you want to be seen as a leader. If you missed it, check it out here.

Imagine you’re buying a sweater and you find one that fits well and looks good for a fair price. What do you do next?

If you’re what social scientists call a maximizer, you might ask the clerk to put the sweater on hold so you can spend the rest of the day checking other stores to see if there is a better sweater out there.?

If you’re a so-called satisficer, you’ll likely feel content buying the first sweater and moving on with your day.

The interesting thing: Research suggests that even if the maximizer exhausts all the options and returns to the store to buy the original sweater, they tend to be less fulfilled than the satisficer who bought the sweater right away.

From a work perspective, many of us have internalized the message that there’s one dream job for us and we shouldn’t stop until we find it. We tweak our resumes and browse LinkedIn in the hopes of finding a role that helps us self-actualize. But a satisficer approach, where we first determine what matters and then recognize when we have it, is a better recipe for happiness.

Here are some questions to help you take a satisficer approach to your job search:

• What are your non–negotiables? For example, I must make at least $X/year.
• What are your no-thank-yous? For example, I will not accept a job that prevents me from having dinner with my family each night.
• What are the nice-to-haves? For example, I would like to have a job title at the Director level or above.

Understanding your non-negotiables, no-thank-yous, and nice-to-haves will help you determine whether a job has enough ingredients to find fulfillment.?

If you’re looking to spend some time thinking intentionally about what you want from your career, check out the course: Designing Your Next Career Step.

It’s taught by my friend Simone Stolzoff, the author of the book The Good Enough Job and a former design lead at the global innovation firm IDEO. I’ve partnered with Maven to give my readers a special discount. ?? Get $100 off using my code LORRAINE at checkout.

Drop a comment and let us know whether you’re a maximizer or satisficer! We’d love to hear from you!

?Free Lightning Lesson

Want to get to know Simone a bit better (and also get free advice from me)? Join us LIVE in a free, 30-minute Lightning Lesson on Monday, December 16th, 2024, at 11:30 AM PT.?

Together, we’ll help you think about your career with the thoughtfulness it deserves. Whether you’re rebranding, pivoting industries, or just dreaming about what’s next, this live lesson will give you the tools and inspiration to start the new year strong.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

??Learn how to plan out your next career steps in a thoughtful, intentional way using proven frameworks.

??Discover how to gracefully pivot careers from two experts who have successfully navigated several career pivots themselves.

??Stand out in a sea of talent with my practical tips for interviewing and telling your story.

?? Date: Mon, Dec 16, 2024

? Time: 11:30 AM PT

?? Sign up for the Live Lightning Lesson here.

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