“Success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure.” Tony Robbins

In the course of the development and growth of my business, I have been looking at a number of issues that I see as fundamental to a positive transition experience, whether that is identifying the right career, self-identification beyond the military, building resilience through identifying your core values, and, of late, determining what is fulfilment.

I see so many people leave military service and get into the first job that comes along. They are keen on getting the sustenance of income, they are keen on landing something without too much responsibility, they are just keen to get something to do beyond their service. In many cases this can lead to minor issues that, without their being addressed can build to be major issues. 

In the military, at many levels of rank and responsibility, we are still required to get in and get our hands dirty as part of a team effort. There is something humbling and yet gratifying about this. It instils a sense that we are connected and working as a team to resolve issues impacting the broader group and perhaps the mission. Nevertheless, it reminds us that we are able to lower level work if required, as well as think more operationally and strategically.

Some people accept this and leave service to take up roles below their capabilities and mostly for the reasons I have stated above. However, this can have an impact, and people soon start to feel unfulfilled in their work. This is often not easy to identify, and in turn can lead to a sense of not being valued, being worthless and this can impact our own self-worth. I therefore advise people to hit high when leaving the service and identify a role or path that will make them feel valued and fulfilled.

It was only recently, while listening to a Tony Robbins session on Audible, who identified 6 elements to fulfilment and then, subsequent discussions with a counsellor/mentor/therapist friend of mine, @Dave Kneeshaw, that this was built out to take it from concept to action and a manageable self-diagnosis tool that I could share with people.

Understanding the needs that we have and then recognising them, doing some low-level analysis on where we feel we need to develop can support us in feeling more fulfilled in life and work. The four “basic needs” can be achieved in a number of ways, and some harmful, and it is the essential needs that need to be met for it to be a positive experience. For example, variety could be achieved by drinking in different pubs (when they re-open), but it is hardly a positive need achievement if done every night, and the lack of personal growth and contribution will mean that it quickly becomes a fruitless exercise.

Below is the first iteration of a tool I hope will help. Early thinking based on listening to Tony Robbins and equally discussing in more detail with Dave, and I hope some people find it useful in developing an understanding as to how they can make small changes to start to feel more fulfilled in work, in life and leisure.

Fulfilment at work, at least, is essential to your feeling of self-worth. Be good to yourself.

If you have any questions, then please feel free to message me, or email me at [email protected].

Finally, thanks to Tony Robbins and @Dave Kneeshaw for their work in developing my understanding.