SO GOOD THEY CAN’T IGNORE YOU

Probably, at one point or another, someone, somewhere has told you that the secret to success and happiness is to “follow your passion.”

_ why did Steve Jobs build one of the most successful companies in the world when his passion was to become a Zen master?

_ more realistic and practical ways to succeed in and be satisfied with your career.

You will also discover how you can find your own mission: an inspiring goal to strive for professionally.

Don’t do what you love. Learn to love what you do.

_ passion comes with time, since you are more likely to be satisfied with what you do when you’ve become good at it and have developed a sense of efficacy and strong relationships_

_ higher levels of job satisfaction. These three factors are: autonomy, the feeling that you have control over your day; competence, which is the feeling that you are good at what you do; and relatedness, the feeling of connection you have to other people.

_ practice hard and get out of your comfort zone.

The craftsman mind-set acknowledges that no matter what field you’re in, success is always about quality. As comedian Steve Martin puts it: “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” Focus on the quality of the work you are doing now, instead of always wondering if it is your true calling.

_ collect career capital by acquiring rare and valuable skills.

_ people with rare skills_

These skills are called career capital, and they are what helps set you apart from other individuals.

_ it forces you to get better at what you’re doing.

_ to maintain control and autonomy in your work.

Research has shown that being in control is a key ingredient to a happy, meaningful life.

Every job is more motivating if you have a mission. People who have a useful, meaningful goal in their work are more satisfied with their work and are better at handling even stressful work

But remember that missions aren’t always good starting points. Don’t worry too much about finding one – they usually come along by themselves as you acquire rare and valuable skills.

You know the old adage “Rome wasn’t built in a day”? Well, neither are careers.

Rather than trying to fulfill your mission in one grand fell swoop, pursue small and achievable projects to make headway step by step.

_ step by step, find and pursue your mission.

Identify the skills you need to succeed in your given field.

How can you use the skills you already have and build on them?

To find your mission, do background research in your field regularly.