Finding your “true north”

Posted: April 23, 2020 | Categories: Self-Improvement

Discover your passion.  Find a need and fill it.  Love what you do.  Most of us have likely heard these “rah-rah” phrases.  Here is the reality:  When top business schools have conducted surveys the results consistently indicate that about 50-60% of the U.S. working population does not like his or her job. Their job is necessary to pay the mortgage and support the family.  Once we get situated, it is hard and often expensive to change.

We have probably all seen a situation when someone was well established in their career, earning a high income, and no longer liked their work.  They want to do something they enjoy, but can’t afford to make the change.

Our country is in midst of a health crisis now, and many we know are laid off or furloughed. The good news is that these folks have a lot of time  to re-evaluate and review their life plans.  As we do this, I want to give you some points to dwell on that can help you find your “true north”.  These questions come from Brian Tracy.  He is a successful author, business consultant, and trainer.  Here are his key points:

1. You will always be the best at something that you love to do. If you could afford it, you would do it without pay.  It brings out the very best in you, and you get a tremendous amount of satisfaction and enjoyment when you are engaged in that particular work.

2. You do it well. You seem to have a natural ability to perform in that area.

3. This talent has been responsible for most of your success and happiness in life up to now. From an early age, it is something you enjoyed to do and you got the greatest rewards and compliments from other people.

4. It is something that was easy for you to learn, and easy to do. In fact, it was so easy to do, you forgot when and how you learned it.  You just found yourself doing it easy and well one day.

5. It holds your attention. It absorbs you and fascinates you.  You like to read about it, talk about it, and learn about it. It seems to attract you like a moth to a flame.

6. You love to learn about it, and become better at it all your life. You have a deep inner desire to really excel in this particular area.

7. When you do what you are ideally suited to do, time stands still.  You can often work in your area of special talent for long periods without eating or sleeping hour after hour because you get so involved in it.

8. You really admire and respect other people who are good at what you are most suited to do. You want to be like them and be around them, and emulate them in every way.

Take some time to go narrow and deep on these points.  Odds are, you will find yourself closer to what you love, and more eager to pursue a new direction.

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