Article written by Norun Laahne Thomassen, Leadership coach and founder of Aequilibre
Striving
for success alone might bring you wealth, status, and power, but do not forget
about fulfillment. In the long run, success without fulfillment will leave you
feeling empty.
Therefore, the best thing to do is to forget about success, be true to yourself, and go for fulfillment. The unintended side effect may very well be success.
Align with your inner compass
Fulfillment
is personal, and it is a journey, not a static state. Therefore, it is
important to choose a career that feels meaningful and engaging and allows you
to continuously grow and develop.
The
best way to discover what fulfillment means to you is to explore your highest
values and your inspirational sense of purpose. Together, your values and
purpose serve as an “inner compass” that helps you to stay on your individual
path to fulfillment (and success) no matter what obstacles and temptations come
in your way.
Intuitively,
you probably already have a sense of your inner compass, but bringing it fully
into your conscious awareness makes it much more powerful. Articulating and
writing down your purpose and values is a good way to achieve that. Below, I
will guide you through the process. But do not worry if you do not get it right
the first time. Sometimes you just need to reflect on it for a while. So keep
trying until you feel the fit.
Find your inspirational sense of purpose
Your purpose gives you a sense of being part of something that is bigger than yourself. In order to discover your purpose, start by writing down your thoughts about the following questions:
- What future would you like to see for the world?
- What do you think the world needs?
Next,
look at your notes and think about how you, through your work and
career, can best contribute to the realization of your vision for the world? Remember
that it should be something you are good at, something you love doing, and
something that allows you to earn a living. When you find the answer, you will
know your purpose.
Discover your highest values
Your
values reflect what is most important to you. If you need some help and
inspiration to find your topmost values, try this free Personal Values
Assessment developed by the Barrett Values Centre.
Your
list of values might seem a bit abstract, so make each value more concrete by
thinking about what this value looks like in action. How does it show up in
your behavior on a daily basis, and how does it guide your choices and
decisions?
Tweak your existing job
Knowing
your inner compass gives you the clarity you need to make your current job more
exciting. If something feels “off” in your current job, there is a good chance that
it does not allow you to express your purpose and values to a satisfactory degree.
Say,
for instance, that one of your top values is “personal growth,” but your job has
become dull and does not challenge you enough. In order to improve the
situation, think about some concrete steps that you could take to express your
value of personal growth more fully at work (e.g., asking your boss for more responsibilities
or signing up for some further education).
Land the perfect job
If
you are in the process of looking for a new job, keep your purpose and values
in mind when you evaluate potential job offers.
Always
hold your higher purpose and vision for the world in mind when you present
yourself and talk about what you can offer. You do not actually need to state
your purpose out loud. Simply knowing that you are on a mission for something bigger
will give you strength and help you to get out of your own way. You will be
less nervous and more self-confident, and your good intentions will shine
through in everything you say.
In
a job interview, make sure you ask questions that will help you to compare your
personal values with the values of the organization and especially the people with
whom you will be working the most closely. For instance, if one of your top
values is “independence” and you know that you like to work with a certain
degree of autonomy, you can ask questions that will help you ensure that your potential
new boss is not a micromanager.
Be good, do good
Following
your inner compass will help you to flourish and live a full life. Many
studies, especially in the field of positive psychology, show that people who
cultivate positive feelings and a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives are
not just more successful, healthier, and live longer; they are also more
engaged in the world and tend to do good for others.
I encourage you to go out and be one of them!
To know more about coach Norun Laahne Thomassen, CLICK HERE.