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Stressing about finding a career you’re passionate about? Try this instead

Have you ever been told, “Just follow your passion,” like it’s an obvious solution to your problems?

Have you ever wanted to do this to the person that said it?

please don’t hurt anybody

Don’t answer that.

This is something we’ve all heard! And there’s some level of truth to it. Having a job that you’re passionate about can be a life-changing experience. Loving what you do is a game changer.

If you happen to be someone who lives in that space right now, congratulations! That doesn’t always happen.

I kinda cringe whenever I hear someone drop the “follow your passion” line. Not everyone knows their passion, or has one that translates well to an actual career. So if you fall into this camp, you’re not alone. That sorta thing doesn’t always just neatly fall into your lap or line up perfectly. But that doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to an unhappy career. It also DOES NOT mean that you should just wait around until it finally does neatly fall into your lap.

I’ve heard many people (including clients of mine) say they want a job they’re passionate about. They’re not happy because they’re just not passionate about their job.

The reality is most people’s jobs aren’t their passion, and there’s no magic wand you can wave to instantly uncover your passion and find yourself in a job you’re passionate about. 

If you’re stuck in this gray area of not knowing what your passion is or not knowing how to make a living doing something you’re passionate about, I have a perspective to share with you that I’d like you to at least consider:

Instead of stressing over “Passion” try searching for “Good enough for now.”

Yup, you read that right. Don’t get so hung up on “finding your passion” and instead get more in tune with what will satisfy you right now while you dig deeper into yourself and sharpen your skills.

Good enough for now can look like:

  • “It pays me what I need to support myself and my loved ones, and live a good life.”
  • “It’s not my favorite thing in the whole world…but I do actually enjoy it.”
  • “I’m having an impact I care about while using skills I like.”
  • “I have more good days than bad days at work.”

Good enough for now is a place that feeds your needs, and still leaves room for something better down the road.

If you’re having a hard time with “Passion,” go find your “Good enough for now.” And then build your way to better and better from there.

BUT…BUT PASSION!

I know, I know. We all want passion, and having it in our careers would be a dream come true. But passion isn’t something you just find. It’s generally something you cultivate through intentional action. Over time. It takes very purposeful self-reflection, meaningful action, and building a relationship with yourself. And that’s just to develop passion. 

So going from “I don’t know what my passion is,” to “I have an actual job that I’m passionate about,” is a huge leap, and it’s not always one that will result in you being able to build a life you like (ya know…because not all passions pay the bills equally).

Rather than just resigning yourself to sadness and unhappiness in your career because you don’t know what your passion is, start a little smaller. What skills do you have that you actually like using? What does your job need to provide you with in order for you to live good?

What is your “Good enough for now?”

Good enough for now IS NOT SETTLING. It’s being strategic about getting what you want. It’s designing your way from one step to the next [better] step. It’s recognizing that life is too short to be stuck in what I call the Dichotomy of Passion or Pissed.

It’s about creating space for you to be happy while you get to know yourself better and better and ignite a passion for something.

And what you may find is that what you’re passionate about might actually be better suited outside of your career. Because guess what? Sometimes, if you apply too much pressure to your passions, you’ll burn right out of them anyway.

So if you’re frustrated with your career journey because you’ve been working in jobs you’re not passionate about, I’m here to tell you it’s ok. You can still find a career that satisfies you!

And guess who can help you do that!

Me!

So let’s connect because I have resources for you. Sign up for free email coaching from the comfort of your couch, and let’s get you on the way to your Good Enough For Now. And by the way, your Good Enough For Now is better than that job you know you don’t like and are burned out of!

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If you want to take an action step on the way to a real transformation, sign up for a free consultation (Click here)! I do them all the time, and you’ll feel good about yourself for taking initiative and being active in your career journey. The job you want is out there, so let’s go get it!

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The Real Reason Some Of Us Hate Being Asked “So What Do You Do?”

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So there you are, on a cool little outing with your friends: vibin’, slidin’, dippin’, glidin’ around like a feather. Cocktail in hand, you’re making conversation with your best friend’s new co-worker when they look you in the eyes and ask, “So what do you do?”

*Record scratch*

You can’t believe they had the audacity. The impudence. The GUMPTION. Why would they ruin your vibe with THAT question?

You look at them, they look at you:

In your mind, you push them. In reality, you give a quietly frustrated answer and transform into this meme:

Ever been there before? Because I have. 

It sucks.

There are definitely many reasons why someone might hate this question, but there’s one in particular that I’ve come across several times now with people I’ve spoken to, and it really stands out to me:

They’re not proud of their job.

It’s more than just not liking it. They find it uninteresting. Uninspiring. In their mind, their work and impact are insignificant.

And because they really feel that way, they assume others will too when told about it.

So being asked that question can feel dreadful, embarrassing, sad. Not because what you do is embarrassing or sad or dreadful, but because you feel that way about it for one reason or another.

Maybe because it’s boring to you. Or because you don’t feel respected by your co-workers, supervisors, students, customers, or whoever. You probably put out high quality work, but maybe your job doesn’t allow you the opportunity to have the impact you want to have. And honestly, I can relate. When I worked in Higher Education, I felt respected by my peers, but I didn’t feel particularly proud of the impact I was having. It didn’t start off that way, but so much of my work started to feel mundane to me over time. I couldn’t stand being asked about my work by friends, family, or new acquaintances.

If you find yourself feeling a little bit annoyed when someone asks you about your job, I have a task for you. Ask yourself this question:

Why?

Go sit somewhere quiet, pull out your favorite wooden pencil (are those a thing of the past now?), and write out some of your thoughts on why you feel that way. If you find that it’s at least in part due to the fact that answering “So, what do you do?” makes you feel kinda small, then I have another question for you to ask yourself:

What about your job or career makes you feel that way?

Do you feel embarrassingly underpaid? Does it feel ridiculously mundane? What’s the pain?

Most of us want to do work that we feel is important and fulfilling. And we want to be able to make a real living doing that work. Is that too much to ask?!

Nah, of course not. Believe it or not, there are real people that don’t mind being asked about what they do for a living. There are people who actually feel excited by it! And I would bet that for many of them it’s because they don’t feel like they’re doing unimpactful work. They’re actually inspired by some of their daily tasks. They wake up in the morning at peace with the work day ahead. They feel good about where they’re at.

So it’s possible. I’ve seen it, experienced it myself, and worked with others who have too. But it can be challenging to get there. If you’ve read this far, I’d guess that you’re already well aware of that.

And I have some news for you: I want to help you get to a place where talking about what you do makes you feel excited.

Schedule a call with me and let’s talk (CLICK HERE). It’s free, it’s one small positive action, and you’ll feel good about it. Let’s start you on the path to being able to answer “So, what do you do?” without the stress and frustration.

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1 Key Screening Factor Hirers Love

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“How do I know what the hiring manager is looking for?”

“How do I make the right impression in my interview?”

“What if I’m not totally qualified for the role I want to apply for?”

Good questions! Tough questions.

Hiring managers, of course, look for different things depending on what they’re hiring for. So, of course there could be many things you should be mindful of!

But still, every hiring manager I’ve ever met, interacted with, or heard from (including myself) loves one thing in particular in a candidate: Motivation.

WHY MOTIVATION?

Hiring managers feel like a motivated candidate can be trusted to do good work. A motivated employee will show up. They’ll learn fast. They’re more likely to stay engaged and produce tangible results.

Of course, there’s always a bit of responsibility on the employer to keep their employees engaged, but they know that someone coming in with their own motivation will benefit them.

Why?

In part, because motivation can overcome a lot of challenges and barriers. That could even include the dreaded “required years of experience” factor in some cases.

Lead from a place of motivation or energy.

BUT WHAT IF I’M UNDERQUALIFIED TO BEGIN WITH?

Every once in a while, someone will tell me how they lack the experience in years for a job they want to apply for. “Should I apply for it anyway? How do I get my foot in the door?”

I get it. It can be tough to get past certain requirements like that. 

My response: Work with what you DO have. If you lack the amount of experience an employer is asking for, approach from a place of motivation!

If you can find opportunities to weave in demonstrations of your motivation overcoming barriers, you can improve your chances of impressing employers in the best of ways.

OK SO HOW DO I GENERATE MOTIVATION?

Well, you have to be working toward the right things. It’s hard to be motivated about things you couldn’t care less about, so it’s best if you can position yourself to be doing work you’re truly invested in.

Get to know your ambitions and values. What’s important to you? What gets you up every day? What inspires you to do good work? What goals do you have and why do you have them?

Beyond that, it helps to then break your goals down into smaller steps (small steps are good). When you break them down into smaller goals, they become more manageable, which helps you gain momentum and drive.

And make yourself an action plan–something tangible. When you have a written plan that breaks things down into steps, not only does it help you get organized, but it also gives you an opportunity to track your progress and measure your success. It’s cathartic and energizing to cross something off your list.

Organization is hard, and you don’t have to figure that out on your own. Click the link below and sign up for a free consult with me so we can discuss how to conduct your job search without all the confusion. [Click Me!]

Build healthy habits outside of your goal. No one can stay in a constant state of motivational energy 24/7. At some point, you’re gonna have to remember to take care of yourself. Rest is a productive act. Doing things outside of the goal is a productive act. Taking care of yourself holistically will help you maintain the energy you need to keep motivated.

Finally, celebrate your successes. Reward yourself. You like cake (I don’t)? Gift yourself some cake! High-five yourself! Get you a margarita! This sort of feedback can help positively reinforce your motivation.

WHEN CAN I WEAVE MOTIVATION INTO THE JOB PROCESS?

There are a few opportunities, actually!

  • Your resume: demonstrate taking initiative, improving your learning, building bridges where none existed previously
  • Your cover letter: highlight experiences where you went above and beyond
  • Interviews: show genuine interest and excitement; give examples of how you’d solve problems in the role
  • Networking and outreach: send follow-up emails (don’t overdo it) after interviews; request informational interviews BEFORE you apply
WRAPPING UP

If you want to impress your hiring manager, demonstrate that you’re motivated. Show them you want to show up and be consistent. Show them you take initiative. Show them you learn fast. Remember, a motivated candidate is often perceived as someone who will make a trustworthy employee. 

So even if you do lack in some other areas, you can overcome deficiencies with the right touch of motivation.

FEELING LOST, STUCK, OR CONFUSED?

Getting a job in something you’re actually motivated to do is tough sometimes, especially if you’re unmotivated NOW. So if you’re in that boat, here’s the ONE thing I want you to do:

Click this link –> [Click Me!] and sign up for a free consultation. It’s time to talk about getting you the job that makes it easy to be motivated!

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3 Tips For Managing Your Perfectionism

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People pleasing.

Procrastination.

Unrealistic expectations.

Anxiety.

Imposter syndrome.

Do any of these sound familiar to you at work? If the answer is yes, then you (or someone you know) might be dealing with perfectionism. 

Author and political activist Anne Lamott once wrote “Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people,” and studies show that 86% of employees believe that perfectionist expectations have impacted their career. Quite an enemy.

Perfectionism often gets in the way of progress, and many of us struggle with it in the workplace. Whether it’s a fear of failure, or genuinely wanting to excel at work, perfectionist habits ultimately tend to inhibit productivity and lead to burnout. Specifically, let’s take a look at how perfectionism might be inhibiting you at work.

DE-MOTIVATION

Perfectionism can de-motivate you by causing you to have to stare down impossible or unrealistic standards. It’s easy to sort of check out when faced with unreasonable standards, because you might sense that failure is unavoidable.

If you find yourself constantly lacking motivation due to a fear of failure, remember this motto:

Progress, not perfection.

Your work doesn’t have to be perfect (or even complete) for it to be great, useful, or impactful. Instead of starting with the goal of perfection in mind, start with the goal of progress: aim to do something that helps you, your team, or someone else make progress.

LACK OF FOLLOW-THROUGH

Inability or extreme difficulty to finish topics is often related to–you guessed it–perfectionism! Sometimes, you might find yourself perpetually tinkering with something that’s already good enough. Or maybe you can’t stop contemplating what to do next on a work project, and instead of picking a direction and following through, you just…keep contemplating…until you have the “perfect” solution.

This brand of perfectionism will greatly diminish your effectiveness at work because you wind up struggling to get anything done. If that’s you, I have another motto for you:

Done is better than perfect.

Most times, getting something done is better than getting it perfect. Why? Because a “good enough” but less than perfect product allows you and/or the people around you to make progress and have a real world impact. And perfect tends to be pretty unreachable anyway. At the very least, the outcome isn’t worth the investment. It takes too long or costs too much. Which leads me to my final point…

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FEELING LOST, STUCK, OR CONFUSED?

Getting a job in something you’re actually motivated to do is tough sometimes, especially if you aren’t really sure what that is. That’s a frustrating place to be, and I know because I’ve been there before.

If you’re there now, I can help you.

Come take the Career Compass Assessment and

  • Address the frustration of knowing you have transferable skills, but not really knowing what they are exactly
  • Understand exactly what’s causing you pain in your current job, and what’s standing in the way of having a career you really want
  • Finally deal with your current career confusion that has you complaining about your job, but not doing anything about it

You’ll walk away with a personalized report detailing what your skills indicate about your career journey, and you’ll know what step you need to take next to get yourself in motion!

How it works: You’ll do a brief online assessment and then hop on a 45 minute 1 on 1 zoom session with me.

The Career Compass Assessment Program is currently being offered at $97!

At the end you will know:

  • What transferable skills you ALREADY HAVE to offer that are currently in-demand
  • Potential job fits that would actually energize you instead of drain you
  • What steps you should take in the short-term to finally move you toward a job you’ll love

Don’t wait–the price is going up! Let’s get started!

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The 5 Major Screening Factors That Get You Hired

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Do you ever wonder what hiring managers are looking for in their candidates?

The specifics of what a hiring manager needs for a particular job will vary depending on the job, the company, and potentially a variety of other considerations, of course, but there tends to be a pretty consistent 5 themes.

These 5 themes make up the 5 Major Screening Factors. Master these screening factors, and you’ll position yourself as a frontrunner in your job search.

SCREENING FACTOR #1: PERSONALITY

That’s right. When it comes down to it, and all the remaining candidates are technically qualified for the role, the deciding factor is often personality.

Do they like you?

Do they feel like you’d work well with the other employees?

Does your communication style vibe with theirs?

Would your energy level work well for this role?

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Cover Letter Troubles? Here’s How to Write Them Well

THE GRAVY, ISSUE 5

Cover letters scare lots of job seekers. 

“How do I write a good cover letter?” 

“How long should it be?” 

“What about the heading and address and all that stuff? What do I do about all that?” 

“Should I write a general cover letter, or a specific one for each job?”

Let’s talk about cover letter writing. And guess what! Cover letters (in my opinion) are actually pretty easy. Especially compared to resumes.

FIRST THING’S FIRST…

Cover letters are easy because they’re short. Really short. The whole thing, including the heading, the addressing, and content, should be 1 page. That means your actual content should be around half a page–4 paragraphs, 14-17 sentences.

You can do that.

If your cover letter is longer than 1 page, it’s probably too long. Kinda like resumes, nobody likes reading cover letters. Hirers read them mostly out of necessity, so don’t give them a whole essay. It’s overwhelming. Give them the highlights in 1 page, single spaced, and standard font size/type.

YOUR HEADING AND ADDRESSING

Your cover letter heading should be the same as your resume heading:

Name nice and big, with your contact information and maybe your LinkedIn profile (if you have one and it’s ready to go) below it. The consistency will help you stick in the minds of your readers.

Then comes the addressing. Personally, I think this part is just a relic of a time when people would actually mail in application materials. It’s not the most important thing in your cover letter, but it’s nice to include it correctly since it’s still convention. Here’s what you should include:

  • Date
  • Hiring Manager’s Name
  • Hiring Manager’s Title
  • Company Name
  • Company Address Line 1
  • Company Address Line 2

Followed by: “Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],”

Here’s the thing. It’s often kinda hard to find the name and title of the hiring manager because it’s not always listed anywhere. If you can’t find it, just leave it out of the address part and instead start your letter with “Dear Hiring Committee/Manager.”

Pretty easy, right? Stick with me!

LETTER CONTENT: INTRO

This is the part where people’s struggles begin, but there’s a strategy and organization to writing a good letter. Again, I recommend 4 paragraphs, starting with an intro.

Your introduction paragraph should be just that: An introduction. Introduce yourself, how you found out about the job posting, what you’re excited about, and what the reader will discover about you as they continue to review your candidacy.

You want to do this in a way that is unique to you. For example, you’re not just a talent acquisition professional, maybe you’re a bilingual talent acquisition professional with a passion for building reliable relationships that produce mutually beneficial outcomes. The opportunity to hone in on the details of the company’s acquisition process excites you, and you’re confident that you can leverage those details to attract and hire top tier talent.

Think of it like this: Imagine that the candidate pool is 100 people. You want to write an intro that maybe 15 other candidates could write. That’s how you stand out from the crowd. 3-4 sentences.

LETTER CONTENT: PARAGRAPH 1

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