Coffee chats: Finding the right kind of work for you takes time and evolves like you do
About this video
Professionals explain that finding the right work is an experiment, not a perfectly structured plan. One speaker left a high-paying, 80–90 hour-a-week job because it didn't make him happy, and another advises being patient, curious, networking and trying new things rather than expecting the perfect job right out of college.
You'll be able to
- explain why career paths often change over time.
- describe why money and success alone may not make someone happy at work.
- list habits that help people find work that fits them.
Key words
- Experiment
- Trying something to see what happens and learning from the result.
- Burn-and-turn
- A work environment where people work very hard and often leave quickly.
- Network
- To build relationships with people who can share advice and opportunities.
- Fulfilled
- Feeling satisfied and that your work is meaningful.
Transcript
(upbeat music) - But what I wanna start with and open up with is what I've come to believe and learn about life is that it truly is one grand old experiment. And this is opposite to what I used to think because I used to think success was very structured. I used to think success was meant to follow a perfectly structured plan.
You had to choose the right major in college. You had to get the right job right out of college. You had to start climbing the right ladder immediately. And this view has completely been turned on its head.
- So kind of into the second year, I started realizing, you know, this work isn't exciting. I enjoy working in teams. I enjoy traveling. There's some things I like. But overall, you know, it was a burn-and-turn environment. I was working 80 hours a week, 90 hours a week.
I was on planes every Monday to Thursday. And I got to a certain point where I said, you know, this doesn't feel like how I want life to feel. You know, I'm getting more of the things that society tells us you want. I'm getting more money, more powerful, more success.
I got early promoted and I'm still not that happy. So like, what, what will make me happy?
- So what I would say is, be patient. You know, be curious. Ask a bunch of questions. Network a lot, maybe more than you think is necessary. Raise your hand. Try new things. Try those things that scare you, the things you don't know how to do. You'll figure it out. You're smart.
And maybe most importantly, like, don't worry about finding the perfect job right out of college because you, number one, you probably won't. And number two, you probably don't even know what that is right now, right? Like 24 years after graduating, I'm not sure I know what my perfect job is.
But I do know what I'm really passionate about and what I need to be fulfilled at work. So, you know, just, just go along with the journey. Enjoy it. (upbeat music)
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