“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” – Confucius
VENTURES AFRICA – While trying to find an anchor for today’s post, the above quote credited to Confucius, the great Chinese legend, came to my rescue. I believe many of you would have come across the above quote at one time or the other and would continue to ask how true is the quote? Can you really choose a job or the job chooses you? On and on, you can go. The aim of this post is to attempt to answer the question – how can I find a job I love?
Permit me to start with myself. I have strong passion for knowledge and that drives most of my offline & online activities a great deal. I love engaging myself in intellectual activities per time; I simply love reading and sharing ideas! Can I make a career around my interests & passion? Yes, I can sure do! But, is that what I do on a full time basis now – partially yes! Why, you would ask? Truth be told, I didn’t get to know all these about myself in time, I only started to discover myself as my career in HR kicked-off a few years back. Actually, I have a first degree in Chemical Engineering and thanks to early career discovery; I’m close to doing a job I love! My citing all the details above is for a reason which reading till the end of this piece would justify.
Choosing what you love and making it your job, how true is that? Can it really be achieved, irrespective of location & profession? I found a perfect answer, which I would be sharing with you in a moment.
According to James Citrin and Richard Smith in their book called “The 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers” (the book was based on in-depth, original research and extensive experience of the authors), they proposed that there are three critical elements responsible for finding the right fit in a career i.e. find a job you love. These three elements are:
- Playing to your strengths
- Setting your passions free and
- Working with the right set of people
They believed that when “you find your strengths, passions, and cultural fit, you will be happier and more successful in your career. How simple indeed. However, from the thousands of professionals they surveyed ONLY 9 percent believed they are in jobs that fully leverage their strengths, performing activities that they are passionate about in an energizing environment and with people that they like and respect.”
After encountering the above research findings as presented in their book, I came to the understanding of why every employee/job holder is always on the move to change jobs! It is the quest to strike a balance between all three elements. I believe this would hold true for those that make ‘career fulfilment their main goal and not ‘cash fulfilment’.
- As an employee, ask yourself – does my current job role play to my strength?
- Am I passionate about going to work each morning? Do I love to be with my colleagues at work or say your boss at work?
- And as an employee planning to change employers, ask yourself – will my new role play to my strength? Will I be passionate about my new role? And will I grow career wise with my new employer’s?
These are the main questions you need to ask and consider very deeply.
In closing, finding a job you love is not a day’s job, it requires a lot of balancing act based on the three elements above – your strength, your passion and the people you work with! When the balance is right, you can make bold to say you are doing a job you love!
Till next time, we are all work in progress!
*Remember to drop your views in the comment section. Let the discussions begin!
The Author
brett adams said on May 29, 2012 [1:04 am]:
How did you make the transition into human resources? This is my true Passion, and I do it well. However, I have been in the restaurant, hospitality, and healthcare industries. I do more HR than anything else every day, but I am just seen as “a restaurant guy.” My current position is Director of Hospitality Operations. Any advice? I have attained my PHR., SPHR., and have a B.S. in Human Resources with a minor in psychology.
Segun Akiode said on May 29, 2012 [9:27 am]:
Brett Adams: my transition into HR was at the start of my career, I got my very first job in an HR Consulting firm and that served as a foundation to build on. In your case, its not impossible to do, only that you would need to adopt a ‘career change strategy’ to achieve it. Already you have the necessary HR qualification so yours is a case of looking for a ‘perfect’ opportunity to move into HR as a role, though reading your comment, I would suspect you do HR along with other operational management roles. I believe, this would be of help to you. All the best
Patrick mbuthia said on February 23, 2013 [12:21 pm]:
I do approciate with your ideas on HR,furthermore i’v undertaken account course CPA(k) upto section two,i need ajob.
Natina said on May 26, 2012 [12:33 pm]:
This is a very intresting and appreciated article! This is more informative & helpful than my cousin’s vague advice, always have a plan B! LOL
Segun Akiode said on May 26, 2012 [10:55 pm]:
Natina: you gave me a good laugh with your cousin’s story. Glad this post was of great help to you. Cheers
Adams olamide said on May 22, 2012 [7:39 am]:
I need ur help sir,I can write and very good sir.
Segun Akiode said on May 23, 2012 [8:54 am]:
Adams: follow me on twitter at @segunakiode and let us have a tweet chat then. Cheers
Pastor Oyebanji-Newmann Oluwatobiloba Michael said on April 30, 2012 [10:08 am]:
It’s a pieace of write-up many people really need to look into in order to fullfilled career wise. There is something in you needed in an organization but give It your best.
Segun Akiode said on April 30, 2012 [11:18 am]:
Micheal, thanks for your comment
Bamidele Ajose said on April 27, 2012 [8:57 pm]:
@Segun, this is a great piece which a few people fail to realise in their job seek or engagement. Beyond, I will try to lay my hand on this book and digest. Permit me to add this that your trait of strong passion for knowledge as well as sharing of your ideas are worthy of emulation because readers are leaders, above that according to Napoleon Hill in his book the law of success, he said ” we never learn very much about a given subject until we commence teaching it to others”. Sir you are doing a good job.
Segun Akiode said on April 30, 2012 [9:10 am]:
Sir, thank you for the compliments and for the additional comment too. Also, do well to get the book, it would be worth your while. All the best
Bolarinwa said on April 27, 2012 [3:02 pm]:
I can’t agree more, sir! You seem to have presented some very vital points in a simple way. Thanks for the enlightenment…I really needed this.
Segun Akiode said on April 27, 2012 [8:09 pm]:
Bolarinwa: so glad the post was timely for you. I wish you all the best in your career aspirations. Cheers
Le Dynamique Professeur said on April 25, 2012 [12:44 pm]:
Balance – Strength, Passion and People | I totally agree! That’s the key. Thanks for sharing sir.
- LDP
Segun Akiode said on April 25, 2012 [1:17 pm]:
LDP, that’s the key part – the Balance between all the three elements. Glad you had that as a take away. Cheers
boye said on April 24, 2012 [6:58 pm]:
Great read. I should get a copy of the book you suggested. I personally have always asked myself this question. Thanks for leading me to the answer.
Segun Akiode said on April 25, 2012 [8:41 am]:
Boye, do well to get the book. It would be a real investment of your time and treasure. Thanks for your comment
samOBAFEMI said on April 24, 2012 [6:09 pm]:
The ‘Work in Progress’, great piece Sir. Strength, Passion, and People. I’d remember that with PSP.
Well done Boss.
Segun Akiode said on April 25, 2012 [8:39 am]:
samOBAFEMI: we are ALL work in progress! I do appreciate the acronym PSP, thanks for adding that
Yimika said on April 24, 2012 [6:08 pm]:
Very clear and Concise…love to read more answers to some miscontrued questions. Keep it up.
Segun Akiode said on April 25, 2012 [8:37 am]:
Yimika: thanks for your comment. Glad you had something to learn from it. Feel free to share ‘some if those misconstrued questions’ with me. Cheers