It’s not a surprise that 1 out of 2 people is unhappy with their careers. We trade our precious time for frustration and money.
Ever thought about that? Four years ago, I was also frustrated with my career. And because your job plays such an important role, my whole life felt
I’m not saying you should love your work at all times and that your career should be one big party. No, some days I also don’t like my current career. But I’m 100% comfortable with the way I spend my time.
Do you see what I’m getting at? A fulfilling career is about multiple factors that you must get right. Otherwise, you will end up hating your life. Specifically, I’ve learned there are four pillars of a fulfilling career.
Most of us only get one or two of these pillars right. But like you and I both know; an unstable foundation does not last. If the foundation of a house requires four pillars, you can’t get away with using only two.
You might get away with three, but if you want to have a house that lasts for decades, it’s smart to use all pillars. And it’s the same for our careers.
Here are the four pillars of a fulfilling career. How many of these pillars do you have in place?
Pillar One: Compensation
How much you earn at your job makes you feel valued—that’s what compensation is about. Money is not about status or material things. When you do work that’s valuable, you should be rewarded for that. That’s what I strive for.
But at the same time, we need to remind ourselves to stay grounded. Chasing money for the sake of having more money never ends well. Learning how to manage your money is one of the most important things you can do for yourself.
Pillar Two: Work
When you always prioritize compensation over the type of work, you won’t feel good about your career. And sometimes, people can go on for years doing work they hate so they can make enough money.
I don’t like that because I value time more than money. I want to make sure that all the hours I’m putting in my work, I actually enjoy. And yes, you can also enjoy the hard and uncomfortable things about your job.
Pillar Three: Lifestyle
I’ve tried different lifestyles: Traveling for work, living in a big city, and living a quiet life. I like the last one best because it suits my personality and current goals.
For example, if you don’t like traveling—don’t become a business consultant at a large firm. It sounds like common sense, but you would be surprised how many people hate the lifestyle that comes with their jobs.
Pillar Four: Contribution
We all want to feel valued and important in our careers. You don’t have to change the world or help a million people. Most of us only want to make a meaningful contribution.
The reality is that only a small group of people are responsible for the majority of the results (Price’s Law) at most organizations.
Once we understand that, we must put ourselves in a position that makes us valuable
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