How to Know Which Career is Best For You

One of the most common questions we receive is “What should I do for my career?”

Some are studying toward a degree and questioning if it’s right for them.

Some didn’t have parents or mentors who helped them develop interests other than TV, sports, or video games, or they were urged into unwanted careers.

Others want us to tell them what to do. They are so used to following directions and pleasing everyone that they have forgotten about their own inner needs and interests. This is an area where you need to be a bit selfish.

New Age “life purpose” marketing is popular today. For example, one “guru” says, “Knowing your life purpose is the first step to attracting great wealth and changing the world!”

Mythical assertions like this lead people to believe that their most fitting life purpose automatically leads to a high paying career. Unfortunately, we’ve found that not everyone is destined to have “the ideal job” and, or be rich. However, everyone has free will and can make the most of their circumstances, talents, and interests.

Many people are unhappily employed and have no idea what to do. Perhaps life has overwhelmed them, they are stuck in survival mode, and forgot about their passions and dreams.

Here are four tips if you don’t know what to do for a career:

1. As many successful people have said, follow your passions. What you “should” do, your highest path, will likely make your heart sing. Think deeply about what you’re passionate about, what you’re good at, and what you love to do. Somewhere in there lies what you “should” do with your life. Then your task is to figure out a way to make money with those things.

2. Learn to meditate. Then, ask these two questions every day in meditation: “What are my passions and talents and how can I use them to best serve myself and others?” “What is the next step for me in my quest for a fulfilling and successful career?”

3. Once you define a definite career direction, seek out a mentor who has been successful in a similar career.

Note: despite claims to the contrary by New Age marketers, not everyone is meant to be a self-employed entrepreneur. The rate of failure for American businesses, for example, is 90%. For on-line marketing, it’s 95%. It may be that you are best suited to be in a partnership, or even part of a large organization.

Keep in mind that your passion may need to remain a hobby while you pay your bills working a tolerable job. On the other hand, if you’re creative and it’s part of your path, you may be able to find a way to make money doing what you love. Also, sometimes you need to go through a longer process of trying different options, some of which may be needed to develop skills for a later career.

4. Comprehensive astrology and numerology, handwriting analysis, tarot and intuitive, and other types of readings can tell you a great deal about the career that is most suitable for you, and even give you significant clues about how or where to find it.

By the way, some people actually believe that to be truly spiritual you must provide “selfless service” and not put your interests ahead of others. If you want to be a martyr, fine, but we strongly discourage this because you can’t serve others in the best way you can unless you’re also serving yourself in some way.

Copyright © Stephen Petullo, Scott Petullo