One question I frequently heard from students during my five years as an adjunct professor was, “How do I know what kind of job is a good career fit for me?”
Coaching older, more seasoned folks looking for a new career path, I often heard, “I don’t really like my work, but it pays the bills. What should I do?” Or “I just got laid off and need to find a job tomorrow. I have bills to pay!”
The younger folks starting out place a high priority on having an emotionally satisfying career. They want jobs they love doing that makes them feel like they are contributing to society’s good. The size of their salary is important but less so.
For older folks in mid-career, the size of their salary is much more important. They have significant financial obligations in families, homes, kids who want the latest technology and to go to the best colleges, and so on. They would like jobs they enjoy and gain satisfaction from, but they will do just about anything that covers the family’s financial needs.
Most folks struggle with career questions because they prioritize only one aspect of the decision (for example, I love doing it, or I make enough to pay the bills) when there are four essential dimensions to consider.
Uncover Your Purpose at Work
I don’t remember where or when I first heard about the Japanese concept of Ikigai, but I saw it recently in an article by Jeffrey Gaines. Ikigai is a helpful model to help us uncover our purpose at work. The modern idea of Ikigai may have roots in Japan, but I see Biblical principles throughout.
Ikigai (ee-key-guy) combines two Japanese words; Iki, which means “alive” or “life,” and gai, which means “benefit” or “worth.”
Ikigai means “that which gives your life meaning or worth.” In other words, “What gives your life purpose?”
So, the real question most people ask is, “What gives my life purpose?” Or from the standpoint of job seekers, “What is my purpose at work?”
For any of you who have read Pastor Rick Warren’s book, Purpose Driven Life, this phrase should sound familiar!
4 Dimensions of Purpose
The answer to what gives our life purpose is found at the intersection of our personal purpose and our contribution to society. Four questions help us uncover our work purpose:
- What do I love to do?
- What am I good at?
- What does the world need?
- What can I get paid for?
Our purpose lies in the intersection of each of the four dimensions. This is our sweet spot where our personal needs are met, and we contribute meaningfully to society.
You Love It
What kind of work brings you joy and a sense of fulfillment? God built us uniquely to enjoy doing certain things. Some things that bring me a sense of great joy and fulfillment my coworkers could not care less about. Begin to answer the question of your purpose in work by thinking about all the things you do that make your heart sing.
You Are Great at It
What skills or talents do you have that can be applied to your work? God gave us certain skills, gifts, and talents, and He intends us to use them for His Kingdom. Your purpose at work will be found amidst the things God has uniquely gifted you to do.
You Are Paid for It
Can you get paid for the work that you want to do? I may enjoy backyard gardening and even be good at it, but can I get paid for it? The next question is, will the wages meet my needs if I can get paid for it? God knows we have needs, and He will lead us to the right job at the right time.
The World Needs It
Does society have a need for the work that interests you? Your purpose at work will be most satisfying to you personally if it contributes in some way to bettering society. Bringing clean water and food to impoverished communities are obvious examples. But don’t overlook the contribution of the contractor who builds homes, doctors that keep us healthy, or the millions of other jobs, however mundane they seem, that contribute to society’s welfare.
Combining Your Dimensions of Purpose
Now that we understand the four dimensions of our purpose at work, we can refine our model by combining pairs of dimensions.
You Love It + You Are Great at It
Your passion is at the intersection of what you love and what you are good at. You not only love doing this, but you are great at it!
You Love It + The World Needs It
Your mission is at the intersection of what you love and what the world needs. You love doing this, and the world needs it!
You Are Great at It + You Are Paid for It
Your profession is at the intersection of what you are great at and what you get paid for. You are great at doing this, and happily, you can get paid for it!
The World Needs It + You Are Paid for It
Your vocation is at the intersection of what the world needs and what you get paid for. You sense God has called you to do this specific work.
Your Personal Purpose at Work Sweet Spot
The sweet spot of your purpose at work is when what you love to do is something you are great at, you can get paid for it, and the world needs it!
Over the years of coaching dozens of students and professionals, I’ve learned that we rarely achieve a perfectly balanced sweet spot for our purpose at work. Usually, one dimension takes priority over others, which is important for us to understand and accept as a part of life!
The young student beginning their career may lean toward altruistic work that the world needs without regard to their skills or how well the job pays. Later though, as they gain experience and take on family responsibilities, their priority will shift to how much the job pays because they have other people depending on them for support. The mid-career person who achieved a measure of career success may now think of giving back by supporting more altruistic work. The priority of the four dimensions tends to shift and move about depending on our stage of life and our personal and family responsibilities.
No matter what stage of life you find yourself in, know that God created you with unique skills and talents to build up His Kingdom. It doesn’t matter what our work is if we do it in a way that brings honor to Him!
More Articles
I have written several articles on this topic. You can find them by typing “Purpose/Passion” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorites.
- #501: Does God Expect Everyone to Be Engaged in Full-Time Christian Service?
- #466: Your Calling is A Gift to Receive, Not A Masterpiece to Create!
- #459: Should I Try to Pursue God’s Calling in A World Spinning out of Control?
- #458: Is Your Purpose Revealed in Your Pain Rather Than Your Passion?
- #446: Do You Labor in Vain or For the Glory of God?
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. How are you doing at uncovering your purpose at work? Has your work purpose shifted over time?
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Category: Personal Development | Purpose/Passion
Finding that sweet spot between what you love, what you’re good at, and what the world needs, can be a process of trial and error. Author Cal Newport advises young people to develop “rare and valuable skills” in order to find success, but then success is more than just income.
Finding the sweet spot is a life-long pursuit because we change, our circumstances change, and the world around us changes. The trick is learning to be, as the Apostle Paul says, “content in every situation.”