Are You Deciding On Purpose (extended interview)

But frequently, in-venturing doesn't happen at all-people simply avoid it. An event will trigger a change, but instead of taking time for reflection, they go back out into the world. And what they find is the same kind of job, the same kind of situation that didn't work for them before.

You see the same pattern in both work and marriage: You leave a job that makes you unhappy-and then find the same kind of job. You get divorced-and then marry the same kind of person. And typically, you blame the world for these bad experiences, rather than doing self-reflection or finding some coaching to break the pattern.

7. Use this formula for a good career decision.

Over the years, I've devised a very simple formula that lays out the critical factors to consider when you're making a career choice: T + P + E x V.

T stands for talent, and it's where you should begin when you're considering a career choice or a career change. Very simply, the questions are, What are your strengths and weaknesses? How can you focus on your strengths and manage your weaknesses?

Most people aren't using their talents. They didn't choose their career; their career chose them. They got into a line of work because they had to get a job, or somebody told them they'd be good at a job. They were young, they started down a certain path, and they never stopped to ask what their calling might be-not just their job, but their real calling. Then before they know it, they hit midlife, and they're asking themselves, "Why am I doing this? Why did I start down this path instead of following my real talents?".

P stands for passion, or for purpose. Talents develop best in the context of interest. Aristotle said it a long time ago: "Where the needs of the world and your talents cross, there lies your vocation." Ask yourself, "What needs doing in your organization? What needs doing in the world?" Then put your talents to work on some area of need that you believe in. Choosing your work is your chance to do something more meaningful than getting up in the morning, putting in your time, doing what it takes to pay the bills.

The E stands for environment: What work environment best suits your style, your temperament, your values? I often meet people who have identified their talents and their passion, but who are working in an environment that doesn't permit them to express themselves. When they move to a new environment, one that uses their talents and honors their values, they suddenly find an alignment that works. They discover new energy and new purpose in their work.

V stands for vision-how you see the rest of your life. Talent, purpose, and environment are all about work style and work choice. Vision describes how work fits into the rest of your life. Where do you want to live? How much money is enough? How important are your relationships? What are you doing to stay healthy?

8. Live in the real world.

In an ideal world, you would do what you love, and you would get paid handsomely for it. But in the real world, you're often pulled in two or more different directions. It's become popular to say, "Just follow your bliss and the money will come." I don't believe that at all. These decisions take hard work. You can't simplify life into that kind of wishful thinking.

But what does work is something called natural productivity. It happens when the elements of that formula -T + P + E x V- are in alignment: You do your best when you're using your talents on something you believe in, and when your environment supports your effort. The number-one factor that holds people back is their environment. People have real talents that they're prepared to apply to something they believe in, but their environment is toxic. They take their talents and sense of purpose to a job across the street-and they shine.

Most people who feel a tension between what they say they want to do and what they find themselves doing simply haven't done their homework. They're waiting for someone else to make the choice for them-or for the world to present them with a corner office, a lot of money, and a life of travel.

9. Don't sell yourself short.

Work can and should give you a sense of joy. You spend 60% of your life doing work or getting ready for it. So to dismiss your work by saying, "I'm just doing this to pay the bills" seems like an enormous trade-off. Are you really willing to trade off 60% of your time just to have money to spend in the time that's left? That's not a good investment. And if money is what motivates you, ask yourself this: What if you could invest in yourself? Would you invest more if you knew you were working on something that used your talents and tapped your passion? If you could invest in yourself, why not invest in your time?

10. Find motivation from without-and from within.