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Finding your "one true calling" through self-study and personality quizzes is a myth. Research shows we discover who we are by doing—sampling jobs, projects, and social groups, then reflecting and adjusting. This is critical as our personalities are in constant flux, especially in our 20s.
Every job can be broken down into a core, repeatable loop of actions (e.g., a doctor's diagnose-prescribe loop). Instead of focusing on titles or industries, find a career where you are energized by executing its core loop thousands of times, as that is what your daily work actually entails.
Pursuing a more fulfilling career doesn't require risking financial ruin. Instead of taking a blind leap, you can vet a new direction by "trying it on"—shadowing professionals, conducting informational interviews, and testing the work in small ways to understand its reality before making a full transition.
Contrary to the romanticized view of post-college life, one's early 20s can be professionally unfulfilling and socially isolating. This period is better framed as a 'workshop' phase for trial-and-error in your career and life, rather than expecting it to be the best time of your life.
Founders often need to shed the mindset instilled by traditional, prestigious careers. This involves questioning subconscious drivers like "what should I do?" and intentionally replacing them by surrounding yourself with people who have non-linear life paths and different value systems.
To find your true calling, divide your life into five-year increments. For each block, list what you loved doing and what others said you excelled at. The seven or so themes that repeatedly emerge point directly to your core purpose and passion, which often get lost in the pursuit of money.
The search for a single, true purpose is flawed because humans are dynamic and constantly evolving. Instead, focus on living purposefully by ensuring your actions, beliefs, and identity are in alignment. This makes meaning an active, ongoing process rather than a final destination to be found.
Discovering what you genuinely enjoy requires breaking out of your corporate mindset, much like physical therapy for a forgotten muscle. You must force yourself into uncomfortable, unfamiliar situations—like free tango classes or random online courses—to build the 'muscle memory' for passion and exploration.
Stop searching for your passion. Instead, find a field where you have the aptitude to become great. Achieving a top 10% or 1% skill level generates the prestige, security, and camaraderie that ultimately create passion for the work itself. Proficiency precedes passion.
Many people find their calling not by pursuing a lifelong dream, but through a process of discernment. This involves engaging in new experiences, reflecting on what provides fulfillment, and then using those insights to inform the next step in a continuous cycle of trial and error.
Instead of pushing young people onto a single career track, parents should encourage them to have three distinct adventures each decade. This allows them to explore different paths—like teaching abroad or working in business—before settling, ensuring they find a career they truly love and are suited for.