Ask Ken Coleman: Finding fulfillment in your work

What if the money didn’t matter?

Question: I’ve had two or three jobs since graduating from college, and I haven’t felt like any of them were what I’m supposed to be doing with my life. Do you have any advice to help someone find their true calling? 

Answer: Believe it or not, many folks out there are in the same position. We all want to be fulfilled in our work, and when that doesn’t happen, we can feel confused, helpless, or even trapped.

I believe thoughtful, detailed planning is an essential part of making every goal become reality. Writing down these thoughts and desires also is important. You can have all the passion in the world, but without a written plan—one that focuses on the steps necessary to make it happen—you’ll fail miserably every time. Not only will you fail, but eventually, it will destroy your confidence.

What is it you really want in life? What type of work do you want to do? Where do you want to live and do the work you love? Keep asking yourself these questions. Assess your answers ruthlessly. Repeat this a few times, and you may find that the answers will change. That’s OK, because each time you’ll gain clarity. And don’t worry if the discovery process takes a while. These kinds of things rarely occur overnight.

About the writer: Ken Coleman is host of “The Ken Coleman Show” and the top-rated “EntreLeadership” podcast, and author of “One Question: Life-Changing Answers from Today’s Leading Voices.” Follow him at kencolemanshow.com or facebook.com/kencolemanshow.