{"id":72606,"date":"2022-07-17T14:06:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-17T18:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=72606"},"modified":"2022-07-20T14:37:09","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T18:37:09","slug":"find-fulfilling-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/find-fulfilling-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find Fulfilling Work\u2014Simon Sinek’s 3 Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is the best method for finding fulfilling work<\/a>? How does understanding your life’s purpose lead to fulfilling work?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to motivational speaker and author Simon Sinek<\/a>, taking the time to examine your life’s purpose will lead to finding fulfilling work. Sinek provides a proven method for discovering your Why, or purpose, and shows how purpose-driven people lead happier lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to find out Sinek’s steps for finding fulfilling work through living a purposeful life<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Finding Your Why<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Purpose-driven people are more successful at finding fulfilling work, and they contribute more to the world around them, according to Simon Sinek, best-selling author, coach, and popular TED Talk speaker. Find Your Why<\/a> <\/em>distills Sinek\u2019s theory and his experience working with organizations and individuals into a workbook you can follow to discover your own purpose and strengths, or those of your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Sinek, \u201cfinding your Why\u201d means finding the single core belief that inspires you to do the work you choose to do and be the person you want to be<\/a> in all spheres of your life. He believes every individual and organization has a purpose, though not everyone has discovered theirs or put it into words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you know your purpose<\/a>,<\/strong> you can find work that fulfills you<\/strong>\u2014that is, work that matters and makes you feel that you’re part of something bigger. Sinek believes everyone, no matter their role or status, deserves to find fulfilling work. (Shortform note: Sinek draws a distinction between fulfillment and happiness, unlike traditional career advice<\/a> that often conflates the two or sees them as operating in tandem<\/a>. Fulfillment is lasting while happiness fluctuates. Additionally, Sinek\u2019s understanding of fulfillment as a human need is in line with long-standing theories from psychology. Psychologist Abraham Maslow theorized that humans have five basic needs<\/a>, including self-actualization, or fulfillment of our potential.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example: A Personal Purpose Statement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This example of a personal purpose statement <\/a>shows how each characteristic contributes to the effectiveness of the overall statement: \u201cTo help women unleash their inner power to create a life in which they feel fulfilled, inspired, and empowered.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. It\u2019s a single sentence<\/em>, so it\u2019s easy to remember and use to make decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. It\u2019s clearly focused on the impact<\/em> the person seeks to have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. It\u2019s meaningful and it declares real goals and actions<\/em> so the writer can easily know which opportunities or ideas are aligned with her purpose, or Why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. However, it\u2019s not so specific that it limits her to only one type of work. It would be a constant <\/em>whether she\u2019s at work, in civic or volunteer work, and even in her interactions with friends and family. She could be a life coach for women, a venture capitalist who seeks out women-led ventures\u2014or, a mother or friend with a knack for empowering girls and women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Determining Your How<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The process of identifying your How, or methods, is the same for individuals and teams:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, group similar themes until you\u2019re left with no more than five.<\/strong> (Remember not to use the themes you already wrote into your purpose<\/a> declaration) Each of these remaining themes is one of your \u201cHows,\u201d so you will have around five practices that characterize you, and together describe how<\/em> you put your purpose into action. Sinek recommends stating your How in actionable language that is easy to understand. Then, elaborate on each How to make it more concrete<\/strong> by adding clarifying statements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, if a How states \u201cwe build safe communities,\u201d you could add the following clarifying statements: <\/p>\n\n\n\n