Career Fulfillment Starts With Identifying Motivations

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Career Fulfillment Starts With Identifying Motivations

Posted February 20, 2018 by Sean M

One of my favorite ads about career fulfillment is the Monster commercial that shows children aspiring to mediocrity. In dripping irony, they describe a job future that’s all about settling for less: “When I grow up, I want to file all day. I want to crawl my way up to middle management. Be replaced on a whim…”

The message resonates because it describes what happens to a lot of people. The dreams of youth give way to the realities and responsibilities of life. We take the job we find instead of doing what fulfills us most because there’s a mortgage to pay, a family to raise, or a life to get on with.

It doesn’t have to be that way. There are natural opportunities to change direction—if you know where you want to go. And that means understanding what really motivates you.

Careers At The Crossroads

There are at least three inflection points you can seize to set or change the course of a career and find greater fulfillment:

When you’re in your late teens and early 20s, first weighing your educational options and later applying for jobs when you’ve almost graduated.
A few years into a new career, when you’re young and flexible enough to change without losing much.
In midlife, when hopefully you’ve accumulated some financial security, perhaps your children have grown, or you’ve figured out that you don’t need much in life but to be happy in what you do. There may be additional impetus in midlife because many employers devalue experienced people in favor of younger candidates who are more malleable (in the minds of employers), and cheaper.

Doing What Sets Your Heart On Fire

Fortunately, new tools can help you identify your deepest needs while you consider career options. Positive psychology is the current trend and it offers a different frame for thinking about your professional life. A 2005 study of motivations and goal-attainment by social psychologists Judge, Bono, Erez and Locke offered the following conclusion:

“A growing body of research suggests that people who choose goals that are concordant with their ideals, interests, and values are happier than those who pursue goals for other reasons (e.g., extrinsic or defensive reasons).”

In other words, when you understand your motivations, you have the opportunity to fulfill your deepest needs. Following that path is bound to feel a lot happier than taking or keeping a job primarily because of the pay or other external rewards it may offer.

We created the Inside8™ test and formed a community around eight personality groups to help you identify and understand your “ideals, interests, and values”—in short, your motivations.

Applying Inside8™ Test Results

A quick look at each Inside8™ group provides insight into an array of possible career choices that may be fulfilling to you. Here are just a few examples:

Primal Enterprisers^® tend to have a strong sense of self and a willingness to try new things. At their best, Enterprisers can be curious, courageous, collaborative and action-oriented. If you’re an Enterpriser, a bureaucracy or “corporate” structure may not be for you, and you might consider entrepreneurism, consulting, coaching, counseling or a similar field where your authenticity can flourish.
Primal Guardians^® tend to be high-energy social protectors. At their best, Guardians care about the well-being of others and work hard to maintain a competitive edge. If you’re a Guardian, you can explore many careers that contribute to the betterment or protection of others, such as the military, law enforcement, teaching and coaching.
Primal Harmonizers^® tend to seek balance in everything, including work and life. At their best, Harmonizers use their ingenuity and creativity to solve problems and bring together different points of view by facilitating discussion, negotiation and agreement. If you’re a Harmonizer, you might want to explore career opportunities in diplomacy, law, arbitration and conflict resolution. Or, you might want to grow where you’re planted. For example, if you’re in a union, you can look to be more involved and become a lead contract negotiator.
Primal Holistics^® tend to be resourceful and can thrive as part of a group, or while working alone. At their best, Holistics can be creative catalysts who contribute to team projects by inspiring others. If you’re a Holistic, you might want to consider a career in the creative arts (e.g., product design and development), as an advertising/marketing creative director, or as a writer.
Primal Ideators^® are often the quintessential “idea people” who can envision and articulate big-picture concepts. At their best, Ideators lead, inspire and influence others with their thinking and ideas. If you’re an Ideator, think about finding a great entrepreneurial partner who prefers the business side of things (hint: Primal Originator^®), and leverage your leadership and creative talents to invent new things. Or look for the big companies that have the deep resources and corporate culture that celebrates invention. (Whether they know it or not, Google is calling you.)
Primal Individualists^® tend to be fulfilled by helping others, while staying grounded by their strong sense of individuality. At their best, Individualists can encourage others with their positive outlook, while taking calculated risks and acting as collaborative leaders. If you’re an Individualist, think about exploring a career in private equity, management consulting or nonprofit management. Those sound like three very different career tracks, but the common denominator is that all of them provide professional settings where you can help others succeed on a large scale.
Primal Nourishers^® often focus on making themselves better by promoting physical and mental health. At their best, Nourishers inspire others by sharing their knowledge and skills for nurturing personal well-being. If you’re a Nourisher, you have a lot to explore. Athlete, coach, sport psychologist and motivational expert are just a few of the options that might fulfill you.
Primal Originators^® tend to value personal freedom, while being creative, caring and forward-thinking. At their best, Originators are resourceful, foster collaboration and know how to plan for the future. If you’re an Originator, entrepreneurism is a clear option. There might be a Primal Ideator^® out there with a great invention you can appreciate and help bring to reality. Or you can leverage your capacity for planning for everything from becoming a financial advisor to event planning.

These are just a few ideas. If you’re at a career crossroads, we encourage you to look within yourself so that your next move will better align with what really motivates you. It’s the key to making work feel like fun.