How to figure out what to do with your life

TL;DR

The key to finding satisfying work lies in pursuing personal interests, building skills, and considering important qualities such as autonomy, competence, relatedness, creative autonomy, interaction with others, authority, spotlight, and work-life balance.

Transcript

• This video is sponsored by Skillshare. There's a 10 word phrase that almost all of us get asked when we're kids, what do you wanna be when you grow up? And for most of us, the answer to that question usually has to do with specific job roles, firefighter, engineer, CEO, or sometimes it is a specific company we wanna work for, Tesla, Apple, Ninten... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🏭 Job roles and specific companies may not be the most important factors in finding satisfying work; the traits and qualities of the work itself matter more.
• 💦 The self-determination theory's focus on autonomy, competence, and relatedness can help individuals identify satisfying work.
• 💦 Building new things, continuous learning, creative autonomy, interaction with others, level of authority, desire for the spotlight, and work-life balance are additional qualities to consider when seeking fulfilling work.
• 🖤 Gaining experience through volunteering, personal projects, and self-learning can help individuals overcome the lack of previous job experience.
• ❓ Skillshare is recommended as a platform to acquire practical skills for various job areas.
• 💦 Pursuing personal interests, gaining experience, and being observant of work qualities are crucial in finding satisfying work.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can individuals determine what type of work will be satisfying for them?

Individuals should pursue their interests, gain as much experience as possible, and be observant of the qualities in their work that resonate with them. Keeping a journal and reflecting on work experiences can help in identifying these qualities.

Q: Is it necessary to have previous experience to get a job?

While some industries may require prior experience, many jobs allow individuals to gain experience through volunteering, personal and side projects, and self-learning. Skillshare is suggested as a platform to acquire practical skills.

Q: What are the three main qualities that make work satisfying according to the self-determination theory?

The self-determination theory states that autonomy (control over time and actions), competence (feeling skilled in the work), and relatedness (connections with others) are the three main qualities that make work satisfying.

Q: How can individuals balance personal life and work?

Work-life balance depends on individual priorities and preferences. Factors such as the amount of time spent on personal relationships, the commute to work, and the availability of personal time after work should be considered when seeking work satisfaction.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video discusses the challenge of figuring out a satisfying career and proposes that the specific job role or company may not matter as much as the traits and qualities of the work itself.

• The speaker reflects on diverse projects he has undertaken, highlighting the range of skills and experiences he has gained satisfaction from.

• The self-determination theory, which emphasizes autonomy, competence, and relatedness, is mentioned as a framework for finding satisfying work.