Step 2: The Power of Self Discovery

Everyone has some idea where their strengths and talents lie, but the trick is finding the type of work that can utilize those strengths. Here are a few ideas to help you find your way.

How to Discover Your Interests

Pay attention to what kind of articles you are consistently drawn to whenever you are on the internet. I always ended up on articles that dealt with real estate, stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, monopolies, intellectual property, etc. That was an early clue about what type of work would best hold my interest — finance.

My top skills involve research, writing, and speaking; those things always came easily to me. I was a full-time lawyer for many years. Being a trial attorney was a good match for me. (Call me crackerjack, no problem.) Eventually, however, I wanted to try a new profession. I realized that journalism involved the same skills as practicing law. Finance journalism then became the perfect fit for me. That is me. Let us talk about you now.

If you read an article that sparks your interest, print it out, (or bookmark and print it later) and put it in a file simply called: I Love Me. Or whatever you want to call it. Just name it something that lets you know you are there to discover how great you are, through your very own, easy come easy go, natural interests.

It doesn’t matter what kind of work it is, just print out the story and put it in the file. After a few months, open the file and look at everything you printed. All of your natural interests will be staring right back at you.

Now notice which subject has the biggest pile? This is a green flag this interest is deeper than others.By transferring your interest into a bookmark or print out, you will have made a permanent record of what you like, and organized it into a file as well. Do this all the time.

You will not only discover yourself, but you will discover the personality of your interest industry. You will find industry sub-parts that you never thought of before. You might spot a niche that is not overcrowded, where you could make headway faster than you thought.

Next Up, Match Your Natural Interests to your Natural Talents

Just because you have an interest in something, however, does not mean you will be good at it. If this frustration arises, figure out whether you can slightly shift your perspective. Can you still be in the industry, but in a different role than the one you imagined?

If you are enthusiastic about playing baseball but you are not a top athlete, what to do? What other kinds of work are supportive to that field? I know a man who is a natural athlete, who started a successful sports merchandising business. Instead of playing ball, he sold bats and a lot more.

I knew another person who badly wanted to be a reporter. He liked the idea of being about town, in the know. Unfortunately, he did not actually like being out, talking to people. Friendly small talk was tough for him. His deep interest was not suited to his personality. But he knew that had an eye for the big idea and liked seeing how disparate things were connected together. He was a gifted writer, but felt limited by only writing. He shifted into becoming an editor. He became the Editor-In-Chief of a highly respected newspaper, which later won a Pulitzer Prize.

Study your interest industry. Being knowledgable moves you toward your goal. Keep reading to acquaint yourself with the work. Find or create circumstances that allow you to do the basic work, even if there is no pay. What are possible niches where you would fit, hand in glove? Pay attention. Say yes to yourself. Be flexible. An opportunity will walk right by. You have to be open minded enough to see it.

The Law of Supply and Demand Cannot Be Overlooked

Further, the economic principle of supply and demand must be observed. It is important to understand how a capitalist economy works. Capitalism is the greatest economic system in the world. Supply and demand allows people to supply their talents to the markets of human need and dreams. There are so many markets in the U.S. economy, that government agencies exist just to keep track of all of it.

Utilize the “Unseen Element”

Another clue in the process of discovering your life’s path is through what I call the Unseen Element. This is quiet operation of the Universe, that exists outside of you. This is your relationship with the Universal God, in whatever form that takes for you. Ask your God every day to watch over you and keep you safe. Meditate and ask the big questions of life. When are you happiest? When, in the past, were you clearly succeeding? How can you re-create that for yourself now? God is within you. You are meant to be happy.

A word of advice, keep your work search between your soul and your brain. You don’t want to answer to anyone on this issue, and you don’t want hassles from those who would protest your choice. Just keep it quiet; the universe loves a quiet goal. Don’t dissipate your energy by talking about your goal at this point. Just keep up with the means of self discovery, and those print outs, for now.

Personality and Aptitude Tests

There are free tests on the internet; there are paid ones. These tests are adept at sorting out the facets of who you are — your tendencies, habits, beliefs, values, desires, talents, skills. Do not take any one piece of information with absolute certainty. If an aptitude test says that you have talents in some type of work which has little interest to you, move on. There is a balance between your talents and true desires. You have to have both.

Understand your deepest interests, but find the work where your greatest strengths are constantly utilized. At that point, you can go beyond your talents, and into your dreams.

Take the Interests and Aptitude tests at TRUITY.com and get an insight on your interests and strengths.

Pursue Additional Education

A common stumbling block is education; you may need a certificate or degree you do not currently have. Are you already aware of this roadblock? It is time to kick it out of the way.

Start where you are now. Do not get bogged down in the idea that you must go to the top school in your field. Rather, just start doing something now, every day, that puts you on the path to the type of work you want to do.

Grand requirements are unnecessary. Such a mindset may cause you give up. Keep it simple.

If education is a stumbling block for you, even major universities have online education now. You do not have to sign up for a full program. Further, the idea of education has expanded. Online education, YouTube, LinkedIn tutorials can give you what you need to start. No commute, no hassle, no problem.

Make Connections. Make Friends. Be a Friend.

Most of all, find people who are already doing what you want to do. Go for people who are already really successful. Start as high as you can. Find out what they did in order to get where they are. See if they need an assistant, and get to work. If you come up with an idea for a project, tell them, giving yourself a necessary part in it. There has to be someone, close enough to your world, who is winning at your game. Everyone needs connections. Go get them. Finally, in all that you do, remember the golden rule.

“He had the same 24 hours as everybody else. It is what he did with it that mattered.”
Rick dalton, “OnCe upon a time in Hollywood”

Wealth is a Journey; Take Your Time, But Get Going Now

You may say – “I don’t have the time! Doing what you want is for the wealthy. I have to be practical and make a living!” We are talking about you making a living — from the point of view of a helicopter. You have to make room for your future, for your happiness, for an expanded wide framed life. If you have a working life that you don’t like, make a plan how you are going to change it. Your employer does not own your brain. Be resourceful.

You may not be able to quit your job and go straight into a new career. Start small and transition over. Meditate and ask yourself what is stopping you. Figure it out! Once you identify the objection that you have in your mind, write it down, and figure out the way around the obstacle. Do this over and over, until all of the obstacles have been demolished.

Read the next post to find out the next step in the creation of life long wealth and financial independence.

Try Truity.com and read the following books!

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Read “How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big”. This book was written by the creator of the comic strip Dilbert. His ideas are surprisingly helpful. He says kick your unlikely passion to the curb, in favor of finding your top talents and skills, and the work to match them.

Also check out “Visible Hand: A Wealth of Notions on the Miracle of the Market”. Since we are talking about money, it is in your best interest to understand how a capitalist economy works.

Capitalism is a miracle, and allows the greatest number of people to get and do what they want, based not on what the government thinks should happen, but based on the dictates of human need. Capitalism finds its true north in the law of supply and demand. Let it help you find your true north. “Visible Hand” gives you a good overview of economics in real life, in a down-home, easily understood way. Indeed, its best, most hilarious, moments and examples occur at the county fair — on warm summer evenings, around hot dogs, side shows, and cotton candy. Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!