Finding a dream job that's enjoyable and meaningful doesn't involve a) discovering passion through a flash of insight, or b) a job that is easy and high-paid.
Rather, you can develop passion while doing work that you find enjoyable and meaningful.
Past $75,000, increases in income do not substantially affect happiness, sadness, or stress. Past $50,000, increases in income do not affect life satisfaction. High-earning jobs do not equate to high levels of happiness. For reference, these statements are based on Kahneman and A. Deaton's 2010 study.
Many people tell us they want to "find a job that's not too stressful." [...] One puzzle is that studies of high-ranking government and military leaders found they had lower levels of stress hormones and less anxiety, despite sleeping fewer hours, managing more people and having greater demands placed upon them.
I personally thought this was really intriguing and promising. I feel this is likely true for CEOs and founders as well.
Engaging work is work that allows you to enter a state of flow.
Four factors that make work engaging:
A bad boss can ruin a dream position, while even boring work can be fun if done with a friend.
Question: What are examples of workplace cultures?
All of the following tend to be linked to job dissatisfication:
The idea is that the key to finding a great career is to identify your greatest interest — "your passion" — and pursue a career involving that interest. It's an attractive message: just commit to your passion, and you'll have a great career. And when we look at successful people, they are often passionate about what they do.
But that doesn't necessarily mean causation.
If you don't have a "passion", don't worry. You can still find work you'll become passionate about. [...] You can start a career in a new area. If your work helps others, you practice to get good at it, you have engaging tasks, and you work with people you like, then you'll become passionate about it.
Many successful people are passionate, but often their passion developed alongside their success.
Rather than having a single passion, in reality our interests change often, and more than we expect.
This all means you have more options for a fulfilling career than you might first think.
We highlight "getting good", because if you find something you're good at that others value, you'll have plenty of career opportunities.
Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
What's more, [...] as a college graduate in a developed country today, you have an enormous opportunity to help others through your career. Ultimately, this is the real reason to focus on helping others — the fact that it'll make you more personally fulfilled is just a bonus.
To have a dream job, don't worry too much about money and stress, and don't endlessly self-reflect to find your one true passion.
Rather get good at something that helps others. It's best for you, and it's best for the world.