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1-Page Summary of How Will You Measure Your Life?
Overview
Reunions reveal a lot about human tendencies. After graduating, people are usually happy and hopeful. Ten years later, they’re generally satisfied with their careers but unhappy in other areas of their lives. Thirty years after graduation, many have gone through divorce or family crisis, and some may even be incarcerated.
There are many theories in business. They can help a person understand why certain things happen and how to predict future outcomes based on those choices. Theories can also be used for personal growth, such as finding fulfilling careers, maintaining healthy relationships, or living with integrity.
Finding Happiness in Your Career
People usually give up on their dreams when they grow up. For example, children who dream of becoming astronauts or pop stars will end up doing things like accounting once they become adults. That’s not necessarily bad, but you shouldn’t completely sacrifice your happiness to be practical. You can find fulfillment in your career by knowing what you want and how to achieve it. In business, this means identifying a company’s priorities, analyzing the ways that companies respond to opportunities and threats, determining where the company allocates its available resources. The same holds true for individuals as well; people should know what they want out of their careers and pursue them with intentionality so that they don’t end up miserable at a reunion with former classmates from school who are unhappy with their jobs.
What makes us tick
The first step is understanding why you get out of bed every morning.
Many people believe that money is the greatest motivator. Thus, they seek a career with the best financial options. But many wealthy professionals are unhappy in their jobs, so it’s clear that there must be more to being motivated than just having a good salary. Rather than purely seeking out better salaries, we should find work environments where we can thrive and grow as individuals, regardless of our paychecks.
The best motivators are challenging work, recognition and opportunities for growth. These intrinsic rewards make people want to go to work every day. Ironically, when you’re truly motivated at work, you tend to be more productive and learn faster than someone who is not intrinsically motivated at work. The result of that is a higher income level in the long run. However, money isn’t what makes someone happy with their career; it’s the other things mentioned above that really matter most.
Thus, when choosing a career you should focus on what motivates you rather than just money.
The balance of calculation and serendipity
Imagine that you’ve been teaching for many years. You meet an old acquaintance who wants to start a business with you, but it’s not in your original plan. Now what should you do? Should you stick to your 10-year plan or be open to the changing tides of life?
If you’re currently in a job that provides a good living and the right motivation, it’s best to stay there. If your job isn’t motivating or satisfying, then it’s better to try new things until you find something that works for you.
If you love teaching and are passionate about it, then you should stay at your job. However, if you don’t like teaching or feel that there’s a better opportunity out there for you, then starting a business is the right choice.
Your strategy is not what you say it ss
A strategy is just talk until you dedicate the necessary resources to it. A business must assign employees and determine a budget for new projects, just like a person must commit time, energy, and money to his or her goals in life.
