Are you curious about how to make a living doing what you love? I used to dream about it, only to give up when faced with reality. But my life changed when I learned how to align my passions with my work. Today, I’d like to share the framework I’ve been using. This framework lies at the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, and what the world needs.
The Intersection of What You Love, What You’re Good At, and What the World Needs
1. What You Love
What you love is literally what you enjoy doing. It’s something you can immerse yourself in so deeply that you forget to eat or go to the bathroom. For example, I love writing. When I write, time flies, and before I know it, the day is over.
2. What You’re Good At
What you’re good at is what you can do skillfully. When you do something you’re good at, you feel a sense of pride. For instance, just as I am good at writing, you too have something you’re confident in. That’s your strength.
3. What the World Needs
What the world needs is what companies require and what society demands. Excelling in this aspect means a key part of your strategy can succeed. Failing in this means a high likelihood of failure.
When these three elements are in harmony, we feel true satisfaction. However, if even one is missing, we can’t be fully content. So, how can we achieve all three without falling into traps?
Avoiding Traps
1. What You Love + What You’re Good At – What the World Needs = Useless Flow
Imagine a technical founder who only codes instead of doing sales, website updates, or accounting. They become engrossed in tasks the company doesn’t need, neglecting important work.
2. What You Love + What the World Needs – What You’re Good At = Indulgent Failure
The company needs to start advertising, but if you’re not good at it, you’ll waste time and resources. Someone without experience in running ad campaigns might spend three months without results, drawing the wrong conclusions.
3. What You’re Good At + What the World Needs – What You Love = Burnout
This is typical burnout. You may do well at your job, but if you don’t love it, you’ll feel drained and exhausted. Eventually, you’ll feel resentful, leading to an end.
Knowing Yourself is the First Step
Knowing yourself isn’t easy, but some prompts can help you find what you love and hate. Fill in the blanks.
Prompts to Find What You Love
- I used to love ______ as a child, and I’m still drawn to it.
- When on a long vacation, I eagerly want to ______ but can’t.
- My friends always laugh when I start talking about ______.
- Recently, I was completely absorbed, excited, and happy while doing ______.
Prompts to Find What You Hate
- I really dislike talking about ______.
- If my job started requiring even 10% of my time to do ______, I would consider quitting.
- After a whole day of ______, I feel completely drained and end up on the couch watching mindless entertainment.
Conclusion
Wouldn’t it be great to do what you love, excel at it, and fulfill what the world needs? If writing a book is something you want to do, even if it takes twice as long and pays less, go for it. You too can live a life aligned with your passions. Start now. You can do it!
Reference: Jason Cohen, [“Finding Fulfillment”](https://longform.asmartbear.com/fulfillment/)