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Have you ever looked at someone who seems so successful in their career and thought, “Wow, they’re so happy in their job. If it works for them, maybe it’ll work for me too ? If they’re happy, I’ll be happy too.”
It sounds logical, right?
It’s tempting to believe that following someone else’s formula for success will automatically lead to your own happiness. But here’s the truth: just because someone is happy as a lawyer, designer, or entrepreneur doesn’t mean you’ll feel the same way in that role. Copying someone else’s path almost never works.
Their path works because it aligns with their unique passions, strengths, and values —but what about yours?
What makes them feel fulfilled might not resonate with you. Copying someone else’s career is like wearing someone else’s custom-made suit—it’ll never fit you quite right, no matter how great it looks on them. You skipped the essential step of figuring out what truly matters to you:
- What do you truly value?
- What lights you up?
- What kind of work environment do you thrive in?
How to Discover What You Truly Want in a Career
For many of us, this starts early. Maybe your parents nudged you toward a “secure” or “prestigious” profession, wanting the best for you but unintentionally steering you away from what you really wanted. Or perhaps you fell into a career because it seemed like the logical thing to do—your friends were doing it, or it felt like the safe choice. At the time, you didn’t question it because, honestly, how well do we really know ourselves at 18 or 20? We’re teenagers, fresh out of school, and told to “pick something” that will define the rest of our lives.
Fast forward a few years, and you wake up in a life that feels … off. The work you’re doing feels disconnected from who you are. Mondays become a dreaded routine, and deep down, you start questioning, “How did I end up here? Is this really what I want?”
You don’t have to stay stuck in someone else’s idea of success. When you stop looking outward for answers and start listening inward, that’s when everything shifts.
