At some point in your professional career, you have asked yourself if your business, career, or job gives you fulfillment. We have this view that if we take the “right” actions, then we will have fulfillment. If we get a degree from college, land a “good” job, take on the family business, climb the ladder, or gather more degrees, then fulfillment will just happen. If there is so much action being taken, movement, and accomplishment, then why do we feel something missing, or unfulfilled?

The problem is that we are asking the wrong questions. Normally, we ask ourselves what subjects we like, what are good at doing, or how much money we want to make. Then we take action based upon those aspects, and hope that fulfillment will follow. Fulfillment is not the cherry on top of the sundae; it is the feeling created from the entire sundae. 

 Finding fulfillment for your professional career is created by combining two main ingredients:

• discovering your self-expression,

• and being in an environment where self-expression naturally impacts others

It requires finding something unique to you, and then giving your uniqueness as a contribution to other people. 

A couple of years ago, I found myself in this very place. I knew I had great skills sets, solid experience, a good head on my shoulders, and the determination to accomplish anything. However I had zero clarity on what I wanted, much less knowing how to find my self-expression. I grew very tired of saying, “I don’t know,” and sought out some clarity.   

It will take a bit of time and discovery to realize your self-expression, but I have found the 5 right questions to ask. Start your discovery by responding to these questions freely, and without judgment.

1. When have you been most happy in your life? Describe what happened and who was there.

2. What are you interested in the most? Describe what you are excited about in life.

3. What do you like best about yourself? Describe a talent, skill, or characteristic; not physical attribute.

4. When have you been most proud? Describe what happened and who was there.

 5. Suppose on your dying day, you look back on your life, what 1-2 words would you use to describe the legacy you want to leave?

Take note of any common themes, or which responses resonated with you the most.  Another great resource for asking the right questions is

http://www.fastcodesign.com/3028946/find-your-passion-with-these-8-thought-provoking-questions

When I explored my own fulfillment, I discovered that I was most proud of “adding perspective to another person’s life that moves them closer to what they want.” And my very next thought was, “What kind of job will that be?”  It never occurred to me that I could earn a living by “adding perspective” because it had existed as simply giving advice to friends and family, until I realized it’s best to start by determining our unique self-expression, then we will be ready to take action in creating a business, career, or job that matches our unique “self.” For me, it became extremely clear that I wanted to pursue coaching other people, and this career path has created fulfillment everyday since the discovery. These questions are for clarity first, so that you have direction to take actions aligned with you, rather than starting with an ominous abyss of job postings and hoping one of them will match your self-expression.

Just because you might have college degrees, or money in the bank, or high titled position, doesn’t mean that you have found professional fulfillment. If fulfillment is what you want, then be sure to explore the right questions.

What did you discover after going through these questions?