Three Questions to unlock your authentic career Ashley Stahl at TEDxBerkeley

Summary

The speaker shares their journey from a career in national security to becoming a career coach, emphasizing the importance of aligning work with one's true identity. They offer three key questions for finding an authentic career: 'What am I good at?', 'What do people tell me I'm good at?', and 'What's holding me back?'. By answering these questions, individuals can navigate their career choices beyond just pursuing passion, focusing on their natural strengths and overcoming limiting beliefs. The speaker encourages seeking guidance and asking for help to embrace a fulfilling career path.

Takeaways

• 💼 Career transitions can be unexpected; the speaker shifted from political science and counterterrorism to career coaching.
• 🔄 The speaker realized their passion (political science) didn't align with their true self, leading them to quit their job and pursue career coaching.
• ❓ There are three key questions for discovering your authentic career: What am I good at? What do people tell me I'm good at? What's holding me back?
• 🎯 It's important to do what you're good at, not just what you love, as passion alone may not guarantee career success.
• 🗣️ Feedback from others can help reveal your natural talents and strengths, offering insights into career paths you may not have considered.
• 🚧 Many people hide parts of their identity at work; the speaker felt conflicted between their job identity and personal values in the national security field.
• 👥 Asking for help, such as hiring a career coach, can be transformative in gaining clarity on career direction.
• 🧠 Negative thoughts can limit career progress; recognizing and challenging these thoughts is essential for personal and professional growth.
• ⚡ Embracing who you are and aligning your career with your authentic self is more valuable than just chasing passion.
• 🔑 Asking yourself the right questions and talking to others can unlock a fulfilling career that resonates with your true identity.

Q & A

What was the speaker's original career aspiration?

The speaker originally aspired to work in the field of counterterrorism, spying, and national security, particularly at the Pentagon.

What prompted the speaker to shift from a career in national security to career coaching?

The speaker realized that although political science was their passion, career coaching better aligned with who they truly were. A personal crisis and dissatisfaction with their life in Washington, D.C., led them to seek help from a career coach, which fundamentally changed their perspective.

What does the speaker identify as the key difference between pursuing a passion and pursuing a career aligned with one's identity?

The speaker emphasizes that while passion is important, it is more critical to find a career that aligns with who you are. Passion alone may not lead to career success if it conflicts with personal values and strengths.

What three key questions does the speaker suggest asking to unlock an authentic career?

The speaker suggests asking: 1) What am I good at? 2) What do people tell me I'm good at? 3) What's holding me back?

Why does the speaker emphasize asking 'What am I good at?' over simply pursuing a passion?

The speaker argues that interest in a subject doesn't guarantee success in a career. It’s important to identify what you are naturally good at and not just follow a passion blindly, as it may not translate into professional success.

How did the speaker's time in Washington, D.C., impact their mental and emotional state?

The speaker experienced a 'quarter-life crisis' and felt overwhelmed by the demands of their job in national security, which led to feelings of isolation and identity conflict. They turned to ice cream and TV shows as coping mechanisms before seeking professional help.

What realization did the speaker come to after being asked to hold a gun at work?

When the speaker held a gun for the first time, they realized that they were deeply uncomfortable and questioned whether they could continue in a career that involved something they were not personally aligned with. This moment triggered a reevaluation of their career path.

What advice does the speaker offer about identifying one’s natural talents?

The speaker advises taking an inventory of what others praise you for. Friends, professors, or colleagues might point out talents or skills that you may overlook, and those could be key indicators of your natural strengths in the workplace.

How did the speaker’s talent for networking and job hunting lead to their realization about career coaching?

After attending 90 events and having 200 coffee meetings in six weeks, the speaker received several job offers and began getting calls from friends seeking career advice. This made the speaker realize that they had a natural talent for career coaching.

What does the speaker say about the role of fear and negative thoughts in holding people back?

The speaker notes that many people, including themselves, are held back by repetitive fear-based thoughts like 'I'm not good enough.' These thoughts keep people from striving for more, and recognizing them is the first step in overcoming them.