Three Questions to unlock your authentic career: Ashley Stahl at TEDxBerkeley

Summary

In this inspiring talk, Ashley, a former Pentagon employee turned career coach, shares her journey of shifting from a high-pressure, passion-driven career to helping others find authentic work. She offers three key questions for unlocking your true career potential: 'What am I good at?', 'What do people tell me I'm good at?', and 'What's holding me back?'. Through personal anecdotes and career coaching insights, Ashley emphasizes the importance of aligning work with who you are, overcoming fears, and tuning out societal pressures to discover a career path that truly fits your strengths and values.

Takeaways

• 😀 Finding a career that aligns with who you are is more important than simply finding your passion.
• 😀 Political science was Ashley's passion, but career coaching was her true calling.
• 😀 Many people, especially millennials, experience a quarter-life crisis, feeling lost about their career paths.
• 😀 A career coach helped Ashley unlock her authentic career by guiding her through key reflective questions.
• 😀 Three essential questions to ask yourself when evaluating your career path: 'What am I good at?', 'What do people tell me I’m good at?', and 'What’s holding me back?'
• 😀 Being good at something doesn’t always align with your passion, but it may reveal what you are truly meant to do.
• 😀 Career coaches can help individuals tune out social pressures and focus on their strengths and true identity.
• 😀 Don't ignore your natural talents while searching for your passion; they can be just as important for success.
• 😀 Fear-based thoughts such as 'I’m not good enough' often hold people back; confronting and journaling these thoughts can help overcome them.
• 😀 By embracing who you are and confronting what holds you back, you can unlock a career that truly fits you.
• 😀 Asking for help, whether from a career coach, friends, or colleagues, is a powerful step toward finding your true career path.

Q & A

What key personal transformation did the speaker experience at age 22?

At age 22, the speaker was deeply immersed in the world of spying and counter-terrorism, focusing on preparing for a career in this field. However, a few years later, the speaker shifted careers and became a career coach, realizing that political science was her passion but career coaching was who she truly was.

What is the speaker's core message about finding the right career?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of aligning one's career with who they are, rather than just pursuing a passion. She advocates for focusing on personal identity and natural strengths, rather than just the external pressure to find a passion.

What is the significance of the three questions the speaker shares?

The three questions—'What am I good at?', 'What do people tell me I’m good at?', and 'What’s holding me back?'—serve as tools for self-reflection. These questions help individuals understand their strengths, the way others perceive them, and the barriers they need to overcome to unlock their authentic career.

How does the speaker describe the common struggle of millennials in their career journey?

The speaker highlights that many millennials struggle to find their career path because they are overwhelmed by the pressure to identify their passion. This leads them to overlook their natural talents and skills, which are critical for success in the job market.

What personal experience does the speaker share to illustrate the conflict between career and identity?

The speaker shares her experience working for a defense contractor running a program for the Pentagon. She felt conflicted when, as the youngest and only woman in the room, she was expected to be involved in high-stakes military operations but realized she couldn’t even hold a gun. This conflict made her question her career choices and identity.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of asking for help during a career crisis?

The speaker stresses that it’s never too late or too early to ask for help when facing career confusion. Hiring a career coach helped her gain clarity and provided her with the tools to identify her true self and authentic career path.

What role do other people’s opinions play in discovering one's strengths?

The speaker encourages individuals to pay attention to what others say about their abilities. By listening to feedback from friends, colleagues, or professors, one can gain valuable insight into their natural talents and strengths that may otherwise be overlooked.

How does the speaker suggest people should approach their thoughts and fears when pursuing their careers?

The speaker advises individuals to acknowledge and confront their fear-based thoughts, such as 'I’m not good enough.' These limiting beliefs hold people back and create a barrier to career growth. She encourages people to rise above these fears by recognizing that they are not their thoughts.

How does the speaker view the importance of balancing passion and authenticity in career choices?

While passion is important, the speaker emphasizes that career choices should also align with one’s authentic self. She encourages people not to get so fixated on finding their passion that they overlook their personal strengths, talents, and identity.

What final piece of advice does the speaker give regarding career coaching?

The speaker concludes by recommending that people seek guidance, whether from friends, professors, or career coaches. By asking the right questions and being open to help, individuals can discover a career that truly aligns with their skills, values, and personal identity.