Find your dream job without ever looking at your resume | Laura Berman Fortgang | TEDxBocaRaton

Summary

The speaker explores the epidemic of job dissatisfaction, urging individuals to look beyond their resumes to find career happiness. Using the analogy of an egg, she emphasizes that true satisfaction lies in one's 'life blueprint'—the essence of who we are, not just what we do. She encourages reevaluating past dreams and skills to discover a fulfilling career path, advocating for a world where people understand their unique potential and are not confined by traditional job roles.

Takeaways

• 🌏 Many people in the United States are unhappy with their jobs and would choose a different career if they could.
• 🤔 The speaker suggests that job satisfaction is not about the job itself but about the engagement, mastery, and the impact one has through the work.
• 👴 The speaker's grandfather's perspective on work was about survival and providing for the family, contrasting with modern views on job satisfaction.
• 📋 People often rely on their resumes and credentials when in doubt about their career path, which may not reflect their true calling or potential for satisfaction.
• 🥚 The 'egg' analogy is used to illustrate the difference between external achievements (the shell) and internal desires and potential (the yolk).
• 🧬 The 'yolk' represents an individual's 'life blueprint,' which contains the key to finding career satisfaction and is unique to each person.
• 💼 The speaker's personal story illustrates the struggle with career aspirations and the realization that success can be redefined and adapted over time.
• 🎭 The concept of career satisfaction is explored through the story of a man named John, who found his true calling in inspiring awe through outdoor adventure.
• 🔄 The speaker proposes a formula for career satisfaction: re-examining past dreams and combining them with current skills to create a fulfilling new chapter.
• 🚫 Some individuals may not have clear dreams or aspirations due to difficult childhoods, which can hinder the ability to envision a fulfilling career.
• 🏆 Success based on past reactions or vows may become obsolete, requiring a reevaluation of motivations and a search for new, fulfilling career paths.

Q & A

What percentage of working individuals in the United States would change their jobs if given the chance, according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, half of the working individuals in the United States, which is approximately 50%, would do something else for a living if given the chance.

What does the speaker compare our credentials and track record to, and why?

The speaker compares our credentials and track record to an eggshell, explaining that just like the shell of an egg, these are external and can be taken away, whereas the yolk, representing our 'life blueprint,' contains what makes us unique and cannot be taken away.

What does the speaker suggest is the real source of career satisfaction?

The speaker suggests that career satisfaction does not come from the job itself (the shell), but from who we get to be while doing the job (the yolk), which is the real essence of our identity.

What was the speaker's own experience in pursuing a career on Broadway, and what did it lead her to realize later in life?

The speaker pursued a career on Broadway, achieving some success but ultimately feeling despondent when her dream did not fully materialize as she had hoped. A decade later, she had an epiphany realizing that her true dream was not to be a performer (the shell), but to inspire change in people's lives (the yolk), which she could do in various forms.

What did the speaker mean when she referred to the 'yolk' in the context of career and life?

The 'yolk' in the context of career and life refers to the speaker's concept of one's 'life blueprint,' which includes the unique qualities and passions that define who we are, as opposed to the external achievements and roles (the 'shell').

What is the significance of the story about John in the script, and what does it illustrate about career dreams?

The story about John illustrates that career dreams can evolve and change form. Despite having achieved his past dreams, John was unsure about what to do next. The speaker helped him realize that his various career aspirations were all about inspiring awe in people, which led him to start a company related to the outdoors, aligning with his current passion.

What is the speaker's view on the common practice of asking teenagers what they want to be when they grow up?

The speaker believes that pressuring teenagers to decide their life's career path at 17 is not ideal. She advocates for a world where dreams are understood to have many possible manifestations and where teenagers are not forced to prematurely commit to a single career trajectory.

What is the 'epidemic' the speaker refers to, and what does she propose as the cure?

The 'epidemic' the speaker refers to is the high percentage of people who are unhappy with their jobs. The cure she proposes is understanding that career satisfaction comes from personal fulfillment and identity (the yolk), rather than the job itself (the shell).

How does the speaker use the analogy of an egg to explain the difficulty of changing careers?

The speaker uses the analogy of an egg to illustrate that people often become attached to their external achievements and identity (the shell), which makes it hard to change careers. To find true career satisfaction, one must look beyond the shell to the unique 'life blueprint' within (the yolk).

What is the speaker's vision for a world where people experience career satisfaction?

The speaker envisions a world where people understand that they are unique and do not need to compete with one another at work. She wants a world where individuals are not confined to their past achievements (the shell) but are free to evolve and find satisfaction through their true selves (the yolk).

What does the speaker suggest is a common thread among people who claim to have never had a dream or aspiration?

The speaker suggests that people who claim to have never had a dream or aspiration often come from difficult backgrounds, such as dysfunctional homes or environments where they felt unsafe. Such circumstances can prevent a child from being able to dream or envision their future.