Unlock your brand new career with these 12 Questions

You have a job or a business. 

But you feel stagnated. 

You want to do something different but don’t know what that could be. 

You'd love to discover new career paths suited to you but don’t know where to begin. 

Several years ago I was in the same spot. 

15 years in the advertising business, I saw ‘creative’ co-workers start their ventures. They either started an art products line or became independent film directors.

Being in a business role in a creative industry I didn’t understand what I could do ‘by myself’.

I was craving work that would give me freedom and fulfillment. I was looking for work that matched my values. 

Work that made space for my strengths, interests, gifts and non-negotiables. 

I spent several years feeling lost and tirelessly looked for meaningful work. 

Years later I quit my corporate job. I took up consulting assignments as I trained to become a business and career transition coach. 

But reaching here took me several years. 

Now you don’t need to wait for years to figure out your new career path. 

All you need to do is answer the 12 questions below and you’ll begin to get an idea about what your new career path could be. 

All set? Get a pen and paper and answer the questions below. 

1. WHAT DO YOU LOVE DOING? 

The work you’re meant to do often hides under what you love doing. 

What are you passionate about?

Perhaps you like spending time with your kids, cooking, walking, travelling, biking or art.

Don’t hold yourself back, write what comes to you. 

Don’t filter your thoughts. Don’t overthink.

Maybe you’re a journalist seeking new career paths. You feel stuck and don’t know how to escape your demanding job to lead a more fulfilling life. 

Or you love to travel – be it long trips abroad or short weekend getaways. You love adventure and exploring art. Perhaps you’re not an artist yourself but love interacting with artists and artisans.

So, what energises you? What puts a smile on your face? Make a note. 

2.   WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS? 

We are who we are, in relationships with others.

When people say you’re caring, creative or funny, it’s often a reflection of your true self.

Ask 12 people – close friends, family and work associates – to tell you your top 3 strengths. Note them down and rank them. Take feedback from people from diverse circles, and make sure they’ve known you for at least a year.

Also, include what you think are your strengths. 

Maybe you can make friends with new people from varied backgrounds. Your warm personality puts people at ease.

Or your writing is persuasive. You communicate with clarity and flair. Your communication skills are excellent.

Write down your strengths. 

3.          CAN YOU PAINT YOUR CANVAS? 

The voice of our heart often gets lost in the noise of competition, ambition and designations.

Imagine – What if money, your doubts and fears, and other people’s judgments didn’t matter? What would your life look like if you had all the confidence, skills, training, money and opportunities? What would your work look like?

Want to travel the world? Want to work from a seaside home? Don’t filter your thoughts. Write them down – whatever they are.

Think about these questions to paint a picture of your dream business. So if nothing was a limitation, what would your work look like? 

• What work are you doing? 

• Do you have a workplace? 

• What does it look like?

• How do you feel in your workplace?

• What kind of work are you creating?

• What kind of people are working with you?

• How are your interactions with them?

• How are you spending your day?

Seeing glimpses of your dream work already? Note it down. 

4.          WHAT ARE YOUR SOUL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES? 

We all have soul duties and responsibilities in our lives. From taking care of old parents, bringing up kids or being a caregiver. 

Perhaps taking care of yourself is a priority. Or setting aside time for yourself and making life choices that respect your freedom is key to you. 

You want to honour your soul duties, don’t you?

Note them down, so you can create work that makes space for them. 

Put down your soul duties and responsibilities. 

5.          WHAT’S YOUR EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE AND FAMILY BACKGROUND? 

If you have spent many years in one field, that could work as an ‘unfair advantage’ for you.

For instance, if you’ve been a lawyer for 12 years, a writer for 7 years or a digital communication professional for 5 years, write it down.

Put down your education, that could be an advantage too. 

Or has your family/parent been involved in a particular field - business, films, art or the corporate world? You’ve been influenced by this field since childhood? It could work as an advantage for you. As you may have knowledge about that field and a network of people you already know. 

Note down your work experience, education and family occupation in a particular field.

6.          WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAD THE GUARANTEE THAT YOU COULDN’T FAIL?

Would you start a business to host hiking trips or open up your art studio or create a coworking space for folks in technology? What would you give a shot at?

7.          WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS ALWAYS TELL YOU YOU’D BE GOOD AT, THAT YOU SHOULD DO FOR A LIVING (i.e. “he’d / she’d make a great ...)? 

Did your friends always say you’d make a great writer or salesperson?

What did your friends feel you were perfectly cut out for? 

Make a note. 

8.          WHAT WERE YOU NATURALLY GOOD AT WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD?

Clues about your new career path could lie in what you were naturally good at in childhood. 

What did you love doing as a kid? Whom did you want to grow up to be?

Write it down. 

9.          WHAT ARE YOUR MUST-HAVES?

What’s non-negotiable for you?

Me-time? Travel? An hour at the gym every day? Or a business that doesn’t have to shut down when you go on maternity leave or a 6-month hiking trip?

Or is it important that your career does not tie you to a particular city or country? Do you want to be able to settle anywhere? To experience different cities. To make friends in different places? 

Put down your ‘must haves’.

10.       WHAT ANNOYS YOU?

A great business idea may lie below what annoys you.

What makes you angry about the world?

Any topics you find yourself continuously arguing or defending with others? What beliefs does your stance represent?

What irks you? People wasting water? A lack of care for the environment? People unable to stand up and speak up for themselves?

Put down any belief or practice you feel strongly about. Because what ticks you off can give a strong clue to what work is meaningful for you.

11.       WHERE DO YOU SPEND MOST OF YOUR TIME?

How you spend your time can also give a glimpse of your passions.

What do you do outside work? Enjoy spending time with kids? Love reading books? Feel in your element on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram?

Do you make it a point to travel a lot since you love travelling? Or you don’t miss a single exhibition, pop-up show or flea market show for artists in your city? 

So, where do you spend most of your time? 

12.       WHAT COMES TO YOU EASILY THAT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE WORK?

The things you do with ease are often how you can serve the world with excellence.

For instance: Striking conversations with new people, organising, teaching art or creating music.

When do you get into a flow state where you lose track of time?

What comes to you so easily that doesn’t feel like work at all? 

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER 

You may be wondering, “How do I put this all together to develop potential new career paths”?

Now that you have answers to all of the 12 questions, let’s bring them together to craft the potential career paths you may take. Here’s an example of how you get your responses together to craft a few career paths. 

Maybe you’ve worked for 10 years in the e-commerce business. Your strength is your excellent communication skills - written and verbal. You’re passionate about art and never miss an art show in town.

It disturbs you to see traditional art forms dying. You feel sad that we are going to lose a part of our culture, if artists are not supported. 

You could pursue a career as an art e-commerce business person. 

You could launch an e-commerce platform opening opportunities for traditional artists and artisans. You could use your written communication skills to give a voice to unsupported artists. 

Alternatively, you could consider pursuing a career in public relations with a focus on art. This allows you to use your communication skills for a cause you deeply care about. 

Or you could host events for artists so they could sell their wares at competitive prices without having to pay for middlemen. You may start this as a side hustle and grow it into a full-time business, in the years to come. 

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

Set aside an hour. Grab a pen and paper, and write down your answers to the other questions --- don't judge your answers. Write down what comes to you. 

Once you’ve got your answers to all 12 questions above, look at your responses. Look for possible career paths. You may get multiple career paths. Note them. Consider the one that feels most energising to you. You may choose to test drive it as a side hustle first. Or you may pursue it as a full-time career. 

Feeling stuck? Are you unable to find potential career paths from your responses? Shoot an email at sampada@sampadachaudhari.in or drop a comment. I’d be happy to help you nail your brand-new career paths. 

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