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Hey Lindsey! First of all, I’m really glad that you’re pacing yourself through this course. Some people may like to push through it all in one sitting (and that’s perfectly fine!), but I’m with you — I like to make my way slowly through things like this to give it time to settle into me.
Also, I want you to know how incredibly NORMAL it is to feel stumped by these kinds of questions. The vast majority of people are not used to this level of introspection and deep questioning … and why would they be? Daily life doesn’t call for you to think and talk so deeply about yourself! In fact, most of us are taught that spending time just focused on ourselves is “selfish,” so it’s no wonder you’re out of practice doing it. I love, love, love that your New Year’s Resolution was to be more selfish and take more time for yourself (I totally want to redefine the word “selfish” because it’s gotten a bad rap!). You’re right, taking a course like this is absolutely a solid step in the right direction because it’s asking you to look more deeply into yourself than you’re used to doing. Just make sure that in those moments when you’re drawing a blank on how to answer a question, you don’t hate on yourself or feel down — instead, remind yourself that you’re actively doing the inner work that most people never prioritize. Plus, you’re flexing a muscle that hasn’t had a lot of exercise in a while! It just needs a bit of practice to warm up.
Most people never even take the kind of proactive steps you’ve already taken, so you’re SO far ahead of the game. 🙂
Shannon — These are great questions, and I know that other Thrivers in this group will be glad you asked this on their behalf!
If you haven’t yet gotten to the “Job Searching According to Your Values” section of the Workbook, I think that might be really helpful as you’re searching for new jobs based mostly on the work environment (which, as you said, is extremely important, especially for Thrivers). The key here is getting clear about what your ideal environment looks like: Is it a casual atmosphere? Do you have a flexible work schedule? Are you working on-location or virtually (or a combo)? Are you working more independently or collaboratively? What are the characteristics of the people you’re ideally working with? The answers to all of these questions can fuel both your job search AND the kinds of questions you ask in an interview so you can get a true picture of what you’re walking into if you accept the job.
I really don’t believe there are “good” or “bad” career suggestions for any Passion Profile, and graphic design could fit into any of the 4 passion profiles — but HOW you go about being a graphic designer will look totally different if you’re, for example, a Firestarter vs. a Thriver. Does that make sense? So this is about embracing your Thriver values, learning to ask the right questions to learn as much about a working environment as possible, and identifying (and staying true to) your non-negotiables (for example, not working more than 40 hours per week).
Let me know if you still have questions about any of this after you get through the “Job Searching According to Your Values” section of the Workbook!
Hi Shannon! Thanks for introducing yourself and sharing a little about your work situation. Although it’s really frustrating, it’s also completely normal to feel like you’re moving from job to job, trying to find a place where you fit and you’re happy, but someone each place feels like it’s falling short. I hear that same sentiment from a lot of people, actually! And it’s not because there aren’t great jobs and awesome work environments out there … it’s just because most people haven’t learned how to search and apply to jobs based on their deeper, underlying values (it’s definitely not something you’re taught in high school or college!). That’s actually a huge part of why we created the PPSC — to help people get more clear on their Passion Profile (as in, HOW they want their work and their passion to overlap), their values, and what they’re most looking for in a work environment. So hopefully, with everything you’re learning about yourself here in the PPSC, you’ll know how to go about finding a working environment that suits your Thriver values! Thanks again for stopping in to say “hi,” and let us know how the rest of the PPSC goes for you!
Hi Lindsey! Thanks for joining us in the PPSC! It’s awesome to hear that the Passion Profile Quiz is unlike any other similar quiz/test you’ve taken before. So many people have told us what a RELIEF it feels like to finally understand their Passion Profile and give themselves permission to work in the way that’s best for them, and it sounds like that’s been true for you, too. Let us know how the course is going for you as you work through each video! 🙂
Hi Andrew,
I’m glad you enjoyed the PPSC! I’m impressed by how much time and energy you’ve been putting into your self-awareness lately, and it’s clear from your various assessment results that you’re extremely intelligent, thoughtful, independent, artistic, intuitive, and passionate. Given all of that, I’m not surprised that climbing the corporate ladder (even in a gaming company, which I imagine was likely more innovative than many corporations) was frustrating to you. Given your values and your personality traits, it makes sense that you’re looking for more creativity, freedom, and possibilities than most companies can offer you. So starting your own business seems like the best option for you! (As a fellow Firestarter, I can absolutely relate to this.)
From the sound of it, you already have a pretty solid business model planned out, and you’ve seen people doing this kind of business successfully online, which proves that you have a viable idea. If this idea sounds exciting to you, then I would absolutely go for it. It’s natural to have reservations about whether any entrepreneurial venture is realistic, but I encourage you stick with the idea for at least couple of years (assuming you’re still enjoying it) since that’s how long it takes most businesses to gain traction and start reaching stability. I agree that it’s probably a good idea to start your new business while working at your current job (or another stable job) so that you don’t put needless financial pressure on a brand-new business right away. You can definitely transition more and more of your time and energy into your business over time. (I wish I’d been more gradual about transitioning from my full-time job into my business, to be honest!)
Sounds to me like you have a good idea and plenty of motivation and talent to make it happen!
Kellie, I can’t tell you how happy it made me to read your comment! The massive relief you feel when you realize that you have total permission to be who you are and want what you want — well, that’s the entire reason we came up with Passion Profiles (and really, Clarity on Fire) in the first place.
You’re 100% NOT crazy for feeling resentful of the idea of picking just ONE thing to build a career around, and in fact, a solid 1/4 (or more) of the population are Side Hustlers. So you’re in good company! If you want to piece together a career from a combination of part-time jobs and side creative ventures, that’s just as legitimate of a career as any other, no matter what anyone else says. There’s absolutely no “right way” to work. Any way that you choose to fund your life that makes you happy and fulfilled is valid!
I really appreciate you sharing this with us!
Kellie — I’m so happy you decided to join us for the PPSC after considering it for the past few months! And you seem to have perfectly honed in on your particular Passion Profile combo, which is awesome.
Being both a Side Hustler AND an introvert is absolutely a valid (and more common than you probably think!) combination, but it’s going to require you to get even more in-tune with your natural energy rhythms and your threshold for overwhelm/burnout. I would encourage you to get extremely sensitive to how much activity/focus/action you can exert in a given day, or how many projects you can juggle at once, before it tips the balance into overwhelm. I’m certain you have a “sweet spot” of how much multi-focused, energizing, Side-Hustler activity you can embody before your introverted desires kick in and ask you to slowwwww it down. (As a fellow introvert, I totally understand the challenge of this balancing act!)
I also want to seriously congratulate you for making money through all of your side creative/artistic passions over this past year — that’s incredible! And it’s got to feel validating that your creativity is not just a fun, fulfilling outlet … it’s profitable! Seems like you’ve already gained so much clarity about how to combine your many passions and interests in a way that feels good to you and ensures you won’t get bored/frustrated by doing the same thing day-in and day-out.
Thanks for sharing a bit about yourself and the insight you’ve gained so far from the PPSC! I hope you’ll keep us updated about how things are going for you. 🙂
Hi Rosalind — I’m so happy you joined us for the Short Course! It’s awesome (and super impressive!) that you read back through all of our old blog posts. If our blogs already started shifting your beliefs about what you really want and what’s possible for you, then I’m REALLY excited to see how much you get out of the Short Course, because it’s going to take everything you’ve been reading to the next level.
Definitely keep us updated on your “ah-ha” moments and insights as you’re going through this course!
Hi Serene! It’s completely understandable that questioning which profile(s) you relate to most is making things feel confusing and cloudy. If the first quiz result you got was Side Hustler and you really related to that profile (and still really relate to it), then I intuitively believe that you’re a Side Hustler first and foremost. As you’re creating your ideal career plan, your Side Hustler needs and values will likely feel most important (variety, stimulation, high-energy, challenge, connection, balance, flexibility, etc.). But that doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to borrow a few traits/values from other profiles, too!
Think of Passion Profiles as simply another lens through which to view and understand yourself. Your Profile is meant to help you identify the things that matter most to you, not to put you in a box. So if you decide that you’re a Side Hustler who REALLY loves her outside-of-work hobbies (a typical Thriver identifier) or who craves a TON of freedom and autonomy (which are big Firestarter values), that’s perfectly OK. Just keep those values in mind when you’re clarifying and taking action on your next career steps.
To me, ultimately, it seems pretty clear (from what I can tell in your posts, at least) that you’re primarily a Side Hustler who just wants to be able to pick and choose a few values from other profiles, and that’s perfectly fine!
Hi Serene! Really good question, and I’m glad you asked it here because I’m sure other people have this same question.
It definitely makes sense that you might relate to some aspects of each of the 4 profiles because there’s a bit of overlap between certain profiles. For example, both Firestarters and Thrivers place an extremely high value on freedom, so that’s a shared value — but in most other aspects, those two profiles are very different. So although you could probably find elements of each profile that resonate with you, you’re going to most strongly relate to your Primary (and possibly Secondary) Profile, which is why we recommend using that to pinpoint your ideal career direction.
Keep in mind, too, that Side Hustlers — with their intense desire for variety and their naturally energetic spirit — may want to dabble in lots of jobs/career paths, which might mean pulling elements from other Profiles. I’m not sure if you’re a Side Hustler or not, but if so, that could explain why you resonate with various elements of all 4 profiles.
That’s amazing, Theodora! When the tears start flowing, you know you’ve hit on something deeply true and powerful.
Isn’t it such a relief to let go of trying to make your passion fit into a specific box? To know that it’s perfectly OK (totally natural, even) if your passion is simply living life? So freeing!
I’m so glad you shared this with us! Can’t wait to see you in the Passion Plan Virtual Experience next month. 🙂
Hi Simon,
I’m really glad you reached out to ask us about this and that you were willing to share your struggle so openly. You’re definitely not alone in feeling disconnected from your passion — I know a lot of people in this course can relate to that. Your struggle makes so much sense; on the one hand, you deeply want to reconnect with the side of you that’s passionate, creative, driven, artistic, and an out-of-the-box thinker. That’s the part of you that resonates so much with the Firestarter profile. And yet, there’s fear and resistance getting in the way and clouding up your passion — fear of failure, fear of not making money through your passion, fear of other people’s opinions, your own inner critic voice. All of that feels SO heavy and makes feeling passionate again feel like a far off dream. As frustrating and upsetting as this feels right now, it makes complete sense based on the backstory that you shared. Anyone in your situation would be feeling equally discouraged!
The thing I’m hearing the most here is … well, a few things. And I think you’re going to be relieved to hear these points:
— You’re allowing other people’s opinions, beliefs, and fears cloud your natural creativity and drive. It sounds to me like, several years ago you were determined and happy to follow your passion and your curiosity wherever it led you. But then other people swooped in with their judgment and criticism and snuffed out your passion. It’s no wonder you wanted to cut ties with your passion. It hurts to get that kind of feedback! It sounds to me like it’s time for you to get VERY discerning about who’s feedback you choose to listen to. There are probably no more than a handful of people in your life who have the qualities necessary to give you meaningful feedback: they’re loving, supportive, looking out for your best interest, respectful (and respectable), constructive/gentle with their feedback, and give you a safe space to open up. From now on, anyone outside of that small group — you have full permission to ignore their feedback because they’re not on your side.
— You’re playing the role of the cynic, but I don’t believe that’s really you. Just from the way you wrote this post, I can tell that you’re a natural creator, innovator, and optimist. But you may have adopted the (false) belief that optimists can’t also be realists, so you thought you had to become a cynic in order to be practical. And the reason this feels so bad to you is because it’s not who you are — it conflicts with your inner free spirit. The truth is, whatever you look for … you’ll find it. So if you’re looking for things to go wrong, they will. If you fully expect things to work out for you, they mostly will. So I want you ask you — will you give your inner optimist permission to resurface? Can you allow hope to slightly outweigh fear?
— You’re a clear Firestarter who’s trying to structure your life the way a Thriver would, and it’s naturally causing you to feel “off.” You asked, “Is there a way to see work as just a way to have the finances to live?” Yes, there is. It’s the way most Thrivers view work. The truth is, you might have a secondary Thriver profile, but you said that the Firestarter profile felt very accurate for you, so that’s clearly prominent. So your Firestarter self is likely going to feel perpetually frustrated in a job that you don’t absolutely love and that doesn’t give you lots of independence and creativity.
— You’re tired of limiting yourself. I heard a few limiting statements in your post. For example, you said “I am now 29 and feel like I have no time to dabble or soul search anymore.” I don’t believe that age has anything to do with self-awareness, finding (or rediscovering) your passion, or soul searching! A lot of us impose these arbitrary timelines on ourselves, and it creates so much unnecessary pressure. Whenever you find yourself thinking or saying self-limiting statements like this, I want you to question, “How true is this really?”
— You’ve shut down your emotions. It absolutely makes sense that, after your emotionally destructive relationship, you said you “haven’t wanted to write in any sense or even touch anything that would draw any emotion or passion from me.” You were trying to block yourself from all of the horrible emotions that were coming up in that relationship. But when you block the bad emotions, you also block the great, passionate ones. Since you love to write, I’d suggest giving yourself at least a solid hour alone with no distractions (no phone, no music, no TV, no anything) where you just free-write. Allow anything and everything to come up, and any emotions you experience during that time are valid. No judging yourself! This is just a process of reconnecting with your emotions.
All of this, if you ask me, boils down to two things: 1) Giving yourself permission to want what you want and to express yourself authentically, and 2) changing your internal dialogue to be more supportive and less self-limiting.
There’s SO much more I could talk about here, so I tried to mention just a few key things that immediately came to mind. But I want you to know that our other program (The Passion Plan Virtual Experience) was created specifically to answer the exact questions you just asked. So if you want a much more in-depth answer to this, you might want to consider joining us for the next round of the PPVE when we open enrollment in January. It sounds like your definitely ready to take this to the next level.
Such a good question, Erica! I first want to say how amazing it is that you’ve internalized the concepts from the PPSC so quickly and are already ready to take action, based mostly on your value of time. I love it!
It’s understandably nerve-wracking to ask your boss if you can cut your hours, especially when you know that there’s more than enough work to do all the time. My suggestion is to approach it this way: Ask your boss if you can try something for 1 month, or 3 months, or however long you want to “test run” it. Say you’d like to see if you can be more productive in less time, and ask if you can cut your hours to 32 each week while implementing some productivity strategies (maybe try “blackout” hours each day when you don’t allow any distractions, or say “no” to meetings that you don’t really need to go to, etc.). Then, you can meet with your manager again at the end of the “test period” to see how it went.
What’s great about this approach is that 1) your manager won’t feel as threatened because it’s only a “test,” (for now, at least), and 2) you’ll be more motivated and engaged in your work during those 32 hours because it’ll feel worth it to get an extra day of freedom each week. If you try this and your boss wants you to go back to 40 hours after the trial run … well, at that point it’s up to YOU if this is a place that can align with your values long-term.
Hope that helps!
Erica — I’m so incredibly happy that you’re now giving yourself permission to want what you want, even if your parents (and plenty of other people) may never “get it.” (BTW, I totally agree with you that having plenty of time outside of work is crucial for me to live a quality life! You’re definitely not alone in that belief.) Isn’t it such a relief to realize that there’s nothing wrong with you OR with them? It’s just a difference in values, nothing more! And once you deeply understand your own values, it’s SO much easier to take action that aligns with them. I’m really glad you joined us for the PPSC!
