The Art Of Work

The Art Of Work is the instruction manual to find your vocation by looking into your passions, connecting them to the needs of the world, and thus building a legacy that’s bigger than yourself.

From the get-go, Jeff doesn’t sugarcoat things. It’s not easy to find your life’s purpose. If it was, everybody would do it and we wouldn’t look at the grim fact that only 13% of all people worldwide actually like showing up for work.

But he instantly gives you some great starting points.

First of all, it’s a lot about awareness, self-awareness, to be exact.

If you don’t know yourself well, you might not see your life’s calling, even when it’s right in front of you. Our true purpose often suddenly hits us in the form of a very strong feeling in your gut or at a major event in life, for example a turning point. Think Luke Skywalker meets Obi-Wan Kenobi. That’s how he found out he had to become a Jedi.

Jeff suggests you start by making a simple list of all the major events in your life.

Note however, that major does not mean important. Yes, the day you started high school should be on there, just like graduation or maybe your first kiss, but some events might seem random, even though you feel they’re important. Maybe you’re just out for a golf session, and the second you hit the ball and see it fly away in a perfect trajectory, you know that’s what your life as a writer would look like.

Go through the list and ask yourself: When was I the most happy? When did I feel fulfilled? What made me feel accomplished?

Your calling lies hidden in these moments, so go find them!

Note: I’m proud to say that my blog post about finding your true calling makes use of this method 🙂

Yes, motivational Instagram channels are great, but every time I read “self-made millionaire” I cringe a little bit.

Jeff says there is no such thing.

Why?

Because even the greatest of the greatest rely on teachers, mentors and guides. Warren Buffett had a mentor (Benjamin Graham), Michael Jordan had a coach, Justin Bieber had a vocal trainer and Jeff Bezos says he’s been mentored by the hundreds of people whose biographies he’s read.

Everyone you meet and everything you do is a chance to learn, so start seeking these people and opportunities.

No one achieves success alone, so you might as well start looking for the right people to help you along the journey now, rather than later.