It was the end of another frustrating day at work.
I had been at the computer all day creating a piece of artwork that was one month in the making and had two months until completion. That may seem like a dream job to some… but for me?
As I got into bed I thought, “Is this really my life? Is this the work I was made for?”
I felt very unfulfilled in my role.
I was creating a meaningful product and wholeheartedly believed in the mission of the organization I worked for, but the day to day work was draining the life out of me.
I wondered what was wrong?
How could I be frustrated while working for such an amazing company? How can I be unfulfilled when I get to help create super important content that is changing people’s lives? Why can’t I just put my head down, do the work, and be content?
I knew something was wrong, but I was in a fog. I had a sense that the most important parts of me were constantly on hold, that somehow my core strengths were not being engaged. I grabbed my computer and looked up the Gallop’s Strength Finder assessment. I needed to test my theory. I paid the $49 and spent the next 45 minutes answering questions. I hit submit and then…
There it was, my core, staring me in the face, begging to be heard.
Strength #1 Empathy. My top strength of empathy was not being used in my job.
Strength #2 Developer. I was not helping anyone develop in my job.
Strength #3 Connectedness. Connectedness was only used on rare occasions.
Strength #4 Belief. This strength was used, but only about one month out of the year.
Strength #5 Strategic. I was able to use strategy occasionally but not in my day to day work.
As I stared at the results my life suddenly made sense. No wonder I was frustrated! No wonder I kept traveling to Africa to help people build their mission organizations and communicate their work.
No wonder I always ask people about their dreams and brainstorming ways to help them come to life!
I was not created for solo work behind a computer.
I was created to use strategy and empathy to help people develop.
Why am I allowing these gifts to go to waste? Who is missing out as I choose not to use them? And most importantly, what do now that I’ve realized this?
I believe God is involved in our lives and will guide us if we let Him.
What happened next was one of those moments for me.
It was only a few minutes after closing out my Strength Finder results that I stumbled on a linked-in profile of a guy whose profession was Life Coach. I had heard about life coaching while living in South Africa, but I didn’t know anything about it. As I began to read what his job entailed my heart began to pound.
This job would use all of my top strengths!
I was literally designed for this work.
I was made to be a coach!
To help people get unstuck and discover the life they were meant to live.
My heart was almost bursting as I thanked God for this incredible revelation.
Hour after hour sped by as I researched this career and searched for training programs. Finally at 4 am, with bleary eyes and a hopeful heart I turned off the lights… I had found my path!
It has been a year and three months since I took that Strength Finder assessment.
Since then I have completed coach training, became a certified professional life coach, started a coaching business, build my website, created virtual Growth Walk products, and logged over one hundred coaching hours with clients.
I am floored really when I look at how much has happened in one year.
It feels like a dream. I am so privileged to have a front-row seat on the transformation and life-change happening in my client’s lives!
I no longer come home frustrated. I feel alive, challenged, and inspired!
I am so grateful for the language that the assessment provided, and for those around me who encouraged me to step out in faith and base the weight of my career on my core strengths.
My work no longer feels like pushing a rock up a hill.
It feels like soaring with a bit of an adrenaline rush thrown in!!
I found that living according to my strengths is not only a great idea, but it is the BEST way to live!!
If you are interested in discovering your strengths you can take the Clifton Strength Finders assessment here.
If you are looking for a change in your own life
schedule a discovery call to find out how life coaching could help you move forward.
*This post was not paid for or sponsored by Clifton Strength Finders.
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