It’s so hard figuring out what you want and how that connects to what society wants from you. Is it just me or have you grown up thinking – What is a Professional Life? How do I know I’m successful or if I’m at least going down the right path? Well, you’re not the only one and there is a clear and straightforward answer to this question.

Growing up and making decisions about your life is so exhausting. It’s overwhelming and makes you wish you never stopped singing the Toys  R’ Us song, “I don’t want to grow up because if I did. I wouldn’t be a Toys R’ Us kid.”

As someone who finally stopped questioning their existence and started taking action, I know exactly what you need to take some action and get out of your head.

This post is filled with a few questions and ideas that once you answer, you will have everything you need to go in the right direction. Believe me, it really can be that simple. And after all, you have nothing to lose.

This post is all about the heavy-weight question, “What is a Professional life?”

What is a Professional Life?

1) Make a Decision

One of the hardest things you can do is make a decision. But oh boy, oh boy, once you do, your life changes drastically. When you stand up and proclaim this is what I want. Then you have a goal or at least a direction to go in. You’ll have a purpose. And nothing is more professional than knowing what you want and holding yourself accountable.

Think about it this way, what does a professional have that you don’t have? They have somewhere to go and something to do. And they’re only able to take these actions after making a decision.

Life is not about fitting into someone else’s box of what success is. It’s about looking in the mirror and saying “I choose this and I deserve it”. So what is this illusive decision you need to make? Well, it can come in the form of two different questions.

What do you want from work?

We all have to work and whether it’s your dream job or your attempt to cover your needs, it’s not always a fabulous venture. But even in the worst of moments, working is not as bad as it seems.

Honestly, if you read the section about work in Kahlil Gibran‘s The Prophet. You will fall in love with the idea. Work is an act of service. When you work you are providing something for humanity and society. Yes, you work to acquire money to purchase things that support your lifestyle but it exists because no human can do anything alone. We need each other to survive and progress.

That being said, let’s also acknowledge that you’re not a machine. Work is only fulfilling if it’s connected to an interest you have or if it’ll lead you to somewhere you’d like to be.

Take advantage of this outlet by having it mean more than money. Have a reason why it matters or decide which portion of your job is the most interesting. This will allow you to decide how your work will ultimately lead you to what you want to experience most. And if you have the dream job, then think about how you can help others achieve the same fate.

What do you want from your personal life?

How do you spend your life? Is there a hobby that speaks to your heart? Or a task that you easily become obsessed with and spend hours doing? Maybe a white picket fence and family is what you desire most? Paint the picture for yourself. Don’t be afraid to dream big.

After you have decided what you’d like your life to look like outside of work, then start making your way towards it.

Remember it’s important to have a life outside of work that compliments and interests you. Variety is the spice of life and it’s the only way to experience different sides of yourself.

Without this, you may find yourself feeling empty, overworked, or like something is missing. When you know exactly what you’re missing and you take steps towards filling that void, then watch out world, here comes the dreamer with a plan.

2) Dedicate yourself to learning what’s important to you

It’s not enough to want something. If there’s something you want, then you have to do whatever you can to get it. And 9 out of 10 times this comes in the form of learning. Learning what it is and then learning how it’s done.

No one is born perfect or is naturally a total expert on any discipline in existence. It takes time, patience, and effort to become a master of something. And this is the goal. Once you’re able to perform your best, then you’ll elevate the discipline as a whole.

The downfall with learning is wondering if you’re wasting time but you’ll be able to decipher things for yourself if you’re on the right track by answering these two questions.

Are you going to multiple sources?

When you become a follower of one person’s method and only believe in their process of living or doing anything, that is not learning. That is a cult.

This beautiful world has been around for a while and that means there are a lot of different ways to do something. Also, there are a lot of different ideas revolving around similar topics. You’re only able to select or understand your style once you know what your options are.

Don’t rob yourself of the opportunity of creating your own style of doing things by purely adopting one person’s method. Have fun and play around with discovering yourself in your chosen activity.

I mean, would you go to a restaurant and not take a look at the menu? You have to try all the dishes if you want to become a chef.

How are you measuring your progress?

One thing that stinketh real bad, is if you’re working and you have no idea where you’re going. You have to define for yourself how you’ll measure your progress.

If you don’t do this you’ll become your worst enemy. The times will change, new opportunities will appear and you’ll be stuck in your ways and unable to move forward. Don’t be that person! It may lead to depression and stunt your growth.

But honestly, if you can’t defeat a limit or pass a score then there’s no satisfaction in your growth. Would you want to go to the gym every day and never see a muscle?

3) Create a Plan

Here’s the fun part and a super cliche acronym. Every goal should be:

Specific – Sounds a bit like making a decision

Measurable – Sounds a bit like the last item we touched upon

Achievable – It may seem obvious, but it’s not. If there’s no possibility of achieving your goal, then you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Relevant – Does your plan actually make sense or match up with everything else going on? Think of it like this, if I work in an office in a busy building then does it make sense for my goal to become a llama trainer?

Time-Based – We can’t work on something forever. If you give yourself a deadline then there’s an end in sight.

Without a plan that follows the structure of a smart goal then you only have dreams. It’s like what Denzel Washington says, “Dream big — but remember dreams without goals are just dreams, and they ultimately fuel disappointment.” Don’t be your greatest enemy or fuel your life with disappointment. Be your own greatest advocate and do something about it.

4) Take it One Day at a Time

This is the most annoying part about having a professional life. Discipline. To keep going one day at a time.

When you practice this level of commitment and all of the other items on this list then you can say I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul. So here are a few pieces of advice to keep you on the long road:

Daily motivation is up to you – You control what you listen to and what you allow yourself to think about. Choose to live your life in the light and only entertain thoughts that support your endeavors.

Get up from daily failures – We all trip and fall. And that’s ok. It’s normal and builds up your level of resistance. What you need is to have a strong reminder of why you’re doing what you’re doing.

Remain flexible – Life is constantly in motion. Ride the wave. Try to have little to no expectations. And only focus on what you can control.

Never lose the joy – Life is only as hard as you allow it to be. Fill your life with moments that uplift you and keep you inspired. We don’t just operate from the brain, but from the heart.

This post was all about what a professional life is, how to define it, and tips for achieving it.

So what do you want to be when you grow up? What do you want to be right now? Definitely not an easy question to answer, but do you even know what types of work you have available to choose from? This post will help you think of job hunting in a different way. 

Finding your purpose and where joy exists for you can lead to quite a voyage. It’s definitely a journey I’ve gone on many times and it’s still something I like to reflect on today. My greatest skill in life is overanalyzing and reflecting.

In this post, I’m offering you 5 types of work and how they’re connected to your body. In hopes of getting us out of her minds and into our bodies. I mean there’s a reason why they say trust your gut. Too many thoughts and overanalyzing can just confuse you when it comes to this topic.

So let’s get the conversation out of your head and let our bodies guide us and try this approach.

This post is all about the 5 types of work and how your passion lives in your body and not your mind.

5 Types of Work

1) Headwork

Now before we get into our bodies, we can’t deny that there are people who love to live in their heads. These are not the people who are constantly thinking about what they should do. Like me. These people are total loners. They love to calculate, measure and organize ridiculously large amounts of data. Their ability to understand a complex idea completely fascinates them.

Their mind is their favorite body part and with it, they love to problem solve. They spend hours on the computer working with programs. They may even enjoy putting together puzzles or word games. Examples of people that work with their heads are computer engineers, data scientists, and researchers.

These are the people who have the ability to rule the world without taking a physical step. It’s all intellectual stimulation all the time. Sometimes they’re not comfortable in social situations because there are no clean algorithms to work with. Humans are naturally irrational, and those led by the head might just find the rest of us pretty annoying. But they’re usually so thoughtful and pragmatic that they have a real knack for diluting tension and getting people on the same page.

Some great leaders that have led with their heads include Steven Hawking, Nikola Tesla, and Albert Einstein.

• Steven Hawking – I mean does he really need an introduction? Hawking made several theories including one about Black Holes but unfortunately due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis he lost control over his body. Nonetheless, he still went on to write books and share his theories.
• Nikola Tesla – Elon Musk named his cars after Nikola Tesla. Tesla designed the alternating-current (AC) electric system. A system that revolutionized how we power our homes and businesses. Without it we wouldn’t have something as simple as the light switch.
• Albert Einstein – Einstein created this equation, E=mc2 (Energy equals mass times the speed of light squared). The most important equation of all time. It is important because it proved that mass and energy are interchangeable.

2) Heart work

Some people are led by the heart. They can’t help but be utterly impassioned by their work. They’re emotionally triggered, leading to very empathetic and a level of passionate aggression. And why do I use the word aggression? Well, it’s because their need to understand the universe and connect with others can be very intense.

You will not find these people taking a job that is good enough. They’d prefer to be a pauper and do something worth living than a life with golden handcuffs. Golden handcuffs are when someone takes and keeps a job they have no passion for because of the financial benefits. People who are ruled by their hearts could not live like that.

These people probably make the most obvious impact on society. They need society to live out their dreams, their connection to the world around them is what ultimately leads them. Feelings mean everything to them. In simplest terms these people are artists.

Some great artistic leaders that have dominated their industry with their hearts are Leonardo da Vinci, Alfred Hitchcock, and Anton Chekhov.

• Leonardo da Vinci – Da Vinci was many things in his life. He was a scientist, an inventor, and an artist. He revolutionized the art world with his portraits. The most famous is the Mona Lisa.
• Alfred Hitchcock – If there’s someone who can really cause you to experience a whole bunch of sensations is Alfred Hitcock. A master storyteller that directed Psycho.
• Anton Chekhov – Only people of the stage really know about Anton Chekhov and his contributions to the theater. He wrote plays like The SeaGull that make you reflect on life and question its meaning.

3) Handwork

There are people who use both their heads and heart but their power comes through their hands. They need to physically see their tangible creations. They need a connection they can touch. And their physical creations are what inspire someone to think and feel.

You will not find these people spending hours on a computer or studying those around them. This work can be done in solitude or as a group but ultimately the contributions are easily measured.

So who are these hand people? These are the people who build, construct and conquer with the use of their hands. Skyscrapers are not made by computers, and neither are furniture nor beautiful landscapes. This arena is ruled by the outdoorsy type.

Some great developers that ruled with their hands are Frank Lloyd Wright, Ole Kirk Christiansen, and Imhotep.

• Frank Lloyd Wright – Wright is one of the greatest architects of all time. One of his famous works is the Guggenheim Museum.
• Ole Kirk Christiansen – Who hasn’t played with a lego set? Although it was created in the 1930s it’s still one of the most popular toys available to adults and children.
• Imhotep – A long time ago there were pharaohs and we all know about the great pyramids of Egypt. But did you know that Imhotep invented them by accident? He was simply designing a tomb for his pharaoh when he ran out of space. He decided to build up.

4) Bodywork

Some people chose to use their whole physical body. This takes a lot of strength emotionally and intellectually when it comes to game strategy and discipline. Again these people wouldn’t spend their lives with a computer. And they don’t just rely on their hands.

Testing limits is where these people thrive. They push themselves to defeat standards and although they’re physically trying to break boundaries they have a well-structured routine and system to get there.

These people can thrive within different disciplines but one thing always maintains true. They are moving. People who use their bodies can be professional athletes, coaches, firemen, or in the army. They have a calling to protect and serve or to entertain and demonstrate. Either way, their power is undeniable and they tend to serve a great service to society.

Some of the greatest physical leaders include Babe Ruth, Deanne Shulman, and Spartacus.

• Babe Ruth – He was so good there’s a candy bar named after him. Ruth played professional baseball for twenty-two years and hit 714 home runs, a record that lasted 40 years.
• Deanne Shulman – Shulman is the first female smokejumper in history. A smokejumper is a person who combats forest fires.
• Spartacus – We all know him as a Halloween costume but before that, he is one of the greatest gladiators of all time. One of his greatest contributions to society is that he led a major slave rebellion.

5) Voice work

Last but not least are those who leverage their voices to take on the world. These are the people who use their physical voices to share their messages. They are not about to let life pass them by without giving some feedback.

There’s a lot of heart work here but these people have chosen their voice as their chosen instrument. These are the people you want to take seriously and listen to because there’s no stopping them. Whether they’re fighting to protect others, themselves, or entertain, they’re the kind of people you can’t take your eyes off of.

These are our singers, advocates, and teachers. Without them, life would just become one blur. They put a stop to time and demand that you take a moment and listen to what’s happening. They help chart new paths in life and history and help us continue to evolve.

Some of the greatest vocal leaders of all time are Tony Robbins, Martin Luther King Jr, and Aretha Franklin

• Tony Robbins – Is a motivational speaker. He has published many books, hosts seminars, and runs a nonprofit.
• Martin Luther King Jr – A prominent speaker and leader during the civil rights movement. You may know him by a little speech that starts with the lines, “I have a dream”.
• Aretha Franklin – Aretha Franklin is a singing legend. What separates her from the rest is besides sharing her powerful singing voice with the world, she also advocates for women’s and civil rights.

This post was all about the 5 types of work and where they live in your body.