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.
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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.
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