As immigrants, my parents often reminded us of their sacrifices and the importance of following a traditional path: go to school, get a good job, and earn well. The focus wasn’t on passion or goals, but on hard work and survival, to one day help our parents. While this taught me to be self-reliant, it also unintentionally made me see a career as just a way to pay bills – often a source of complaint and dread. Questioning the need for formal education, I even dropped out of high school, later needing extra study to get into university and fulfill my parents’ expectations.

My upbringing’s traditional mindset faced a challenge when I moved to Toronto in 2012, where my Bachelor’s degree and work experience didn’t carry the same weight as local qualifications. At 24, I found myself finally having to dig deep and answer: “What do I want to be?” I had zero clue about a suitable title or career path and felt stuck by the many options linked to my degree.

Fast forward and cue Drake’s “Started from the bottom now we here!” I went from feeling 10 steps back in my first job in Canada at a coffee shop (similar to my 15-year-old self), to landing a role at an amazing sports marketing agency. Yet, even with incredible opportunities and good pay, the question “What do you want to do?” still stumped me. I was unfulfilled and unsure of my next step. When I thought I was finally progressing in my career, my application for Permanent Residency after six years of being in Canada was denied, a devastating blow that meant starting over elsewhere.

During my years away from Australia, these significant changes – letting go of past identities, possessions, and relationships – led me to notice activities I’d repeatedly engage in, which ultimately pushed me to address something I’d previously overlooked. The following steps helped me overcome overwhelm and I believe they hold the key to finding a career path that feels genuinely right for us. The first step might seem basic, but it’s incredibly powerful. Often, we initially struggle to trust it, as external doubts cloud our judgment, urging us to prioritize immediate pay, title, and social standing instead.

Here is my 10-step guide – the same one that helped me and can empower you – to discover a career path you’ll love, integrating your passion and purpose:

1. Tap into your joy

Forget focusing on what you dislike. Turn your attention to what brings you genuine joy and feels easy. What could you do for hours without pay, simply because you love it? What do you often research online? Your passion and excitement are clues to what you’re meant to create. 

Action: This week, dedicate time to activities you genuinely enjoy. Notice how they make you feel and journal about what aspects support your life. We live in an age with more possibilities than ever before.

2. Align with Your Truth

What are your core values? What lifestyle and daily state of being do you truly desire? Do you prioritize stability, creativity, impact, or something else? Often, we try so hard to meet others’ expectations that we lose sight of our own priorities. Understanding this and your long-term goals will help you filter career options.

Action: Identify your top 3-5 core values. Then, consider how these might already connect with what excites you.

3. Reflect on Your Story

Something I didn’t appreciate sooner was how far I’d come. You’re likely not the same person you were two, five, or ten years ago. You’ve experienced laughter, tears, heartache, and moments of clarity – all shaping who you are and how you make decisions. The only one to compare yourself to is you. 

Action: What’s something you once thought you’d never overcome, but you did? Reflect on what it was, what you learned, and how you are better now because of it.

4. Seek Honest Feedback from Your Tribe

They’ve seen you through tough times, no BS. It’s common to feel unsure of our own abilities while easily recognizing the strengths in others. 

Action: Reach out to 5-10 friends and/or colleagues for specific feedback on your strengths and descriptive words they associate with you. Notice consistent themes. For example, if many highlight your ability to organize and motivate, that could point towards leadership or project management roles. Have they suggested a specific role or type of work they could see you doing, which you might’ve secretly thought of but were too embarrassed to share?

5. Reflect on How You Best Express Yourself

Is it through writing, singing, or speaking? Understanding your natural form of expression can accelerate your career search, whether within a company or independently. 

Action: Sometimes, doing a certain job for too long can make us forget what naturally flows for us. Pay attention to what feels good. E.g. conversations about achieving goals. Analyzing or coming up with solutions.

6. Reflect on Any Blocks That Stopped You in the Past

From pursuing or continuing with your interests. We often sabotage potential opportunities and desired outcomes before they even begin.

Action: Journal about what these blocks are. E.g. Quick Assumptions About Income: Fear of lower initial earnings, it ‘never making enough.’ XYZ taking ‘too long’ or you’re ‘too old’ to start. For each block, reflect on if it’s really true. What other possibilities exist?

7. Mind Map Your Career History (and Beyond)

Write down your past three roles. For each, list your tasks and responsibilities. Highlight what you genuinely enjoyed. Then, brainstorm other activities or roles you’ve always been curious about.

Action: Create a mind map of your past experiences and future interests. Look for connections and recurring themes in the tasks you enjoyed.

8. Leverage Learning Resources

The internet offers endless resources like websites, online courses, and libraries! Step away from social media, fuel your curiosity, and explore fields you love or dismissed because others said they were unrealistic. Reading can challenge your assumptions, reignite old passions or new ones.

Action: Identify one area you’re curious about and dedicate 30 minutes this week to exploring online articles, books, or introductory courses related to it.

9. Acknowledge It’s Not Always ‘Forever’

One reason we hesitate to pursue what we love as a career is the assumption that it must be our lifelong commitment. Just like promotions and salary increases, your initial career idea will likely evolve over time. E.g. Starting with one service in your own business will allow you to specialize, become skilled, get feedback, and then expand – creating digital products, collaborating, or even changing your focus entirely. It provides a foundation instead of investing heavily in something you’re unsure people need. 

Action: Reflect on your journey and journal about three things you thought would last ‘forever’ but didn’t, and your positive takeaways. E.g. Dealing with mean girls in high school, you decided to be open to meeting or helping others. Or, your three-year degree quickly led to six years in one or two professional roles.

10. Just Start Something!

I’ve had over 22 jobs in various industries to get here. Seriously! Nothing provides clarity like trial and error. Many recommend this but hesitate, needing a ‘perfect’ setup – which is why step 6 is important.  E.g. If you’re interested in social media, sign up for a scheduler tool, connect your accounts, and learn how to use it. Prioritize staying updated on trends during breaks or after work. Ask everyone if they or someone they know needs a social media manager, or offer some free services to get started. Action builds momentum and helps you get unstuck. 

Action: Reflect on your journey after trying the above steps. Journal – is there a thread that connects all these steps, with what you love and would be open to doing? Take the first step this week, even if it’s just research or reaching out to someone who can support you.

Navigating your career isn’t always a straight line. 

This process, with courage, healing, optimism, and a willingness to refine, can lead you to the path meant for you.

Finding the “perfect” job isn’t the immediate goal. First, focus on understanding yourself and making intentional choices that align with your true holistic desires. The “how” will often fall into place as you take actions in harmony with these. 🙌 This helps us avoid much frustration, confusion and unwanted stress that comes from doing something for the sake of it E.g. Holding on for one more year so your resume looks more impressive, despite bodily aches, pains or sleeplessness telling you you’ve had enough/quit now. Or, hearing yourself complain everyday after work, living for the weekend vs. feel like you’re stoked for everyday.

If you have other responsibilities and can’t necessarily quit something you dislike straight away, you can still start a passion based business simultaneously. Transition when it begins to earn equivalent to your day job income. If you have a partner or spouse encouraging you to do what makes you happy, I’ve known others who are able to quit and do their own thing until it brings in funds. Or if you’re an all in person, you can take the leap and have a casual or part time job on the side of your desired career to support it.

Tired of trying to figure this out alone and sifting through endless side hustle videos when you crave a career that truly fits you and the freedom you desire? 

If so ➡️check out my one-to-one 90-Day Program. Together, we’ll clarify your current purpose, overcome obstacles, and create a personalized strategy to honor your needs and values.