The Road to Happiness in Your Work Lies in the Hooray! Zone [Life Lessons] - 2736th Edition

It’s been said that there’s no formula for happiness when it comes to our professional and personal lives. Maybe so. But according to weblog What Consumes Me, there is a Venn diagram.

Photo by Bud Caddell.

While at work, blogger Bud Caddell doodled the pictured diagram that breaks down how to be happy in work according to three overlapping categories: what we do well, what we want to do, and what we can be paid to do.

Caddell discusses the various scenarios illustrated within the diagram and how to deal with them. For example:

We’ve found things we want to do, and can be paid for, but we’re not the best game in town. Mediocrity is not a sustainable strategy. Being able to recognize your own weakness is a profound strength, and acting to improve what you do is key to any kind of long term growth and stability. Find the best talent and steal them. Learn how your competitors run their businesses, and copy what works.

Overall this diagram reminds us a bit of Gina’s ideal work mix pie chart for developing your personal business model. Hit up the full post for more, then let us know what you make of Caddell’s diagram and tips for achieving professional fulfillment. Can “stealing” talent and learning to say no help get you to your “hooray” point? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

By Azadeh Ensha
Yaab