The CEO of Securian Financial Group told me, “If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right.” The CIO told me, “Do what you enjoy.” I’ve been spending the past few weeks thinking about what I will do after completing my undergraduate degree here at St. Cloud State University. I’ve found that many different sources of career advice focus on doing what you enjoy.

Scott Belsky has an article entitled “Finding Your Work Sweet Spot.” He describes this sweet spot as an intersection of three different factors: interests, skills, and opportunities. Interests is defined by what you love to do. “A genuine interest is not about what promises the most economic gain. On the contrary, it is a topic that trumps economic concerns because you love it so much.”

I am learning to use my interests and skills to navigate some of the many opportunities that confront me. A quote from Dan Pink on Matt Perman’s blog says that choices should be based on your values, not based on utilitarian reasons.

You can do something for instrumental reasons — because you think it’s going to lead to something else, regardless of whether you enjoy it or it’s worthwhile.

Or you can do something for fundamental reasons — because you think it’s inherently valuable, regardless of what it may or may not lead to.

If I am focusing on doing what I enjoy, I can make every decision based on fundamental reasons. I won’t always know where I am going, but I am enjoying the steps on the way. Belsky agrees, writing: “Define ‘opportunity’ as an action or experience that brings you a step closer to your genuine interest. Opportunity is less about leaps forward and more about the slow advance.”

I don’t know where I’m going, but I know where I am. There is no master plan, other than pursuing what I enjoy. A quote from Peter Drucker supports this:

Successful careers are not planned.

They develop when people are prepared for opportunities because they know their strengths, their method of work, and their values. Knowing where one belongs can transform an ordinary person — hardworking and competent but otherwise mediocre — into an outstanding performer.

(The quote is from a PDF entitled Managing Oneself.)

I think to be prepared for opportunities entails

• finding opportunities around you (networking)
• choosing to engage those opportunities or not
• engaging opportunities for fundamental reasons