Find a Role or Job That Makes You Happy

Many things can be used to measure your success.  One of the most important of these is whether you can find a job that makes you happy.  That will allow you to live a life where you never work.  There is a job that you perform to pay the bills.  However, that is not a bad thing when you do what you love.  I believe that all of us have this magical job out there.  It may be romantic, like thinking there is someone for everyone.  Nevertheless, it is worth our effort to find a fit that brings us joy.

What Job Makes You Happy

As a reader of this article (or follower of this site), you are likely interested in IT.  That may even be something that brings you joy.  However, that does not mean you can state "mission accomplished."  There are countless roles and types of jobs in the IT world.  Furthermore, several similar roles still may be different enough to love one and hate the other.  It is worth your time to find out which roles and tasks combine for a job that makes you happy.

A Side Hustle Focus

We often discuss projects and a side hustle that can advance our careers.  As you consider what to pursue in the year ahead, think about happiness.  Do not stop with measuring what areas you can improve in to earn more money or a better title.  Instead, think about what you consider "fun."  Factor in improvements you can make that will allow you to do more that you enjoy.  Subsequently, that should lead to you doing less work you want to avoid.

Avoid Bright and Shiny Things

The hardest part of this thought process is that it might steer you away from a technology that has the most buzz.  For example, you might decide that database programming is your jam.  In this case, you should look for ways to enhance your database resume.  Spending time to learn the latest javascript library may be fun for a while.  However, that will not help you in the long run.  You may be better suited for a Javascript job, but is that what you want?  When you consider your resolutions for the new year, think about crafting a roadmap for a job that makes you happy.