You spend roughly 90,000 hours of your life working. If you're in your mid-40s, you likely still have 45,000 of them left. Career and talent strategist Stephen Shortt joins the show to talk about what to do when you keep feeling like it may be time to make a change. Stephen is the creator of CareerFit, a multi-book author, and a career and talent strategist who spent years running a family business before shifting into helping people build careers that actually fit them. This conversation covers why career dissatisfaction isn't always what it looks like, and what actually helps. Ability, Interest, Demand Stephen breaks down the three-circle framework he uses with clients: ability, interest, and demand. Miss any one of the three and you end up with a hobby, a dream, or a job you tolerate rather than a career you actually want. Loving Something Isn't the Same as a Career Match Enjoying an activity doesn't automatically mean the career built around it is right for you. Stephen walks through how to break an activity down a level or two, planning, problem-solving, working with people, to find out what you actually respond to. Means Goals vs. End Goals A lot of career dissatisfaction comes from chasing the symbol of a goal (the house, the title, the salary) instead of what that goal was supposed to represent (connection, freedom, security). Stephen explains how this mix-up can derail someone who looks successful on paper. Is It the Job, or Is It You? Before deciding to blow up your entire career, Stephen recommends a simple exercise: figuring out whether what you actually dislike is the role, the industry, the company culture, or one specific person. Neurodivergent Strengths at Work Stephen shares examples of dyslexic and autistic professionals whose traits, once labeled as weaknesses, turned into genuine career advantages once they found the right environment. Quick Win Spend an hour (coffee optional, something stronger also optional) asking yourself what specifically is causing your work dissatisfaction. Is it the role? The industry? The culture? One person? Naming it precisely is the first step toward knowing what to actually change. Find Stephen happypeopleproject.com | careerfit.com | stephenshortt.com FAQ How do I know if I should change roles, companies, or careers entirely? Drill down past the surface complaint. Ask what specifically is bothering you, the industry, the company culture, your manager, or one difficult colleague, before assuming the whole career path is wrong. Does loving a hobby mean I should turn it into a career? Not necessarily. What matters is what specifically you enjoy about that activity (planning, people, problem-solving), since that's what transfers to other career paths, not the activity itself. Resources: Sign up for the weekly Sunday Reset Newsletter Want to get a snapshot of your own life in just minutes? Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment at www.prior10.com/assessment. The information contained and documents referenced in the podcast “Your Priority Centered Life” are for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional medical or health treatment, diagnosis, or advice. We strongly encourage listeners to consult with medical providers or qualified mental health providers with issues and questions regarding any physical and/or mental health symptoms or concerns that they may have. Furthermore, the opinions and views expressed by podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates are not necessarily those of the podcast host. Dr. Alise Murray’s opinions and views are expressed in her individual capacity and are not to be construed as those of any of her podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates.
