Do What You Are

Do What You Are Plot Summary

Introduction

Have you ever felt that nagging disconnect between who you truly are and the work you do each day? Many professionals spend years—even decades—in careers that drain their energy rather than ignite their passion, simply because they've never aligned their work with their authentic selves. This disconnect isn't just uncomfortable; it's the primary obstacle standing between you and genuine professional fulfillment. The journey to meaningful work begins with a fundamental shift in perspective. Rather than forcing yourself to fit roles that society values or that promise financial security, imagine building your career around your natural strengths and innate preferences. When you work in harmony with your personality rather than against it, everything transforms—tasks that once exhausted you become energizing, challenges become opportunities for growth, and your unique contributions finally receive the recognition they deserve.

Chapter 1: Discover Your Personality Blueprint for Career Success

Your personality contains the blueprint for your career satisfaction. Just as architects wouldn't dream of constructing a building without understanding the foundation beneath it, you cannot build a fulfilling career without understanding the fundamental aspects of who you are. This self-knowledge reveals not just what you can do, but what will bring you genuine satisfaction in your professional life. Consider Ellen's experience in the computer systems industry. She carefully evaluated a position before accepting it, ensuring she had the analytical ability and experience required. Yet she found herself frustrated when a colleague she considered "the most boring man on earth" received a prime assignment designing a complex system upgrade. While her colleague thrived working long hours in relative isolation, Ellen discovered she was energized by rallying her staff for urgent deadlines and explaining technical concepts to clients. Her natural strengths lay in communication and relationship-building, not in solitary technical work. When Ellen recognized this mismatch, she initially panicked, fearing she'd spent eight years in the wrong career. However, she soon realized she wasn't in the wrong field—just the wrong role within it. By moving to the sales division of the same company, she found a position that leveraged her authentic strengths. Today, she thrives because her work aligns with her natural tendencies rather than fighting against them. The traditional approach to career counseling often focuses only on abilities, interests, and values. While these factors matter, they represent just part of the picture. Your personality has additional dimensions that need recognition. How much stimulation from others energizes you? What kind of information do you naturally notice? How do you make decisions? Do you prefer structure or spontaneity? These preferences reflect mental processes that differ significantly between personality types. To find truly satisfying work, you need to match as many aspects of your personality to your job as possible. Think about writing your signature with your dominant hand versus your non-dominant hand. One feels effortless and produces better results; the other feels awkward and draining. Similarly, when your career aligns with your personality type, you operate from a position of strength rather than constantly struggling against your nature. The journey to discovering your personality blueprint begins with honest self-assessment. Notice when you feel most energized and engaged at work. Pay attention to tasks that leave you feeling fulfilled rather than drained. These moments provide valuable clues about your authentic preferences and strengths—the foundation upon which you can build a truly satisfying career.

Chapter 2: Align Your Work with Your Natural Strengths

Each personality type has a unique hierarchy of mental functions that determines which abilities come most naturally. These functions represent your psychological toolkit—some tools you use effortlessly, while others require conscious effort and cause fatigue when overused. Understanding this hierarchy helps you identify roles where you can contribute your best work with the least strain. Joanne's story illustrates this principle perfectly. After seven years teaching elementary school math, she felt completely burned out. On paper, teaching seemed ideal—she had excelled in math throughout school, enjoyed education, and as the eldest of four siblings, had grown up taking care of children. Career assessments consistently recommended teaching as her perfect match. Yet Joanne became increasingly frustrated with the rigid structure of public elementary schools. She disliked the endless rules she had to enforce and the requirement to prepare lesson plans six weeks in advance. The standard workbooks seemed inane, and the busywork drained her. She felt isolated because her colleagues had different interests and values, and she missed the stimulation of working on challenging projects with like-minded people. Through personality assessment, Joanne discovered she wasn't crazy—she was simply in the wrong environment for her type. While she had many qualifications for teaching, the aspects that energized her—intellectual challenge, opportunities to raise her competence, and creative innovation—were lacking in her current role. The public school setting forced her to work in a highly structured way that conflicted with her natural preferences. The solution became clear: Joanne returned to school for a master's degree to teach math in higher education. In a college setting, she gained the flexibility, intellectual challenge, and academic culture that matched her personality. She now teaches graduate-level math courses while pursuing her Ph.D., finally finding fulfillment by aligning her work with her natural talents. To identify your own ideal career path, examine which mental functions you use most naturally and which environments allow you to thrive. Start by listing five activities that energize you and five that drain you. Look for patterns in these lists—do you prefer working with concrete details or abstract concepts? Do you make decisions based on logical analysis or personal values? Do you thrive with structure or flexibility? Remember that alignment doesn't mean finding work that's easy—it means finding work that engages your natural strengths in service of meaningful challenges. When your work draws primarily on your strengths rather than your weaknesses, you'll experience greater energy and satisfaction even when facing difficult tasks.

Chapter 3: Navigate Workplace Dynamics with Type Awareness

Understanding personality differences transforms how you interact with colleagues, supervisors, and clients. When you recognize that people process information and make decisions differently based on their types, workplace conflicts become opportunities for collaboration rather than sources of frustration. Consider the staff meeting at a hospital where department heads with different personality types addressed a proposal for a new Women's Health Services unit. Susan, the director of planning and marketing, presented the innovative concept with enthusiasm for its possibilities. As a natural visionary, she focused on the competitive advantage and future potential of the unit. Ross, the finance director, cautioned the group about moving too quickly, recommending full investigation of comparable centers nationwide to establish realistic costs. His methodical approach emphasized data collection and risk management. Meanwhile, Raquel, the operations director, suggested mobilizing a task force immediately to gather information about available resources. Her action-oriented perspective emphasized efficiency and seizing the opportunity before competitors. Michael from human resources focused on the human element, recommending the unit serve women of all backgrounds and suggesting communication activities to maintain enthusiasm among employees and the community. Each perspective contributed valuable insights based on different personality preferences. Without type awareness, these differences might have created tension or power struggles. Instead, recognizing the complementary nature of these viewpoints allowed the team to develop a more comprehensive plan incorporating strategic vision, financial prudence, operational efficiency, and community engagement. Type awareness also helps you adapt your communication style to be more effective with different personalities. When presenting ideas to detail-oriented colleagues, providing specific facts and examples increases your credibility. When working with big-picture thinkers, emphasizing the broader context and future implications captures their interest. This flexibility doesn't require changing who you are—just recognizing that others process information differently and adjusting your approach accordingly. To apply type awareness in your workplace, start by observing communication patterns in meetings. Notice who focuses on details versus big-picture concepts, who emphasizes logical consequences versus human impact, who prefers immediate action versus thorough planning. Then experiment with adapting your communication style when working with different colleagues, noting what approaches lead to better understanding and collaboration. By understanding type dynamics in your workplace, you can position yourself where your natural strengths are valued, collaborate more effectively with diverse colleagues, and navigate organizational politics with greater ease.

Chapter 4: Design Your Ideal Work Environment

Your personality type strongly influences which work environments allow you to thrive. Some people energize themselves through frequent interaction with colleagues, while others need quiet space for concentration. Some prefer flexible, adaptable settings, while others function best with clear structure and predictability. Alex, a thirty-nine-year-old internist with a successful practice in Chicago, illustrates the importance of environmental fit. Following family tradition, he became a doctor without questioning his decision. After twelve years of education and five years of practice, he reached a painful conclusion: he didn't want to be a doctor anymore and probably never did. His personality was fundamentally misaligned with his profession's demands. This scenario is surprisingly common. Ask ten people if they could have any job they wanted, and at least half would choose something different from their current position. We often make our most important career decisions when least prepared to do so, influenced by family expectations, financial pressures, or limited self-awareness. Creating your ideal work environment requires understanding your preferences across multiple dimensions. Do you prefer working independently or collaboratively? Do you thrive with variety and spontaneity or consistency and routine? Do you need creative freedom or clear guidelines? Do you focus on immediate results or long-term impact? Cynthia, a newly relocated artist, discovered this principle when interviewing for positions at advertising agencies. After receiving offers from two agencies, she took a week to carefully consider her options. Rather than making a hasty decision for job security, she realized neither position fully matched her environmental needs. Instead, she declined both offers and established herself as a freelancer working with all four agencies she had interviewed with. This arrangement gave her the flexibility, autonomy, and creative variety she needed to thrive. To identify your ideal environment, reflect on times when you've felt most productive and engaged at work. What physical conditions supported your best performance? What leadership style brought out your strengths? What pace felt energizing rather than stressful? What level of structure versus flexibility allowed you to contribute most effectively? Remember that finding your ideal environment might require creativity. If your current workplace doesn't perfectly match your preferences, look for ways to modify your immediate surroundings or schedule. Perhaps you can negotiate flexible hours, create a more organized workspace, or establish boundaries around interruptions. Small environmental adjustments can significantly impact your daily satisfaction and productivity.

Chapter 5: Create a Strategic Career Development Plan

Armed with self-knowledge about your personality type, strengths, and ideal environment, you can create a strategic plan for your career that evolves with you throughout your life. This isn't about finding a single perfect job but building a career path that accommodates your changing needs and developing abilities. Maureen's journey exemplifies this evolutionary approach. As a detail-oriented researcher with exceptional observational skills, she excelled in medical laboratory work after college. She was precise, accurate, and enjoyed the step-by-step progress of experiments. When her boss unexpectedly left, Maureen was offered a supervisory position overseeing all lab technicians. Though uncertain about the change, she recognized it aligned with her developing interpersonal skills. To her surprise, Maureen became an excellent supervisor, developing a supportive management style while maintaining her technical expertise. Over the years, she became increasingly interested in the human impact of her cancer research, forming connections with doctors, hospitals, and patients. Eventually, she shifted focus to evaluating new developments in cancer research worldwide, traveling extensively and lecturing—activities she would never have felt comfortable doing earlier in her career. Today, Maureen's personal and professional growth are inseparable. By choosing a career path that engaged her natural interests at different life stages, she developed into both an accomplished professional and a more well-rounded person. Your own strategic career plan should consider not just your current preferences but how they might evolve over time. In early career stages, focus on positions that utilize your dominant strengths. As you master these areas, look for opportunities to develop complementary skills. By midlife, you may feel drawn to express aspects of your personality that were previously underdeveloped. Creating your plan begins with assessing where you are now. What aspects of your current role align with your strengths? What areas feel misaligned? Next, identify your short-term goals (1-2 years), medium-term goals (3-5 years), and long-term vision (10+ years). For each timeframe, consider what skills you need to develop, what experiences would enrich your career, and what environments would support your growth. Remember that career development isn't linear. It may include lateral moves, temporary steps backward, or complete reinvention. The key is maintaining alignment between your evolving self and your work. By regularly reassessing this alignment and making strategic adjustments, you create a career that grows with you rather than constrains you.

Chapter 6: Transform Current Roles into Perfect Fits

Sometimes the perfect next step isn't a new job but transforming your current position to better align with your strengths and preferences. With creativity and initiative, you can often reshape your role to increase satisfaction without changing employers. When Lila, an internal computer consultant, found herself frustrated by "endless meetings with stupid people," she developed an interactive program addressing common user questions and placed it on the company website. This innovation allowed her to focus on complex problems with experienced users—work she found far more stimulating—while still serving the organization's needs. Her solution leveraged her natural problem-solving abilities while minimizing draining activities. Similarly, Jacqueline, who felt somewhat unfulfilled despite liking her job and company, volunteered to head the annual United Way campaign. Her organizational skills and genuine concern for others helped the company exceed its contribution goal by 20%, while providing her the people-focused, meaningful work she craved. This side project satisfied her need to make a tangible difference in others' lives. For Josh, a design engineer promoted to department manager, the challenge was different. Recognizing his weakness in managing people despite his strong systems-design skills, he proactively formed a mentoring group with three experienced managers who could critique his plans and approach. This initiative reflected his commitment to competence and willingness to address weaknesses directly. Even small adjustments can significantly impact satisfaction. Jess, who struggled with constant interruptions in her small, overcrowded office, proposed changing her hours to arrive one hour earlier than other staff. This simple change provided uninterrupted time for paperwork while also improving her commute and childcare schedule. To transform your current role, start by identifying which aspects of your work drain your energy and which energize you. For the draining activities, consider whether you can delegate them, minimize them, batch them into specific time blocks, or approach them differently. For energizing activities, look for ways to expand them or incorporate their elements into other responsibilities. Next, assess gaps between your strengths and your current responsibilities. Could you propose a special project that better utilizes your natural talents? Could you trade tasks with a colleague whose strengths complement yours? Could you request additional training or mentorship in areas where you want to develop? Remember that many jobs allow considerable flexibility in how tasks are performed. By recognizing your type's needs and communicating them effectively, you can often create a more satisfying role without changing your business card. The key is taking initiative rather than waiting for someone else to notice your misalignment.

Chapter 7: Make Decisions Based on Your Core Values

Making career decisions that truly satisfy requires more than just matching skills to job descriptions—it demands alignment with your core values and what matters most to you personally. When your work honors these deeper priorities, satisfaction naturally follows. For Anne, working at an education nonprofit, her mission to ensure everyone has access to educational opportunities drives her daily work. Having benefited from a specialized charter school in high school, she became "passionate about other people being able to access those kinds of choices, even if they couldn't afford private school." This value led her to pursue education reform and eventually find her current position at a company she describes as a "search engine for learning"—making educational resources freely available worldwide. Anne's story demonstrates how personal experiences often shape our values and, ideally, our career choices. Similarly, Deb, a therapeutic counselor, found deep satisfaction in a career guided by the Mother Teresa quote "Do small things with great love." After thirty years working with abused and neglected children, she transitioned to a church-based counseling practice where she continues to serve others through one-on-one support. For some, values clarification comes through contrast with unsatisfying experiences. Dan, a real estate developer, discovered his passion for urban planning while backpacking through Europe after his sophomore year of college. "I was exposed to just amazing urban life and urban designing, planning, and architecture. It struck a nerve with me." This experience helped him recognize his values around creating spaces that serve communities for generations. To identify your own core values, reflect on moments when you've felt most fulfilled or most violated. What principles were being honored or dishonored in those situations? Consider what you want your legacy to be—what impact do you hope to have through your work? What causes or issues move you emotionally? These reflections can reveal the values that should guide your career decisions. When evaluating potential opportunities, assess not just practical factors like salary and location, but how well the role and organization align with your values. Will this position allow you to express what matters most to you? Does the organization's mission complement your personal values? Will the daily work engage you in activities that feel meaningful? Remember that values often evolve over time. As Robin, a real estate agent who previously worked in adoption services, notes: "I would like to do something someday that has a bigger impact. But I know that's what I'm doing with my children, and the way I treat other people will ultimately have a bigger effect. It's the ripple effect, touching one person who touches another."

Summary

The journey to professional fulfillment begins and ends with authenticity. When you align your career with your personality type, natural strengths, and core values, work becomes more than just a paycheck—it becomes an expression of your true self. As Carl Jung wisely noted, "The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are." This transformation doesn't happen overnight, but each step toward greater alignment brings increased energy, engagement, and satisfaction. Your path to authentic success starts with a single action: pay attention to when you feel most energized in your current work. These moments of natural engagement provide valuable clues about your personality preferences and strengths. By noticing patterns in what energizes versus drains you, you begin building the self-awareness that will guide all your future career decisions. Remember that finding your path isn't about conforming to external expectations but about creating work that honors your unique combination of strengths, values, and potential.

About Author

Loading...

Paul D. Tieger

Read more