If you’re reading this article (and you are haha), it’s safe to assume you’re soul-searching, at least a smidge. And in a world of work shifting as fast as we are right now... that's no surprise. You're not alone.
Maybe it's profoundly existential, with thoughts like: “What’s the meaning of life?” Or maybe you're thinking more functionally, “Should I take the brand strategy role, or stay in creative?”
Wherever you fall on the “What does it all mean?” spectrum, we developed a practical guide for determining your next step. Don't worry, this isn't a "manifest your purpose" pep talk. We’re taking an approach that’s both insightful and actionable, without pretending there’s only one “right” answer forever. And, spoiler alert: it’s less lightning-bolt epiphany, and more trial and error, but with a happy ending.
Most of us absorbed a bit of a treasure-hunt myth: wander long enough and your purpose will leap out from behind a fern. Perfect for a fairytale, but real life looks different.
The truth is, you design your life by testing through action, observing what gives you energy, and iterating.
“Clarity is a byproduct of action, not analysis.”
Not thinking harder. Not vision-boarding longer. Not over-strategizing. But by doing, noticing, and adjusting. You just need a few small experiments that show you what’s working — and what’s not.
You don’t need a sabbatical. You need a framework that fits into real life. Try this over a weekend, or over two weeks. Option to run it solo, or with a friend.
Grab a doc and make four quick lists:
Circle the patterns. You’ll already see a theme (or a few). Pro Tip: Don’t edit as you go. Messy is honest.
Write yourself three short postcards from one year in the future, each describing a day in three different versions of your life:
Underline what feels alive across all three. That’s your throughline.
Pick two ideas from your lists and design tiny, inexpensive “experiments” you can run in the next 14 days. Let your focus area match your interest zone.
Examples:
Notice what energizes you. Ask: Would I do this again next week? Next month? For free? For income? It’s all info.
Make a quick table. Across the top, list your possible directions. Down the side, list what matters to you (meaning, impact, creativity, autonomy, joy, money, growth, flexibility, reputation, risk…anything that matters to you).
Score each 1-5. If something’s a must (extra important to you), double its score so it carries more weight. Then look at the totals, and notice your reaction. Note: the winner on paper should also feel like a quiet “yes” in your gut. If it doesn’t, listen to that instead.
Pick the front-runner. Don’t marry it. Date it for 90 days. Ship one thing every week. Put a calendar block called something like Make It Real or My Dream Life (whatever you want) on repeat.
At day 90, reflect on:
Keep what’s working, drop what’s not, and pick your next micro-test. That’s it!
Let’s name the common blockers so they stop running the show.
“Rather than waste your time being stressed over
making the right decision, make your decision right.”
-Dr. Ellen Langer
You might be a creative director + strategist + writer + producer. Great. Employers and clients care more about coherence than minimalism.
Make it clear with a throughline like: “I build and lead story-first campaigns, end to end. From strategy to creative through production.”
Then organize your portfolio around outcomes instead of job titles. Range, not randomness.
P.S. Did you know “generalists” are top performers across all areas of life? We recently wrote more about this here.
Happiness is nice, but purpose matters, and it exists when three spheres overlap:
A fourth and final sphere that’s worth mentioning, and significant to anyone who cares about meaning and impact: Service. One way to see this simply is that, as long as it’s not inherently bad/evil or harming others, every job or vocation can be of service (from cleaning floors to curing cancer) because it contributes to the needs of human thriving and culture.
This is encouraging because, though our day-to-day pursuits usually won’t feel epically impactful, they can be quietly and consistently purposeful.
Hey, you’re doing great! We’ve covered a lot. Let’s pop up to the bird’s eye view.
You can do this in a weekend, a week, or two. Just don’t stretch it into someday.
You don’t need a grand revelation to guide your life’s work or your next career move. You just need a small action step in the right direction, and another one after that.
When you’re ready to turn clarity into your next role, Artisan Talent knows who’s hiring and how to package your range, so the right people get you. Let’s make your next 90 days count.