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Today, we go through the steps you need to take to optimize your curriculum vitae. I’ll be using a real example, an optimized CV I worked on for a friend who was applying for a logistics role in a supply chain management company. 

So as we go through this, I’ll show you exactly what matters, how to think about structuring your experience, and how to use your CV to communicate value, not just history.

Main – Professional Experience

Among all sections on your CV, nothing matters more than professional experience. This is the one section that tells a recruiter the kind of value you’ll bring to their company. 

It doesn’t matter how many schools you went to or what certifications you’ve collected. What a recruiter wants to know is: have you done relevant work before? Did you add value? Do you understand the job you’re applying for? And can you deliver?

That’s why your priority when writing a CV should be to start with your professional experience. Even other sections, like key skills and competencies, should be derived from it. 

If you mention a skill, say, data analysis or dispatch coordination, then your professional experience should show exactly where and how you applied that skill. Otherwise, it’s just empty talk. 

When building this section, use reverse chronological order (most recent at the top), but when drafting, I recommend starting from the bottom, your earliest role, because it helps you build upward with intention and clarity.

Now, let’s break down what makes a strong professional experience entry. 

Every job you list should follow a three-part structure: 

• What did you do?
• What value did you add?
• What skills did you gain?

In one of the earlier roles this candidate had while still in school, from February to March 2022, they worked as a supply chain research agent in a data collection program. 

We first start with describing the job. Then we provide more context, which gives it relevance to supply chain work. And then we show the value or impact to the company before we close with what the candidate gained, the personal growth component.

NB: All the examples (italic) written below have been paraphrased upon request from client.

• Took part in a market outreach initiative focused on evaluating how well the company’s beverage products were performing across key urban regions.
• Gathered data on inventory movement, sales volumes, and delivery patterns across various retail and hospitality locations.
• Supplied actionable, real-time field insights that supported strategic decision-making for regional market growth planning.
• Strengthened interpersonal and communication abilities by interacting with business owners in the hospitality sector to facilitate data collection and product feedback.

This structure should work for all roles. 

Let’s take another example, procurement work from August to November. The job roles include: 

• Coordinated bid opening activities by managing session logistics and accurately recording submitted proposals to promote procedural transparency.
• Participated in the assessment of initial technical and financial submissions, contributing to evaluation, ranking, and shortlisting of tenders.
• Drafted and issued purchase orders, supported invoice processing, and performed inventory audits to streamline procurement and payment operations.

This kind of writing uses technical terms, and that’s intentional. One of the biggest mistakes people make is simplifying their language in a CV, trying to make it broadly understandable. 

But your CV is not for the general public. It’s for professionals in your industry. And when they read your CV, they want to know that you understand their world. Using technical terms like RFQs, RFPs, invoice processing, or ERP systems shows that you’re not a beginner. 

It shows depth.

This candidate also made sure to show what they gained from the role: 

• Acquired practical exposure to procurement documentation processes, including drafting and reviewing key purchasing records.
• Developed confidence and on-the-ground experience by independently managing routine procurement responsibilities within a structured workflow.

These statements reflect maturity and readiness for responsibility. In every role, you want to show not just what you did, but what you learned. It makes your CV feel lived-in.

Let’s move to another role, brand ambassador, during an October 1st campaign. 

• Executed a promotional drive aimed at customer acquisition through discount incentives, successfully onboarding over 200 new users during the campaign.

That alone is strong. It shows the task and quantifies the result. But the candidate didn’t stop there. They added: 

• Leveraged outreach opportunities to strengthen communication and persuasion skills through sustained engagement with diverse individuals and potential clients.

That phrase, “communication and persuasion skills”, really matters, especially in client-facing or field-based roles. 

They even added: 

• Broadened my capacity to connect with and respond effectively to people from varied backgrounds and communication styles. 

These are soft skills that matter everywhere.

Another similar experience was a brand ambassador role for a company’s loyalty program: 

• Enrolled more than 300 new participants into the loyalty program while guiding customers on benefits such as redeemable points and reward systems.

Again, the impact is clear. And the growth is stated: 

• Strengthened adaptability and persuasive communication through consistent, day-to-day interactions with a wide range of customers.

Now, let’s talk about the more recent role, management trainee. This one is more technical and tied directly to the job the candidate was applying for. 

While a management trainee might do many things, administrative work, factory operations, etc., the key is to zero in on the parts that align with the job you’re targeting. In this case, it was logistics. So we opened with: 

• Assisted senior personnel in managing administrative and factory-related tasks, with a concentrated emphasis on supply chain coordination and logistics operations.

Then we listed specific, technical responsibilities: 

• Coordinated tea sorting and outbound dispatch processes using enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools.
• Supervised transporter activities through ERP, including purchase order approvals and release of requisition requests.
• Conducted trailer inspections to verify quality and safety standards, including checks on driver credentials and insurance compliance.
• Oversaw the physical loading and secure sealing of consignments prior to dispatch to ensure cargo integrity.
• Maintained alignment with haulage performance indicators by providing hands-on operational oversight and interdepartmental coordination.

When you read that, you know instantly: this person has done the work. And they’ve described it in the language of the industry. That’s how you make your CV resonate with both human recruiters and applicant tracking systems.

Other Sections

1. Key Skills and Competencies: Once you’ve written your professional experience, you can extract your Key Skills and Competencies from it. Don’t try to come up with them from scratch. Paste your experience section into ChatGPT and ask it to list the skills for you. That way, your skills reflect what you’ve done, not just what sounds good.

2. Career Objective: Again, don’t go vague. Avoid phrases like “seeking to grow in a dynamic environment.” Be specific. The example we used read: 

• Results-driven and meticulous logistics professional with hands-on experience in supply chain functions such as procurement, dispatch coordination, and trailer inspection. Keen to contribute to your clearing and forwarding team by enhancing operational efficiency in tea exports, supporting compliance efforts, and deepening my capabilities in cross-border logistics within Kenya’s tea export sector.

You can go further and customize this to mention the specific market or region the company serves. Replace placeholders like “your company” with the actual company name. Show that you’ve done your research and understand their world.

3. Personal Information: Name, address, contacts, marital status, email, and languages. 

4. Education: List your schools from most recent to earliest. You don’t have to include grades unless they’re required. If you’ve finished university, that’s enough to show you’re capable of learning.

5. Certifications: Start with the ones that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. But don’t shy away from listing others that add to your profile. These extra certifications show you’re a continuous learner. They add to your value. Even if they don’t directly relate to the job, they round you out.

6. References: Don’t just list names and numbers. Call these people in advance. Tell them they might get a call. Make sure they’re willing to vouch for you. A good reference can tip the scales in your favor.

Wrapping Up

Now that your CV is written, remember this: you’re writing for two audiences, recruiters and machines. Many companies use ATS software to scan CVs before a human even sees them. 

So make sure your CV includes keywords from the job description, uses clear formatting, and is structured for quick skimming. 

But also remember that when a recruiter opens your CV, it should read like the story of a capable, growing, and value-driven professional. That’s how you get called back.

If you need help optimizing your CV, I’m happy to support. Reach out any time. I’m here to help you gain career clarity and present yourself in the best light possible.

If you’re stepping into the job market, especially targeting jobs in governmental institutions, established parastatals, or legacy employers, the types of places known for job security where you might stay for decades and eventually retire, then there’s more to consider than academic qualifications alone.

While it’s true you can land a job purely on merit, being intelligent, qualified, and capable, this isn’t always the reality for many people. In most cases, especially when dealing with legacy employers, there are additional factors they consider that schools don’t address. These are the unspoken essentials that significantly influence hiring decisions and career progression.

Understanding these factors will greatly improve your chances of securing the stable, long-term career you’re aiming for.

1. Connections

This is the reality we must accept as a society: in Kenya, if you want a secure job, especially one in the government or a parastatal, the type of position that guarantees stability for decades, you need connections. 

You have to know someone inside the system, someone who can put your name forward or influence the decision-making behind the scenes. This might be uncomfortable to admit, but it’s the unfortunate truth of our current society.

I’ve realized that in most cases, getting hired in these secure, legacy positions heavily depends on connections. It’s not fair, but it’s how things are. Not everyone, though, is fortunate enough to have those connections. Maybe you dream of working at the Ministry of Lands, but you don’t know anyone there. In such cases, you must adapt, find where you might fit in, and learn how to play by the existing rules.

Playing by the rules starts with learning them. 

1. Identify the institution or role you’re aiming for. Perhaps you’ve heard stories about the good salaries and benefits there, or maybe someone you admire works in that organization. 
2. Find someone, anyone, within your reach who’s connected to that institution. 
3. Seek information. Ask them about recruitment periods, selection criteria, and how hiring decisions are made. Gaining this information will allow you to be strategic and intentional about your next moves, significantly increasing your chances of success.
4. Start lobbying. Lobbying isn’t merely asking for favors; it means building genuine relationships over time. Once you’ve found someone inside, start engaging them consistently. It might involve doing favors, offering services for free, or volunteering your skills to gain trust. Doing so builds goodwill and increases the likelihood that they’ll support you when opportunities arise.
5. Think long term: It’s unrealistic to expect immediate results. Give yourself at least one or two years of consistent relationship-building and providing value. Over this period, your connections grow stronger, trust deepens, and your chances of landing the job greatly improve.

Ultimately, your mindset should be oriented towards long-term success. Without existing connections, you must patiently and strategically build them. It won’t be easy; everyone naturally wants to prioritize their family and close friends. 

To break into these tight circles, you must consistently demonstrate value and reliability, making yourself indispensable and gradually becoming part of their network.

This is the truth that most people won’t openly tell you: in legacy institutions and parastatals, connections matter deeply. Without them, entry is difficult. Accepting this reality empowers you to take deliberate steps towards securing your desired job.

2. Conformity

Legacy employers have established structures and cultures that have existed for many years. People within these systems have spent their entire careers adapting to, managing, and maintaining these ways of doing things.

If you want to enter and advance in such a workplace, you must be ready to conform.. Essentially, this means acknowledging and aligning yourself with the established rules and norms. 

 “When you go to Rome, do as the Romans do.” 

Avoid entering the system intending to immediately overhaul or challenge it. Even if you notice inefficiencies, understand that these inefficiencies are often deliberate or maintained by design. 

Attempting to be revolutionary right away is rarely beneficial in these environments. Instead, it can make existing employees feel threatened, fearing that their jobs or comfort zones may be disrupted. When people feel threatened, they’ll naturally resist your presence and advancement.

Therefore, enter such organizations with humility. Accept that initially, you know very little about how things truly operate, and approach your role as an opportunity to learn, observe, and adapt to the established culture. Doing so significantly improves your chances of integration and career growth within these long-standing institutions.

However, if you’re passionate about innovation, efficiency, or actively reshaping how things operate to improve society, traditional legacy workplaces might not be your ideal environment. 

These values thrive much more naturally in startups or companies dedicated to solving tangible, real-world problems. Legacy employers rarely prioritize innovation or disruption, preferring stability over rapid change.

Understanding this reality will greatly enhance your ability to successfully navigate and build a lasting career within secure, traditional employment systems.

3. Aptitude

Your aptitude is your ability and willingness to learn and acquire new skills. 

When entering any workplace, it doesn’t matter how knowledgeable or academically accomplished you are. Everyone enters these workplaces essentially clueless about the practical realities of the job. 

You’re not there to immediately instruct others on how things should be done, regardless of your qualifications. Instead, you’re entering a learning environment, and you must approach it with humility and openness.

In the real world, very little of what you studied in school is directly applicable. Often, you’ll find yourself focusing on specific tasks or specializations unique to your role. About 90% of your academic training may never directly apply to day-to-day tasks at work. 

What truly matters, therefore, isn’t how smart you are on paper, but how quickly and readily you can adapt, learn, and embrace new ways of doing things.

Success hinges on your willingness to be taught. Your colleagues and supervisors are watching for signs that you’re open to guidance, receptive to feedback, and eager to master necessary skills. If they sense your genuine desire to learn and adapt to their established practices, they’ll naturally embrace you, support you, and invest in your growth.

So remember, demonstrating aptitude, being humble, adaptable, and teachable, is key to earning trust and advancing your career within these legacy employment systems.

4. Proactiveness

Being proactive means taking initiative and responsibility for making things happen, rather than passively waiting for situations or tasks to come your way. In practical terms, proactiveness is about being someone who can actively seek out tasks, someone who takes action rather than waiting for direction.

Imagine you’re sitting in an office without an assigned task. A proactive person won’t simply wait; they’ll approach their supervisor or senior colleagues and ask directly: “What are you working on? How can I help?” If there’s something you can contribute to or assist with, offer to help. This demonstrates initiative and eagerness, making you stand out.

In your first five years of work, your main focus shouldn’t be on making money. Instead, it’s a crucial period for learning, gaining experience, and building your value. The real money comes later, once you’ve established yourself as indispensable. To achieve that level of value, you must invest these initial years into developing your skills and reputation by proactively seeking opportunities to work and grow.

In the workplace, true learning doesn’t come from studying or theorizing; it comes from action. You learn by actively doing tasks, completing projects, and delivering results. This practical experience is how you prove your worth. 

It’s how you build trust and earn respect from your seniors, who eventually see you as someone reliable enough to manage responsibilities in their absence. Becoming this reliable figure makes you valuable, and eventually, indispensable.

Don’t waste energy feeling jealous or frustrated if you see colleagues or senior staff enjoying perks like working fewer hours, leaving early, or doing less strenuous tasks. Your time for those rewards will come. Right now, embrace the hard work fully. Commit yourself, take initiative, and master the tasks at hand.

Be proactive. Dedicate the next five years to genuinely excelling at your job and becoming the best at what you do.

5. Communication

Communication is about how you relate to and interact with people around you in the workplace. Many underestimate its importance, but good communication profoundly affects your career growth, your reputation, and practically every aspect of your life.

In government agencies, parastatals, or other legacy institutions, how you communicate with colleagues directly influences how you’re perceived and treated. Becoming a skilled communicator doesn’t happen overnight; it takes consistent effort and time to master. 

It begins with simple yet significant gestures, like how respectfully you greet colleagues in the morning, how you reach out when you need assistance, and how you handle conversations in everyday office interactions.

But communication isn’t only about how you speak to others; it’s also about how you speak about them. This is something I learned the hard way. You might think you’re privately venting to a trusted colleague about someone else, but there’s always a chance those words will reach that person. It doesn’t matter how; it inevitably happens. And the results can be severe, especially in environments rife with office politics.

You may underestimate someone in your office, viewing them as quiet or humble, but behind the scenes, they might be extremely influential. They could hold significant power or connections that you aren’t aware of. 

Negative words reaching such a person could harm your career and reputation severely, especially in established systems where politics often dominate advancement.

Therefore, practice speaking positively about others, or if necessary, refrain from speaking negatively altogether. Positive comments have a way of building goodwill, reaching colleagues, and helping them embrace you more warmly.

Another critical skill is active listening. Especially when you’re new or still learning, it’s important to listen more than you speak. Listening helps you understand office dynamics, politics, and the nuances of how things are done.

Balance also matters greatly. Don’t fall into the extremes of being a people pleaser or being overly blunt. Strive for moderation, being respectful, cooperative, and pleasant, yet assertive enough to voice your opinion or set boundaries when necessary.

Additionally, identify colleagues or seniors who seem particularly invested in your growth. Occasionally, you’ll encounter people who genuinely see potential in you and make efforts to guide you. They’ll express their belief in your abilities, entrust you with important tasks, and consistently show interest in your career advancement. 

Take these people seriously and build meaningful relationships with them. These are the individuals who will advocate for you in high-level meetings, influence critical decisions on your behalf, and defend you when it counts most. Be intentional about adding value to their professional lives, as this can significantly accelerate your career.

Tony Robbins said, “The way you communicate with others and with yourself ultimately determines the quality of your life.”

Wrapping up

So this is how you need to approach your initial years of employment,  as somebody who has just graduated or who is early on in their career path. These are the things that you need to keep in mind.

It’s not the way you might want it to be ,  it is how it is in the system.

1. If you don’t have connections, find a way to get connected. Find the people who can help you.
2. Conform. Don’t get into that space and try to teach people how things are done. Go and learn. Be humble.
3. Be somebody who can learn. It doesn’t matter how much you know. If you get into that system, what matters is how willing and able you are to acquire skills and learn how to do things.
4. Be proactive. Proactiveness essentially means that you are showing your value at an early age. You are that person who goes out there and gets that job that you need,  or that task that you need to do,  to help the people around you and add value for them.
5. How you communicate will determine how you grow from whichever stage you are in your career, up to the point where you want to be. So it is all about communication. All about how you relate to other people.

If you find this article helpful, kindly share it with somebody you know it can benefit. Thank you.

A lot of us know what it feels like to be stuck in a job that drains the life out of us. It’s not just boring, it’s soul-sucking. Every day you walk into that workspace, a part of you feels like it’s dying inside.

And you’re not alone in this. Many people have been in that exact spot for months, maybe even years. You feel trapped. And honestly, it makes sense, because you have bills to pay. That paycheck, however painful the job might be, is what keeps your life running. So walking away doesn’t feel like an option.

But I want to offer a different way to look at it. What if, instead of seeing this job as a dead end, you saw it as a launchpad?

You don’t have to stay stuck in a job that’s slowly draining life out of you. Even if you can’t quit today, there is something you can do. You can start using your current job as a stepping stone to the career you want, the one you daydream about, the one that energizes you just thinking about it.

So, let’s dive into the steps you can take that will move you toward that dream career. 

1. Start with Perspective

If you have a job right now, a steady paycheck that allows you to cover your bills and meet your basic needs, you’re already in a position that many people only dream of. And that’s something worth acknowledging.

In a country like Kenya, where every year universities release hundreds of thousands of graduates into a job market that can’t absorb them all, employment is not guaranteed. Jobs are limited. And more often than not, the few opportunities that exist go to those with strong networks, boldness, or an edge that makes them stand out. The rest are left waiting, sometimes for years, with nothing happening.

So if you have a job, no matter how uninspiring it feels right now, understand this: you’re not stuck. You’re starting from a place of strength.

When you shift into this mindset of gratitude, not blind positivity, but real appreciation, you begin to see your situation differently. You stop fixating only on what’s wrong, and you start noticing what this job is giving you: stability, structure, and a platform you can build from.

Gratitude doesn’t mean settling. It just means seeing clearly. And from that clarity, new possibilities begin to emerge. That shift in perspective is the very first step toward building a more exciting, energizing, and purpose-filled career.

2. Recognize Your Stability and Build a Runway

Having a job means you have income. You’re going home every month with a paycheck. And while it might not be the kind of money you ultimately want, that steady income gives you something incredibly valuable: stability.

And stability is the foundation you need to build your dream.

Too often, we’re told to just “go for it” to quit our jobs and chase our dreams full throttle. I know this firsthand. After university, I tried doing exactly that. I jumped straight into pursuing my goals without any financial cushion. And very quickly, I learned how hard that path is.

When bills are piling up, when you need food, rent, transport, and other essentials, it’s nearly impossible to focus on your dreams. Survival mode kicks in. Every bit of mental energy goes into making ends meet, not building something bigger.

But when you have a job that pays you every month, even if it’s not perfect, it gives you breathing room. That peace of mind is what makes dreaming and planning even possible. It gives you the emotional and mental bandwidth to start making long-term moves, not just reacting to short-term problems.

That’s why your current paycheck is more than just money; it’s your launch pad.

So, how do you turn it into something powerful?

You start by building a financial runway.

A financial runway is a savings buffer, money set aside to cover your basic expenses for a certain period, ideally six months or more. For some, it might be one year, maybe even two. Whatever the timeframe, the goal is the same: give yourself the freedom to pursue your dream without constant financial stress.

You don’t need a miracle or a sponsor to build this. You need discipline. Start small. Save consistently. Cut unnecessary expenses. Live below your means for a season.

It might not feel glamorous now, but this is how you build the bridge from where you are to where you want to be. Your job funds your runway, and your runway gives you the courage to take off.

3. Double Down on Your Strengths

Once you start building your financial runway, you create space to take real steps toward your dream career. And the first step? Start by doubling down on your strengths, right where you are.

Even if you don’t love your current job as a whole, I’m willing to bet there are parts of it you actually enjoy, tasks that energize you, things you’re naturally good at. Maybe it’s solving tech issues, planning events, speaking in front of others, or organizing systems.

Identify those strengths and lean into them. Take initiative. Volunteer for tasks that align with what you do best. Look for opportunities, however small, that allow you to shine in that area. When something comes up that lights you up, raise your hand. Say yes.

Not only can this help you enjoy your job more, but it also makes you more visible. When you consistently bring positive energy and excellence to the work you enjoy, people take notice. And when new opportunities arise, inside or outside the company, you’ll be top of mind.

Good energy is magnetic. The more you show up with your strengths, the more doors begin to open. And that’s how momentum starts. One small move at a time.

4. Build Your Dream Career on the Side

Most of us have some free time in the evenings, after work, before bed. Instead of letting that time slip away, start using it with intention.

 Whether it’s learning a new skill, working on a personal project, or creating content, invest that time in activities that align with your future goals.

Ask yourself: What do I need to do to become the person I want to be?

Do you need to 

• Take a course? 
• Complete a project? 
• Start posting your work online? 

Whatever it is, start now. Because every effort you make outside your 9–5 adds up. Over time, you’ll build a portfolio that showcases your skills, not just your qualifications. In today’s world, what you can do matters more than your certificate.

And just as important as building skills is networking.

If you want to be an event planner, talk to event planners. If your dream is content creation, connect with others already doing it. Don’t try to figure everything out alone; your growth will be slower. Ask questions. Learn from those ahead of you. Be curious.

And do it consistently, not just once and disappear. If you’re spending the next year or two building your financial runway, use that same time to build your professional runway too.

Grow your network in two directions: one within your current job, and another around your dream path. That way, when you’re ready to leap, you’ll have both the work and the support system to land smoothly.

5. Take the Leap

Finally, we get to the last step: taking the leap.

This comes after you’ve done the groundwork, i.e., 

1. Shifted your mindset
2. Maximized your current role
3. Built your runway
4. Sharpened your skills, 
5. Created a portfolio
6. Grown your network. 

Once you’ve laid this foundation, the next move is simple: go for it.

Trust your instincts. If a job offer in your dream field comes your way, or if your side hustle starts generating more income than your main job, or even if your passion starts to feel too strong to ignore, that’s your signal. 

Don’t overthink it. Don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis. If the timing feels right and you’ve prepared, take the leap.

Yes, it’s a risk. But life is an adventure. And if your heart is in it, and you’ve done the work, the odds are already in your favor.

That said, also be realistic. Things might not unfold exactly as you imagined. You might face detours, delays, or even a few setbacks. And that’s okay. Every journey is different. Stay flexible. Stay grounded. Be willing to pivot if needed.

The key is to focus on the journey, not just the destination. Learn to fall in love with the process of becoming, of growing, evolving, and moving from where you are to where you’re meant to be. That’s where the real transformation happens.

If you’re in a job that frustrates you, but you dream of something more fulfilling, these steps can help you move forward with intention, clarity, and courage.

People say follow your passion. But is it really good advice?

Let’s talk about it. 

First, as with every advice we get, it depends on the context or the perspective that you’re adopting. In this case, I want us to talk from the perspective of someone who has bills to pay and can secure a job.

What does “follow your passion” mean when you’re in that position?

Let’s start by acknowledging something you’ve probably heard a hundred times: Follow your passion and you’ll never work a day in your life. It’s one of those popular mantras that comes in many variations. And honestly, a lot of us buy into it.

Personally, I do. I believe in following my passion and doing things that energize me.

We also tend to assume that once you’re on the path of passion, life just gets easier, like your troubles magically shrink or disappear. And part of the reason we hold onto this idea is because of the time we live in. Today, we have the freedom to become almost anything we want. Many of our basic needs are already taken care of.

Think about it, most of us don’t have to worry about where our next meal is coming from, or whether we’ll have a roof over our heads, or if we’ll be attacked by wild animals in the night. These were real concerns for our ancestors. For them, survival came first. Passion wasn’t even on the table.

But for us, those basic threats are mostly out of the way. That’s why we’re able to climb higher on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and why pursuing passion feels like an option, even a right.

Why Passion Emerged as a Priority

Maslow’s hierarchy is a representation of all the needs we have as human beings and the levels they take.

Let me break it down:

1. Physiological needs – food, water, rest. When you’re hungry or exhausted, you’re not thinking about self-esteem or belonging. You’re thinking about survival.
2. Safety – avoiding pain and danger.
3. Love and belonging – the need to feel part of something, to be loved.
4. Self-esteem – wanting to be respected, admired, and valued.
5. Self-actualization – becoming the best version of yourself.

When you talk about following your passion, what you’re doing is trying to achieve self-actualization, i.e., becoming the best version you can be by following the things that give you energy.

At this point, most of our lower needs are already met. We’re safe, we have friends and family who love us, and we feel respected. So what remains is the desire to be fulfilled. That’s why this idea of following your passion becomes appealing.

Personally, I was brought up in a functional family. I went to good schools and I never really lacked. I think most of us have that kind of background.

And the problem with this kind of upbringing is that it never really exposes us to the other side of the coin; the experience of lacking safety, stability, and those basic physiological needs we’ve talked about.

So, you don’t really see how valuable those things are. And that’s why it becomes easy to overlook them and just decide that you want to do something because it feels right for you.

Now it’s not wrong to want to pursue your passion. But it’s not an easy path. There are two reasons why it’s not easy.

You’re focusing on ‘ME’ 

You care about what makes you happy and what energizes you. And that’s not inherently bad. But if you’re aiming for success and fulfillment, you won’t get as much by doing things that only serve you.

You get fulfillment from doing things that solve problems for other people. When people benefit from your work, they give back. That’s how value is created.
If you want to make money, you don’t make it by solving your own problems. You make money by solving other people’s problems.

So when you follow your passion, you might be entering a path where it’s harder to succeed or find fulfillment quickly because you’re not yet solving a real, shared problem.

It’s an entrepreneurial path.

You’re building something from scratch. No systems. No structures. And it takes time, a lot of time, and serious effort to create something meaningful.

Now imagine trying to do that while also struggling to meet your basic needs, food, shelter, safety. It’s incredibly hard. The money doesn’t show up as quickly as you thought it would. There’s no financial cushion. That lack of a runway builds frustration. You’re doing what you love, but you can’t even meet your needs. That’s the point where many people give up.

What most people don’t realize is how much it actually takes to turn a passion into something independent and sustainable, something that pays. You think you’ll dive in, give it your all, and in a few months or a year, everything will fall into place. But that’s not how it works.

I had to learn that the hard way. I thought if I just worked on my passion for a few months, I’d get everything I ever wanted. But the truth is, it takes years. It’s long. It’s painful. It’s frustrating. And most of the time, it feels like you’re making very little progress.

So instead of just blindly following your passion, you need to follow it strategically.

And by strategically, I mean three things:

1. Responsibly

You have to keep in mind reality. You can’t follow a passion when you can’t meet your physiological needs.

Don’t neglect practical realities, your finances, your obligations, and your long-term growth. If you have a child or family depending on you, you can’t just quit your job and chase your passion.
You have to be responsible.

2. ‘Blendingly’

This is a word I came up with.It means using the opportunities you currently have and merging them with your passion.

Whatever you’ve studied, whatever job you have, use that to build a foundation and blend in your passion gradually. That job may not be your dream, but it gives you stability. Use that stability to build your passion.

3. Patiently

It’s not about grinding for two or three years and expecting a breakthrough. It might take five, even ten years to build something stable and fulfilling. And during that time, you’ll face doubts. You’ll see others moving ahead, and you’ll wonder if you’re being foolish.

But this isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. If you expect quick wins, you’ll get frustrated and quit. Be patient. Trust the process. Build slowly. That’s how passion turns into something real and sustainable.

Now, here’s a simple way to bring all this together. I call it the 

Reverse Passion Strategy.

Based on the idea that competency builds passion, this strategy flips the usual script.

Instead of starting with your passion and trying to force everything to fit around it, you let your passion follow opportunity and mastery. By opportunity, I’m talking about what’s already in your hands right now: a job you can do, a skill you can grow, a platform you can build on.

Whatever it is, lean into it. Give it your best. Show up fully.

Because the more you engage with it, the better you get. And as your competence grows, so does your sense of ownership. You start feeling proud of what you can do. That’s where passion begins to take root, not from daydreaming, but from doing.

You don’t think your way into passion. You work your way into it. Passion comes from mastery. Mastery comes from effort. And when you keep showing up and improving, passion catches up.

And here’s the interesting part; passion eventually breeds fulfillment. Fulfillment brings a deep sense of satisfaction. That word satisfaction comes from satis (which means “enough”) and action. It literally means “enough action.”

So if you want to feel passion, stop waiting to be inspired. Start acting. Take the opportunities around you seriously. Put in the reps. Passion isn’t something you find—it’s something you build.

What Passion Looks Like When It’s Real

Every profession has its downsides. No matter how much you love what you do, the moment you start doing it to make money, challenges will show up.

At the bottom of it all, even with your passion, you want it to make money. And once you get to that level, where passion meets pressure, it’s not always fun. So why not start with something that already pays, then build your passion with it?

Also, people start to hate their passions when they can’t commercialize them. This happened to me. I was passionate about writing. I saw other people making money from it and thought I would too.So I followed my passion. But when I couldn’t earn well and sustainably, and I didn’t see how I’d ever get there, it got tough.

If you don’t see results, passion feels like pain. But when you do see results, you’re making money, you’re happy, you’re recognized for it, that’s when it feels real.

Until you get to that level, you might suffer. Personally, I was in that space for a long time. I struggled to feel energy and passion because I wasn’t seeing the outcome.

What We’re Really Chasing

At the end of the day, what we are chasing is fulfillment. We want to make money so we can afford time and freedom to do what we love, things that fill us. So you need to approach this from the reverse way around.

The hack is finding fulfillment from what you already have.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re passionate about what you’re currently doing or not. You need to find a way to be happy doing it as you plan your future and incorporate your passion.

It’s not just about passion. It’s about the opportunities in front of you right now.

You need to balance idealism and realism.

So as you dream, also be real.

For the longest time, we’ve been told that having many interests is a weakness.

That you’re indecisive. That you’re scattered. And that you need to pick one thing, focus on it, and do it for the rest of your life.

But is that really the truth?

If you ask me, having many interests is actually a strength. It shows richness in your personality.

It shows that you’re curious, adventurous, and open-minded. You’re the kind of person who can’t be boxed into one path, and that’s something to be proud of.

So instead of feeling confused or frustrated, I want you to embrace your many interests. And I’m going to show you how to use them to your advantage when choosing a career path.

Let’s break it down into three simple strategies you can apply. These are based on internal or intrinsic factors. Things that come from within you.

1. Focus on Your Natural Talents

The first thing you need to do is look at what you’re naturally good at. These are your aptitudes, or what I call your “effortless strengths.”

These are the things you do easily without even thinking about it, while others may struggle with them. And often, people will comment on it. They’ll say things like, “You’re really good at that,” or even ask you to help them do it.

That’s how you know you’re naturally good at something. Ask yourself a few questions:

• What do I find easy to do that other people don’t?
• What do people often say I’m good at?
• What do people frequently ask me to help them with?

If you’re struggling to identify these things, you can talk to people who know you well. It could be a close friend, a relative, or even a career coach. These are people who’ve observed you over time, and they might point out strengths that you didn’t even know you had.

Once you have your list, you can start exploring careers that rely on those natural gifts.

I realized I’m good with computers. People often come to me when they need help with something tech-related. It could be creating documents in MS Word or trying to figure something out online. They just reach out to me. And even though I haven’t fully pursued tech as a career, when I look at the things I do and thrive in, they’re mostly related to computers. That’s a big sign.

So if you have a natural ability, that might just be the foundation of your ideal career path.

2. Understand Your Core Values

The second strategy is to look at your values. Specifically, your career values.

Career values are your internal beliefs and principles that guide how you work and what kind of work brings you fulfillment. They shape your career choices and aspirations.

Some people value financial security. Others value work-life balance. For some, it’s collaboration, helping others, or making a difference in the world.

So the question is: what really matters to you?

If you’re not sure what your true values are, there’s a simple game you can play called the Five Whys.

Here’s how it works:

1. List your top three career options.
2. For each option, ask yourself, “Why do I want to pursue this?”
3. Write down your answer, then ask, “Why is that reason important to me?”
4. Repeat the process until you’ve asked yourself “why” five times.
5. After doing that for each option, go through your answers and look for common themes.

Let’s say you want to become a doctor. Ask yourself, “Why do I want to be a doctor?” Your first answer might be, “Because I want to help others.” Then ask, “Why do I want to help others?” and so on, until you get to the fifth why.

Once you do that for all your options, you’ll start to see patterns. These patterns reveal your true values.

Now that you know what really drives you, you can assess your options and ask, “Which career allows me to live out these values?” If making a difference is important to you, then careers in non-profits or healthcare might be a great fit.

3. Combine Your Interests

Now here’s the fun part. You probably have several interests, right? Let’s talk about how to combine them.

Think about what truly fascinates you. What topics or activities do you naturally gravitate toward? What do you find yourself talking about for hours, even without preparation?

For me, one of those things is Bitcoin. I can talk about it forever. It’s something I’ve really indulged myself into and I find a lot of interest and passion in it.

Now here’s something important to note. When you’re genuinely interested in something, chances are you already know more about it than most people. And because of that, you’re already ahead. With a little more effort, you can become even better.

Now imagine combining two or three of your strong interests. That makes you a very unique person.

Let’s say you’re into medicine and you also love public speaking. You could become a medical professional who’s also a coach or a keynote speaker in the medical space. That’s rare. Most doctors may not be articulate speakers, but if you are, that gives you a powerful edge.

Assume you’re good at drawing, good at comedy, and you have some exposure to business. You may not be the best in each of those things, but you’re better than 75 percent of people. 

When you combine those three strengths, the overlap makes you a very unique 1.6 percent in the world. That’s the math behind it:

• Art (¼) 
• Comedy (¼) 
• Business (¼) 

Your Combination:

 1/4 * 1/4 * 1/4 = 1/64 = 1.6% 

You’re better than 98.4% of the people around you in your specific skill set. That uniqueness becomes your superpower.

This idea was shared by Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert cartoons. In his words: 

“Everyone has at least a few areas in which they could be in the top 25% with some effort. In my case, I can draw better than most people, but I’m hardly an artist. And I’m not any funnier than the average standup comedian who never makes it big, but I’m funnier than most people. The magic is that few people can draw well and write jokes. It’s the combination of the two that makes what I do so rare. And when you add in my business background, suddenly I had a topic that few cartoonists could hope to understand without living it.”

You can do the same.

To explore this, try the Venn Diagram Brainstorm exercise.

Choose your top three interests, draw three overlapping circles, and see where they intersect. That intersection might give you a great idea for a unique career path.

For instance, for someone who likes medicine, is articulate, and loves making money, they could become a doctor who also coaches other medical professionals, and builds a profitable side-business doing it. That’s the power of combining interests.

But Wait, There’s More: External Factors Matter Too

So far, we’ve focused on what comes from within you. But career choices aren’t just about internal factors. You also have to consider what’s happening out there in the real world.

These are external factors, and they matter just as much.

1. What is the Job Really Like?

Sometimes we think a job is great just because it looks good from the outside. Maybe you’ve seen lawyers on TV shows like Suits and it looks glamorous. But have you ever stopped to ask what that job really involves?

Being a lawyer isn’t just about arguing in court. There’s a lot of research, reading, paperwork, and long hours at the office. The reality can be very different from the image.

Before you commit to any path, research the day-to-day life of people in that profession. If you can, talk to someone in that career. If you don’t know anyone personally, ask your parents or mentors to connect you with someone. You can also try internships or attachments to get real-world exposure.

Because sometimes, what you like in theory, you might hate in practice.

2. Long-Term Outlook

Ask yourself: 10, 20, even 30 years from now, would I still enjoy working in this field?

You might not stay in the same line forever, but imagine if life forced you to. Would you be content?

Also look at the typical career path. Where do most people in that profession end up after 10 or 20 years? Are there opportunities for growth?

For example, if you want to be a primary school teacher, consider that in many cases, even after 10 years, you might still be teaching in the same environment with minimal salary growth. That’s not to discourage you, but you need to know what you’re signing up for.

You should also think about whether the career has staying power. Some careers have lasted for centuries, like medicine, construction, finance, and governance. These are fields that evolve slowly and remain relevant over long periods of time.

3. The Job Market

You need to understand the demand for the career you’re considering.

Is it growing or shrinking? Are there enough jobs? What skills are employers looking for? Even if you plan to be self-employed, it helps to know what the market looks like.

Take software engineering, for example. It was once booming. But with the rise of AI, junior developer roles are now being replaced by senior developers using AI tools. That’s a major shift. So if you’re just getting started, it might be harder to find a job unless you have a unique skill set.

Pick careers which require skills that are less likely to be disrupted by technology and automation.

4. Leverage Your Network

Now, if you’ve tried all the internal strategies and still can’t decide, look at your network.

Sometimes the best decision is to follow a path that your parents or mentors are already in. That way, you get direct support. If your parents are doctors, for example, they can mentor you, guide you, and even help you get your first opportunity.

It doesn’t mean you have to do what they do forever. But it can give you a smoother entry into the world of work.

Choosing a career is not a life-or-death situation.

There’s no perfect decision. You just need to make a choice that feels right for you and go for it. Your path might change. You might become a lawyer and later join a startup as a tech entrepreneur. That’s okay.

The important thing is to stop being obsessed with making the perfect choice. Just pick something that aligns with your values, skills, and interests. Then give it your best. Focus on creating value, solving problems, and becoming excellent at what you do.

And if after all this, you’re still stuck, you can always reach out to me. We can have a chat and figure it out together.

You’ve got this.

Yours truthfully, 

G. Eng. Elvis Gwaro
Career Clarity Coach 

I’ve always been interested in many things. 

While this makes my life hard to box into one path, it also means I struggle to choose which direction to follow. Everything feels exciting, and the opportunity cost of letting go of one path for another often feels overwhelming.

This indecision affected me when it came to choosing a career path and for 10 years, I was conflicted on which direction my life should take. 

I found myself pursuing civil engineering, a course I was barely interested in. It was easy to neglect my academics and focus instead on my passions.

After graduation, I wasn’t keen on pursuing engineering and so I threw everything away, moved to Nairobi to fend for myself through my passion for writing, despite my parents’ disapproval. 

However, things didn’t turn out as well as I thought. I went out not knowing what it took to succeed as a freelance writer. 

Though freelancing gave me freedom, I struggled to pay my bills, I couldn’t build a financial safety net and often felt discouraged watching my salaried friends make strides I couldn’t relate to. 

After almost 5 years of avoiding my parents, trying to figure things out on my own and eventually failing, I opened up my mind.

“Maybe what my parents have to say is valuable,” I thought. “What’s the worst that could happen if I go back and ask for help?”

I walked back into my parents’ home and told them I needed help. They took me back with open arms. For a couple of weeks, we had long, winding conversations. I shared my side of the story, and they shared theirs. Eventually, we found common ground.

My mindset shifted.

I let go of my ego and opened my mind to new possibilities. I listened more and spoke less. I stopped trying to fix my life in the way I thought was best, and instead, I began to pay attention to the opportunities life was presenting to me. I became more present and intentional and I practiced gratitude. Slowly, things began to fall into place.

Today, I’m a practicing civil engineer in a meaningful role. I’ve managed to build some financial security through consistent saving. Most importantly, I now have the freedom to pursue my passions; writing, digital marketing, and public speaking.

I’ve realized that a lot of people, especially Gen Z, share a story similar to the first half of mine. We’re drawn to so many different interests that choosing a single career path feels almost impossible. What we want often looks nothing like what our parents had in mind for us.

Many find themselves in university courses they grow to hate and discard upon graduation, if they don’t drop out first. Others bounce between courses and even universities, switching lanes so often they never seem to find where they fit. Parents are frustrated. They don’t understand what their kids are after, and every attempt to help seems to go nowhere.

It’s becoming a serious problem. If we don’t figure out how to bridge this gap, we risk having an entire generation of young people feeling lost, disconnected from their families, and disillusioned with the whole idea of higher education.

I rode this roller-coaster with my parents for five years. There were times we couldn’t see eye to eye at all. I could go months without calling them. And while I felt bad about it, I also felt misunderstood. So I wasn’t ready to fix things.

But eventually, I had to face reality. Life wasn’t working out the way I had hoped. So I took a step back, opened my mind, and reached out for help. That’s when things started to change. And I believe that’s exactly what you need to do if you’re stuck in the same place.

I know what it feels like… 

…when you can’t seem to settle into a career you actually care about because your parents, and by extension society, expect something different. I know how passionate you are about that thing, whether it’s art, music, content creation, or dancing. I know it’s what you want your life to be all about.

But there’s something you might not fully see yet, something your parents probably do. The world today is brutal. It’s crowded, competitive, and everyone’s scrambling for the few opportunities available. If your parents have access to an opportunity for you, you really can’t afford to waste it.

That doesn’t mean you should give up on your passions or your dream career. It means you hold on to them, but in the meantime, take what’s available and use it as a stepping stone.

If you’re not obsessed with your passion, if you can’t push through years of discomfort and financial struggle while building it up, you’re not in a position to rely on it as your main source of income. 

That’s why you need a job. 

Something that keeps you afloat. Something that gives you security and a long enough runway to pursue your passion without constantly stressing about survival.

There’s no need to find out the hard way that the world is tough. And there’s no need to try proving the world that you’re tough. 

If you can get help, especially when it comes to landing a job early on, take it. Then, once you’ve built some security, you can start carving out a path toward what you truly love.

Some people are lucky. They know exactly what they want to do from an early age, pursue it with confidence, and actually find fulfillment.

But for most of us, by the time we join university, we still haven’t figured it out. So we end up being pressured into careers our parents, guardians, or society believe are best for us.

We enroll in these courses, often because we don’t know any better. And then, somewhere along the way, we start to hate them. We count down to graduation, not with excitement, but with relief, so we can finally ditch the degree and chase what we truly care about.

But when that time comes, things aren’t so simple.

The pressure to follow the path that was laid out for you, by family, by expectations, by fear can be overwhelming.

You’re torn. Your parents have mapped out a future for you, but your heart wants something different. You’re confused. Anxious.

Your peers seem to be moving forward while you feel stuck, unsure, hesitant, left behind.

You wish you could figure things out, carve a path that’s yours. But no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to find your way.

I know that feeling too well. I spent four years spinning in circles before I finally found a way out. Today, I want to share that path with you: five steps to take if you’ve graduated and are unsure whether to pursue the degree you studied for.

But before we begin, promise me one thing: keep an open mind.

What I’m about to share is not what you’d expect to hear from a career coach. It might not sound inspiring, but it’s real. And more importantly, it works. It worked for me. I’m confident it can work for you too.

Step 1: Know that there’s nothing wrong with you. 

You’re not lost, cursed, or behind. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. You belong here. 

The truth is, most people don’t know what they want to do by the time they reach adulthood. And today, it’s even harder to decide. Thanks to the internet, we have access to endless information about every possible career path. With that much choice, making one decision feels overwhelming.

In an ideal world, you’d stumble upon a passion early on, maybe through your parents or a role model. You’d get the support to explore it, develop your skills over time, and by the time you’re 20, you’d already be well on your way. That’s how it happened for people like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and even Mike Tyson.

I’m not saying they had it easy. But they found something early, got the chance to go deep into it, and followed that thread into adulthood. That’s rare.

Most of us don’t get that kind of head start. When we’re young, we’re curious about everything; music, sports, science, art, farming, tech, you name it. And that’s normal. It’s how exploration looks.

More so, not every parent knows how to spot and nurture their child’s strengths. Many just want you to work hard, pass your exams, and get into a “good” course that leads to a “safe” job.

So if you’re unsure about the career path to take, don’t beat yourself up. That uncertainty isn’t a flaw, it’s the norm. In fact, being certain about your career path in your early 20s is the exception, not the rule.

And if you’re too worried about figuring things out remember there’s no universal timeline for success in anything. Some people figure things early, others take longer.

Take Harland Sanders, for instance, the man behind Kentucky Fried Chicken. He didn’t start franchising KFC until he was in his 60s. Or Sam Walton, who opened the first Walmart store at age 44, long after most people think your best years are behind you.

Your journey is yours. So give yourself permission to figure things out at your own pace. Don’t waste energy stressing over what you can’t control.

Step 2: Understand that you don’t have to be certain about your career path. 

We’ve been taught to treat finding our career path like it’s a life-or-death mission. Society has romanticized it so much that many people end up feeling anxious or even depressed when they can’t decide.

At the heart of this pressure is one well-meaning but misleading piece of advice:

“Choose a career you’re passionate about”

Variations of this are many but the most interesting one I’ve heard is “Choose a job you’re passionate about and you’ll never have to work a single day” 

It sounds inspiring, but it assumes a career is the outcome of a passion. For some, that works. But for those who didn’t develop a strong passion for something early on, it creates more stress than clarity. They’re the majority. 

Instead what we should have been taught is:

“Competence creates passion”

It means, when you get good at something, you naturally become passionate about it.  It doesn’t matter what it is, especially when you’re starting out.

So, instead of trying to figure out the perfect career path, focus instead on getting good at whatever you have and you’ll find it more enjoyable with time. 

Personally, I spent years chasing clarity and never quite found it. Things changed when I shifted my focus to getting good at whatever I had in hand. Somehow, the prospects of meaningful career paths started emerging. 

Step 3: Play the cards you’ve been dealt, and play to win.

Let’s be real: life doesn’t deal everyone the same hand.

We’re born into families of different financial and social statuses, we grow up in different parts of the world and we all have very unique challenges and experiences throughout our lives. So we don’t end up with the same cards when starting off our career lives. 

Some of us have exceptional academic qualifications. Others are naturally gifted in sports or the arts. Some have well-connected parents, friends and relatives. Others will have already honed survival skills such as salesmanship, financial discipline, grit, or creativity.

Everyone will have their own set of cards. In retrospect, here were the cards I had when I graduated:

• Academic certificates with good grades
• A degree that can secure me a lucrative career 
• Supportive parents who could get me a job
• Good communication and presentation skills
• Writing passion and skills

However, when launching my career path, I ignored the first 4 cards and played card number 5 alone, because I was passionate about writing and I wanted to make it as a writer. 

Nowadays it’s very common for kids to spend up to 6 years in university and then upon graduation, toss aside their degrees to follow a passion. It’s even become fashionable in some circles. 

But from my experience, I’d caution against discarding your advantages in the name of pursuing your passion. 

Regardless of how motivated you are, putting aside advantages that give you a faster and better chance to succeed in life and playing the passion card alone is not wise. It doesn’t always end well. 

I’m not saying people haven’t succeeded by following their passion. I know several who dropped out of school to become content creators, academic writers, or entrepreneurs, and they’re doing better than most salaried professionals.

However, these people had more than passion. They were obsessed. They were disciplined. They were relentless. Giving up was never an option.

Most people don’t realize how much that level of intensity takes. I didn’t either when I was starting out. I never knew what it took to succeed as a writer and I wasn’t prepared to give it my all. I thought writing for a few months would make me rich. Unfortunately it’s not that easy. 

If you haven’t pulled all-nighters, poured yourself into a project for months, or made serious life sacrifices to pursue a goal, you might not be ready to rely on passion alone.

To be blunt, if you’re an average person with no plan, no savings, and no runway, don’t toss aside the advantages you do have to chase a blind passion.

If someone can secure you a real (professional traditional and salaried) job (even if it’s not what you want at the moment), take it, unless you already have a better opportunity. 

And if your academic qualifications can open doors for you, don’t hesitate to walk through them. 

The real world is brutal and merciless. Take advantage of opportunities that come easy or that are handed to you on a silver platter. Build from there. Then, when you’re ready, you can take bigger bets on your passion with a safety net beneath you.

Step 4: Be grateful for every opportunity and give it your best. 

When starting out and unsure of your career path, every genuine opportunity you get can be a launchpad to your dream life. 

It might not be your dream job. It might even feel like a detour. But it’s a chance to uncover new dimensions of yourself, to grow, and to build skills you don’t yet realize you’ll need.

Looking back, I see the opportunity I wasted. I also see those who had the same chances I did, grabbed them with both hands and completely transformed their lives.

I was too busy chasing “the perfect opportunity” to appreciate the ones already in front of me. This mindset stuck with me throughout school and into my early twenties.. 

If you’re stuck in that same headspace, and you’re thinking that nothing matters unless it looks exactly like your dream job, it’s time to snap out of it.

Take a moment. Look around.

What do you see? 
What do you have that others only wish for? 
What’s in your hand, right now, that you could use to build something?

That’s where your focus should be.

It’s okay to have your dreams at the back of your mind. But for now, ground yourself in the present and appreciate what life has handed you. Then go all in.

Show up early. Stay focused.
Solve real problems. Learn the ropes.
Network. Build relationships.
And above all, get really, really good at what you do.

This doesn’t mean you’ve given up on your dreams. It means you’ve recognized the opportunities the universe has given you, you are grateful for them and you’ll give it your best. 

And guess what, I’ve learnt, happens when you do this? 

1. You start enjoying the job. Remember “competence creates passion”. As you get better at your job, it becomes more fulfilling. You feel useful. Confident. Respected. That energy radiates, and people notice.

2. You gain unexpected, transferable skills. Think of a graduate engineer who wants to do writing, but finds themselves in a site managing construction activities. What skills does he develop? Project management, human resource management and cost management, all which he can transfer in starting a writing agency. If he learns how to handle disgruntled workers on a site, he’ll probably handle discontented freelance writers much better when building an agency. In short, the “wrong” job often ends up preparing you perfectly for the “right” one..

3. You move closer to the path meant for you. When I stopped obsessing over my career and instead started taking up opportunities life was giving me, things fell in place. I had to let go in order to move forward.

Letting go and doing your best in what you have is a way of telling the universe you appreciate what it’s doing for you. And the universe rewards gratitude. 

For everyone who has will be given more, and they will have an abundance; but the one who does not have, even what they have will be taken away.

So start with what you have. Show up. Be excellent. Be grateful. And watch what happens.

Step 5: Get proactive about finding your career path. 

Once you stop obsessing over what your career should be and start appreciating what you already have,

Your mind opens up.
You begin to notice the possibilities around you.
You start to feel grateful.

And that gratitude creates mental clarity that helps you begin the real work of finding your path.

But finding your path has to come from within and will require effort, consistency and patience. Remember, nothing worthwhile comes easy. 

Being proactive about your career means taking the wheel. Not waiting to be rescued or discovered. Not drifting wherever life takes you. But deliberately choosing the road you want to walk.

But first, let’s be real. 

It’s much easier to figure out your career path when you’re not desperate to pay bills. 

This is why I said earlier, if you can get a job that caters for your bills, take it first, even if it’s not what you want. 

Brutal truth: If your passion can’t pay your bills anytime soon, and you’re not putting in an unhealthy amount of time or don’t have exceptional perseverance, you’ll likely give up before it bears fruit.

Another brutal truth: Not everyone will discover their passion, let alone turn it into something meaningful or financially sustainable.

What makes the journey easier is having financial stability. A steady income gives you the freedom and clarity to explore what truly matters to you.

For most of us, financial security comes first. Doing something you’re not passionate about but getting paid well can often give you the mental space and resources to later do what you are passionate about.

I’m more mentally stable today, thanks to a job that pays and allows me to save, even though it’s not 100% aligned with my passion.

Now, how do you become proactive?

1. Identify things you’re naturally good at. 

Every job involves a range of skills, and you won’t be equally good at all of them. But there are certain tasks that come easier to you than to others. Identify those strengths, and focus on using them to your advantage.

Notice which tasks energize you. What do people frequently compliment you on? Listen to what your colleagues and mentors say about your work. Sometimes, others see your strengths more clearly than you do.

Also pay attention to topics you can talk endlessly about without any prep. If you’re a restaurant waiter but find yourself passionately discussing investing with customers and coworkers, finance might be your true calling.

2. Stand out by showcasing your strengths. 

This goes back to “playing the cards you’ve been dealt with to win”. You don’t need permission to showcase your talents as long as they don’t interfere with your core responsibilities.

One of my mentors told me “The career world is brutal. If you don’t get noticed, you’ll live to feed on crumbs.” The best way to get noticed? Do more of what you’re best at. 

The more you stand out, the more people think about you when they have or come across opportunities. 

3. Network like your life depends on it. 

The job market runs on connections. It works in your favor if you know the right people, and against you if you don’t. Like it or not, that’s the reality. Either learn to play the game, or waste your energy trying to fight a system that’s unlikely to change.

Your biggest asset when building a career is your network. If you know the right people, your progress can get up to 100 times faster than if you try figuring things out on your own.

Your colleagues will share with you opportunities they think you’ll fit in. Your bosses will recommend you. Some will have friends in fields you want to venture in and they might help you get in. Others will link you with people who will open doors for you. 

Networking isn’t just about exchanging contacts; it’s about staying top of mind when doors open. So make it a habit. Build genuine relationships. Be helpful. Stay curious.

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When you develop a clear sense of what you’re good at, consistently showcase your strengths, and build genuine connections with others, opportunities begin to find you. You naturally gravitate toward meaningful work, not through force, but through flow.

One day, you’ll look around, maybe seated in an office or working on a project you love, and realize you’ve arrived at the kind of role you once couldn’t have even imagined.

And it won’t be because you meticulously planned every step or forced the puzzle pieces into place. It’ll be because you stayed grateful, embraced each opportunity, and gave it your absolute best.

That’s the quiet, powerful path to your destiny; no stress, just steady, intentional growth.