What should you work on?

Is what you are working on the thing you should be working on? Or are you looking for inspiration for your following big items? Ask yourself these three questions:

1. What do I feel deeply inspired by?

“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”

Pablo Picasso

What sparks fire with you? What is something that you like to do beyond just having a day job or getting paid? Finding and working on something highly inspirational for you will help you establish a discipline to work on this regularly and make good progress.

2. What am I exceptionally talented at?

hard work is a talent. The ability to push yourself, to keep working, practicing, studying more than others is itself a talent. If anyone could do it, everyone would. As with any talent, it must be cultivated to blossom.

Gary Kasparov

What are the things you can do well? It doesn’t have to be a specific skill. It can also be that you pick up new skills quickly or that you can put in more work than other people. Though combining your inspiration with your talent sets you up for success. Do not see “talent” as being the best. See “talent” as being able to do something reasonably well without too much extra effort.

3. What meets a significant need in the world?

There is nothing wrong with doing things just for yourself. On the contrary, there is an awful lot right with that! Though if you want to change the world, or maybe a more straightforward goal: pay for your daily coffee, it makes sense to do something for which there is a new in the world.

It is not a checklist

Do not assume you will have the big next thing if you answer these questions. There is always the element of timing (or are you too early or too late) and luck that plays a role in whether or not it will work out for you. Though at least you set yourself up for success.