How to Find Fulfilling Work Book Summary - How to Find Fulfilling Work Book explained in key points

Listen to the Intro

00:00

How to Find Fulfilling Work summary

Name: How to Find Fulfilling Work
Rating: 4.2 (104 reviews)
Author: Roman Krznaric

Roman Krznaric

The School of Life

4.2 (104 ratings)

23 mins

Brief summary

How to Find Fulfilling Work by Roman Krznaric is a guide to help individuals who are seeking meaning and purpose in their careers. The book offers practical tips and exercises to explore personal passions and values, and encourages readers to pursue work that aligns with their true calling.

Topics

Job Hunt

Table of Contents

How to Find Fulfilling Work
Summary of 11 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 11

What’s in it for me? Learn about one of today's biggest challenges: finding fulfilling work.

Maybe you’re already familiar with this scenario. You’ve (finally) finished college; you’ve been waiting forever to get this far. All you want is to start working, earn money, and enjoy some of that free time stolen by late hours of study – time you plan to put toward pursuing your beloved hobbies.

But then what happens? Day after day you get stuck at work; you feel unimportant and bored. Each spare moment finds you dreaming yourself away to a tropical island. There’s no time for leisure or fun. You expect the gray hairs to start sprouting apace.

Finding fulfilling work is not easy – at all. Today, it’s not only about providing for yourself and your family. Work is much more than that. It’s about finding work that fulfills you. In these blinks, the author defines the concept of fulfilling work, and, maybe more importantly, introduces several steps you can take to find and achieve it.

In these blinks, you’ll discover

what psychologists say about the regret you’ll feel if you don’t do what’s important to you;
what Benjamin Franklin has to do with your choice of career; and
the pros and cons of being self-employed.

We’re dissatisfied when our expectations about work aren’t met.

Did you know that at least 50 percent of workers in the Western world are unhappy with their jobs? A survey across Europe even suggests that if people had the option to start over, 60 percent would choose a different career path. But what makes them so unhappy?

The dissatisfaction we feel at work often stems from the fact that our expectations are higher than ever before. Modern workers don't just pursue decent pay – they expect their job to give their life meaning.

However, this wasn’t always the case. People used to be happy with having a roof over their heads and food on the table. But now that most of us, in the Western world, are relatively affluent and can meet our basic needs, we're looking for more than just good pay.

So while you would probably reach the end of your tether toiling away on an assembly line, your grandparents were probably fine with it and even grateful to be able to pay their bills.

Nowadays, we’re after a feeling of purpose and want to pursue our personal passions, values and talents. Basically, we want our job to be fulfilling.

What, then, should we do? Well, you can either lower your expectations (supporters of this approach say that work has always been tedious and never a joy, and that therefore we should lower our expectations and look for fulfillment outside of work) or you can join those who think finding fulfilling work is possible, if perhaps challenging.

The latter approach encourages you to pursue your dreams, instead of regretting that you never tried to free yourself from the shackles of your unfulfilling job.

It’s fairly obvious that we’ll now proceed with the latter strategy! But before we see exactly what makes a career fulfilling, let's try to better understand why meaningful work can be so difficult to find.

In today’s world, there is an overwhelming number of job choices.

In the world of today, many of us face a crisis of uncertainty and confusion when trying to choose a career path. At the root of our bewilderment lies the fact that there are simply too many paths to choose from.

Such an overwhelming wealth of options is unprecedented in our history, so we’re pretty ill-equipped to handle it. A few decades ago, there simply weren’t many career choices to face.

It's not easy to leave the career path we're already on – but if it isn’t fulfilling, make a change!

Sometimes it's not being inundated with choice that’s the problem, but feeling trapped in a particular job. In such cases, change is what’s difficult. We often feel stuck because we’ve spent so much time and energy on the education that landed us a certain job – a job with which we’re now dissatisfied. So what to do?

There’s a considerable force that keeps us trapped in unfulfilling work: those early decisions that led us down a particular career path. As a result, we feel bound by our educational past.

Money and status aren't as fulfilling as we think.

So what are the core components that make a career fulfilling? The old-fashioned, knee-jerk response is “money and status.” But is that really true?

Sure, the bills must be paid with something, but money, as a pure happiness-enhancer, isn’t very effective. In fact, countless social science studies have shown that there is no clear relationship between happiness and monetary wealth.

Making a difference gives you a sense of meaning, though it’s not easy to combine with enterprise.

There are different core elements that make up fulfilling work. One of these elements is the sense that your work has meaning. That is, your work imparts a feeling of contributing to the world in a positive way.

When young students are asked about what they expect from their future employment, they’ll often answer, “I want to make a difference.” But what do they mean by this and how do they intend to do it?

Following your passions and finding your flow experiences will make you happy.

When sharing your career ideas with friends and family, you've probably been instructed to “just do what you love.” Although encouraging, this nugget of wisdom, easily said, is harder to adhere to. Because the question is – what exactly do you love doing?

In order to find out what you’re passionate about, set aside some time to mull over what gives you a flow experience.

If you want fulfilling work, you should seek freedom.

Here’s why most people are frustrated with their current job: they come home late, with no energy left to do what they really love, and tomorrow is but another identical day. If you can sympathize, you’re certainly not alone. Most people feel trapped in some abysmal job.

A core element proven to be part of job satisfaction is to have a “span of autonomy,” that is, some time where you're at liberty to make your own decisions. The more freedom you experience, the happier you’ll be.

The first and second steps to finding fulfilling work are to overcome your fear and narrow down your choices.

So now that you know what makes a job fulfilling, let’s get straight to the part that so many of us really seem to struggle with – actually finding fulfilling work.

The first hurdle is overcoming the fear that goes hand in hand with the thought of a major career change. However, if you’re fully aware of the psychology behind this fear, you’ll be able to defeat it.

In order to find fulfilling work, you should abandon meticulous planning and test it out.

Most career advisors instruct you to plan out your career in as much detail as possible before you execute it. There’s a problem with this approach, however: it hardly ever works.

A far more effective approach is adopting the mantra “act first, and reflect later” – meaning it’s better to try out several jobs than to fritter away the hours in search of the perfect position in print or online.

There are various ways to make both your career and your family life fulfilling.

When it comes to career and family, most of us want to have it all: we want the rewards of meaningful work and of dedicated partnership and parenthood. But is this possible and, if so, how do we get it?

Start by rethinking the roles traditionally laid out for men and women; if you don’t already, you should start regarding both father and mother as equal partners.

Take your time: vocation can't be found overnight – it slowly grows within you.

We've learned nearly everything about finding fulfilling work, but there is a final, vital element – your vocation.

Why is a vocation so critical? Well, vocation is something that gives purpose to your work in its entirety. It’s a broader goal that you are pursuing, the thing that gets you out of bed every day.

Want to see all full key ideas from How to Find Fulfilling Work?

Key ideas in How to Find Fulfilling Work

More knowledge in less time

Read or listen

Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.

Find your next read

Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.

Shortcasts ^New

We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

What is How to Find Fulfilling Work about?

If you feel trapped in your job or long for more fulfilling work, you’re not alone. How to Find Fulfilling Work (2012) explores the core components of what makes work meaningful and full of purpose, detailing exactly which steps you need to take to find work that brings out the best in you and keeps you truly happy.

How to Find Fulfilling Work Review

How to Find Fulfilling Work (2012) is a thought-provoking book that explores the different avenues to a satisfying career. Here are three reasons why this book is worth reading:

Offers a range of practical strategies and exercises to help readers discover their passions and align them with their work.
Draws on real-life stories and case studies to illustrate how individuals have successfully found fulfillment in their careers, providing valuable insights and inspiration.
Addresses the questions and doubts that many people have about their work, offering a fresh, honest perspective that keeps readers engaged and invested in finding their own fulfilling path.

Best quote from How to Find Fulfilling Work

Where the needs of the world and your talents cross, there lies your vocation. - Aristotle

—Roman Krznaric

Who should read How to Find Fulfilling Work?

Those fed up with their current job but too scared to leave it
People ready to make a career change

About the Author

The Observer named author Roman Krznaric one of Britain’s leading popular philosophers. He teaches at The School of Life, of which he’s a founding member, and is a counselor to organizations such as Oxfam and the United Nations. His other works include Empathy and The Wonder Box.

Categories with How to Find Fulfilling Work

Career & Success Philosophy

Book summaries like How to Find Fulfilling Work

Focus

Al Ries

The Future of Your Company Depends on It

How to Work Less to Achieve More

Harnessing the Life-Changing Power of Giving Yourself a Break

17 min

4.2

The Power of a Positive No

William Ury

How to Say No and Still Get to Yes

It's Time to Cheer for Yourself

Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter

The Remarkable Truth of How a Small Change Can Help You Stress Less and Enjoy Life More

How to Think and Act Like the Most Successful and Highest-Paid People in Every Field

The 9 Hard Truths About Love That Will Change Your Life

Transitioning Into a Career You'll Love

14 min

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021

Richard N. Bolles with Katharine Brooks

Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success

26 min

4.3

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Daniel Kahneman

Intuition or deliberation? Where you can (and can't) trust your brain

28 min

4.4

The Practicing Happiness Workbook

Ruth Baer

How Mindfulness Can Free You from the Four Psychological Traps That Keep You Stressed, Anxious, and Depressed

Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life

19 min

4.3

How to Think More Effectively

The School of Life

A guide to greater productivity, insight and creativity

Great Ideas from the Past for Everyday Life

Can You Learn to be Happy?

15 min

4.3

Stop Saying You're Fine

Mel Robbins

The No-BS Guide to Getting What You Want

18 min

Never Split the Difference

Chris Voss and Tahl Raz

Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It

The Fight to Master Our Greatest Opponent

The Surprising Path to Purpose, Connection, and Fulfillment

The New Psychology of Success

Finding Work That Works for You

A Guide for Occupants

29 min

4.4

How Soccer Explains the World

Franklin Foer

An Unlikely Theory of Globalization

Six Proven Methods to Shift Your Mindset From Self-Sabotage to Self-Improvement

And Why Some Companies Never Give In

Turning Fear and Anxiety Into Lasting Happiness and Achievement

Speak Your Mind, America

18 min

3.5

The Language of Emotions

Karla McLaren

What Your Feelings Are Trying to Tell You

20 min

4.3

The Body Keeps the Score

Bessel van der Kolk

Mind, Brain and the Body in the Transformation of Trauma

The Flexibility Paradigm

Manar Sweillam Morales

Humanizing the Workplace for Productivity, Profitability, and Possibility

17 min

The Art of Rest

Claudia Hammond

How to Find Respite in the Modern Age

23 min

4.3

The Practice of Not Thinking

Ryunosuke Koike

A Guide to Mindful Living

18 min

4.4

Creativity, Inc.

Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace

Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration

How To Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life

16 min

4.2

How to Stop Breaking Your Own Heart

Meggan Roxanne

Stop People-Pleasing, Set Boundaries, and Heal from Self-Sabotage

Feel Younger, Be Happier, Live Longer

New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind

28 min

4.7

The Thin Book of Trust

Charles Feltman

An Essential Primer for Building Trust at Work

15 min

A Theory of Justice

John Rawls

Liberty and Equality as an Alternative to Utilitarianism

8 min

4.3

SuperFreakonomics

Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance

19 min

4.1

How the World Sees You

Sally Hogshead

Discover Your Highest Value Through the Science of Fascination

15 min

3.8

The Joy of Missing Out

Tanya Dalton

Live More by Doing Less

The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout

A Guide To Spiritual Enlightenment

19 min

4.4

Nudge

Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein

Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth and Happiness

Live a Life of Purpose by Leaving Comfort and Going Scared

The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked

19 min

4.2

People ❤️ Blinkist

Sven O.

It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

Thi Viet Quynh N.

Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

Jonathan A.

Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

Renee D.

Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.