"I want to help people."
I hear this thoughtful aspiration often from prospective clients. Their desire to make a difference is certainly admirable, but it's just the first step toward finding truly fulfilling work.
According to Gallup's 2023 Workplace Report, employees who find their work meaningful are twice as likely to be engaged in their jobs and three times more likely to stay with their organizations¹. But identifying and pursuing meaningful work requires more than good intentions – it calls for clarity about how you plan to create impact.
Clarifying your career is like focusing a camera lens. The image is there, but without proper focus, the details are blurry. To bring your vision into clearer view, consider these essential questions:
Who Do You Want to Help?
"Helping people" could mean supporting senior citizens, guiding teenagers, or assisting your neighbors. Research from Harvard Business Review shows that professionals who articulate a clear purpose and target audience are 42% more likely to achieve their career goals².
How Do You Want to Help?
Do you want to:
Provide direct service?
Teach and empower?
Raise money?
Advocate on others' behalf?
Create systems of support?
A 2023 Stanford Social Innovation Review study found that social impact leaders who align their specific skills with identified community needs report 45% higher project success rates³.
Why Do You Want to Help?
Think about your own journey - the challenges you've overcome, the care you received, or the support you wish you'd had. Often, our most meaningful work emerges from our personal experiences. Your unique perspectives and natural talents can guide you toward work that yields genuine impact.
Let's Get Growing!
Career clarity doesn't limit your options – it helps you recognize opportunities to create the greatest impact. Start with your desire to help, then use these questions to develop the focus that leads to fulfilling work.
Ready to sharpen your career clarity? Visit our Career Resource Library for complimentary tools to guide your journey.
About the Author
Dr. Erica Walls empowers women at mid-career crossroads to achieve authentic success. As owner and CEO of Inspire to Excel, she combines proven career development strategies with heart-centered guidance to help women clarify and pursue meaningful work.
¹ Gallup. (2023). State of the Global Workplace Report: 2023. Retrieved from www.gallup.com/workplace
² Craig, N., & Snook, S. (2023). "From Purpose to Impact." Harvard Business Review, 91(3), 45-52.
³ Martinez, K. (2023). "Measuring Social Impact Success." Stanford Social Innovation Review, 21(2), 30-37.
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