FINDING YOUR “RIGHT” CAREER PATH - A QUIZ
“Your work is to discover your work and then, with all your heart, give yourself to it.”--Buddha
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Are you expressing your talents in meaningful ways at your job? Or has work become an ugly four-letter word? Take this Zen quiz to help you find The Way.
1. You win a $350,000 MacArthur Genius Award. You:
a) Quit your job and move to a ranch in Montana to contemplate nature.
b) Quit your job, but remain in the same vocation.
c) Stay at your job. It is extremely fulfilling.
d) Quit your job, buy a Mercedes, do serious shopping in Beverly Hills and have that surgery you’ve been coveting.
2. In your present job, you make:
a) Very little contribution to society, but you are trying to change that.
b) A modest contribution to society.
c) A formidable contribution to society. You take delight in helping others.
d) No contribution to society, which is fine.
3. When did you last perform an unsolicited act of kindness at work?
a) Last week
b) Yesterday
c) Today
d) There is no one at my job you want to assist unless you have to.
4. You perform your job to:
a) Impress others and earn a living.
b) Express yourself.
c) Express yourself and add to the world.
d) Earn as much money as possible and impress others.
5. In your work space, you have:
a) Personal mementos and photographs
b) A few toys, personal mementos and photographs
c) Inspirational objects, toys, mementos and photographs
d) Only work-related materials.
6. Your business environment is like a:
a) Bustling city. People rush about. There is little intimacy.
b) Forest. It is quiet and allows for contemplation.
c) Home. People here care about each other.
d) Jungle. It’s eat or be eaten.
7. When did you last encourage someone at work?
a) Last week.
b) Yesterday.
c) Today.
d) Not in a long while.
8. If you were the world’s greatest at your job, how would you perform it differently?
a) Pay more attention to the quality of your work.
b) Increase the quantity of your work.
c) Do very little differently, because you already strive to do the best you can.
d) Do it totally differently.
9. During the day, you think about:
a) Tasks at hand, past disappointments and future uncertainties.
b) Mostly tasks at hand and some personal problems.
c) Tasks at hand.
d) Going home.
10. Which of these archetypes best illustrate your work persona?
a) Warrior. You battle all challenges and adversaries.
b) Magician. You create, invent and make things happen.
c) Sage. You help, teach and use wisdom to improve situations.
d) Dragon. You stay in a cave and breathe fire upon all those who bother you.
11. When was the last time you were creative?
a) Last week.
b) Yesterday.
c) Today.
d) At least a month ago.
12. Intuitive thinking is:
a) Something you’d like to develop for work.
b) Something you occasionally utilize at work.
c) Something you rely on all the time.
d) For flaky New Agers.
13. Your greatest fear is:
a) Being laid off and not finding another job right away.
b) Not having a calling.
c) Hurting others.
d) Not being admired or respected by others.
14. Think back to childhood. Are you still doing any of the things you loved most when you were young?
a) Yes, once in a while.
b) Yes, frequently.
c) Yes, you’ve incorporated some of my childhood delights into my vocation and hobbies.
d) No. You’ve outgrown those interests.
15. Think about some people in your past who caused you great pain. You:
a) Are less bothered by them now, but occasionally harbor angry thoughts about them.
b) Hardly think about them anymore.
c) Forgave them and learned from the relationships.
d) Frequently fantasize about getting revenge.
16. Work crises are:
a) Avoidable if you plan carefully.
b) Endurable if others support you.
c) Inevitable, but you have the strength of heart to weather them when they occur.
d) “Softened” by alcohol, drugs or food.
17. If you could work as someone else for a day, you’d be:
a) A Hollywood movie star
b) A motivational author/speaker
c) A healer
d) “Chainsaw” Al Dunlap
18. Change
a) Scares you.
b) Sometimes scares, sometimes inspires you.
c) Excites you.
d) Confuses and angers you.
19. When was the last time you had a great laugh at work?
a) Last week
b) Yesterday
c) Today
d) Awhile ago, at a co-worker’s expense.
20. Success is:
a) Public acclaim for a job well done.
b) Realizing personal goals.
c) Performing your best and making a difference in others’ lives.
d) Fame, fortune and an appearance on “Oprah.”
SCORING:
1. If you answered honestly, then all answers are correct.
2. Ask yourself if you are happy with your answers.
3. If you not satisfied with your answers, ask yourself how you can “C” better.