Your Dream Job & the Three Wise Whys
Identify the characteristics of your dream job so you know what to look for and what you’re prepared to sacrifice (if anything) when considering employment options.
You’d think rational people would love to be working in their dream job, but when you ask what that looks like, many are unable to answer. When was the last time you stopped to consider the characteristics of your ideal work situation?
Consider the various aspects of your ideal work situation then pose the question why three times. Asking why once will give you a simple reason. Asking why again will go a little deeper. The third why usually takes you close to your core values. Ideally, your three wise whys should coalesce into a simple reason, some might say purpose statement, or vision. In October 2017 I wrote down characteristics of my ideal work situation, followed by the three wise whys, though I couldn’t complete the third why very well. At that time I was working as a sustainability consultant for an international corporation in Tokyo. Here I share what I wrote back then and how it helped me consider a major work, lifestyle and country change in 2019.
Working hours
4–10 — variable (12 redline)
Why? I have a happy body and I’m in the prime of my life. More energy sown into work now will allow me to reap greater rewards later. I gain great fulfilment and happiness from achieving well in work. Reaching ambitious goals while prioritising health is my ideal work situation: sleep, food, exercise, people, play, work.
WHY? How I spend each minute of my life is a reflection of my values — I am committed to my work because it is my service to the world. Health comes first and the variable working times allows for health and diversity.
Working days per week
4 (red line 6)
Why? I prefer the variability of working hours to the necessity of a 5-day working week. ‘Spare day’ a week which can be used for extra projects gives me psychological breathing room — a weekly retirement. I am able to devote this time to whatever I consider most important on any particular week.
WHY? Creative and ideas flow space should be protected and cultivated.
Colleagues
Are clear about what they are working for. Consider their health! Willing to have open discussions about work — take time to reflect and we encourage each other to do so. Proven intelligence. Have amazing stories to tell me! Trustworthy. Reliable. High-energy. Bilingual + and / or well-traveled.
Why? Working with these kinds of colleagues, we can support each other effectively and elevate together. This will help create positive feedback loops through the team and our work. Speaking another language or traveling indicates cultivation of open-mindedness and tolerance (I am not expert at French and I’m weak at Japanese.)
WHY? I value these attributes and want to grow! Being inspired through the people I work with increases net inspiration!
Organisation
The founder inspires me and has proven track record of business success and environmental investment. I feel excited when I am learning about their organisation.
Why? I want to be excited by my work!
WHY? To keep me going through the rough patches — gotta know why and that they know why.
Clients
Trustworthy. Reliable. Professional. Agree on contracts in rational ways and pay on time. Interested in developing dynamic long-term business relations. Cost is not the only bottom line — quality-value is more important. Have money to pay for high quality long-project services.
Why? These kind of clients require that we stay on our toes and at the head of our game. Sensible people know that ‘you get what you pay for’ but what this is is constantly evolving. Long-term business relations — don’t need to be constant — conscious evolution.
WHY? Gotta get paid!
Location
Ability to work location-independent much of the time. Personal interaction with colleagues /clients / network desired, in-person at least once a week. Happy to travel anywhere in the world. At least 3-months per year in UK or Europe. Japanese or French-speaking areas make sense. Slovenia.
Why? I am a strongly conscientious worker with discipline and ability to contribute to a broader goal as part of a team. You don’t need me in your workplace to get the work done …until you do and that’s fine. I highly value strong personal relations and enjoy developing these in the context of work. In-person relations are crucial in a digital world. I need to spend more time with family.
WHY? Flexibility is important to me, I am ok living in somewhat uncertainty. One routine bores me, but a few varied routines is enough to sustain me! I want to be closer to family and to build my base in a European country other than UK. And Brexit might fuck up my right to do this, so gotta start sending out feelers.
Professional development
Boundless potential. No bullshit development plans — I want real development for good reasons with measurable outcomes that matter. I will not waste my time doing ‘PD’ to tick boxes.
Why? I love learning and will never stop. There is so much to learn, I need a plan. If I have to make the entire plan with little support from the organisation, then I want to reap an equivalent proportion of the rewards — including financially. I get bored quickly once I feel like I’ve mastered something enough. I’d like someone to see the potential in me so we can help each other grow infinitely. This means I can devote more to an organisation through long-term investment.
WHY? Learning excites me — perhaps most of all. I’m a total geek. I’m happy to study pig-shit plans on a Friday night.
Field of work
Creating positive feedback loops for people, communities, and culture through improving local environments.
Why? Any business that is not concerned with environment already needs to be. This means many people need help. The primary goal should be improving the health and resilience of our environments. Money is an element of this in today’s world.
WHY? Challenging the status quo of a world run by money, when nature is the dictator.
Salary
- 500,000JPY | 3360GBP | 3792EUR per month
- 6mJPY | 40,320GBP | 45,504EUR per annum
Why? I will buy my dream house outright in 10 years which requires I save at least 2000EUR a month. I need 2000 to live off, and 1000 gets taken away for tax and health.
WHY? Long-term financial planning for future health wealth and wisdom!
Time off ‘pure holiday’
1–2 months
Why? Self-development. Family. Exploration. Wow plans. Ideas. Freedom. Review. Reflect. Plan.
WHY? Do less be more.
Having the characteristics of my ideal work situation written down means I can consider to what extent employment options fit the bill. Can I expect one employer to meet all those criteria? Why not?! Your only limitation is your imagination. Does my current job satisfy all those criteria? No! Perhaps I’m at 60–70% of my dream job — I can clearly see which areas are deficient and work to narrow the gap between today and ideal. Most importantly, I am aware of what I’m sacrificing and continue to question whether I’m ok with that. Is it worth it?
2.5 years after writing this document, it’s probably time to re-do the exercise to check in once again. I made the original document as a google drive document chart you can see here.
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