As a veteran coach, counselor and consultant I hear people ask themselves that question a lot. Maybe not out loud, but a lot. And when we do (I include myself here), it’s usually related to how we can live with more satisfaction and generosity than ever.

“What will you do next?” is usually related to life’s big questions. This spring I’m thinking about five.

In my most recent newsletters I’ve talked about the fact that even if you’re great at living each moment with gratitude and in line with your values, those big questions live in your soul, inviting your attention and focus—especially after a couple of decades of living as a grown-up.

Here’s Question #3: “What do I feel passionately about?”

Here’s a great “backdoor” question that might help you answer that question, particularly in the context of what you presently do for a living:

“Other than money, how do you like to be compensated?

Do you like lots of immediate acknowledgment? To work alone? To work outside? To be a member of a consistent team? To start projects from scratch—building something from nothing? To improve on what already exists? To have lots of opportunity for further training? To travel a lot? Or not?

. . . you get the idea.

Think about these questions:

Work-wise, how do you love to be compensated—in addition to your paycheck?

  • How often does it happen?
  • Any restlessness?
  • What will you do next?

I’ll post question #4 in a couple of weeks.