The four pillars of a more fulfilling career (and life)

The fur pillars of a more fulfilling career (and life)The four pillars of a more fulfilling career (and life)You probably spend at least 50% of your waking hours at work, going to work, or thinking about work. And to be honest, that percentage is quite modest. For most of us, work consumes almost 80% of our time and energy. Its on our minds all the time.Its not a surprise that 1 out of 2 people is unhappy with their careers. We trade our precious time for frustration and money.Ever thought about that? Four years ago, I was also frustrated with my career. And because your job plays such an important role, my whole life felt like shit.Im not saying you should love your work at all times and that your career should be one big party. No, some days I also dont like my current career. But Im 100% comfortable with the way I spend my time.You see what Im getting at? A fulfilling career is about multiple factors that you must get right. Otherwise, you will end up hating your life. Specificall y, Ive learned there are four pillars of a fulfilling career.Most of us only get one or two of these pillars right. But like you and I both know an unstable foundation does not last. If the foundation of a house requires four pillars, you cant get away with using only two.You might get away with three, but if you want to have a house that lasts for decades, its smart to use all pillars. And its the same for our careers.Here are the four pillars of a fulfilling career. How many of these pillars do you have in place?Pillar One CompensationHow much you earn at your job makes you feel valued- thats what compensation is about. Money is not about position or material things. When you do work thats valuable, you should be rewarded for that. Thats what I strive for.But at the same time, we need to remind ourselves to stay grounded. Chasing money for the sake of having more money never ends well. Learning how to manage your money is one of the most important things you can do for yourself.Wh en you can actually keep the money you make, youll feel better about your future. And when you feel better, you can do better work. That will help you to make more money.Pillar Two WorkWhen you always prioritize compensation over the type of work, you wont feel good about your career. And sometimes, people can go on for years doing work they hate so they can make enough money.I dont like that because I value time more than money. I want to make sure that all the hours Im putting in my work, I actually enjoy. And yes, you can also enjoy the hard and uncomfortable things about your job.You can train yourself to love hardship. But theres one condition You must believe in your work. Otherwise, you feel like its all a waste of time. The good news is that you give meaning to what you do.Pillar Three LifestyleIve tried different lifestyles Traveling for work, living in a big city, and living a quiet life. I like the last one best because it suits my personality and current goals.For exampl e, if you dont like traveling- dont become a business consultant at a large firm. It sounds like common sense, but you would be surprised how many people hate the lifestyle that comes with their jobs.Dont like long hours? Dont work at a start-up. Its as simple as that. But you must be honest with yourself. Most of us tell ourselves all kinds of lies Ill get used to the two-hour commute. No, you wont.Hence, pick a job that fits your lifestyle. And thats different for each phase of life. When youre young, you dont mind living in a big city and going out all the time. But when you want to build something real in life, you dont even have time for that. You need to work, eat, sleep, and repeat. In that case, its better to live cheaply in a smaller city.Pillar Four ContributionWe all want to feel valued and important in our careers. You dont have to change the world or help a million people. Most of us only want to make a meaningful contribution.The reality is that only a small group of p eople are responsible for the majority of the results (Prices Law) at most organizations.Once we understand that, we must put ourselves in a position that makes us valuable. Not just because we want to make money or have status. People who believe that dont get it. Prices Law is all about making a contribution. We all need to make a valuable contribution to be fulfilled.Now, you dont necessarily need to be the most important person in your organization. But you do want to be missed when you dont show up to work.So how do I find such a career?I wish I could give you a straightforward answer. But the truth is that we live in a competitive world. Just think about it. Wouldnt anyone love to have a dream career? The answer is of courseBut why do so many people have bullst jobs? I dont think its because of how smart, pretty, or cool you are- its about commitment.To have your dream career, you have to go out there and create it. Theres no one-size-fits-all. You have to start with nothing a nd turn it into something.Once I realized that careers are created and not found it changed everything. So stop searching for what it is youre looking for, and start CREATING it.This article first appeared on DariusForoux.com.