Did you ever play the game “hot and cold” when you were younger, where someone would hide an object and tell you that you were “hot” when you were close to finding it and “cold” if you were far away?

I met a woman recently who shared with me that she is wanting to make a career move.  When I asked her what she wanted to do, she didn’t have any idea.  She was well educated, had a resume full of excellent experience, and could be flexible enough to work in a variety of fields.  That age old question of “what do you want to be when you grow up” had stumped her big time.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could use the “hot and cold” game to direct us to the right career path?  Finding your hot and cold doesn’t need to be as hard as you think.

To get started, take a look at the things you do well.  Are you good with numbers?  Are you organized? Do you thrive in team environments?  Then, think about what you are passionate about.  Are you motivated to support the less fortunate? Grow a small business? Work with children?

My Dad has his Masters in Economics.  He utilized his education and love of solving problems to have a successful career with major corporations.  Upon his retirement, he switched gears and looked to use his strengths from his business, and merge them with his passion: teaching.  Looking back, my Dad always had a passion for teaching.  He was a soccer coach, scout leader, and avid reader.  He was able to combine what he does well with what he is passionate about to have a second career, and even work in time to engage one of his other passions – travel.

The perfect combination of your “hot and cold” is not always easy to find.  Experimenting with your talents, and testing to see how they can fit into a rewarding and fulfilling lifestyle is the best way to achieve a balance.  There is no set template for finding your perfect job, and sometimes switching things up can make your “cold” feel a lot warmer.