How to Define Your Ideal Job by Brainstorming and Journaling

Knowing yourself is the real key to building a career you love and are successful at. But that can be easier said than done. It's hard to really see what's going on in one's own mind over the long haul. That's why the best thing you can do when trying to change your career is to brainstorm and commit to consistently writing a journal.

Start with these great tips for getting your career and job search thoughts down in writing and using them to shape your career.

Keep Track of the things You Dislike
The easiest place to start is with the things that make you unhappy. That's only natural, since you are after all launching this process because you're thinking about a job change. Note the things that make you feel frustrated, powerless, confused, or just generally down. Although you'll probably be focusing on your job with a career journal, there's nothing stopping you from bringing in other elements of your life. You're looking to find patterns of what works and what doesn't work in your life, wherever those patterns manifest themselves.

Note the Things You Like
Find anything you like about your job, career, and life in general. Look at the things that make you happy, that make you feel empowered, or that have gone well. They don't have to be brilliant insights or big breakthroughs. There's no right or wrong way to do a journal. One day's entry may be ten pages. The next day you may do only a few sentences. The important thing is to get your thoughts down in a way you can go back and review later.

Do it Consistently
Journaling works mental and emotional muscles that for many people take time to warm up and access completely. So you need to be consistent. Make a point of doing at least all five weekdays in your career journal. Take the weekend off if you want, or make it optional. Pick a time you like, or jot things down as the day goes on. It's up to you. But really commit to the process.

Brainstorm
Don't be tense or rigid when working on your journal. There's no right or wrong way to do it. So feel free to scribble, doodle, wander, or ramble. Such freeform documentation allows you mind the space to be honest. And that's what it's all about.

Dream
Don't forget to include the things you really hope for, no matter how far out there they may be. And your dreams don't have to be really worked out or precise. They can be as general as "I think it'd be cool to work within a mile of a beach, so I can swim during lunch." It's not crazy, whatever it is you're thinking. You're just trying to trigger your brain to work.

Chain Thoughts From One to the Next
A great method of brainstorming is to chain your thoughts. Start by writing your feelings about something. Then follow that thought with the question "Why?" Then write down your answer to that. Then ask "Why?" again and see how far it takes you. Often the final answer will be revealing, deep-level stuff about the very most basic elements of your personality. It can be scary, but don't be afraid. It's a good kind of scary.

Be Specific About What Works and Doesn't Work For You
Don't be vague about what's going on in your head. For example, instead of saying that you get frustrated when you have to work with customers, ask yourself what exactly it is about working with them that gets you mad. Maybe it's not so much the interaction that gets you tense. Maybe instead it's just that you don't like when they approach you randomly, without your control -- like in a retail sales position. Clarifying your needs and wants makes a huge difference in figuring out what you should do with your career.

Periodically Review What You've Written
Look over your notes to find patterns of thoughts and ideas. Then be honest about what you're seeing in your personality. You'll probably see some diamonds and you'll probably see some dirt. Then start to think about what you can change, what you can accept, and what you need to work your career around.