Do you want to know the most profound, yet underrated lesson about being an entrepreneur?

OK, we’ll tell you. But only because you asked!

Here it is:

If you want to be an entrepreneur… maybe don’t.

Not everyone is cut out for it. And that’s OK! There’s nothing wrong with that. Our overachieving culture would have you believe that anything short of building the next billion-dollar startup is a betrayal of your ambition. Don’t listen to it.

Living a life that actually feels like your own – that’s about as grand as anyone’s ambition should be. And for most people, it means not starting a business, but something completely different:

Finding a career that makes them happy.

We mean, think about it.

You career takes up one third of your life. It can enable – or hinder – anything else you want to do with your life. It has a massive impact on your mental and physical health.

And yet, most people treat their career as nothing more than a way to pay the bills. Isn’t it absurd?

As a society, we’ve just sort of accepted that having a career you love should be the exception and not the rule. Millions upon millions of people show up to jobs they hate, day in and day out – not because they’re lazy, or too picky, or unemployable anywhere else…

…but because they can’t imagine an alternative.

And that’s unfair. And it needs to change. So that’s why, on this week’s Get Genius podcast, we are discussing careers – just in case you couldn’t tell!

Our guest today is Alison Cardy – a career truth teller who believes in living a life that actually feels like your own. She is the author of the bestselling book “Career Grease: How to Get Unstuck and Pivot Your Career.”

Alison’s work has been featured on Fast Company, Forbes, The Washington Post, and The Muse. But more importantly, she and her team have helped nearly 200 professionals find a great career fit using her proven CLARITY process.

Alison is a frequent speaker at universities and alumni groups including Harvard, MIT, Georgetown, and her alma mater, The University of Maryland. She leads an international team of 6 career coaches and runs a 6 figure business.

And today, she will share her wealth of expertise in this interview, all to help you chart a new and exciting career path for yourself!

In the episode, you will learn:

  • Why you can be successful in a career – and still be miserable. You’ll also learn how to  break the cycle for good and find your actual dream career
  • The #1 reason career aptitude tests don’t work… and what better alternatives exist
  • Red flags and warning signs that tell you, “Hey, you’re in the wrong career! Better get out before you’re burned out and miserable!”

And more.

Whether you’re happy in your current career or looking to reinvent yourself to do something more fulfilling, this interview will give you tons of useful insights! And if you’re an entrepreneur, you will appreciate Alison’s perspective on finding clients, running a business, and hiring unique candidates. There’s something for everyone in this one, so… enjoy!

Click here for the full transcription

Here’s what you will learn:

[00:15] Introducing Alison

[03:23] How Alison became a career truth teller

[06:19] The 3 profound ways your career impacts your life

[07:53] Successfully delegating tasks to others

[08:30] Are you in the wrong career? Here are the signs and symptoms to watch

[11:33] How Alison helps her clients to get unstuck and find their career path

[15:34] How Alison finds her clients

[20:54] One of Alison’s success stories (out of 200+)

[23:25] Here’s why you should never trust a career aptitude test

[25:12] Being successful doesn’t mean your career is a good fit. Surprise! Here’s a better way to tell if you work where you’re meant to be.

[32:34] What it’s like working with Alison and her team

[34:45] How – and why – Alison hires unique people to work for her

[37:04] Alison’s biggest business lesson

[39:30] Where you can find out more about Alison

Resources from Alison:

Alison’s website