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How to Make Your Job Feel More Meaningful (Even If It’s Not Your Dream Job)
MISSION:
Career Ladder helps motivated professionals grow their career and income in half the time by sharing career strategies used by the top 1% professionals.
Dragging yourself through the workweek, counting down to Friday?
Another day? Another to-do list?
And it all feels... empty.
What if the problem isn’t your job, but how you approach it?
In This Issue
Today’s Ladder: The practical way to find meaning in your daily work.
Takeaway: Here’s how to get your “mojo” back.
Resources: Links to helpful resources.
ICYMI: Popular issues you may have missed.
Today’s Ladder:
The Practical Way to Find Meaning in Your Daily Work
You don’t have to love your job to find meaning in it.
Some of the most fulfilled professionals aren’t in their “dream roles”… but they’ve figured out how to make their work matter.
Imagine… 2 people with the same job.
One dreads it. The other finds purpose in it.
The difference?
It’s not the job itself—it’s how they approach it.
The bottom line is:
Meaning isn’t something you find. It’s something you create.
And the fastest way to create meaning?
Shift your focus from what you do to why it matters.
I call it…
The Purpose Reframe
Instead of asking:
❌ “Is this my passion?”
Ask:
✅ “How does my work help others?”
Research shows that people who see the impact of their work—even in small ways—feel significantly more fulfilled.
Why does this work?
Because meaning doesn’t come from job titles—it comes from contribution.
If you’re in customer service, you’re not just answering questions—you’re solving real problems.
If you’re in sales, you’re not just closing deals—you’re helping clients succeed.
If you’re in admin, you’re not just handling paperwork—you’re keeping everything running smoothly.
Your job may not be your dream job, but when you connect it to something bigger than yourself, it becomes more than just a paycheck.
Fulfillment doesn’t come from waiting for the perfect job. It comes from bringing purpose to the job you already have.

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Takeaway:
Here’s How to Get Your Mojo Back
The morning alarm blares.
You groan, silencing it with a heavy hand.
Another day, same routine.
You used to dream bigger. Now, work just feels… like work.
At lunch, you overhear Lisa from accounting. “I started thinking of my job like a game,” she says, laughing…
“How can I do this better, faster, smarter?”
Makes it more fun!
That sticks with you.
So the next morning, instead of dragging yourself through tasks, you set a challenge—find one small way to improve something.
Just one.
By Friday, you’ve streamlined a process that used to take an hour into 30 minutes.
Your manager notices…“This is great—why haven’t we been doing it this way?”
For the first time in a while, you feel it.
A spark.
Maybe this isn’t your dream job, but you’ve made it better.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s enough.
Resources:
“What Color Is Your Parachute?” by Richard N. Bolles - this book is a classic resource for self-discovery and career planning, offering timeless advice and actionable strategies for finding fulfilling work.
“Happen To Your Career” - this podcast is created for people who are not happy in their job, or need some guidance to find work they really love.
“From Job Satisfaction to Job Fulfillment” - this Youtube video discuss how gratitude can transform workplace satisfaction into deep fulfillment, offering practical strategies for personal growth.
ICYMI: Popular issues you may have missed
💼 Is It Time for a Career Change? Here’s how to know and what to do
😎 Win the Tough Conversations: How to handle difficult people without losing your cool
💱 Why Most People Fail at Having a Great Career: And how you can beat the odds
How did you like this issue? |
I appreciate your feedback! It will help shape the future issues of CAREER LADDER!
If you’re curious why I want you to succeed in half the time, here’s why.
To your success,
Dr. Lex ✍️

When you’re ready, here’s how I can help:
If you’re tired of other people controlling your career and income potential OR if you want to finally take charge of your career and create your own opportunities… here’s how.
Let’s Connect!
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