computer scientists and park rangers, participating in the
same process that made world-famous cartoonists,
compassionate missionaries, and successful entrepreneurs.
At times you will have to trust your gut, and at others
you will need to do what is uncomfortable and even painful.
But as you go, there will be signs along the way, markers
ensuring that you are headed in the right direction.
The path described here is not a manual for life. It’s a
piece of canvas on which to add your own experience. This
isn’t some science experiment with predictable results, and it
won’t be another self-help program that leaves you feeling
passively inspired.
After encountering hundreds of stories from people who
found their calling, I’ve identified seven common
characteristics, each illustrated in the subsequent chapters.
Each chapter, which tells at least one person’s story, is
based on a theme:
- Awareness
- Apprenticeship
- Practice
- Discovery
- Profession
- Mastery
- Legacy
You might want to think of these as steps, but they are