The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do

comes at all, is something that arrives one day on your
doorstep in a neatly wrapped package. You don’t have to
worry about exerting any effort or anything; it will just work
out. And if it doesn’t, then it wasn’t meant to be. Sorry, you
must be doomed to dwell in a cubicle for the rest of your
life, eking out a mediocre existence. At least you can live
vicariously through those fortunate few who do get to find
their callings.
Of course, we know this isn’t true. We all want to
believe we have the opportunity to find a life of meaning
and purpose, to do work that matters. So why does such a
life seem so evasive, and why is it so rare? Because we’ve
believed in this myth that we will just know when it’s time to
commit. And that’s hardly ever the case. Commitment is
costly; it should scare us.
When I asked the Carlsons if what they were doing was
the one thing they were born to do, Kristy said, “I think that
we could do a multitude of things, but starting a business in
Burundi that produces amazing coffee and helps the farmers
who grow it incorporates both of our strengths and passions.
Being coffee producers allows us to produce coffee of the
highest quality while developing lasting relationships with
coffee farmers. We might not be your usual suspects, and
our journey has been full of ups and downs, but it is a
beautiful thing to be sitting here typing in my office and
overhearing our team talk passionately about ways to
improve coffee farmers’ lives.”
The process of finding and claiming your calling is a