What to do when you have so many things that interest you, you can’t decide what career is best.

I often hear from my students and clients, “ So many things interest me that I feel confused. I am afraid if I choose one I will pick the wrong one!”

If you have many interests it may mean that the career that will suit you best is multifaceted, requiring some research and design. As you engage in the research you are looking for things you feel passionate about, things you naturally do well, challenging work – something you might do if you knew you could not fail
Use this three-step process to help you get more specific about your career path.

1. Give yourself permission to consider having a multifaceted career.
2. Make four columns on a piece of paper.
1. Column one - list all things that interest you.  Don’t let your inner critic limit you.
2. Column two – List possible career options based on these interests.
3. Column three – Write all the things you already know about the careers you have listed.
4. Column four – List three things you want to know about for each career option. Make sure to leave room so you can fill in the information you gather as you do your research.
3. Go back through your list and pick your top three most intriguing choices. Include one that you have never allowed yourself to consider before.
4. From these three choices, choose the one that interests you the most. 
5. Now, on to the fun part! Don’t worry about being practical or making money. For now, just let yourself be interested.

1. Set aside time each week to do some research. Begin to fill in column four by:
1. Checking on some career website.
   ( www.careerjournal.com, www.salary.com, www.denver.bizjournals.com ) Remember to keep your focus while on the web, there is way more information that you can use and you can easily get lost in overload.
2. Find someone in real life already doing what you are considering. Make sure they love their work and are successful. Nothing can kill a dream faster than talking to someone failing at what you want to do.
3.  When you complete this process put that information aside.
2. Repeat the same process with the next two career options you have on your list.
3. Each step will provide more clarity. When you finish looking at the first three, go back to your list to identify any other career choices about which you would like more information.

Ask yourself these questions as you evaluate your career choices:

1. Is there a real need in the world for what I want to do? One well-known career guide book said, “Do what you love and the money will follow” The author has since said she wishes she had not titled the book that way.
2. Look down through your formation. Is there one career choice that will give you the opportunity to use more of your very best talents?
3. If you did not find what you were looking for, do you need to design something new? Many entrepreneurs have started businesses because they were dissatisfied with what was available.

If you do not want to start something on your own but did not find a good fit, could you work for someone else that would appreciate you developing a new division for their company?

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