How to figure out what you want with Simone Stolzoff

Career fulfillment requires moving beyond the "ladder logic" of linear advancement to identify personal values and intrinsic motivators like autonomy, mastery, and purpose. Simone Stolzoff, author of *The Good Enough Job* and *How to Not Know*, argues that work should be viewed as a means to support one's desired identity rather than a primary source of self-actualization. Navigating career crossroads involves distinguishing between genuine desires and societal "shoulds" through techniques like odyssey planning and treating job decisions as reversible two-way doors. By asking three critical questions—what do you want, do you want to want that, and what does the choice say about who you are—individuals can better align their professional paths with their personal lives. Embracing uncertainty as a space for possibility, rather than a threat, allows for more deliberate, value-driven career choices that prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term optimization.