How Searching For A Job You Love Might Be Holding You Back From Succeeding

There's a popular myth out there that finding the perfect job will make you happy all the time, but the truth is, this belief might actually be holding you back from achieving true success. I often work with Olympic athletes, and they provide a powerful example of what can be accomplished when you cultivate a winning mindset.

When you see these athletes standing on the podium with their medals, what you don’t see is the immense amount of hard work, dedication, and often pain that goes into their success. If you ask any Olympic medalist how they feel about waking up before dawn to train in the freezing cold or pushing through the pain and exhaustion, they’ll likely tell you that it’s the part of the job they dislike—but they know it’s necessary. If you ask them if they’d trade their career for anything else, the answer is always no.

Contrary to what many believe, disliking parts of your job doesn’t mean you’ve picked the wrong career. Every job, even the one you’ve always dreamed of, has its downsides. If you truly want to reach the top of your field, you must accept that there will be tasks you don’t enjoy. Just as an Olympic athlete must endure grueling training to win, or a movie star must spend long days filming far from home, you will need to push through those less enjoyable aspects of your work to achieve greatness.

Success Loves Determination

The most successful people in the world are those who remain committed to their goals, no matter how often they have to do tasks they don’t enjoy. These individuals understand that while society is always looking for the next quick hack to success, there is no shortcut to long-term achievement. Real success comes from consistent effort and an unwavering determination to complete the job—whether or not it’s enjoyable.

Sacrifice is the cornerstone of success. Every aspect of life—whether in our roles as parents, partners, or professionals—requires some kind of sacrifice. Life will always present challenges, and we will constantly need to weigh our options and make choices. But if we care enough and want it badly enough, pushing through those difficult moments is what will set us apart from the rest.

For an Olympic athlete, building resilience means pushing through the physical pain to achieve peak performance. For the rest of us, it means completing the tedious or mundane tasks that may feel beneath us. Success doesn’t come from doing only what you love; it comes from persisting through what you don’t.

Redesign Your Beliefs

Many people hold onto the belief that they can find a job that will provide complete satisfaction all the time, one that never feels like work. But this is simply a fantasy. No job, not even your dream job, will be 100% pleasurable or fulfilling every moment. If you cling to this myth, you set yourself up for disappointment.

The key to breaking free from this mindset is to redesign your beliefs about work. Instead of searching endlessly for a perfect job, focus on making subtle changes in how you approach your current work. This mindset shift is essential whether you’re looking for a new job or trying to get the most out of your existing one. Just like athletes must train to win, you must accept that achieving success in any field will require doing tasks you don’t like.

Here’s a powerful secret: successful people do the things they hate first. By tackling the least enjoyable tasks at the start of the day, you free yourself from the weight of procrastination. You’ll feel like a winner because you’ve dealt with the hard stuff, allowing you to focus on the work you enjoy for the rest of the day. This not only boosts productivity, but it makes you feel better about yourself all day long.

If you’re ready to transform not only your mindset but also the lives of others, why not consider becoming an RTT® therapist or coach? At Inner Belief, we’re committed to helping you unlock your potential and make a real difference. Join a community of like-minded individuals who are changing lives every day. Book a call now to speak with one of our team members, and take the first step toward a fulfilling, purpose-driven career. Together, we can help you achieve success while transforming the world—one life at a time.