As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases.
The title of Ken Coleman’s first chapter perfectly encapsulates the purpose of his book, Find the Work You’re Wired To Do:
“Work doesn’t have to suck.”
Ken Coleman1
If your mantra for work is “working for the weekend,” this book is for you. Ken wrote this book to help you better understand yourself. By applying those insights, you can discover work that feels both meaningful and enjoyable.
About the Author
Ken Coleman is an author, talk-show host, and public speaker. As a Ramsey Personality on The Ramsey Show, his primary focus is helping people grow in their professional lives. For more about Ken and his work, visit ramseysolutions.com/Ken-Coleman.
Summary
Before diving into the book, you’ll first take the Get Clear Career Assessment. This assessment consists of a series of questions, and your results are sent to you in a PDF document. After completing the assessment and reviewing your results, you will move on to the book.
First, he takes the many different skills and groups them into 12 Talents. The assessment ranks the talents in order of best to worst. The top 3 are areas to focus on, the next 6 are worth improving, and the bottom 3 may not show significant growth.
Next, he outlines 15 Passions. The top 3 are going to be areas of work that you love. I’ve heard this referred to as your “flow state.” It’s the type of work you lose track of time doing. The next 6 are give-or-take, but the last 3 are ones you could do without.
Lastly, he organizes what matters to people into 6 categories, which he calls Missions. The top 1 will be the one you resonate most with. The next 3 are the ones you may care for but not as much. The last 2 will be ones you may not care for at all.
From there, he provides a very basic mission statement based on the results of the assessment. He then outlines a path for using your new found information.
Analysis
Ken Coleman, along with his team at Ramsey, have put a lot of work into this short book and assessment. It took me roughly one and a half hours to complete the assessment and to read the book. I believe short and to the point was intended, making it easy to find answers quickly when you’re already feeling burnt out.
While the main purpose of the book is to find work that is fulfilling, there are other factors to keep in mind when planning your career, such as income. If you’re the sole provider for your family, you need to have a job that provides sufficient income. However, if you’re looking for a hobby, this assessment could help you find something that peaks your interest. Be cautious not to leap into something that feels right in the moment but ultimately doesn’t fit your overall needs.
In addition to personal fulfillment, the book also gives insight into how to apply the results. The examples he uses in the book don’t vary much, yet they are able to help you get an idea for how the process works and to be able to apply it to your situation. He also has another book, From Paycheck to Purpose, that builds off of the ideas outlined in this book that could be helpful in drawing out application for your specific situation.
Personal Response
I found this book to be very helpful in learning more about myself and how God has wired me. After reading this book, I didn’t immediately make any big changes, but I have a better idea of what I’m looking for in my work and a better understanding of how to get there.
One important consideration when reading this book is the risk of developing a “grass is greener” mindset. It’s easy to assume that a major career change is the answer, but often, minor adjustments are all that’s needed. In his book The 4-Hour Work Week, Tim Ferriss discusses how he identified the 20% of his work that caused 80% of his frustrations at work and focused on addressing those pain points.2 Find the Work You’re Wired to Do can help you identify your own “20%” and improve those areas rather than discarding everything. Take time to examine each aspect of your work, determine where your biggest frustrations lie, and focus on those first. Don’t let small frustrations lead to discontent with your entire job.
Overall, I love how the book frames work in a positive light. God created us to work, and it doesn’t have to be boring. As I mentioned earlier, too many people view work as a means to an end, rather than something they can find enjoyment in. If you’re dreading work every day or caught in the “Thank God it’s Friday; Oh shoot, it’s Monday” cycle, this book could be just what you need.
Adventure In The Word 
Leave a comment