I\u2019ve said before many times that the key to job satisfaction is moving away from your Drudgery and Disinterest Zones and toward the Passion and Proficiency of your Desire Zone.
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\nSome readers have raised a good question about this shift. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to tell what I\u2019m passionate about,\u201d they tell me, \u201cbut how do I determine if I am proficient at something?\u201d
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It's easy to assume that just sitting down and thinking through your professional strengths is all it takes to get clear on your proficiency. However, I don't think that's the case. In fact, I'd suggest that proficiency is something you cannot determine on your own, because it doesn\u2019t exist in a vacuum. There is a lot of overlap between aptitude and proficiency but they are not the same.
\nAptitude is an ability or knack for doing something. But we\u2019re not necessarily going to be proficient at all those things we have an aptitude for, and the difference really matters.
\nIn business, proficiency is externally validated. The attributes of proficiency \u2013 knowledge, skills, and experience \u2013 generate results that other people can measure and reward.
\nYou\u2019re not truly proficient unless you\u2019re able to deliver results in the role you were hired for, or that you\u2019ve convinced your organization to shift you into.
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