Man, figuring out what to do with your life, career-wise, that’s a whole headache, ain’t it? I swear, for years, I just felt like I was drifting, trying to make sense of what I was even good at, or what would actually make me happy showing up to work every day. It wasn’t like I was lazy or anything, far from it. I was just… spread thin, I guess. Always had a million ideas buzzing, always wanting to help people, but also super anal about getting things done right, you know?
I remember starting out, jumping from one thing to another like it was a sport. First, I thought, “Okay, I’m good with people, maybe sales?” So, I dove into that. I could talk to anyone, charm my way through a conversation, get them excited about something. But then, the constant pressure, the targets, the feeling like I was just selling a widget and not really making a difference? Nah, that burned me out quick. I needed to actually believe in what I was doing, otherwise, what was the point?
Then I got into some project management stuff. “Great,” I thought, “I can organize, I can plan, I can make sure things run smoothly.” And yeah, I was pretty decent at it. My Virgo side really kicked in there, meticulous, detail-oriented, making sure every little piece fit. I’d build these elaborate spreadsheets, track every single task. Loved the order of it. But then, the creative part of me, the ENFP part, started itching. I wasn’t generating new ideas, I wasn’t brainstorming crazy solutions, I was just… executing someone else’s vision. It felt like I was a well-oiled machine, but a machine nonetheless, and my spirit felt a bit caged.
I tried a few more things, some marketing gigs, even dabbling in event planning for a bit. Each time, I’d throw myself into it, give it my all, and then slowly but surely, that feeling of unease would creep back in. It wasn’t about the money, really. It was about finding that sweet spot where I could use all these conflicting parts of myself – the dreamer and the doer, the people-person and the perfectionist.
The Lightbulb Moment: Stumbling into Understanding Myself
It was a random Sunday afternoon. I was deep down one of those internet rabbit holes, you know how it goes. I stumbled onto some personality type stuff, and I’d heard about Myers-Briggs before, but never really dug into it. So I took the test, and boom, ENFP. I read the description, and it was like someone had taken a peek inside my brain. The enthusiasm, the need for authenticity, the constant pursuit of new ideas, the love for people, but also the tendency to get overwhelmed or bored if things weren’t stimulating. It all just clicked.
Then I layered that with my Virgo astrological sign. Practical, analytical, a bit of a perfectionist, always wanting to serve, to be useful, to improve things. Suddenly, it all made sense. My brain wasn’t broken; these were just two strong forces inside me, sometimes pulling in different directions. The ENFP wanted to fly, dream big, connect with everyone. The Virgo wanted to ground those dreams, make them practical, ensure they were well-executed and actually useful.
This realization, it wasn’t an instant fix, but it gave me a new lens. I started looking back at all my past jobs, and I could see where the ENFP was happy, and where the Virgo was satisfied, and most importantly, where one was neglected, leading to that burnout feeling. The sales job lacked authenticity and depth for the ENFP. The project management role was great for the Virgo, but choked the ENFP’s need for innovation.
Putting the Pieces Together: My Practical Approach
Armed with this new understanding, I got serious. I started journaling, not just about my day, but about what made me feel alive at work. What tasks energized me? What interactions lifted me up? What moments made me feel like I was genuinely contributing?
I wrote down lists:
- ENFP Needs: Creativity, connecting with people on a deeper level, flexibility, making a positive impact, learning new things, inspiring others, autonomy.
- Virgo Needs: Structure, competence, attention to detail, organization, problem-solving, practical application, feeling useful, steady progress.
I realized I needed a role where I could bridge these two. I needed to be able to ideate and inspire (ENFP) but also bring those ideas to life in a tangible, well-organized way (Virgo). This meant I started looking away from purely administrative or purely sales-driven roles. I needed something that allowed for both creation and execution, innovation and refinement.
I began exploring fields that combined communication, strategy, and problem-solving, but with a real-world impact. I dove into content creation, not just pumping out words, but really crafting narratives that resonated, and then meticulously planning how they’d reach people. I tried my hand at community management, building spaces where people could connect and grow, while also setting up systems to keep things orderly and efficient.
It wasn’t always smooth sailing. There were still moments where one side felt stronger than the other. Sometimes I’d get lost in the big picture (hello, ENFP!) and forget the small, crucial details (Virgo would be screaming internally). Other times, I’d get bogged down in the minutiae (Virgo alert!) and lose sight of the grand vision, making things feel dry and uninspired (ENFP crying in a corner).
Finding My Own Lane (For Now, Anyway!)
What I’ve landed on, and what honestly feels like the best fit for me right now, is a blend of strategic communication and digital education. I get to brainstorm new ways to explain complex stuff (ENFP’s love for ideas and teaching), connect with a diverse audience (ENFP’s people skills), and then meticulously plan out the curriculum, organize the resources, and track the progress to make sure it’s effective and well-received (Virgo’s need for order and practical application). There’s always something new to learn, new people to interact with, and a constant need to refine and improve what I’m doing.
It’s not some magic job title you’ll find in a book. It’s more about understanding the functions that satisfy both sides of my personality. It’s about building my work around those core needs. I still have those bursts of scattered energy and those moments of intense self-criticism, but now I understand why they happen. And knowing that helps me steer the ship better. My best advice? Don’t just look at job descriptions. Look inward. See what makes you tick, what truly ignites you, and then figure out how to weave all those beautiful, sometimes contradictory, parts of yourself into whatever you choose to do.
