Build your dream job by designing the one you have now

When Marcus joined a financial services firm, he expected compliance work to be tedious. To his surprise, he found he loved dissecting regulations and coaching colleagues on best practices. Yet compliance was only a small part of his role, so he often felt out of place.

After reading about job crafting, Marcus mapped out his ideal responsibilities and pitched a monthly regulation briefing to senior management. He paired with a mentor in the legal department, and together they delivered presentations that improved the entire firm’s compliance record.

Within a year, Marcus’ performance reviews soared, and he was promoted to compliance manager—doing almost exactly the work he’d crafted for himself. Leadership credited his initiative with reducing audit findings by 40%.

Science confirms that employees are more engaged, resilient, and productive when they align tasks with their strengths and values. By intentionally reshaping your job around what energizes you—and creating value for your team—you craft a role uniquely tailored to your talents.

Tonight, pinpoint one part of your job that makes you feel energized. Sketch a simple plan to do more of it—perhaps mentoring a colleague or leading a mini-project. Tomorrow, share your idea with someone who can help you make it happen. Watch how owning your role sparks new enthusiasm.