Don't find a job, find a mission | Celeste Headlee | TEDxAugusta

Celeste Headlee sees finding a career which will truly inspire you is much like dating - it takes time and lots of experiments. And the ideal job is no more realistic than the dream man or woman.
Celeste hosts "On Second Thought" on NPR from Atlanta and is a professional opera singer.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@tahirisaid2693]

*_I just turned 60, was planning to Retire Soon? BooM the Economy Crashes into Recession and High Inflation ! I guess I will keep working another yr or 2?_*

[@ghanighani6926]

Heard many good recommendations about ROCHELLE DUNGCA-SCHREIBER by some YT channels, Seminars and other platforms.

[@tahirisaid2693]

Thanks for the advice. I found her page already. and left her a msg. It won't be a bad Idea to be investing while working. So that economy crashing doesn't affect our retirement

[@dianakatkout638]

"We learn the most about ourselves by practice not in theory." So true

[@bykatherina113]

My main takeaways: "1.) What is it that you actually LIKE about your current job? 2.) What is it that YOU think you do really well? 3.) What is it that OTHER people say you do really well? 4.) Which part of your current job do you enjoy? Somewhere within those answer is your mission. Find that, and you'll find the right job." - C. Headlee

[@Onelight_space]

🙏🙏

[@shaznurrahman9655]

Thanks

[@mariamdahlia2437]

I'm still wondering when Ted is gonna talk 😀

[@Nwakaego_]

Me too. We need to see him one day at least.

[@Miss_Tatti]

😂😂😂

[@Bezugsperson]

😅😅

[@donquaviusmoore8038]

Lol this needs to be a big thing 🤣🤣

[@vikypayal]

Ok you win

[@andylongley6098]

What do I like most about my job - going home

[@rn6045]

Lol

[@lirazel2001]

:D

[@HoaTran-db2he]

: ))

[@ms.5779]

Andy longley..LMAO

[@Auntyakua]

😂

[@zochbuppet448]

No kidding she easily go into radio and journalism /media....SHES A NATURAL SPEAKER. Excellent presentation, better than better than phd's and career and self help gurus

[@fonda7760]

Insightful presentation on mission vs dream job. The exercise she encouraged the viewers to participate in proved beneficial to me. However, when asked to speak about her grandfather and she responded with one of her grandfathers was ‘just a mechanic’, I cringed. Instantly I was taken to a place of sadness. As an African American and woman, I was taught to never use the word ‘just’ when addressing an human being. Whenever someone described me as ‘just a wife’ or ‘just a mother’, even as ‘just a woman’, this four letter word is often dismissive and demeaning. An individual is incredibly more than a ‘profession’. One’s connections to self, in relationships, to community, one’s values, hobbies, spirituality, connections to one’s passions, these are components embodying whom a person is. Celeste is an engaging presenter and wealth of knowledge. As I incorporate these tools, my conversations will be immensely enriched! Thank you Celeste for adding your song notes to my life song.

[@TilikaVispute]

You know what... lately I had been attaching too much of my time and worth behind work and even though I was reminded by my sister how I am much more than that.. how lovely of a person I am .. I had forgotten it ... thank you for your lovely comment.. also I totally agree with the usage of “just” no job is too elaborate to describe the whole ness of a being ☺️✨ have a great life 💗✨

[@Rastasoul8]

Absolutely! Thank you🤗🙏🏾

[@nbb9955]

Can you imagine being that grandfather and she said that about you? One did all this and one is just a mechanic. Not only sad but very odd for someone like her to say.

[@lorettascott7414]

I f TV bb httiiikgxtsrrvggvvrgggvvvvhjjvh it wiggkovwjwkkk

[@stacysmith5148]

Take it easy, that might not be intentional, she was just trying to be funny. Don’t be such a cry baby. 😅

[@thuhuyennguyen6938]

As a teenager who is still struggling to find out what I will be doing in the future, i find your talk really inspiring. It gave me a clue to know what I should be doing. Thank you :)

[@Abed.n3]

Thu Huyền

[@SuperLammens]

you should not be doing, you should be being. We are human beings, not human doings. discover INSIDE who you truly ARE and BE you. Life will be wonderfull.

[@nawalkhawar7602]

yeah me too!

[@kavorjosep]

yap..like your comment so much, could we make a friend?

[@Thangnguyen-ed5ff]

how it’ lucky in seeing a Vietnamese people here who have the same situation as me 😊 Chào Huyền :))

[@TinRapper]

Absolutely amazing. I came across "10 ways to have better conversations". I was really amazed so I looked her name up. Not dissapointed.

[@rexbk]

+Max Đỗ Same same here

[@LuisMorales-tn7pt]

+Max Đỗ Same here too

[@TinRapper]

***** Wow, I'm jealous :D

[@wangchris9206]

+Max Đỗ same same

[@dannisun5167]

me too

[@brandmanagementx2736]

Learning by practice and not theory- quite right

[@snay71]

it is

[@dirkscholten9995]

Great talk, amazing voice!

[@sthom4bad]

I get the mission part. I've got that down. What I'm missing is running into the person who says, "Want a job?"

[@lemostjoyousrenegade]

sthom4bad Amen! 👏🏽👏🏾👏🏾👏🏻👏🏽👏🏾👏🏻👏🏽👏🏿👏🏾👏🏽👏🏽👏🏾👏🏾👏🏻👏🏽👏🏿👏🏽👏🏻👏🏾👏🏾👏🏻👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@JonasAnandaKristiansson]

Just by reading this comment, I can tell that you DID NOT get it. Hope you do know! It's not about running into someone, or the randomness of life. It's about effort, knowledge, understanding the real self, and put that into ACTION. That's where one can start to create the life they want to live :)

[@CheseWhelie]

TheAwakenedINFJ "It's not about someone asking if you want a job, it's about hard work and knowledge! The lady who just got offered a job ranodmly told me all about it :)"

[@brightjimmy3940]

lol

[@JamieYAYme]

lol bro i dont think thats how it works..

[@carlo2151]

Final questions by Celeste Headlee: 1) What is it that you actually like about your job? 2) What is it that you think you do really well? 3) What do other people say that you do really well? 4) Which part do you enjoy? Somewhere in those answers is your mission. Find that, and you'll find the right job.

[@JuanitaSexagenerian]

Thanks for taking the time to type the questions. Very thoughtful of you.

[@AC-xl8sq]

still thinking if i should be in medical field or should i do business in college?

[@ravenazriel6651]

@@AC-xl8sqwhat did you decide?

[@JapaneseBrit101]

I'm a teacher by heart and I educate without walls... 😍 My father got sick and succumb to be defeated by sickness... I have to leave my teaching... 😥 In my search the universe gave me a desk job... 😑 My boss saw that I can be more... Now i have a MISSION: To promote gender equality... Now I'm in a platform to affect change and create awareness. to assists in the crafting of non-discriminatory policies in employment and job retention, training and education. To create awareness-raising campaigns with media, public and private institutions, educational and training institutions; and Integrate orientation on SOGI rights in new employee orientation in both public and private institutions I Feel blessed... Honoured... I'm still a humble teacher... Now I'm educating the whole country one region at the time... My job is now a mission... 😍

[@m1sschocolateface]

Love your spirit.. And I can totally relate

[@Ms40Watts]

Her voice in her singing, that first note… gave me emotion; always a sign of someone who can weave a story with music. I liked that she shared this love at the end of her talk… different :)

[@lovemagicandroad]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE what I do. I work part time as a physician contractor doing Independent Medical Evaluations. The pay isn’t high and it’s a long commute to various clinics, but once there I love the work. I’m a hero to these poor and unhealthy individuals. I get to educate and hang out with them, and I get lots of admiration. I’ve been told my reports are really good. Some of the cases are super interesting and I’m always learning and looking things up. I start at 11 AM, so I can do my gym work out first thing in the morning. That’s pretty perfect. But yes no benefits or paid vacations, but I can take time off whenever I want and need. I NEVER want to retire. Why would I? And there’s no liability so I carry no malpractice insurance. Most often just 3 days a week, occasionally 2 or 4 days.

[@jonaquijano9001]

Celeste's message on life mission is very potent. First saw her "10 ways to have better conversations in 2017" and rewatched it today in 2021. Her message deserves a wider audience.

[@yuliancoronado2737]

I agree, it's amazing how the message preserves despite time.

[@mariamoraismorais3560]

For sure

[@jeffannis7074]

Celeste, this is a wonderful talk. You are an amazing presenter and an awesome person. We are all so lucky that you are putting it out there for us all to enjoy. I sent this to a dozen people that I care about. You are a real treasure.

[@buixuan6125]

Hope that I still find my mission and my passion in my job in next 20 or 30 years. Thank you for your inspiring message.

[@slgaleas]

Goosebumps, Chills and even tears with her performance at the end!

[@MsGnor]

Wonderful, natural speaker and super duper voice all round. Thanks Celeste. Great advice.

[@1HARMONICLIFE]

This was actually very helpful. I graduated from college in 2015 & I'm currently working at a job that I HATE. I've been in a rough spot trying to figure out what my next career step should be, & this was inspiring. Maybe I'm looking at things the wrong way. Going back to the drawing board with a fresh sense of encouragement!

[@mariaquintero9397]

Really one of the best advice I've ever heard in my life. Thank you so much Celeste! and what a beautiful voice

[@TheAlbiCollier]

Best Ted talk ever. People must be in love with her radio show what an awesome amazing genuine charm... I'm really blown away....

[@lil----lil]

You voice moved me to tears in the end. I'm deeply touched. Thank you.

[@rgeryeefong5359]

Celeste you are inspirational. I too listened to your "10 ways to have better conversations"

[@benitosalazar3812]

I just love how truthfully you say things. You say it how it is, and that's why your TedTalks are my favorite! Thank you.

[@genevieveamponsah]

This is absolutely great resource. I actually watched this video 3x. Finding your mission is surely the ultimate. Thank you Celeste.

[@nassernasser-yc8tl]

Thanks a lot for this great lecture "" Don't find a job find a mission "".

[@MAundergound]

Just sat and listened to this. Ms Headlee is awesome! Thank you for this.

[@kdevine3520]

Oh my! I cried at the end, her voice is magical! I loved her tips, they seemed like common sense but many of us seem to overlook them.

[@NicolaGrace]

If you feel that are stuck in life and you are not doing what you really love, maybe is time to start clearing your mission in life to discover your purpose in the world.

[@jumaguzman]

I need a professor like you, Celeste. Engaging, Tangible & Inspiring

[@FitahTech]

I really appreciate your time to help me realize that there is no perfect dream job

[@JuanitaSexagenerian]

I truly enjoyed this message and am greatly encouraged to find my mission. I am also encouraged to find my singing voice again also. Thanks Celeste Headlee.

[@jenniferhodge6881]

Excellent. I completely agree. Find your passion and you will find your purpose. Thank you.

[@fissioncrusier]

this is why I don't want go back to school I really want to make sure I want before I waste even more time and money!

[@michaelkylow4411]

And pacience with bullshit people...

[@genevieveyew7628]

forest leopard I know right!!

[@wilts8965]

me too

[@tirkentube]

one day you'll end up like me, too old to go back, still waiting to figure out what i want to do. luckily, i have a decent job, it doesn't pay near well enough, but i do have benefits, insurance, retirement accounts, etc..

[@MERRYHU]

Oh what a relief! No more self help messages to go deeper, tell me that if I would only ' Let Go and be yourself' I would be fulfilled. This helped me see that what I find meaningful and important to me in my work, is separate from the company/culture I work in. There is no dream job?! Why didn't anyone tell us that sooner?! Now I can stop looking for it, or stop feeling like a failure because I never found it. Finding a place with good co-workers, a great boss...I brown bag the meaning and purpose. Robert Holden says "When you've got a purpose, the whole world is your office."

[@TheKay830]

i like her talking clear and fun to listen. somehow I just feel her speech goes to my brain so easily.

[@alexw5183]

She has a great voice, and makes a GREAT POINT in her presentation

[@filthyliability]

Years listening to her on the radio and... wow! Mesmerizing!

[@uhveetothe]

So glad I found this video. I needed to hear this. Thank you.

[@jacqueline8533]

Amazing content and singing!!! Soaked it all in and feel blessed to have watched the presentation.

[@onteaya]

Superbly done!! The talk and the singing!!

[@csimm6639]

I couldn't have come across this TED Talk at a better time. Awesome!

[@dk_bankadviser]

I appreciate with heartly with you because don't study for getting job but learn for change to your way

[@bhaveshgupta5368]

Hi Celeste. I keep hopping from job to job in like minimum of 3 months to maximum stay of 9 months. But what you just said about the mission and not the job descriptions has really struck my chords and i am going to jog my brain and my heart to figure a mission.

[@shumeister1059]

So much wisdom and what an amazing voice!

[@emilmenglou4653]

Amazing talk. Amazing person! Kudos to you Celeste!

[@afirebaugh09]

LOVE this! As I'm in the middle of a career change and many people around me are pressuring me to find my "dream job" this is incredibly helpful for me to figure out my next steps!! Thank you!!

[@quintinahurstreed2328]

Wow! Amazing voice ... Thank you for your time

[@Hell321100]

This is awesome. It explains why do i hated my job being just at another company but same work

[@joannegiovanniello5993]

Wow...that voice! I need to find my mission, now again after 40, and she definitely made it feel a little less scary.

[@Onelight_space]

That song at the end, perfect ending. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@maitrinh071191]

As an employee struggling of deciding to choose a job, this talk inspires me a lot. Thanks so much, Ms. Celeste. You have moved me.

[@GGGGoGetterGirl]

Interesting stories and points made. Also, very beautiful singing voice!!! Thanks for sharing & Cheers, GGG

[@hellovivi100]

I'm in love with her voice!

[@ProfessionalTycoons]

A purpose is one thing, that motivates us constantly

[@AveryDWilson]

Artistry. Wisdom. Beauty. Thank you for sharing such treasures✨

[@janaysessentials8035]

What a treat to hear her sing.

[@unesuzanne]

Amazing voice!!! I had shivers when she started singing!!

[@mahassenhoujeij3462]

Janay's Essential Life

[@verlena7620]

Beautiful opera singing. Thanks for the conversation about careers. Very insightful and informative.

[@abbieamavi]

*this speech actually makes a lot of sense, I realize some of the jobs I've done I never knew existed, or never looked into because "oh man the name just sound boring" but in reality, the title is not everything. I've always been a passion over profit person. Not in a humble way, I just honestly cannot imagine working somewhere just for a paycheck. Although I did do that in retail when I didn't know any better. So now, I'm creating my dream job. And anyway, I do believe it doesn't exist. Every job has flaws. Great speech, beautiful voice, wouldn't mind your job. You've really got the best of both worlds!!* :)

[@dear_totheheart]

Love how practical and real this is

[@aquamarine0023]

Awesome speech and WOW, what a voice!!!!!! She is incredibly talented

[@doshawnf.3577]

Omg she such a motivation, definitely has me thinking and pondering

[@mariadelmardospasos]

This was excellent! Thank you! So helpful! Great speaker, what ease!

[@pelesmaan75]

Awesome talk Celeste. Inspiring.

[@sugarpump]

THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST TED TALK TO FIND YOUR MISSION!!! (omg, I never write in caps!)

[@sherwincarbobandao5476]

What a wonderful person you are Celeste.

[@violetmoon6233]

You are brilliant. I love your attitude and also love to talk and sing 😊🙏

[@elupemano8758]

Its crazy that when she said she was an opera singer.. Throughout the whole video I wanted to hear her sing. THANK YOU

[@mirriamc.chimba5229]

timely coming here. love it.

[@sagek7949]

I really liked this talk, so many important points. Very helpful. Thanks for uploading :)

[@maheshwariarti795]

OMG! great talk ever...its gonna to help me alot😍😍

[@metapich6265]

Thanks u for sharing, I do love this speech.

[@heyitsd.k.d8075]

Thank you mamm. I'm very very happy to hear this conversation

[@Allthingsbeautiful08]

This was amazing and so true.

[@indigoziona]

Following this talk I wrote down the things I enjoy doing and why I like doing them and was actually surprised how many common themes came up. It was a really encouraging exercise and helped me think more about what I'm looking for. Thanks so much.

[@ashleypg1708]

I love this speech and it does help. A lot. It is not lost on me though how easy it would be to tell a room full of people to find their mission/job when someone literally offered her one-- she didn't have to fight to be seen through a cover letter, resume, and then sell herself in an interview. Someone asked her "you want a job?!" And they probably did that bc she's an extrovert and bc they knew her and bc her degree lent itself to the job description. Introverts actively seeking a job typically fight to even be seen, let alone considered for jobs. I realize also how pessimistic this is. I still appreciate this talk and I wholeheartedly agree: there is no dream job, but you can love your job.

[@Antonykthomas]

thankyou. one of the best ted speech i have heard.

[@sageoflearning]

Dream Job doesn't exists. We often don't know what we enjoy until we have tried it. 1) What is it that you actually LIKE about your CURRENT JOB? 2) What is it that you think you DO REALLY WELL? 3) What is it that OTHER PEOPLE say you DO REALLY WELL? 4) Which PART of your CURRENT JOB do you ENJOY? "SOMEWHERE within those answer is your MISSION. Find that, and you'll find the right job." Don't come up with a JOB TITLE (e.g. coach), but with a MISSION (e.g. make kids enjoy sports).

[@TilikaVispute]

Perfectly summed up except instead of sports coach think why sports coach.. do like outdoors or kids or basketball? Since you might not even like to teach kids but like basketball and outdoors for example ... Don’t give it a title .. find what you love and let it determine what fits it.. I guess :D

[@pamelahough3896]

For a year, i haved loved my job. I'm a front desk associate. I love talking to people, making them feel comfortable and helping them as much as I can. Now, I need to leave to prioritize family on weekends. This job doesn't give me weekends off

[@lividkitten]

I like her advice to focus on what your mission is. Thank you.

[@annieb3781]

beautiful singing thankyou

[@abby073]

I was so hoping to hear her sing and it was beautifulllllll !

[@hienthu3619]

Wow was amazed by your beautiful voice

[@malvarez6155]

She has such great energy

[@teriscallon]

Wow! glad I stayed till the end

[@nguyenminhuc734]

I love her. The way she talks is so captivating and i can feel the energy from her. Thanks a lot😍

[@soulaiman8262]

Yah she is amazing and inspired... she has an other good speech "10 ways to have a good conversation " it is the best

[@fallonj6095]

I'm late to this party.. this woman's voice blew me away.

[@socialtime1859]

Smart And Anointed With The Voice Of An Angel.

[@astoldbyvictoria]

So beautiful Ms. Headlee!!!! Bravo!

[@jhonya.zavaleta6736]

That performance was sublime

[@kulesaimon7530]

this talk really counts for me at this moment in my life

[@michaelagrinnell]

What an amazing voice and great talk!

[@jeffannis6421]

She is brilliant and talented and inspiring!

[@mariamoraismorais3560]

I love One tedtalk from this hostess. " 10 ways to have a better conversation".

[@meryllamistoso]

thank you for this talk celeste

[@gloriaobetti2247]

such touching, thanks for sharing

[@t.j.5574]

Great speech and great advice!! Thank you :)

[@aatendu]

I love this woman.