Haven’t found your niche? This might be why. | Adam Davidson | Big Think

Haven’t found your niche? This might be why.
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A niche, in terms of the economy and what you do for a living, is often considered a special talent or service that speaks to you on a different, secondary level. Adam Davidson, co-founder of NPR's "Planet Money" argues that when a niche finds an audience and becomes a successful business, it evolves into its own primary economy.
For most people, finding something you're passionate about can take a long time. The search should happen concurrently with your current job and life, not in place of them.
It won't be easy and there will have to be sacrifices, Davidson says. But when it's something that you can't live without doing, then it is worth investing the time and effort.
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ADAM DAVIDSON:
ADAM DAVIDSON is the cofounder of NPR's Planet Money podcast and a staff writer at The New Yorker, where he covers economics and business. Previously he was an economics writer for The New York Times Magazine. He has won many of journalism's most prestigious awards, including a Peabody for his coverage of the financial crisis.
You can check Adam Davidson's latest book The Passion Economy: The New Rules for Thriving in the Twenty-First Century at amzn.to/2X31pv5
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TRANSCRIPT:
ADAM DAVIDSON: There's a lot of thought, a lot of people talk about having your right niche or nitch. I was raised to say niche but some people say nitch. Which I think is absolutely right. I sometimes feel like it's thought of as this cute little add on to our economy like an indulgence. Like yeah, most people have to do the main thing. They have to get a big job at a big company but maybe you could get your cute little nitch. A proper niche, when you are actually producing a unique product or service and you're finding an audience that particularly loves that thing and is able to pay the value that it brings to them in a way that allows you to have a successful business, that's not a cute little add on to the economy. That is a much better functioning economy. That's an economy where the vast majority of people are able to get things that add more value to them in more real ways. And that the people producing goods and services are able to have more satisfying lives. They're able to not only make more money but live more authentic and real lives.
Finding your niche to me is a profound, profound thing and so profound that it's worth an investment of time. Sometimes I talk to younger people or it also could be older people but who say I don't know what my thing is. I don't know what my passion is. I don't know what my niche is. And most of us don't know certainly when you enter the workforce. I mean I don't think I fully figured out mine until I was well into my thirties. I think that you should think of it as this like really important precious thing that's worth investing years into finding. That doesn't mean you sit in a room thinking about it. You get a job, you do work and you pay attention to those things that speak to you, those things you seem to be particularly good at, those things other people are telling you hey, you're pretty good at this. And you associate yourself with people who are doing things you find appealing and you study them and try and figure out what you could copy from them, what you could learn from them. But yes, I think having a niche is, or having a passion is sort of the central responsibility of being a fully, a full member of this economy.
I think people sort of realize they've had their passion a bit after they've already found it often. But yes, I think that, I think people, we're not yet trained. We don't yet have a language to recognize that how you feel is not some irrelevant thing you have to shove aside when you enter a workplace. It actually is the key to figuring out your place in the work world. And people my age, people in their fifties like to make fun of millennials and these young kids who are demanding that work be satisfying and we kind of make fun of them. But I think they do get it in a way that my generation is still struggling to see. It's not that work should be giddily fun all the time. I often when someone's thinking about taking on a challenge I often say what do you want to wake up at three in the morning worried about. Because if you're really going to take on a challenging job that means a lot to you where the stakes are high because you really want to do it successfully, it's not going to be giddily fun.
You're going to be worried...
Read the full transcript at bigthink.com/videos/find-your...

[@bigthink]

Have you found your niche yet? If so, how did you manage to find it?

[@EpherosAldor]

46 years old here, still haven't found it... not sure how long it's really supposed to take but unless I'm immortal this is getting ridiculous.

[@tayvianjohnson9178]

Epheros Aldor what world you do if you had no responsibilities? Like if you had a whole free day what would you do?

[@xmaverickhunterkx]

You also need to try new things often :) Anything you might think is interesting a little bit, just go and try it.

[@Tooradj]

I suggest instead of looking for "The thing" that you would be passionate about. Examine the Type of things that have gotten you excited in the past. The wow reactions from you. And then as was suggested here experiment with new things of that type. I know I like creativity and learning. There are tons of things I have done that have those elements in them and I could spend a life time doing any of them and be happy. Unfortunately like most people I didn't. Oh well, may be next life.

[@mingonmongo1]

Tell 'em you want to go back to school but don't even know what to 'major' in, and any community college can give you a battery of tests that'll identify your aptitudes, best match with your personality, and a test I found most valuable, which identified which areas of life we each put the most effort and 'energy' into, regardless of 'career potential'. Retired now, but did that in my 20's right after getting out of the service, and seeing the results of those tests, with a good counselor to help interpret 'em, changed my life and put me on the right 'path' early on which I've never regretted. But take 'action' while you still can, 'cuz just looking around at others, it's already easy to see that the search doesn't get any 'easier' with age. Good luck.

[@AGFuzzyPancake]

Very valuable and insightful talk here. Passion is not skill. Passion is the will to fail, be frustrated, unhappy, and lose sleep in the development of skill. And enjoying your work (unintuitively) doesn't mean you are happy to wake up at 5am and do the it five days a week. Work is still work. Enjoying your work is taking pride in *having done* things right and to the best of your ability.

[@Ash-bc8vw]

This is a nice summary of the talk

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

I found my niche, it was between the cusions of my couch.

[@nokoolaid]

30's? I am 58 and I still haven't found it.

[@chrisdealemania]

I am well into my thirties and I am at the brink of freaking out about not knowing what I wanna do.

[@BlxckJesvs]

I was lucky enough to find my niche at a very young age, took me a while before I realized that I can actually work in the field of my niche & im taking steps to it! Never been happier lol

[@Eric_D_6]

I'm reminded of something I saw a long time ago, don't remember where, might have been some fictional TV show or might have been real life, not sure but it was some clearly elderly woman who was talking to some kids, maybe her grandkids or great grandkids, about still not knowing what she wanted to do when she was older. The real lesson is just realizing that no one knows what they want to do until they find it, it's not about time, it's about luck and trying different things until you do find what suits you.

[@EchiBawn]

I needed this. Thank you.

[@thomaschen7685]

FInding you niche is not finding what you enjoy; it's to find what you WANT, although it may not be enjoyable most of the time. You do it because you WANT it, despite all the pressures and challenges.

[@reachsuccessredlyrics4946]

BIG THINK IS SUCH AN AWESOME CHANNEL, BIG THINK have both inspired me and helped me in my own personal development. I would really want to thank this channel for everything it has given me. This channel has actually inspired me so much so that I have even started my own channel. I see my channel as my way of making the world a better place and to give back for everyone who have given me things and inspiration in life, I’m grateful for all the support I can get in growing my channel

[@ajellis2891]

"Finding your passion is a passion all on its own"

[@mrrohitjadhav470]

And that journey is beautiful

[@markward3981]

Profound

[@HowToWebWork]

Absolutely true, I agree 💯% . It is about bringing a plus to someone's life and feeling the pleasure of being useful

[@manelkh3706]

This answered questions I didn't know I needed to ask. Thank you

[@figthorn]

I was very confused about the title of this video. I thought he meant finding your niche as a business, not as an individual professional. In that case, I would never speak of a “niche”. I don’t see my profession as a niche, I find a niche within my business so I can focus my marketing efforts on that particular audience. Also, people in my generation and the generation after got sold on this idea of being passionate about our work. And that can only be found in certain professions.

[@mrrohitjadhav470]

Marketing - target audience

[@FlutterSwag]

Wow, someone actually gets it, i really needed this

[@pratiq]

Nice Topic wanna to grow my youtube channel but I donno whats wrong with it

[@justmeagain7]

Lovely person & Lovely video. Thank you 🙂

[@r.t.aegean3236]

What I have discovered, is that the world of work / the work environment, etc, required negotiation skills - that need to be Learned - more than anything else ; regardless of one's particular vocational skills. Anyone else‽

[@tts626]

I think this fellow is himself catering to a very small "niche" in his monologue. Most jobs out there have nothing to do with finding a passion. They have to do with getting up, going to work, and getting it done. Because it has to get done. Because somebody has to do it. Because if nobody did it, it would negatively impact the lives of everyone that this guy is talking to. The lockdown shows this pretty darned clearly as so many services that we take for granted have been limited if not altogether shuttered. One's passion doesn't necessarily have to be about work. Your passion may be to play music, to write, to draw, to tend your garden. But it doesn't mean other people need you to do it or that you could make a living doing it. Or that you even want to do it for a living which may require a great deal of sacrifice in other areas of your life. And some of us don't want to wake up a 3AM, stressed out, obsessing over something. To suggest that is how you know your passion is a ridiculous and detrimental bit of advice. There's nothing wrong with living a quiet life. There's nothing wrong with wanting to go home at the end of the day, to your family, and separate yourself from your job. In fact, it would be good if more people did just that considering the health impact of excess stress in our lives. Also consider how many of all those who we recognize as finding and following their passion, for all their accomplishments and contributions, they often lived hard and often impoverished lives. You don't have to be passionate about your work to do it well and take pride in it. It's how you do it, not what you do that makes the difference. I don't care if the gaspump jockey or checkout clerk or garbage hauler is passionate about the work they do. But I'm sure glad they're doing it just the same.

[@samrat447]

You should start a blog. Maybe that's your niche

[@MauricioMaisterrena]

Well you just found your niche

[@Hombolicious]

Your comment is close to my feeling after watching this.

[@miroslavhoudek7085]

"Search for passion is a passion of its own." I.e. if you don't come out of your youth primed for looking for it, it's probably already over for you.

[@AJM-timecop]

I'm a lucky guy. As a kid I was fascinated by maps. Got a degree in geography & have been making maps for 40 years. A weird job, I guess but I'm as passionate about it as I ever was & I'm always learning.

[@wisdom-for-all]

The purpose of our lives is to be happy. Doing what makes us happy is important because the “purpose of life” is “a life of purpose”. Hope you find that purpose my friends 🖖

[@chuckm1961]

Old Dudes Wisdom This is meant to be a serious reply. What does “happy“ mean? Should each person take it subjectively? If I find happiness in the most solitary pursuit, is that what I should do? What if that is playing video games alone in my basement? What if the thing that makes me most happy is causing conflict between others and sitting back and smiling?

[@wisdom-for-all]

@@chuckm1961 Certainly, if our happiness affects the happiness of others, it is not “good” happiness. Those people you described usually need help and they behave like this because “sometimes the loudest cries for help are silent”. I will probably make a KZbin video on this with the message “We ask for help not because we are weak but because we want to remain strong”, to encourage & hopefully motivate 🖖

[@MCC4RTHY1]

Being a cosmetologist is having a trade or talent, taking that and making a barbershop with half dressed woman and naming it A Little Off The Top... that’s a niche

[@mtden4202]

Was in Denver. Closed a couple years ago. My favorite place to go. Stylists were very talented. Was able to ask for treatments that were a little embarrassing at a traditional barber. Wife loved my look afterwards.

[@benjaminlamptey1867]

Lol is it a coincidence that Chael P Sonnen just recently did a video on the subject titled "Do Professional Athletes Ask for Too Much?"

[@kuroibuta]

I found a niche but I (35) have 3 kids and wife now and it seems impossible getting it off the ground. If I was single, I would spend every second I have on it, youtube and social media the shit out of it.

[@kneesnap1041]

This guy gets it.

[@mingonmongo1]

It's fine for millennials, or indeed anyone to want satisfaction and meaning from a job. But discovering that is our own responsibility... rather than an expected 'entitlement', and the 'duty' of any business willing to employ us.

[@adamkertz156]

I agree with parts of the sentiment. However, I think it's equally important for employers to evaluate their employees and not just pass the blame onto the employee when things don't work out. Responsibility flows both ways. Companies who don't care whether their employees are connected will get more disconnected employees that produce poor products and sevices. Disconnected employees seldom do good work. Personal responsibility on all sides is essential.

[@mingonmongo1]

@@adamkertz156 ​Perhaps, but the first lesson in maturity is the realization that Life ain't always 'fair'. So if it's not a good 'fit', then find another job that better 'suits' you... just as they're free to replace you at any time, for any reason. And why it's called Employment _'At Will'._

[@adamkertz156]

@@mingonmongo1 I'm not sure I ever disagreed with you on the part of personal responsibility. I think the original point of the video was that people who are in roles that are good fits do better work. And regarding the "go get another job approach," that's exactly what younger people are doing, so I'm really not sure why you brought it up. Sure, it's not the duty of a business to find good ways to use their employees, but they might produce better products and services if they did. Just because you don't have to do something doesn't mean you shouldn't.

[@mingonmongo1]

@@adamkertz156 Sorry if I misunderstood your point about company evaluations and 'passing blame' onto employees. Not that I disagree, but perhaps our definitions of 'personal responsibility' are different. As I always figure the ultimate decision re: my particular career 'niche' lies with _me,_ regardless of my employer's behavior (or the lack thereof),

[@adamkertz156]

@@mingonmongo1 I totally agree with that, and I'll be the first to admit I'm still learning how to discuss things on this forum. Thanks for entertaining my thoughts. I'd bet we're closer inline on values than this discussion might have initially indicated.

[@healingv1sion]

My passion is healthcare but the American healthcare system is terrible and covid19 is out here putting healthcare workers in imminent danger. I wanted to work in another country but the citizens of other countries deserve to get medical help from their own people; not some American 🙄 but I haven't given up on my passion

[@flowwiththeuniverse31]

In the western society, we're so lucky to have the luxury to discover our niche. Ninety percent of the world's population's niche is to put bread on the table. Your niche should be anything that is of service to anyone else!

[@Ash-bc8vw]

Very vague

[@mjvolschenk]

very that.

[@adamwesley71]

Amen to this, but really only for the well-off well-educated.

[@illuminated2438]

That's the kind of nonsense that keeps you poor.

[@enckidoofalling2883]

What workplace? Rotating temporary jobs no job security how about kill bill?

[@nokoolaid]

Pareto is always there, lurking.

[@infosensing]

I know why there’s no niche of mine - it doesn’t exist yet 🧡✨new “jobs” are on way. Making it. You don’t find it you make it - exactly cos you listen to yourself completely cod you trust yourself cos you know you are love and so everyone around you 💓

[@mjvolschenk]

Let me guess this guy's niche: speaking in platitudes.

[@johns294]

M. J. ... I agree because “it is what it is “

[@jamesbeemer7855]

Yeah , well I have/guess you have to make your own way . In the past we trained for the job you were going to hold untill you retired . Guess what ? That's no longer the case . I personally trained to be a man of many tallents . Since the tech has grown . Ie : telephone and radio and telegraph , have murged to become the cellphone . Heavey equipment operator s , don't just operate one kind of equipment . We operate a whole mess of things . In the army it was or is the SAME . Greenburrys . Think of the movie RAMBOW . truck driver , machine gunner . And then there was alian . Where Arney swartzenager hand to hide from a supior foe . Who could see his thermal signature . It takes skills to that aren't apparent . Observation and understanding the engineers intent .

[@BrainsApplied]

*What barbarian says nitch?*

[@DeusEx.Machina]

Brains Applied unfortunately there’s a lot of them and they are starting to pop up everywhere. It should be pronounced neeeeche.

[@rileyrobertson7571]

Any pronunciation besides “Neesh” is an abomination

[@danzmachinz2269]

In some languages its "nicho" neet-cho ... french omits the t sound

[@AGFuzzyPancake]

People that try to say the word as it's spelled using only standard English phonic rules say "nitch". For those thinking it actually is definitively pronounced 'nitch' - remember that the 'ich' also found in the word 'cliché' has the hard 'ēē' sound along with all other words ending in 'iche' (of which there are only an obscure few).

[@MrNeocortex]

It's a French word with a Latin root. We should pronounce it as the French do. Entrepreneur is a French word and we pronounce it as they would. Niche should be no different.

[@aleksanderorzechowski5580]

He literally said nothing, and still took him 7min

[@Julie-7605]

This title is misleading. You said nothing more than I already know. How?!

[@importantname]

To get rich, make other people work much more than they are worth.

[@illuminated2438]

That's a pretty nice poverty mentality you have, you truly do not understand anything about the economy do you?

[@edwingelicame5704]

I'm really blaming ABS CBN and the Roman Catholic Church for sabotaging my unique talent which could have been inevitably a number 1 niche for the next generation. No one else is like me.

[@invox9490]

Only people with money have time to search and find their "niche"... Others are just unemployed.