I remember the day I decided to quit my first real-career job. 

During a conference I attended with my boss, we were listening to the senior pastor of one of the largest churches in America. I was hanging on every word and getting energized by the possibilities for our church. 

I heard crying next to me. It was my boss. "Are you ok?" I asked. "I love what he is saying, but I know I would never be able to do any of that," he spoke through the tears. 

I loved and respected him. While he wanted to grow the church, he was paralyzed by fear of trying anything different.  

At that moment, I knew I couldn't stay. 

By most markers, things were going well. In the short few years I was there, I was moved to second in command and in charge of most of the ministry. But every time I tried to implement new ideas, I would hit a wall.

There are many reasons small churches tend to stay small, including entrenched power brokers and death by committees church polity. But mostly, stagnation happens because of the leader not being able to commit to trying new things. I knew I couldn't do it alone.

In figuring out my next move, I ran into four questions that helped clarify what to do next. 

If you are thinking about a move or even retooling your current job, I know these will serve you well. 

1. What comes easy for you? That's what you are naturally gifted at doing. Usually, those who know you well ask you to help them in your areas of giftedness. These things come naturally to you, and you enjoy doing them. 

2. What are you passionate about? What gets your pulse to quicken and your eyes to light up? 

3. What do you hate? Perhaps you should solve that problem. 

4. What do you want to leave behind? That's your legacy? What do you want to be remembered by? 

Even if you are not looking to change careers, answering these questions is interesting. Your answer to them might gauge how happy you are in your current career path.

Maurilio 
P.S. If you have not done it yet, download your copy of my brand new workbook: The 5 Strategies Every Growing Nonprofit Uses