When it comes to deciding what job is right for you, take a moment to think about the ways in which you are unique. Then ask, "what job will play to my unique combination of motivations, talents, and skills?" In other words, look for a job that requires you to be fully yourself. Don't choose a job that just requires your skills. Instead, choose a position that enables you to use your skills in a way that is truly you. Then, you will not only choose a great job –- you will win at being yourself.

Sound like an intriguing strategy?

Recognize the power of uniqueness
Winemakers recognize that a great wine needs a unique taste to make it stand out. Music executives search for bands with a unique sound that separates them from every other performer on the airwaves. Chefs gain their reputations by giving traditional foods a unique twist.

You and I -- as employees, free agents, and business owners –- are the same way. We stand out when we use our skills and experience in a unique way. And the best way to be unique is to be ourselves. We each have a unique motivational design. When we use our skills and talents in a way that lines up with this design, we are both satisfied and effective.

Therefore, look for a job where you can be yourself.

Unique Is Different Than New
Keep in mind that there is a difference between unique and new. Sometimes, we think that the only way to be unique is to do something that no one else has thought of. I learned a different perspective on this from a mentor who was advising me on a new business venture. He told me not to worry about coming up with a new product or idea that no one had ever heard of before. Instead, he said, "tell me that a lot of other people say they are doing what you want to do. Then, tell me how you are going to do that same thing better, with a unique twist that makes you preferable to everyone else."

This is great wisdom, but at first it can seem confusing. Why would I intentionally do something that a lot of other people are already doing? There are two major reasons.

• It's a good sign when a lot of people say they do what you do. It means there is likely a fair amount of money being spent on, and work available, in your area of interest. Otherwise, all those people would go try to do something else.
• Even in a crowded field, the right person is always hard to find. And the right person is someone who has the skills to handle the job, and someone who has the energy and motivation to use those skills to produce results. So, don't let the competition scare you off. Instead, have the confidence to choose a job where your unique combination of motivation and talent will make you stand out.

What do I mean by Core Motivator? Well, let's take Brian as an example. He is a talented businessperson with strong financial and sales ability. Yet what uniquely differentiates Brian from others with similar talents is his ability to connect with and relate to other people. Underneath his polished exterior lies a warm, emotional person who has a knack for connecting with others. Brian's Core Motivator is Connecting.

Brian thrives in jobs that require the ability to build trust with senior executives. He consistently outperforms in such jobs. There are others who are as good, if not better, at the financial analysis and business development tasks that he accomplishes. But very few people match his skills in these areas and build the strong relationships that he does. When Brian uses his skills (financial analysis and sales) in the context of his Core Motivator (Connecting), two things happen. He experiences his most meaningful business success. And, even more importantly, he wins at being himself!

In order to win at being you, determine what motivates you. Are you like Brian – does Connecting with people motivate you? Then whether you are an accountant, musician, or computer programmer, you will do best in a role that requires you to establish personal rapport in addition to exercising your other skills.

Is your Core Motivator Serving? If so, then look for roles where you use your technical skills specifically to help others either inside or outside of the organization.

Maybe your have a Core Motivator of Strategizing – figuring out where to go, and how to get there most effectively. If so, then look for a role that allows you to conceptualize solutions as well as do the "hands on" work.

Its Not As Easy As It Sounds
Although this "know who you are and be it" strategy sounds easy, it can be challenging. Brian, whom we talked about earlier, has to overcome his fear of being used by others if he allows himself to connect with them. Especially in the workplace, it is easier for him to hide behind his considerable skills and strong personality, and never let people see the "real Brian." This temptation is compounded by the fact that people have tried to take advantage of Brian's friendship in the past.

So Brian has to intentionally make the effort to live out of Connecting. He started to invest more time in the significant relationships that he has outside of work. This has been rewarding in and of itself, but these relationships have also given him the emotional "capital" he needed to take more relational risks in the office. With his connection tank filled, he no longer hungered (as much) for the approval of the people with whom he worked. He was free to take the lead in establishing honest relationships without requiring that they reciprocate as much.

Brian is no different from you or me. It can feel exposing and weak to really be ourselves. Yet making the decision to look for, and take, roles that require you to be you can really payoff.

Good luck at being yourself! For more information about your Core Motivator and Vision for Your Life, and to order the book "Building a Vision for Your Life," visit our website at www.visionforyourlife.com.