Hi, I would like to introduce myself to this forum and get some outside perspective on my situation
My story:
I'm 26 year old now and have been following Leos videos from the very beginning and other self-help material from Steve Pavlina, Tony Robbins and other guys since 19 years old, so I know know the theoretical concepts of personal development quite well, but practical implementation is another story when it comes to career development and life purpose.
I will start off by listing my top values/themes in life.
Travel/Adventure
Health/fit body
Freedom/Independence/ Self relience
Passion/Enthusiasm
Progress/Growth
Playfulness/Fun
Mastery/Skill
Loyalty/Trust/Commitment
Creative autonomy
My hobbies are mostly related to my greatest talent - kinesthetic intelligence - I love to move my body, I love to practice and see progress in my skills. I do calisthenics, martial arts, inline skating, bike riding etc.
My first and strongest love has been Biketrials - bike jumping sport. I started it when I was 15 and from the first day when I got my bike I was hooked. I trained almost every day for 4 years on my own and got really good. I made videos of my riding and the positive admiration I got from my peers was feeding my ego. After high-school I let this passion die and stopped riding regularly. It was a combination of chronic pain I had developed in my back and hitting a Plato. Sadly I haven't felt this passionate about anything else.
Then I started martial arts - taekwondo - and have been doing it for 4 years now. I like the skill aspect of it and not the actual fighting although I am very good at it. I have forced myself to do a few competitions to challenge myself and face the fears of being a let down and damaging my ego but in general I don't like to compete in anything directly. My trainer has asked me if I would like to train people at his gym based on my skills and work ethic. I had to say no for several reasons: I don't see myself as a teacher, I don't like to work with people, I don't like to be at the center of attention, I don't like to take position of authority or leader and I don't care if other people do the sport or not. I don't have any ambitions for this sport, I only do it because it keeps me fit and is fun.
Not sports related things -
I have always loved to draw, I did drawings of my favorite cartoon heroes when I was a kid and was good at it. My dad wanted to send me to art school when I was in 3rd grade or so, but I was rebellious and said no. I consider this to be one of my biggest mistakes. At that time I had no idea what I was saying no to, Had very stupid understanding of what it meant. I thought that art school is for painters who later sell their paintings, live poorly and that's it I still want to learn how to draw really good just because I like the activity.
I like to do things I can instantly see the result as I am doing the activity, very practical guy. I learn and work the best on my own and when I am alone. Jobs I have had whilst studying - construction worker, bike mechanic, newspaper delivery on scooter - all are very practical and instant-result producing and was tolerable. One thing I learned from my bike mechanic jobs was that I cant't work with people. It drove me nuts when customers showed up unexpectedly and to talk to them. I am a crazy introvert so this was killing me.
My university experience -
I went to study mechanical engineering after high-school. I didn't think much about it really, just knew that I had to get a degree to be taken seriously in my country. And engineering seemed like something I could enjoy, considering my practical inclinations. After 2.5 years I dropped out, I had no drive for it, didn't like math and could't imagine myself doing it.
Then I tried graphic design and thought myself photoshop, illustrator and liked manipulating with visual material, but the connection wasn't really there. Again I thought that this is not serious and I can't really picture myself building a career out of this. No passion or meaning.
Then I went to Denmark to study Engineering in product development, I did this to get out of my parents home and worked part-time during studies. I don't have a passion for product development and only like the actual product design itself - sketching, prototyping, CAD modelling, coming up with solutions. And showing what I have created is what I like.
Sadly this was just a small part of the study curriculum - most of it was project management, finances, marketing and other social sciences I have no interest in. I pushed through it and I have almost finished my studies, just have to pass a few exams.
So this is where I am at now. I could advance my skills in product design - sketching, modelling etc. as I like that activity, but there is no jump-out-of-bed passionate drive for it and I can't connect it with a meaningful impact statement.
I am not blind to the world problems but cat't find that thing, which would ground me, provide with direction and motivation. My skills, talents, interests and personal traits don't fit together.
Things where I suck at:
-Communication in writing or speaking, as an introvert I talk and communicate very little.
-Working with people, very low Emotional Intelligence and don't like interacting with people I dont know.
-Organizing and leading
-Having a boss and meeting deadlines - Everything that comes from outside and is not from intrinsic motivation, I resent, even if I would like to do it otherwise.
I am happy living a very simplistic lifestyle, not chasing money at all. My dreams lie in traveling the world on a motorcycle with close friends - ultimate adventure and freedom machine ;].
Maybe I am too egoistic and I am only truly motivated by my selfish desires.
I am not used to writing and expressing my thought this way so sorry if it is chaotic. It is my first post ever on a public forum.
I would greatly appreciate if you could provide me with some insight.
-yahoo.