Unlocking Your Dream Career: The Surprising Science Behind Doing What You Are

How Understanding Your Personality Type Can Transform Your Work Life Forever

What if the key to waking up excited for work was hidden inside you all along? 'Do What You Are' by Paul Tieger and Barbara Barron isn’t just a book—it’s a revelation for anyone who’s ever wondered why some jobs feel like a natural fit and others drain their soul. At the core of this bestselling guide is a powerful idea: career satisfaction is not about chasing the next big thing, but about honoring your authentic self. The book guides you through the process of discovering your Myers-Briggs personality type, a system that divides people into 16 unique types based on four pairs of preferences: Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, and Judging/Perceiving.

As you read, you’ll encounter relatable stories of people who spent years in the wrong jobs—like the detail-oriented accountant who found joy in creative writing, or the outgoing salesperson who thrived after switching to a helping profession. These examples highlight a universal truth: when your work aligns with your personality, it feels less like labor and more like living your purpose.

The MBTI framework is more than a label—it’s a practical tool for self-discovery. The book walks you through a gentle self-assessment, helping you reflect on what energizes you, how you process information, and how you make decisions. Each of the 16 types comes with a rich profile, including strengths, potential pitfalls, and a curated list of careers where people of that type typically thrive.

But the journey doesn’t stop at self-discovery. Tieger and Barron show you how to use your newfound insights to navigate career changes with confidence. They stress that it’s normal to change careers multiple times—most people do so five to seven times in their lives. Rather than seeing change as failure, the book frames it as growth, an ongoing process of aligning your work with your evolving self.

You’ll also learn how personality type influences your relationships at work, how to communicate more effectively with colleagues of different types, and how to build a career that supports your lifestyle and values. The book is packed with actionable exercises, from journaling prompts to visualization techniques, all designed to help you clarify what you want and take concrete steps toward it.

Ultimately, 'Do What You Are' is a call to authenticity. It’s about finding the courage to listen to your inner compass and create a work life that’s not just successful, but deeply satisfying. If you’re ready to stop settling and start thriving, this book—and this blog—will show you how.