2. DESIGN: Once you know your strengths and interests, you can start to design a plan. This is researching the job types, companies and people doing that kind of work.
3. EXPLORATION: This is the fun part! This is where you go out and " test drive " different jobs. We encourage students to do job shadows and informational interviews. It’ s like trying on a pair of shoes to see if they fit before you buy them.
4. ADAPTABILITY: Sometimes, you’ ll try something and realize, " Wait, I actually hate this!" And that’ s okay! Being adaptable means learning how to change your plan when you find new information.
5. SERVICE: Finally, we believe true happiness comes from using your unique talents to help others. When your work serves a bigger purpose, it stops feeling like work and starts feeling like a mission.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER NOW?
You might think, " I’ m young, why does this matter yet?" It matters because now is the perfect time to start building momentum. Think of a literal slingshot: to move forward with power, you first have to pull back, find your aim, and then let go. Right now, you are in the aiming phase.
At Slingshot, we work with students in schools, one-on-one coaching and our online course. We’ ve seen students who were totally lost find a spark of excitement because they realized they didn ' t have to be like everyone else— they just had to be more like themselves.
STOP WAITING, START DOING
The secret to the future isn ' t waiting for a perfect moment to arrive. Momentum comes from doing. Whether it’ s joining a new club, asking a teacher about their career, or simply writing down the things you’ re passionate about, every small step counts.
And don’ t worry about making the right decision. There is no such thing. There are lots of jobs you could be doing that would make you happy. You just need to be open to the journey( we call it the Winding Path) and start paying attention to what activities and challenges you enjoy being a part of.
Our goal at Slingshot is to build happier, healthier humans. We want you to feel confident that you have the tools to navigate whatever comes your way. You are unique; you have skills nobody else has, and the world is waiting for you to figure out how to use them.
So, the next time someone asks you what you want to be when you grow up, you don ' t need to give them a job title. You can just tell them: " I ' m working on being the best version of me."
Tyler Lafferty | Executive Director / Founder Slingshot: Coaching Purposeful Direction 509.863.2743 | helloslingshot. org
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