SoFi Blog

Most companies today wouldn’t think of operating without a thoughtfully crafted mission statement. But when it comes to running our own careers, too many of us skip this crucial step.

A mission statement is a declaration of the organization’s core purpose, usually encompassing what the business does, how it does it and who it does it for. It’s brief, focused, and serves as a guiding principle for the company’s employees.

For example, Amazon’s mission statement is: “To be earth’s most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.” Sounds about right, doesn’t it?

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’d be happy at work if only I got a promotion/made more money/did something I’m more passionate about”?

Or maybe you read stories about people who are getting paid to pursue their dreams and think, “Why can’t that be me?”

Well, if it’s any consolation, you’re certainly not alone. Total career happiness is hard to come by.

So what gives? Are some of us just doomed to be unhappy at work forever?

Name: Josh Gould
Locale: Brooklyn, NY
Alma Maters: Claremont McKenna College; Dartmouth/Tuck School of Business (MBA)
By Day: Business Development in the renewable energy field
SoFi Member Since: 2014

When your senior-level government job has a term limit, you have to start thinking about your next job while you’re still getting settled. Learn how SoFi member Josh Gould navigated his latest career move in the niche field of renewable energy—with a little help from an unexpected place.

At SoFi, we know our members are committed to financial wellness. We also know they’re working hard to accomplish great things in their careers. So aside from offering financial solutions, our Career Coaching team is here to help them excel and reach the goals they set.