The more you try to force it, I learned, the less likely you are to succeed. True missions, it turns out, require two things.
- First you need career capital, which requires patience
- Second, you need to be ceaselessly scanning your always-changing view of the adjacent possible in your field, looking for the next big idea. This requires a dedication to brainstorming and exposure to new ideas.
Combined, these two commitments describe a lifestyle, not a series of steps that automatically spit out a mission when completed.
After repeating this system for months (and most of the time, years) you will eventually come to find a very clear, concise, and specific mission for your career.