It’s easy to dismiss our career escape fantasies as ridiculous daydreams of a burned-out professional who shouldn’t be taken seriously. But I believe that there’s good data in these musings. If we get curious about what comes up for us, we can discover deeper clues about what we’re longing for in our work—clues that guide us toward practical action.

The very first thing I do with any client I work with over time is guide them in a process to define their core values. Values are the principles by which you live your life—the things that you hold close to your heart. Whether you know it or not, your values drive the decisions you make, your sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, and points of friction and connection with others.