I just finished listening to an self help audio book, "So Good They Can't Ignore You" by Cal Newport published this September 2012. It talks about an unconventional way to approach my career which I really liked. The main theme of the book to set different mentality - "Adopt a craftsman's mindset; not passion mindset". I couldn't agree more.
All my life I have been seeking for hidden talents which I might have that could make greater good to this world. I thought I could be more than meets the eyes. However, after listening the audio, I am planning to start a different approach. I would focus more on improving skill I already have - being a better software developer and stretch my skills to make myself invaluable.
One thing I kind of agree in this book that we start to like a task (whatever it is) that inspires - control, impact and creativity. I actually came up with couple more the book did not mention - competition, responsibility (kind of like "impact"), romance and being a top player. The only way the task would inspire autonomy/control, impact and creativity is when we become an expert in that area.
In order to adopt a craftsman's mindset, we need to build career capital (valuable skills that people are willingly to pay for). We can only build capital by constant and never ending improvement in a specific area we are already working on. For example, as a software developer, I can work on taking my oracle database skills or web development skills to the next level by taking more challenging projects, learning more constructive feedbacks and have strong focus on giving value to job (not what value the job would provide to me).
I highly recommend you to read that book if you are in a wild goose chase to find your "dream" job in your early 20s. I have been sick and tired of reading the same phrase again and again - "follow your passion" in other books, and it led me to no where. I'm passionate of women, body building, cars, and spirituality; that doesn't mean I could make a living out those things unless I build enough "career capital".