As we discussed in a previous article, the need for meaning at work is obviously not a criterion specific to the gifted, despite what you might often hear. Meaning is just a small part of what you truly need.

Many gifted individuals are driven by desire (and this isn’t unique to them either), which serves as a crucial motivator. However, there is something fundamental that is truly specific to the gifted: emotion.

You need emotions to feel every achievement, even the smallest ones. A thrill, something that, in an instant, transports you, even if it’s fleeting. You need that rush of adrenaline tied to a particular accomplishment, which rarely happens. Ideally, you need it regularly. And I’m not prescribing this, but simply describing it. That said, reflect on it or try it out, and you’ll see if this prescription makes sense.

This brings me to the concept of meaning because, in my opinion, the almost magical trio for the gifted in their daily life, whether at work or elsewhere, consists of the following:

Meaning + Desire + Emotion

Of course, you can analyze this need, this resource. But remember, we’re focusing on the context of work—whether paid or unpaid, whether it’s about successfully completing a complicated new project or finding the idea that gives a whole new perspective to a task.

This emotion tied to accomplishment—where does it come from within you? What does it stem from?

To help you and guide you in your own introspection, we can delve deeper into the context:

• Is it tied to another value, such as correcting an injustice?
• Is it simply connected to letting go, as in a sport where you stop thinking, where you unplug your brain just enough to catch your breath, or when you finally achieve a specific result or performance?

I’ll leave you to continue exploring…