A Step-by-Step Guide to Discovering Your Own Path Toward Meaningful Work

What is meaningful work? Well, the answer to this question depends on the person. For example, take Nour Fadel, a District Sales Manager at Sunrun, the nation’s leading provider of home solar and batteries. Fadel tells us that, to her, meaningful work “means helping people obtain a happy and comfortable living where they can grow personally and professionally and be financially free.” At Sunrun, she’s found work that fits this description perfectly — all while proving that you don’t need a college degree to be successful! 

In her current role, Fadel spends her days assisting Sunrun on its journey toward a more sustainable tomorrow. She also finds meaning in growing her office and training new sales reps on how to help homeowners transition to a clean energy lifestyle. This involves coaching them “on how to grow their door-to-door sales career, become experts of their craft, provide customers with great experiences, and close their own deals,” Fadel explains. “I find this work meaningful because I get to help people discover themselves while challenging them to become healthier with their day-to-day habits so they can make a long-term impact.”

Due to her focus on empowering and upskilling her team, Fadel is proud to say that she’s been able to see her team create the lives they want and pursue their own passions. “I have met so many people who have truly changed their life because of this job, and those stories touch my heart,” says Fadel. “I get to see people accept failures and rejection as a part of life and turn it into something great while moving people to understand life and ourselves better.”

It’s clear to see how rewarding Fadel finds her job at Sunrun! But what about others who are looking for something similar in their own careers? Here, Fadel took the time to share her top tips for finding rewarding work and how Sunrun supports her on this journey.

My best advice for finding meaningful work.

When asked about her top piece of advice for other women who are trying to find meaningful work, Fadel emphasizes the importance of being yourself. “If you feel like you are tiptoeing around your workplace and having to change who you are to show up, it might not be the right space for you,” she emphasizes.

And this is just the start of her great advice! Fadel also has great insight for those who are questioning if their current company or role is a good fit — or if it’s time to look outside their organization to find meaningful work. In this scenario, Fadel would tell you to take your time. “Finding a job is like finding a spouse,” she jokes. “It’s okay if it takes a while, it’s okay if we’re picky about our environment, and it’s okay if it comes at a later age than we expected.” 

Additionally, when assessing if a role or company fits our personal needs, it’s important to focus on our mindsets. This “starts with how we treat ourselves and the language we use in our head to predict our day,” says Fadel. Instead of being negative, “we can view what we do as beneficial and meaningful, which will translate to real life events.” For instance, Fadel shares that when she has an intention of having a good day, it’s more likely to happen!

As part of this process, it's also important to confirm if you are burnt out or unhappy in your current situation. “When it’s burnout, you can definitely tell by your behavior and how you’re treating your self care,” notes Fadel. “We deserve breaks, and our bodies deserve good food and sleep.” In this case, ensuring that you are taking the breaks you need to combat burnout is the first step. “We have to normalize a regular schedule instead of the ‘hustle culture’ commonly portrayed,” continues Fadel. “We are feminine beings with grace, and we deserve spaces that make us feel whole, empowered, and rested at the same time.”

However, if after considering burnout, you determine that you are unfulfilled in your current job, it may be time to consider other options. “I suggest giving your current employer a timeline on when you plan to leave so you have enough time to shift into another career and have time in-between if you choose,” Fadel states. “No position is ever worth our mental health. Even if it means less money, who cares! Money will flow when we regulate our nervous system because we will have more energy to create meaningful work!”

And, throughout it all, know that it’s okay to not have things fully figured out. “I come from humble beginnings, and I hope my story helps someone know that they don’t have to have a five-year plan and have it all figured out to make it,” she advises. “You just have to plan one day at a time.”

How Sunrun uplifts me.

At Sunrun, employees get to take part in the impactful and rewarding work of joining a movement to build a brighter, sustainable future. And that’s just the beginning of how the company supports their team.

For example, Sunrun ensures that they are fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging where everyone can thrive by hosting employee resource groups. Fadel believes that these ERG groups are just another example of how Sunrun helps employees find meaningful work and creates a welcoming atmosphere by connecting with employees on a more personal level.

Fadel also emphasizes how Sunrun’s team encourages each other — no matter what. “When someone in our Sunrun family is going through a rough time, everyone comes together to get them out of the situation they’re in,” she says. “Seeing that we are changing lives with our love and care for one another makes me feel like it’s genuinely a family.”

Fairygodboss is proud to partner with Sunrun. Electrify your career with Sunrun today!