The Spice Girls Method

How To Figure Out What You Really, Really Want.

If you’re a Millennial, June 26, 1996, is a day you’ll remember. That day, The Spice Girls released their debut song, “Wannabe,” a fresh take on female empowerment and girl power. 

The song begins with the lyrics that inspired a simple but effective coaching technique of mine:

“Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want

So tell me what you want, what you really, really want

I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha) I wanna, (ha)

I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig ah”

If you’re torn between different opportunities and don’t know where to take your career next, the following is just for you. 

Listen, I have no idea what “zigazig ah” means, but I do know many of us struggle to figure out what we really, really want in our careers. We get distracted or fear what we might lose out on if we make tough choices and give up on other options. But how do you pose THE question to help you find what you truly desire for your career?

If you know The Spice Girls, you may think I’m going to take this in the direction of breaking the question down into five key elements, each inspired by a Spice Girl…

For example, Scary Spice could be questions like “What are your fears and challenges?” or “What obstacles do you need to overcome to achieve your career goals?”.” In contrast, Baby Spice may inspire questions like “What are your innate values and priorities?”

But no, I won’t take it there. 

Instead, The Spice Girls Method is about asking yourself a simple question: 

If you must capture what you really, really want (for your career) in a single verb, what would that verb be?

I typically recommend answering this in five seconds or less. Words matter, and the instinctual verb you choose after a brief reflection should tell you everything you need to know about the career you seek.

If you chose “Build,” that indicates a different set of passions and hopes than the word “Understand.” If you chose “Design” over “Strategize,” you can easily surmise what your next career step should be.

And when you know where you want to go, developing the plan to get there is infinitely easier. 

So, if you’re wondering where you should take your career next, humor me for a few seconds. Embrace your inner Spice Girl and ask yourself, "What do I really, REALLY want? And what single verb captures that?"

You have five seconds. Go.