Sparked

About the Author

Jonathan Fields is an acclaimed author, entrepreneur, and advocate for living a fulfilling life. As the creator of the Good Life Project®, a top-ranked podcast, Jonathan has dedicated his career to exploring what it means to live well and thrive. His work has been featured in major publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Oprah Magazine, and even highlighted at Apple's iconic annual product event. With a background in law and wellness, Jonathan founded several wellness companies before focusing on Spark Endeavors, where he developed the Sparketype® methodology, the foundation of his book Sparked: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work that Makes You Come Alive.

Main Idea

In Sparked, Jonathan Fields delves into the concept of discovering one's unique "Sparketype®" — a DNA-level driver of work that makes us feel alive, motivated, and purposeful. Drawing from extensive research, over 25 million data points, and deep conversations with experts across various fields, Fields introduces a comprehensive framework that helps individuals identify their intrinsic imprints for work. By understanding and embracing these Sparketypes, people can align their careers and lives with what truly energizes and fulfills them, leading to greater performance, joy, and meaning.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Sparketypes
2. Discovering Your Primary Sparketype
3. Understanding Your Shadow Sparketype
4. Identifying Your Anti-Sparketype
5. The Ten Sparketypes: An In-Depth Look
6. Applying Sparketypes to Career and Life
7. Overcoming Common Obstacles
8. Case Studies and Real-World Applications
9. Conclusion: Living a Sparked Life

Introduction to Sparketypes

Fields begins by introducing the concept of being "Sparked," a state of profound engagement and fulfillment in one's work. This state exists at the intersection of five domains:

• Purpose: Moving towards something you believe in.
• Engagement: Experiencing excitement, energy, and enthusiasm.
• Meaningfulness: Feeling that what you do and who you are matters.
• Expressed Potential: Bringing all of your potential to the experience.
• Flow: Getting lost in an activity, losing track of time, and becoming absorbed in the task.

According to Fields, everyone has a unique Sparketype® — an intrinsic impulse for certain types of work that makes us come alive. These Sparketypes shape our behaviors, preferences, and motivations, guiding us towards work that fulfills our deepest needs and aspirations.

Discovering Your Primary Sparketype

Your Primary Sparketype is the core driver of your work-related impulses. It is the activity that generates the strongest urge to exert effort simply because it makes you feel most alive. Understanding your Primary Sparketype provides a sense of direction and clarity, helping you to prioritize activities that align with your innate desires and strengths.

"Think of your Primary Sparketype as the thing that generates the strongest impulse to exert effort for no other reason than the fact that it makes you feel alive." — Jonathan Fields