I wondered why I cannot stick with the same job and now I know the reason

I used to wonder all the time: “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I stick with the same job like other people?”
I watched friends stay in the same job from the moment they graduated until now. Meanwhile, I’ve changed jobs more times than I can count. The only times I stayed with something for years were when I had my own business.

I’ve always loved solving problems—logistics, marketing, product design. But the traditional office? Wearing uniforms, making small talk with colleagues and bosses? It never felt right. My mind tends to wander, to imagine, to create—not follow routine.

Back in Vietnam, I ran a jewelry business. Every time I got a list of new designs from suppliers, I felt a spark. I would imagine the woman who might wear each piece: how she’d look, where she’d go, how stunning and unique she’d feel. That thrill kept me going for years.

Then I moved to Israel and started a nail business. In the beginning, I was in love with it. Even while caring for a small child, I used every spare moment to explore new nail art and techniques. My first set was a disaster—but instead of giving up, I got curious. I watched dozens of YouTube tutorials and kept practicing until even my husband was shocked at how professional my nails looked. Every new trend lit up my creativity, and I couldn’t wait to share them with customers.

But slowly, the work shifted. Most clients wanted simple, fast, no-frill nails. Don’t get me wrong—those sets paid the bills. But I lost the spark. I told myself I couldn’t just change jobs again. I was 35 now. It was time to be “stable,” right?

So I kept going. I worked efficiently. Customers were happy—they got beautiful, long-lasting nails in under an hour. But I wasn’t happy.

Then I signed up for an esthetician course—just hoping it might reignite something. And it did.
While others stressed over the complexity of skincare, cosmetics, and biology, I was thrilled. I couldn’t wait to dive deeper every day. Thanks to technology, I could explore beyond the textbook, follow my curiosity, and connect the dots myself.

Then today, I learned about something called the ventral striatum—a part of the brain’s reward system that lights up when we’re driven by curiosity and discovery. Suddenly, everything made sense. I feel alive when I’m learning something new. But when I’m forced to repeat the same task over and over like a machine, I feel drained.

So maybe that old saying is true: “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Not because you’re not working—but because your brain, your hormones, your whole being is aligned with what you’re doing. And that feels good.

And now I realize—nothing was ever wrong with me. I’m just wired to follow what excites me.
I’m not driven by money, social status, or stability.
I’m driven by curiosity—and that’s enough.