While Jonathan Fields was practicing law at one of the largest firms in the nation, coping with extended hours and high levels of stress, he unexpectedly found himself as a key witness in a trial that turned out to be pivotal in his life. Following a hospitalization due to a severe infection that caused his immune system to fail, he chose to prioritize his health over his legal career. This decision initiated a wellbeing journey that ultimately led him to become the owner of a fitness studio, a yoga studio, and to promote two movements that challenge conventional views of a “good life.”
On his highly acclaimed Good Life Project podcast, which started in 2012, Fields has engaged in profound, personal discussions with many of today’s most respected thinkers. However, he believes it’s not their fame that creates impact; rather, it’s their unique insights and their willingness to share valuable knowledge.
Fields has long had insights of his own. He describes himself as “almost pathologically steeped in possibility” and expresses a profound interest in understanding how we work and the feelings it evokes within us.
Two years after the release of his third book, How to Live a Good Life, he discovered a transformative idea that would alter the course of his career and impact countless others. He was pioneering a fresh perspective on work.
Revitalizing Careers
Fields aimed to delve into the motivations that propel us to work and how we could better harmonize with these motivations in ways that foster positivity. He begins searching for commonalities that resonate with every individual, independent of their professions, industries, or titles—fundamental attributes people carry with them, inherent and personal rather than acquired or developed. He sought to connect people’s passions with their professional pursuits and to identify what energized and thrilled them.
“I literally began to break down extensive lists of sectors, jobs, and roles to see if we could pinpoint core elements,” Fields remembers. “This quickly distilled into 10 essential impulses that repeatedly surfaced in diverse arrangements.”
He then realized that these impulses could be classified into archetypes. “So we opted to call them ‘Sparketypes’ for fun—a shorthand for the work archetype that ignites your passion…. Throughout 2018, we developed the Sparketype assessment—iterating it, evaluating its effectiveness, and running beta testers through it—until we confirmed it was both robust and reliable, with participants reporting impactful results. We ultimately launched it out of beta at the end of the year, and we were somewhat unprepared for what followed.”
To date, over a million individuals have completed the Sparketype assessment, generating more than 50 million data points. In 2021, Fields published a book titled Sparked, followed by the launch of the Sparked podcast in 2022.
The Distinctiveness of Sparketype
Although several excellent assessments are available, Fields emphasizes his assessment’s unique focus. “We aim to uncover the fundamental impulse for effort or work that truly enlivens an individual. If we can pinpoint that and assist someone in aligning their work with it, everything shifts—both for the individual and the organizations they are involved with, as well as the communities they serve.”
Understanding one’s Sparketype, he asserts, empowers individuals to recognize their true selves. They can then make necessary adjustments to progress toward their desired state. However, he acknowledges that not everyone has the freedom to make significant career changes if their current work lacks fulfillment. Often, one’s circumstances may not permit such choices.
“Perhaps I’m juggling three positions; I’m supporting my extended family,” he explains. “I won’t dismantle my current situation to start over and restructure my life around this pursuit…. Yet, that doesn’t imply you must forfeit that inherent impulse.
“It might mean dedicating 15 minutes each day or an hour on the weekends to create art or volunteer in service.”
Transformative Potential of Sparketype
If your current work doesn’t resonate with your identity, it can negatively impact your self-esteem, mental health, and relationships.
Fields researched the links between performing work aligned with one’s Sparketype and experiencing feelings of:
- Meaningfulness
- Energy and enthusiasm
- Flow
- Realized potential or performance
- Life purpose
“The data strongly validated this,” he states. “We found that the more individuals report doing the work of their Sparketype, the more likely they are to experience all five of those states.”
“Conversely, the less you engage in work aligned with your Sparketype, the lesser your likelihood of experiencing any of those five states,” he continues. “These five states are crucial not only for individuals but also for entrepreneurs, leaders, founders, and organizations—because on a human level, they are essential for thriving. We all need meaning and purpose.”
He takes pride in the tool he developed for enhancing productivity and efficiency. At its essence, it “fosters a more human-centered environment where individuals feel recognized, valued, and empowered to pursue what brings them joy.”
