About This Project
We believe choosing a future should start with wonder — not salary tables.
Our Philosophy
Most career resources show you job descriptions, salaries, and statistics. Important information — but not inspiring. They answer "what job should I get?" but miss the deeper question: "What kind of life do I want to live?"
A Life Like This approaches careers differently. We believe every kind of work is a way of paying attention to the world. A photographer notices light. A chef notices ripeness. A teacher notices when a student checks out — and why. A marine biologist notices currents and colors invisible to most.
When you choose a path, you're not just choosing a paycheck. You're choosing what you want to notice, what problems you want to solve, what beauty you want to create, and what kind of attention you want to cultivate for years — maybe decades — of your life.
"Every kind of work is a way of paying attention."
— The guiding principle of this project
This isn't a career quiz. We don't tell you what you "should" be. Instead, we invite you to explore — to step through portals into different possible lives and feel what resonates. What catches your attention? What feels meaningful? What makes you curious to learn more?
We believe the right path isn't the one with the highest salary or most prestige. It's the one that fits your particular way of seeing the world.
What Makes Us Different
We focus on the texture, meaning, and feeling of work — not just the facts.
Emotional Truth
We show what makes work beautiful AND what makes it hard. No rose-colored glasses, no doom and gloom — just honest portraits.
Poetic Framing
Each life opens with a poetic introduction that captures the essence — the feeling — of the work, not just the tasks.
What They Notice
We reveal how different paths train different kinds of attention. What does a chef see that you miss?
Try It Yourself
Every page includes a simple exercise so you can actually taste what the work feels like.
Tools of the Craft
Not just equipment, but skills, practices, and ways of thinking that define each path.
What They Give
Every kind of work creates something of value. We celebrate the unique contributions of each path.
For Educators
A Resource for the Classroom
A Life Like This was designed with educators in mind. Whether you're a teacher, counselor, parent, or mentor — this platform can help young people explore possibilities with depth and wonder.
Each "life" page is designed to spark conversation and self-reflection. The "Try It Yourself" exercises work well as classroom activities. And the honest discussion of both beauty and challenge helps students develop realistic expectations.
Ideas for Use
- •Use "What They Notice" as a journal prompt
- •Assign the "Try It Yourself" exercises as homework
- •Compare "Beautiful" vs "Hard" across different paths
- •Discuss: "What kind of attention calls to you?"
- •Have students research and write their own "life" profile
- •Use as starting points for career day discussions
Who We Are
A Life Like This is a project by Only Do Good, a company dedicated to building things that make the world a little better.
We believe the choices young people make about their futures deserve more than spreadsheets and salary comparisons. They deserve wonder, depth, and honest exploration. That's what we're trying to build here.
Get Involved
We're always looking to add more "lives" to the collection. If you're a practitioner who'd like to share your path — or an educator with ideas — we'd love to hear from you.
Get in Touch