Your career can look “successful” and still feel quietly wrong—and that doesn’t mean you’re broken. In this episode, Paul Comfort unpacks why misalignment often shows up as slow inner exhaustion, not a dramatic crisis.

This conversation is for anyone who’s good at what they do but feels disconnected from it. You’ll learn a grounded framework to identify your “X Factor,” make smarter career decisions, and shape your current role toward what actually energizes you.

Paul Comfort is a leader with decades of experience across government and transportation, including serving as CEO of the MTA in Baltimore and as an elected county commissioner. He also hosts the public transportation podcast Transit Unplugged and is the author of Find Your X Factor.

00:08:18 — When success looks right but feels wrong

00:10:27 — Defining the “X Factor”: interests + abilities

00:11:57 — Why being good at something can still feel empty

00:14:26 — The trap: sunk costs, stability, and identity

00:16:49 — How to “lean in” without quitting your job

00:21:12 — Personal responsibility, fulfillment, and self-check-ins

00:26:27 — Treasure map concept + where Paul’s X Factor landed

Track what energizes you: list activities you’d do for free, then find the core pattern.

Separate competence from calling: being “good at it” isn’t the same as wanting it.

Use your current job as a lab: volunteer for projects that match your interests.

Watch your Mondays: dread and low energy can signal misalignment early.

For big dreams, test reality: pair passion with honest skill assessment and a plan to build it.

findyourxfactor.ai

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