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Part 4: Want to do good? Here’s how to choose an area to focus on.

Part 4: Want to do good? Here’s how to choose an area to focus on.

Update: 2023-09-03

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Answer: To maximise your impact, work on areas (1) that are large in scale, (2) that others neglect, and (3) where it’s possible to make progress. Many people fail to compare the scale of different problems, work on the same problems as everyone else, and support programmes with no evidence of impact.

In this article we explain how to compare global problems.

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In Channel

Introduction: Why read this guide?

Introduction: Why read this guide?

2023-09-0304:59

Part 1: What makes for a dream job?

Part 1: What makes for a dream job?

2023-09-0323:54

Part 2: Can one person make a difference? What the evidence says.

Part 2: Can one person make a difference? What the evidence says.

2023-09-0310:30

Part 3: Three ways anyone can make a difference, no matter their job

Part 3: Three ways anyone can make a difference, no matter their job

2023-09-0315:16

Part 4: Want to do good? Here’s how to choose an area to focus on.

Part 4: Want to do good? Here’s how to choose an area to focus on.

2023-09-0313:12

Part 5: The world’s biggest problems and why they’re not what first comes to mind

Part 5: The world’s biggest problems and why they’re not what first comes to mind

2023-09-0330:12

Part 6: Which jobs help people the most?

Part 6: Which jobs help people the most?

2023-09-0336:57

Part 7: Which jobs put you in the best long-term position?

Part 7: Which jobs put you in the best long-term position?

2023-09-0340:14

Part 8: How to find the right career for you

Part 8: How to find the right career for you

2023-09-0333:05

Part 9: How to make your career plan

Part 9: How to make your career plan

2023-09-0323:04

Part 10: All the best advice we could find on how to get a job

Part 10: All the best advice we could find on how to get a job

2023-09-0328:45

Part 11: One of the most powerful ways to improve your career — join a community.

Part 11: One of the most powerful ways to improve your career — join a community.

2023-09-0311:28

The end: A cheery final note — imagining your deathbed

The end: A cheery final note — imagining your deathbed

2023-09-0304:10

Appendix A: The meaning of making a difference

Appendix A: The meaning of making a difference

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Appendix B: All the evidence-based advice we found on how to be more successful in any job

Appendix B: All the evidence-based advice we found on how to be more successful in any job

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Appendix C: Four biases to avoid in career decisions

Appendix C: Four biases to avoid in career decisions

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Appendix D: How to make tough career decisions

Appendix D: How to make tough career decisions

2023-09-0318:39

Appendix E: Is it ever OK to take a harmful job in order to do more good? An in-depth analysis

Appendix E: Is it ever OK to take a harmful job in order to do more good? An in-depth analysis

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Appendix H: Career review summaries

Appendix H: Career review summaries

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Appendix G: Additional resources

Appendix G: Additional resources

2023-09-0306:06

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Part 4: Want to do good? Here’s how to choose an area to focus on.

Part 4: Want to do good? Here’s how to choose an area to focus on.

Benjamin Todd & the 80,000 Hours team