Designing your career

Designing Your Career

or maybe your life?

by James Carpenter | 7-28-2014

I recently resigned from my job and in the weeks following have been engaged in the activities that all job seekers face - updating resumes, LinkedIn, references, etc. When all these activities are complete and ready to present to recruiters or submit to online job applications - that's when all the philosophical questions start coming up. If they don't come up because you thought of them yourself, they'll come up because an interviewer asks them in some form. I've had to learn this firsthand.

 What kind of job do I REALLY want? What do I want out of my next job? When I get a job, even a job that I really like, what am I doing with my income? I don't want to work for work's sake - I want to be on a path to something larger; part of something bigger. Why do I, or we,  go to work in the first place?   It's really interesting what the answers to these questions reveal. I confess that I haven't figured it all out yet. I'm still exploring these answers but I have come away with some answers for myself. My questions, answers, and this approach may help you too.

Define Who You Are

Who are you? What do you feel is your purpose for being alive? These are crucial questions because they define a compelling reason for why you work. Businesses operate according to a strategic plan so that their daily activities aren't random; rather, they are aligned to a goal. Businesses operate to make money in order to take that money and invest in their business purpose(s). Operating in this manner drives achievement. When I really analyzed who I was, I found out there are three reasons why I want to work.

1. To contribute meaningfully to something larger than myself that I believe in and am passionate about
2. To be a light to those around me and "lift up" the work environment
3. To be socially engaged and stay "connected" to life

These three reasons were founded upon my self-defined purpose for being on this planet.

The only purpose (again, speaking for myself) that I can discern which has any permanent value  is that I'm here to bring glory to God. I bring glory to Him through my work by doing those three things. For you, it may be completely different. If you were to define what your purpose is - what would it be? That is a foundational question. Like a business strategy, everything you do in life, including work, should align to that. Start here by taking the time to define who you are and what your purpose for being alive is.

Define Core Values

In addition to defining who you are, defining core values which you can express is also important. Being able to express your core values is important because it means you've thought them through enough to articulate them, defend them, and stand firmly upon them. When it really gets down to brass tacks, so far, what I've come up with for myself is:

1. Freedom - I don't want to control anybody and I don't want anybody controlling me
2. In every situation -  Be a positive factor not a negative factor

About Freedom

In my work life, I've experienced control in various sorts of ways including monetary, political, and emotional. I haven't seen physical control in the workplace yet but I'm sure I'll see it someday! In any of these situations, we're talking about the opposite of freedom. I've seen people work because they must or they will lose their quality of life - they are living paycheck to paycheck. This is a form of control and it creates fear. Related, I've seen people taken advantage of emotionally. People who are eager to please, for example (people pleasers), and people who take advantage of that. On the flip side, I've been in the position where I could control people through paychecks or politics and I've found this to be quite exhausting when I've been foolish enough to engage in that behavior. If you want a work life free of worry and full of energy, I recommend these as goals: humility, sincerity, integrity, purpose, and personal financial freedom (pay off those bills (everything!) so you can't be financially controlled!)

About Positivity

Concerning being a positive factor, I mean "don't race to criticism or negativity." There are so many opportunities at work to pursue criticism, to take part in gossip, or to self promote at the cost of others. Rise above this and be a positive factor. Find out for yourself if someone is "Bad" or "Good". Don't just go by what you've heard. Everyone deserves a chance.

Of course, these two aforementioned core values are ones that I came up with. Yours may be different.

Adding it up

When you add up "Who you are" with your "Core Beliefs" you can then start answering those bigger questions such as "Why do I work?" and "Why do I want to work for XYZ company?" In my own exploration I found out that the reasons I work simultaneously progress my own life mission and any company's mission that I might work for - a double whammy! It's not about title, power, or  a certain amount of money. For me, those are not enduring things.

I am (and you should be able to as well) now able to work my way backwards from the larger philosophical questions to those that are being asked presently. "Why do you want to work for XYZ company?" I want to work for XYZ company because I believe in what you're doing, I want to be a part of it, and it aligns to what I'm doing in my life. As an example, I offer up what that translation looks like for me:

Who I am, or want to be (in a job): Someone who contributes meaningfully to something larger than myself and that I"m passionate about.

What I believe in: Not to be controlled or control others

Career Design

Find a job (or series of jobs which form a career):
a.  That aligns to my passions, or that interests me enough to become passionate about it
b. Where I can be a positive influence
c. That pays enough to meet my personal objectives

Reflecting on this things, it turns out that I don't NEED a high paying, high power job, replete with all the stress. I need a fulfilling job that meets enduring ends.