Yes, it's really come to this: my purse as a metaphor for career design.
But stay with me here, because I need to tell you how my gloriously-designed handbag truly embodies everything good and holy about what I do for a living.
The visceral reactions this purse elicits demonstrate how close we can get to universally appealing design, whether it's careers or handbags. Everyone compliments me on this fine specimen of a purse, a gift from my fashion-savvy sister. (And yes, this is the same one that wore questionable outfits as child.) I must have received at least a compliment or two per day for the past eight months. As you can see from the above photo, this fabulous purse, who I will hereafter refer to as "Rosie" - because "purse" doesn't quite do it- possesses shine, vivid color, texture, three dimensionality, and that je ne sais quois which attracts quite a following.
No, as I've sworn to countless individuals, it's not a Valentino, which, I'm told, prices out in the thousands. (Little Sis' loves me, but not that much.) Still, I get compliments from such a wide range of people it's uncanny. Rosie has elicited glorious responses from people of all walks of life, male and female, young and old alike. The words "Nice bag!!" have come from artists, interior designers, burly men putting out veggies in the produce department, a refined jewelry store owner in the Hamptons, security agents at the airport, pharmacists, librarians, octogenarians, gas station attendants, teenagers, boys and girls ages three on up... (the little ones just HAVE to touch it!)
So what does this have to do with careers and design? Good design grabs people's attention. An when you design a career around what energizes you, you'll noticed others are energized by it too. You will gradually receive tremendous positive feedback from all types of people. Even if certain people are not necessarily inclined to hire you, buy your product or use your service, they ultimately respect what you are doing and will tell others who ARE in the market for your talents. When others recognize your unique and fantastic offering, they feel compelled to share with others your skill, talent or product.
On the reverse side, trying to please everyone misses the point, as everyone knows but tries to do it anyway. Universal design appeal comes from the career designer first discovering his or her own unique voice, and then finding or creating a need for this voice to be heard. Design a career path this way and see how abundance finds you.
Now Rosie and I shall be off to the supermarket, where I'm sure she'll turn some heads yet again.
No comments:
Post a Comment