Create Yourself

If you look just above this sentence, you'll see my banner head, GROW, with the smaller script below it reading, "Create Yourself."

When I came up with this tag line many years ago, I didn't think twice about it. I felt it was a perfectly reasonable, catchy little phrase that aptly described my career philosophy: I believe in creating your own career path using your amazing and unique combination of talents vs. trying to squeeze into a one-size-fits-all career mold.

(Think Chief Software Developer at Creative Design Solutions, Inc. vs. The Butcher, The Baker, or The Illustrious Candlestick Maker.)

But as I've spoken with people regarding this "create yourself" concept over the years, I've met a lot of raised eyebrows. As in, "What the $^%# are you asking me to do?!" I quickly learned that the idea was not as intuitive and accessible as I'd expected it to be.

And yet, this concept of creating oneself isn't some new-fangled buzz phrase in modern career thought. Rather, it's inspired from a source that is as far from new-fangled as you can get:

George Bernard Shaw. 

Born 1856. Dublin, Ireland.

I'd always been fascinated by Shaw's expansive and dynamic career journey in which he played multiple roles during his lifetime of 94 years. These included: playwright, essayist, novelist, orator, politician, social activist, music and literary critic and co-founder of the London School of Economics. He also won a Nobel Prize in Literature and an Academy Award for the screen adaptation of one of his plays.

Not too shabby!

And so, as you can imagine, it was with great delight that I stumbled upon this gem of a quote from Shaw:

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."

As shown by the life he led and the career choices he made, Mr. Shaw obviously didn't wait for a career to jump out at him. Instead, he engaged his talents and particular fascinations in a way that would carve out his own unique and wildly successful career journey.

But somehow, across the Atlantic and over a century later, most of us are still conditioned from childhood to believe that, if we want to succeed, we have to follow a narrow, much trodden career path. If it's been done, we think we stay safe by going the same, well-lit route. (Never mind that well-lit routes are more fleeting than ever!) We are too scared at the daunting prospect of the unknown, of the initial confusion that must exist in order to create our own way that we back away from creating ourselves.

Leveraging our unique strengths? We can't risk that!

But how about the risk of losing our sense of self when we constantly focus on everyone else's career trajectories? For example, we slave over getting perfect grades in brand name high schools in order to gain entry into brand name universities and then even cooler companies. But what then? What happens when we discover that the prize was nothing even close to what we really were looking for? What happens when we personally and professionally flounder because we're now so far removed from what we're really good at?

I suppose that's why, whenever I see someone who dares to create his or her own path in life I take notice. These people always seem to be some of the most fulfilled people I meet. They know their strengths and use them to create solutions for others. They don't focus so much on finding the path they are supposed to take; rather, they actively create a layered, rich life that allows them to engage their multiple talents and fascinations in many different ways. They openly recognize, appreciate and leverage their unique combination of abilities and interests in ways that only they can. They stick with what they value and, if what they value is useful to others, people come to recognize and even pay handsomely for that value.

And so, despite the occasional raised eyebrows and skepticism, I'm going to stick with my "create yourself" battle cry. It's what I value, how I approach my life and, most of all, it's a philosophy that's proven effective time and again with clients. However, unlike Mr. Shaw, I'm not so patient when it comes to ideas catching on.  In fact, I'm not-so-secretly hoping for the idea of "create yourself" to go all viral on me. You know, like a social meme or something like that.

Drumming fingers on desk

Aaaaany day now....

Creating Extreme Makeovers: At Home or at Work?

House Beautiful

Many years ago, when I went to see a career coach myself to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, I grappled with two different worlds to pursue professionally. I deliberated between beautifying homes or helping people navigate the career world. Two totally different pursuits, no? 

Option One: The Home Makeover Route

I'll admit there's nothing that gets me more jazzed than good, innovative design, especially in the intimate setting of one's home. I considered going into interior design to be a part of that amazing process of helping others create an environment that energizes and nurtures them. 

I've always loved combing through shelter magazines and interior design books for ideas. I get giddy over colors, patterns and textures, and lose track of time when I start rearranging things in my home. And from the time I was a little kid, I've always loved to draw and create beautiful things, including my future home. In fact, when my sister and I were little, riding in the back seat of our old station wagon to see Grandma and Grandpa, we used to while away the hours by thumbing through the Sears Catalog, picking out items for our future home and putting them in notebooks.

Ah, the days before Pinterest...

Option Two: The Work Makeover Route 

On the other hand, helping people solve problems has always energized me. Enabling people to discover and reach their potential has always felt meaningful and satisfying. Most importantly, I've always had a knack for that kind of thing; people sought out my advice way before I called myself a career coach. 



And talk about a fascinating subject area! I could read and write about people's career journeys, life choices, behavior and psychology 'til the cows came home. 

So which was I supposed to choose? Designing or coaching?

Option Three: Both!

Thankfully my career coach- who eventually became my wonderful mentor- put an end to my dilemma and suggested that I didn't have to really choose. I could, in fact, bring the function of design into career coaching. He suggested that even if I took the coaching route, I would actually still be designing, just not in the artistic medium of velvet-upholstered chairs or sparkly light fixtures. 

(You can tell where my tastes fall on the decorating spectrum, can't you?)

He explained the many ways design is an integral part of career coaching. Coaches help people design their ideal careers, their goals and their visions. Coaches shine light on various bits and pieces of someone's life- pieces such as talents, passions and interests- and help the client create ways to integrate those disparate entities into something streamlined and, well, beautiful.


As soon as I chose to go the career coaching path I realized he was right. I discovered that even though I wasn't going to be an interior designer, I could still ensure that innovation, creativity and beauty were infused into my working life. Every day I'm increasingly convinced that pieces of the career puzzle are exquisite in their richness and complexity, even though they are more conceptual than physical.

Picture, for instance, the vibrancy of a talent that has been uncovered, engaged and honed. Consider the splendor of pursuing fascinations and passions, layering depths into our lives in a way few other things can. Remember how challenging work makes you feel alive and invigorated, especially in a physical environment that makes you feel at home with your talents. 

So what happens when all of these pieces- the talents, the interests, passions and environments- are designed to come together in unison? They infuse a brilliant spectrum of colors and textures into life. And you possess a living, breathing (and ever-evolving) work of art.

Naturally, I will always maintain a pure, aesthetic love of interior design, and I try to give it due time on a regular basis. I fully embrace my role as an interior design enthusiast vs. professional, and yes, you might call me an amateur. While this label might strike some as a bit pejorative and diminutive, I prefer to think of the word amateur as the French originally designed it to mean: "for the love of something." According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Amateur originates from the Latin, "amator" ("lover") and is derived from amare ("to love.") 

And, as a great woman once said,

"Even if one dost not make home design one's livelihood, 

one always has Pinterest."*

Designer's Guild

Indulge In Your Own "What If" Life Makeover



Ask yourself:

What if you were to take the time to create something innovative in your professional life? 

What if you were to add value to your work that might surprise (and delight) those that witnessed it? 

What if you were to incorporate some of your long-held interests into your personal life? 

What do you miss doing that could come back to you, that could enrich your life, filling it with new layers and meaning?


*Okay, that woman was me. I said that statement in a flash of insight.

Music Legend Levon Helm: Stick with the Fun Stuff

"I don't fool with a lot of things that I can't have fun with. There's not much reward in that. For instance, after we mixed the album that you couldn't hear over a speaker, I shied away from engineering, you might say." 

-Levon Helm

Drummer/ Singer/
Songwriter/ Actor

1984 interview with Modern Drummer

Create Yourself: Erma Bombeck

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me.”

- Erma Bombeck

Humor writer, Columnist

Blazing Your Own Trail

While I was a graduate student here in Washington, DC at the beginning of the new millennium, I drove daily along the battered end of North Capitol Street, where you could see the beautiful dome of The Capitol Building straight ahead, in the distance, just as you passed by the bullet proof glass protecting the Kentucky Fried Chicken Drive-Thru. 

Then, after turning off North Capitol Street onto D Street, I'd approach a crazy intersection that seemed to go in about 10 directions. That intersection was surrounded by abandoned buildings and scrappy little patches of grass (I absolutely wouldn’t call them lawns) where no one seemed to inhabit, save for the rose sellers or beggars who’d try to get you to roll down your window and give them hope in the form of loose change.

Now, like much of the revitalized District, the area is built up with steel corporate high rises replete with gleaming mirrored windows, luxury apartments and über hip fitness centers. But at the time of my trek to and from school, this confluence of roads couldn't be described as anything more than an urban eyesore. 

So it was no surprise that the one thing that stood out among this barren urban crossroads was a brightly painted message along the side of one crumbling, abandoned building:

“Do Not Follow Where the Path May Lead.  

Go Instead Where there is No Path and 

Leave a Trail.”

Now, you have to remember that this time period predated the proliferation of motivational quotes on Tumblr, Facebook and Pinterest, so I wasn't yet desensitized to the power of a pithy quotation. Instead, it truly intrigued me, and, more often than not, haunted me.

The anonymous graffiti artist didn't include the author of those words, but I soon discovered through research that it could be attributed to American poet and writer Muriel Strode (b. 1875.) I drove by that quote almost every day for three years, and each time I'd wonder what kind of trail I wanted to leave, and, more specifically, how I would leave it. Would it involve acting? Directing? Writing? Teaching? Or something else entirely?

It took me a few more years before I understood what kind of trail I wanted to leave, which, as you know, ended up falling mainly in the "something else entirely" category. And to this day that trail is always evolving and expanding, keeping things interesting. I'm constantly asking myself questions such as, How do I take my coaching practice to the next level? Make it more nuanced? How do I best deliver my service in a novel way? Who needs my career services the most? Will I need to carve out my niche market more intricately?

Even with these ongoing uncertainties, I can't describe how good it feels to have cracked the code, so to speak. It's wonderful knowing that my sweet spot lies in coaching; that I use some of my most valuable talents- that happen to be non-performing ones- to make a difference in others' lives. And, in that coming full-circle kind of way, I like the fact that my "trail" involves helping others blaze their own.

(Here's where I'm going to boldly imagine that Strode would've been pleased!)

I won't lie and say it's been easy; far from it. It has taken due diligence and a hefty sense of self to figure out what kind of path to create. And, undoubtedly, I couldn't have done it alone. Reaching out to others made a turn-of-the 20th century writer's words come to life for me. I realized that in order to create my own unique, individual path I needed the power of collaboration. While that may sound ironic, it actually makes sense given the communal nature of the creative process. And what is the process of designing our own career paths if not a creative one?

Ultimately, yes, it is our own creative hand that paints our life's legacy; however, we can always use the wisdom and support of others to inspire our creations. Seeking guidance is different than following footsteps; we're allowing the paths and knowledge of others to inform our choices, to navigate our way through obstacles, to help us design our own exciting, personalized paths.

Interestingly, the following is Strode's prequel to the above quote, which allows us to see the author's journey in arriving at her conviction to "leave a trail."

"I longed to build as you had builded, but I knew that your joy lay in the conception of your own design. 

I longed to follow where your feet had trod, but I had watched your exhilaration as you felled a new way.

I longed to do that thing you did and be that thing you are, but I knew life's complement was yours because you were yourself."

My Little Book of Prayer

Muriel Strode, 1904

I am eternally grateful for Strode's words so generously painted on an otherwise useless building. Her proclamation held me accountable to discover my own voice. And, because of that difficult search, it also led me to seek help in finding it.

So now I'll hand these thought provoking words over to you, with the hope that you'll feel embolden enough to blaze your own trail.

But hopefully they'll also beg the question:

Who will provide you with the tools to create that trail?

Notes:

*Strode's original quote was, "I do not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path and leave a trail" 

**Many have mistakenly credited this quote to Ralph Waldo Emerson.  

A Super Bowl of Talent

As we head into Super Bowl Sunday 2014, I thought a great football quote by sportswriter extraordinaire, David Epstein, would be à propos.

In his most recent book, The Sports Gene, Epstein writes about athletic ability and the complex combination of raw talent and hard work that go into world class athleticism.  The following quote comes from an interview Mr. Eptsein gave with EconTalk's Russell Roberts:

"...what sports are and should be is an attempt to get the most out of what someone's gifts are and see how they can be used uniquely. 

And there are not only all these different sports, but different positions within the different sports. 

Look at a football field. You almost have the extremes of the human physique represented on the field at one time. 

And I just find that to be really cool and fascinating, and a big departure from the early 20th-century idea that the average body type was the best for all endeavors and that anything that deviated from that was basically a mistake."

Click here for Mr. Epstein's phenomenal interview.

Enjoy!
-Katie

p.s. Please do not tell my husband that I used "à propos" and "Super Bowl Sunday" in the same sentence. He would not be pleased.

Making a Difference: Is LinkedIn Making It Easier?

I was excited to see LinkedIn's newest venture into the volunteer world, connecting non-profits with interested volunteers. Using a crisp, clean interface, their latest development is aptly called LinkedIn Volunteer Marketplace.

But why, might you ask, am I touting a volunteer-matching service when I am a career- not volunteer- coach? 

Because volunteering applies to just about everyone.

Donating one's time to a favorite cause offers so many rewards, beyond the good feelings that serving others brings. Here are three great reasons to go pro bono:

1. Volunteering allows you to test out a career to see if it's something that might be worth vying for professionally. 

While volunteering certainly requires commitment, it doesn't necessarily take as much time as would a paid position, and allows a person to sample "days in the life of" said career without jumping in full-time. And you can see if you have the necessary aptitudes to make a difference in that particular way.

Bonus: Like to save money? 

Maybe that graduate degree in Social Work you've been considering isn't what you need after all. Or the $5K, 100 hour certification turns out to be far less important than a certain kind of experience. Both insights exemplify the kinds of information to be gleaned through volunteering.

2. Volunteering gives you a chance to meet people who care about the same cause you do. 

Finally, you get to talk to someone who understands your passion for childhood nutrition! The environment! The tragic plight of the common backyard mosquito dying needlessly from monstrous bug zappers!

(Hey, I don't judge a person's passions.)

You'll gain access to insider information, such as what kinds of people seem to thrive in that particular environment. You may also uncover how positions are filled within that slice of the non-profit world.  

Bonus: New to a community and want to meet someone who you connect with? 

Maybe as a friend... or perhaps you have romantic ambitions? 

Volunteering is a wonderful opportunity to increase time with like-minded individuals who share that particular passion of yours. 

"Follow your passion and find passion!"  

Hmmm... maybe I'm on to something here....

3. For the working professional, volunteering broadens your life experience.

And it allows you to keep growing, learning and innovating. In fact, countless studies have shown the positive effects of letting your mind take occasional breaks from problem solving at work. Creative breakthroughs tend to occur when, after continuously chipping away at a problem, an employee shifts gears to focus on something other than work.

Likewise, volunteering in say, a soup kitchen, can help get you "out of your head" and into using your hands. Then you can go back refreshed, with a new perspective on your problems. 

Bonus: Crave variety? 

Just as a significant other can only satisfy so many needs and fill so many roles in your life, so it goes with one's career as well. 

Even those who find an exciting, sustainable and intellectually fulfilling career path will always have other causes that they care about and towards which they want (and need) to contribute. 

And in giving ones talents outside paid work, a person can fulfill other roles that they enjoy playing in life. It takes the pressure off of feeling as if your paid work needs to be your end all, raison d'etre.

Reid Hoffman, Co-Founder of Linkedin, describes the benefits of the LinkedIn Volunteer Marketplace to working professionals this way:

"... while busy professionals who love their current gigs may not necessarily be looking for a new position, these are often the very people who are most actively engaged in “meaningful searches” – a volunteer opportunity that will enhance their life in ways beyond what their primary vocation provides."

Read more on Hoffman's introduction to volunteering via LinkedIn here.

Go on, check it out!.

Multi-talented You (Yes, You!!!)

Despite what many believe, we all have multiple talents that are just sitting there waiting for us to use them- personally and professionally. We can also play several important roles at any given time in our life while using many different talents in varying degrees.  

As you're well aware, countless studies show that we thrive better when we allow ourselves to live in a multi-dimensional way, dividing our time between family, friends, hobbies, side interests AND professional fulfillment.  After all, we are anything but one dimensional human beings, so why live as if we are? Besides, success in one area often motivates us to thrive in another.

"But I Don't Have Any Talents (much less multiple ones)!!!!"

I've heard many people say to me, when they hear about my work in natural talents and abilities, "Oh, I don't have any natural talents." Or "my brother got all the talent in our family." And how many times have you heard people say, "I don't have real talent, I just work hard."

Latest Winners, Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough

But the truth is that we all have talents. They may not be as obvious to us as say, throwing a fastball like Stephen Strasburg, or possessing moves worthy of Dancing With the Stars,

but they are there; when we know how they all fit together, they are powerful!  

Imagine if we were all to throw away our preconceived notions about our lack of talent and learn instead about the ones we possess. We could not only thrive but make the world a better place by confidently expressing those multiple talents.

Want some of my celebrity examples? Below are features about two fantastic athletes with some pretty obvious talents: baseball player, Jayson Werth of the Washington Nationals (Go Nats!!!) and LA Lakers basketball player, Steve Nash. But more than just shine light on their evident abilities, these articles highlight the talents we don't see on the ball field or basketball court. 

But, IMHO, those hidden, less obvious talents are the best ones! Talents like selling, persuading, motivating, facilitating, promoting, researching, managing, nurturing, protecting, trouble shooting, tweaking, and creating are ones that you can discover in yourself and develop to their fullest potential. And who knows where these abilities could lead once you discover how they work in combination with one another.

After all, your unique cocktail of talents may not grace the cover of Esquire Magazine like those of Leonardo DiCaprio, but who says you can't be a superstar in your own way? 

Via Flickr

CLICK HERE for Jayson Werth's story

Via Flickr

CLICK HERE for Steve Nash's story

p.s. I am always on the hunt for fascinating people who make use of their multiple talents, personally and professionally. Know of anyone? (Maybe it's you!)  If so, please share! Leave a comment.

Thanks,

Katie

Create Yourself: Will Gray

“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” 

― George Bernard Shaw

Last year, when my friend, Rebecca, recommended I go with her to a screening of Will Gray's documentary, "Broke," I thought little of it.  But Rebecca always has good recommendations when it comes to musical events, so I figured I might as well check it out. (After all, she was the catalyst behind my Enriquez Iglesias experience.) And this documentary was about breaking into the music industry, so I suspected that I'd probably enjoy it.

But "enjoy it" was an understatement. The experience blew me away.

The film screening was held in an intimate setting, a row house in Washington, DC. Upon entering, Will welcomed all of us in what I now know to be his typical warm, affectionate way. I was even a little taken aback by his humility and graciousness, being that he'd made a film, was a phenomenal singer and a gifted song writer.

And let's just say he was quite easy on the eyes.

(Shoot, was that out loud?)

Anyway, what really blew me away was Will's voice.  And I'm not just talking about his speaking voice or singing voice, which was, I have to say, amazing. (He and his fellow performer, Reva Williams, treated us to a few stunning performances following the film screening.) I'm referring instead to what Will had to say.  He had managed to find his Voice with a capital "V," that inner awareness that so few people seem to achieve in their lifetime.  He knew what he wanted: to perform, to create, to tell a story; and he new what he wanted to say: that the music industry was changing in some not-so-beneficial ways and how it that affects the artform of performing and songwriting.

The fact that Will had made his music career- by age 30- something profoundly personal and unique was truly inspirational.  What's more, Will had made his life his own in a world of imitators and skeptics, a world I'd become somewhat familiar with from my time in professional acting. Like a breath of fresh air he was genuine and kind. He hadn't succumbed to all of the phoniness of the music business, from the rejections, from the hardships of trying to express his art despite the throngs of people trying to break into showbiz mainly to be famous.  He hadn't been hardened by the fact that being the right look or sound can easily trump talent.

What I saw that night was someone who had chosen to transcend that often troublesome world by having faith: faith not only in God but in himself and others as well.  He appreciated the collaborative approach to music, writing and filmmaking. He spoke of the miraculous results stemming from working as a team and how he relished that collective creative process.

It became increasingly apparent as the evening progressed that Will was living in a truly multifaceted way, using his whole person. He had tapped not only into his songwriting ability and singing talent but also his entrepreneurial streak, his sharp intellect, his poetic gift for visual, oral and musical storytelling, and his penchant for finding meaning in life and sharing it with others. He demonstrated all of these extensions of himself in his beautiful music, his insightful documentary and the visual way in which he had presented the entire evening.

Listening to the story and songs of a musician who had gone for "broke" (thus the documentary's title) provided a visceral experience for all of us gathered there.  We shared an unexpected creative intimacy in a normally distant, reserved and sometimes unimaginative city. I suppose we Washingtonians just needed a bit of a renegade to shake things up!

So, from a person who has been fortunate enough to experience your talents, here is a belated thank you, Will.  Thank you for touching my life in such a wonderful way. You eloquently embody what it means to "create yourself."

49 1/2 Shades of Passion

Admit it.  You just keep coming back for the pictures.

coolpicturegallery.us

In my last post, I came to the defense of passion, since it seems to have taken a major beating in the media during the past few months.

 Flickr

In this last post I also pointed out that people look at following passion from different vantage points.

Some individuals are drawn to passion when talking about their careers- or potential careers- while others find the word about as useful as standing around watching two monkeys hug one another.

(Note: I suppose some people might have a passion for watching monkeys hug one another, but that's a different blog post all together.)

It is with these dual perspectives in mind that I began looking at the various approaches to passion from our headline grabbing writers, Aspen Institute founder and biographer Walter Isaacson, Linked-In CEO Reid Hoffman and professor/author Cal Newport.  From their writings and public commentary we can see how they have painted the word "passion":

Walter Isaacson: Self-Centered Passion

petmd.com

In a recent article, Mr. Isaacson spoke with the Huffington Post about the Aspen Institute's new focus on encouraging youth to serve America after graduation.  He discusses the importance of doing something larger than yourself, which can be reached by doing some kind of service corps right out of college or high school. It might be a medical corps or teaching corps or the military- anything that serves other individuals.

It is in this context that he relates a conversation with Steve Jobs about following ones passion:

"We talked about the fact that it isn't just about your damn passion-- it's about doing something larger than yourself. It's about serving this world, helping others.  So if you have a whole generation of people [who've been told, 'Oh, just follow your passion,' they're going to forget that there's some purpose in life."

mathrubhumi.com

The philosophy of looking at something greater than yourself is spot on and is a very integral part of the career design method that I use with my clients. However, the above statement presumes that discovering yourself and following your interests and abilities is mutually exclusive of helping others or being practical.

I contend it can be both. Many people view the word and their passion not only as an expression of themselves but also as an expression of what they can offer to others. In fact, most of my clients come to me asking the quintessential question, "How can I best help others using my passions and talents?"

By first asking this powerful question, clients are better able to reach the goal that Isaacson says we need to reach: meeting the needs of others.

Reid Hoffman: Passion Poppycock

passionate about this poppycock
dominic coulter

Hoffman seems to view following one's passion as a lofty, end-gaining, unrealistic career vision that will quickly become obsolete with our ever-fluctuating times. He alternately uses the more objective, dispassionate phrase, "flexibly consistent framework" to describe how we need to pursue careers.

While his point about fluidity certainly makes sense, I believe Hoffman's advice is best taken by first asking yourself, "What interests and abilities (and even passions!) are going to help me build a solid foundation upon which to build my framework?" Far from the vague and lofty question Hoffman rails against, this type of question is razor sharp.

Answering this potent question gives you self-confidence and a solid knowledge base from which you can adapt and thrive in ever-shifting work environments. It allows you to manage setbacks more efficiently and determine how you can best help in your profession. Moreover, you are then able to adjust your career goals as your passions, interests and needs change. 

Cal Newport: Plain Ole Vanilla Passion Doesn't Cut It

coolpicturegallery.us

In the same vein, Mr. Newport seems to suggest that conventional wisdom's version of "passion" equates to a pre-conceived fantasy, lacking authenticity until cultivated for several years.  He instead uses objective terms such as "deliberate practice" and "unifying mission" to tell us how to get to valuable, satisfying work, or "Passion 2.0."

Newport's method definitely has merit; however, it works best when a person first takes the time to ask themselves, "What do I need to deliberately practice, cultivate and care about in order to develop a unifying mission?" Even Newport himself, on his blog, Study Hacks, reveals in his bio that he has a need to "decode" (great verb, by the way!) overly simplistic conventions for success such as "follow your passion." Rather, he says he "dive[s] deeper, looking to decode underlying patterns of success, in all their nuanced glory."

"To nuzzle" is a good verb, don't you think?
coolpicturegallery.us

(That has to be one of my favorite bio's, by the way.)

We all have pre-existing passions, fascinations and/or proclivities, no matter what you want to call them. Everyone has something-a function, let's call it- that they feel a relentless need to do, like "decode" or "guide" or "illustrate." These are functions that energize us and often make us lose track of time. 

Of course, the way in which we express these needs will change over time.  We may lose interest in a subject area or we may find that we evolve out of performing our once-loved function into a more nuanced version.  Likewise, we may move into other roles that have lain dormant for a good while.

However, the essence of who we are, what we're naturally good at and therefore drawn to doesn't change. Good career guidance translates the need to do x or y or z into a sustainable career. It also provides the language and insight to help people articulate what they need to have in a career and why, before they determine how to get there. It gets you in the right field before you embark on the journey.

Which leads me to the conclusion of my series on passion:

Get in Your Game: Passion-filled or Otherwise


No matter how you view "passion", all of these methods work best once you figure out your foundation and what careers are in your playing field.

And when I hear my clients talk about wanting to follow their passion, I'm really hearing them say that they have a yearning that needs to be met, even though they can't quite articulate what that need or urge is yet.  

Tumblr

Through career coaching, individuals eventually discover that this "passion" is actually something they are driven to do because of their natural talents and interests, so that's when they have to ask themselves the razor sharp, function-oriented questions that I detailed above.

The answers are complex and will evolve mostly with the trial and error knowledge that comes with going out and experiencing the world.  But that experience will be most efficient and useful if, once again, you have a solid sense of yourself and your general field of ability and potential expertise.

So honor your passion, if that's what you want to call it, discover your talents, find your playing field, and then...

PLAY BALL!

Passionate Politics and Careers

For the sake of being nonpartisan,
I'll take one of each, please.

Tis the season to be political. And here in our nation's capital, things are heating up faster than you can say, "Don't Shed on Me."

(Did I say that right? I get all those political sayings confused....)

Members of both parties have managed to carpet every last inch of grass with election signs, some of which have practically swallowed yards whole. I recently heard that one area home was crushed under the weight of the owner's 230 pound political sign, but you know how people tend to exaggerate.

An SUV maybe...

In the name of good old fashioned political discourse, Washingtonians have been hurling convictions at one another Left and Right, making absolutely certain not to hear the alternative side of any issue. And unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your attention span, many politically charged individuals dumb these invectives down to simple little sound bytes, "informing" the lowest common level of political discussion.

I'm just waiting for the day when people cease verbal exchange altogether and instead resort to some sort of bumper sticker war.  This would entail individuals assaulting one another with scornful three to four word bumper stickers and signs, each one addressing topics from hot dog reform to tax breaks for the Fat Cats that make them.  Tragic injuries would ensue, to be sure, from paper lacerations to adhesive afflictions.

As for me, I like to keep my political opinions to myself. I even have a zero- confrontation plan which will go something like this:

Random Person: "So who are you voting for in the election?"

Me: "What election?"

RP: "Uh... the presidential one."

Me: "Oh... yes... ummmm... I am going to have to check with my astrologist first. I'll be sure to let you know how my stars align. They've been soooooo out of whack lately."

RP:

Somehow it shuts down the conversation every time.

Although I abhor engaging in political debate, I must express my bafflement over one particular voting behavior becoming more and more prevalent: single issue voting.  Back in my undergrad days, I recall my political science professor harping on the atrocity of that practice. While I don't necessarily share his fervor, I can see how he might have a point.

I wonder how an individual can vote for a candidate or align with a party based on one single issue, one strongly held value when there are a million complexities and layers within each political platform.  What about the plethora of legislative topics to consider other than big divisive hot buttons of the day? Or the ones that make them hottest under the collar? Aren't single issue voters essentially discounting a host of considerations, diminishing the full spectrum of their democratic voting power?

I guess you know where I stand on that one.

The same thing happens when you reduce a complex decision like career design down to a single issue or value: you diminish all of the other components that make your potential career dynamic, sustainable and challenging. Moreover, making a career decision solely based on one strong personal value will most likely get you in trouble- potentially even jobless- down the road.

But before you get all fired up and come at me with a reproachful bumper sticker, hear me out. While strongly held values make up a very healthy, satisfying slice of the ideal career pie, thinking of careers only in terms of what subjects or causes or beliefs you are passionate about gets you only half way there. There are a host of other components to consider before shutting down the career decision-making process; components such as natural ability (can you do the work as well as your counterparts?), work settings and financial constraints. I plan to elaborate on the nuances of those issues in my next post.

Considering several elements in a decision doesn't diminish your inner zeal for something.  In fact, broadening your scope of thought to multiple possibilities makes your commitment even stronger- and wiser. By essentially stepping back and looking at the decision in a more holistic, objective and clear-minded way, you strengthen your confidence in your choice.  Your indignation evolves into an educated, passionate and effective force to be reckoned with.

I'm sure you'd agree that we could all stand to turn down the emotional volume a notch and turn up our objectivity a couple of notches. On my part, I shall refrain from getting wrapped up in all of the LATEST AND GREATEST, ON-THE-EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT ELECTION 2012 NEWS!!! coverage.  At least until tomorrow's presidential debate.

Instead, I shall go eat my cookies in peace.

(Both of them, mind you.)

Diamond in the Rough

I just had the privilege of seeing Shawn Colvin perform at The Birchmere.  I thoroughly enjoyed watching a woman who has honed her craft so remarkably over the years, thriving in the music industry for much longer than most performers.

Fortunately, Ms. Colvin has recently released a memoir that is on my list to read.  According to the reviews I've read, she uses the same enjoyable and self-deprecating humor in her writing that she does in her live performances. The book illuminates her life in music, and recounts the joys of meeting her music heros and heroines. It also depicts her trials with clinical depression, alcoholism, broken relationships, and the shock of motherhood. (This last one- let's just say, I get it.)  However, she says that she's now "happy and healthy," a celebration in and of itself, and, in my mind, her most remarkable achievement of all.

Vocalist/Guitarist/Writer


While I could listen to her sing her Grammy Award-winning song, "Sunny Came Home," countless times- and she gave an exquisite performance of it the other night- I do find another one of her songs, "Diamond in the Rough," particularly enchanting.  The song seems exceptionally poignant when one considers Ms. Colvin's tenacity in spite of the adversity I mentioned above.  In fact, I would venture to say that the she has thrived in the music business for so long not only because of her amazing musical talent, but also because she writes from an incredibly honest, vulnerable place; a place many of us like to personally hide from but are just willing enough to relate to.

I feel especially drawn to the "Diamond" lyrics because they shine a light on how difficult it is to keep alive the essence of who we are.  Born as beautiful jewels, we each have so many gifts to offer.  When we're little we have pride in what we do, we feel at home in our fascinations.  We have a certain respect for our needs and wants, even though we are still learning about our boundaries and the boundaries of others.

So where does this confidence and ease start to unravel?  We all have had unkind people and painful experiences in our lives that have helped to squelch our enthusiasm for living genuinely; in some lives, tragically, the experiences are nothing short of unabashed cruelty.  However, much of it, I believe, is also an unfortunate part of growing up and more aware of the world around us. Over the years, we accrue layers of doubts and fears and personal neglect that serve to bury our uniqueness.

In "Diamond in the Rough," Ms. Colvin explores this phenomenon, all the while reminding us that finding those gems, deep down inside, is a feat we all must try to do. Reclaiming our essence, our self-respect and innate worth requires some relearning, some fighting back, and, most importantly, requires tremendous courage.

As an offering of inspiration, I thought I'd share with you the lyrics and video for "Diamond in the Rough. Enjoy!

As a little girl I came down to the water

With a little stone in my hand

It would shimmer and sing

And we knew everything

As a little girl I came down

But in a little while I got steeped in authority

Heaven only knows what went wrong

And there is nothing so cruel

Than to bury that jewel

It was mine all along

I'm gonna find it

You're shining I can see you

You're smiling that's enough

I'm holding on to you

Like a diamond in the rough

Every now and then I can see

That I'm getting somewhere

Where I have to go is so deep

I was angry back then

And you know I still am

I have lost too much sleep

But I'm gonna find it

 You're shining I can see you

You're smiling that's enough

I'm holding on to you

Like a diamond in the rough

Like a diamond in the rough

 Snakes in the grass got to step on the gas

Snakes in the grass got to step on the gas

 In my dreams I go down by the water

With a little girl in my arms
And we shimmer and sing
And we know everything, everything
In my dreams I go down, I go down

Copied from MetroLyrics.com 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDpHggDfxQs

Why Talent is Rarely Overrated

The "talent is overrated" notion has been touted in best-selling books over the past few years.  And, like any trend, its wave is cresting... and perhaps soon to be crashing?

I shan't make any predictions, however, because I'm the last person on Earth to forecast trends.  I never seem to understand how trends come and go, much less what the masses will go for next.  Whenever I look at an issue of Vogue I'm always convinced that the designers have huge disasters on their hands.

Take Exhibit A:

StyleBistro

I personally find the above "shoes" quite unattractive, not to mention borderline masochistic, but what do I know?  I'm apparently not privy to the appeal of an Alexander McQueen piece d'art ... or the Kardashians, if you'll recall.

But I do know quite a bit about talent, and overlooking this bit of info is the exact opposite of what I'm always harping on.  In my mind, it's quite obvious that talent is largely underrated in our society. Trendy or not, talent first needs to be personally acknowledged and then honed and worked on for the 10,000 hours that true world class performers achieve.  So many people waste their time honing skills that will never amount to much because the natural talent isn't there.  If you're going to put in your 10K, shouldn't you do something you've got a real shot at achieving?

The plethora of high school and college graduates floundering, living at home until they "find themselves," is one big juicy clue.  Couple this with the fact that many of them were once extremely hardworking, ambitious students creates even more suspicion that they've been led in the "hard work comes first" direction. In other words,  these kids worked their butts off to get the best grades, the best SAT scores, and into the best colleges.  But with no inner-led direction and sense of natural abilities, then what?

flickr-Manu_H

Further down the road of young peoples' lives comes even more substantial evidence.  Just look at the large population of adults, 25+, who are unhappily employed, confused and overwhelmed.  Many are the other former academic aces who grabbed the first big jobs offered to them.  However, they discover after a few years that the great career that made their parents proud and friends envious, is nothing close to what they really wanted (whatever that may possibly be.)

Apparently, we need to be able to name our talents, our preferences and our abilities from a younger age than 40+.  (This is the typical age when people seek career help after years of frustration.) From high school onward, why not name these strengths and use them to guide students to success and satisfaction?  Then the hard work, obviously essential to success, can be purposeful, efficient and effective.

Now, granted, these aforementioned 'talent-is-overrated' books make some really good points.   However, in our fast paced age of sound bytes and information overload, everyone judges books solely by their covers, which means whatever points these authors make in all those pesky pages go largely unread and ignored. These catchy titles get reiterated and expanded on, which means articles pop up everywhere, touting the veracity of these very general notions.

In response,  I've decided to give my unsolicited, pretty darn unhip explanation for why titles such as Talent is Overrated and The Talent Code, to name just a few, are so appealing.   Here are the top three mentalities that make these book titles popular:

Mentality Number One 

"I can do anything I want to if I just work hard enough.  Talent is not just for a selected few."


Mentality Number Two

"My dream alone will sustain me to the end."

or, my personal favorite,

"If you can dream it you can do it!"

Where's my hanky?  Sounds like a bumper sticker in the making... or a best selling book title.


Mentality Number Three

"There are so many lazy people out there who fail because they try to get by on their talent alone.  Obviously hard work is more important." 


Okay.  At least the first sentence is true:  there are a slew of lazy people that try to get by on their innate gifts, especially when those gifts have been well revered since their youth. 


But remember, there are some people who actually have no relevant talent or general work ethic and yet still succeed.  I will not name names.

*********************

Unfortunately, this conventional wisdom circa 2011(soon-to-be-2012) is really the last thing we need to be focused on.  The idea that hard work makes talent nearly meaningless is oversimplification at its best.

To their detriment, very few people know the specific language of aptitudes and strengths, and are therefore unable to identify specific talent in themselves (what works, what doesn't and how to sell themselves in an interview.) Nor can they recognize necessary talent in others (as in, hire the person who has the relevant abilities, rather than just a requisite pedigree.)

And while it will mean less turmoil and pointless work in the long run, discovering what makes you tick is more daunting to people because it requires stopping and thinking rather than just plowing ahead and making no headway.  Ever heard the phrase, "don't know where I'm going, but I'm sure making good time!"?  That pretty much sums up this method.

Unfortunately for mass marketing purposes, self- knowledge is much more complex than a simplistic, catchy title. But who knows, maybe economic times will force the issue.  And a recent article in The New York Times gives me hope that someone is trying to dispel the myth that all work and no talent makes Jack a successful boy.

Until then, I've got a Grow-endorsed book title for America.  It's called,

Success: The Intersection of Talent, Hard Work, and Following Your Fascinations.

What's that you say?  It won't sell?

Okay.

Hmmm... How about this pithy little number?

Ability Schmability: Make Big Bucks Doing Whatever You Want

Excuse me now while I call my literary agent.  She'll be all over this one.

 Via Flickr