Career Poll

Please take a moment- because that's all it will take- to answer the poll on the right.

NOTE:  If you answer "other",  please leave a comment.  Otherwise your idea, no matter how insignificant you may believe it to be, shall remain in your head indefinitely, serving no purpose but to take up space in your brain.  And no one needs any more mental clutter, right?

How We Got to the Moon

Hint:  It wasn't by using approximations.

At least that's what my better half tells me.

Interestingly, this discussion of moon expeditions began when we were on our own little odyssey:  a journey to the post office to get the kids' passports.  Since only certain post offices process passports, we had to go to an unusual location, which was no problemo because I'd been to this post office before, albeit many years earlier, and knew I'd recognize the area.  However, despite my crystal clear ability to recognize formerly-visited locations, I've been married long enough to know that my spouse would want a number to look for, so, to humor him, I looked up the address before we left.

Once in the car, I relayed "8315 Richmond Highway" to Mr. Driver and off we merrily went... at first.  Funny thing was, when we got to that address we couldn't find the post office.  So, at my request, we kept on driving south.  I knew by sight we hadn't reached "The Area" yet.  Of that I was certain.


However, after a few minutes of still finding no post office Mr. Driver got antsy and said, "Are you sure that 8513 is the right number?"

I thought about it a second and said, "Maybe not." 


A long pause ensued while my brain searched its number archives. 

"No that's definitely not the right number,"  I concluded.  "It's actually 8315."

"Katie, that's a totally different number!" he responded, exasperated.

"I'm very aware of that.  I was just giving you an approximation."

"Oh, I see.  An approximation."  He shook his head and added sarcastically, "Yeah, that's how we got to the moon- by approximating!!"


He's witty, that one.

You see, numbers, and specifically, details, and I have never really clicked.  I have a blast researching and discussing complex abstractions such as literary theory, the varied nuances in career studies, and neuropsychological concepts.  And in my creative pursuits such as writing, art, coaching, performance and career design I am downright meticulous!  But ask me to mess around with Quicken and household appliance manuals and I just want to take a nap.  A very long nap at that.  Actually, one in which I wake up and someone else ((i.e. my better half)) has it all done.

This energy drainage has a lot to do with a facility (or lack thereof) with small details versus big concepts.  Now, you can imagine which facility society tends to value most: the small detail orientation.  It's just the way things get done.  For example, imagine if IRS agents only gave rough estimates about what a person owes, or if librarians put books kind-of-sort-of-in the right vicinity.  Or, even worse, what if civil engineers sat around discussing only what a new bridge would mean philosophically instead of figuring out all of the specific measurements and mathematics involved.  I myself would not want to drive over a bridge that was all concept and no detailed research and calculations!

So, does that mean that the abstract-oriented people, or right-brain thinkers, are completely screwed?  I mean, if details make the world go round, where do those without that detail facility fit in?   At the back of the unemployment line? 

Well, that answer depends on the Right-Brainer's tenacity to find work in which details are necessary but don't comprise the majority of daily job tasks.  Psychologists, marketing whizzes, career coaches (phew!), therapists, and certain types of artists and writers exemplify just a few of the hundreds of careers that don't need to be detailed 24/7.  In fact, abstract concepts are the meat and potatoes of these careers. Furthermore, I've discovered pretty good employment news for abstract/ big concept peeps out there.  Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future,  writes convincingly,

"The era of “left brain” dominance, and the Information Age that it engendered, are giving way to a new world in which “right brain” qualities-inventiveness, empathy, meaning-predominate."

In his book, Pink specifically mentions the increasing importance of the new "six senses" necessary for a successful economic future, the first being design.  Not highly detailed, measurement-driven design, but a more right brain, visual, abstract design movement. Design that feels and looks rich in ideas and builds a rapport with its audience. Notice, for example, the way in which advertising using art and the printed word have become more and more concept-oriented, with collage cartoons becoming a staple.  Detailed realism seems to be a bit on the passe side.  He also describes at length the other five senses which will predominate business and society as we know it:  story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning.

Whether you believe his prophecy or not, Pink definitely gives us something to think about.  And thankfully he gives us Right-Brainers a glimmer of hope.  Now, I personally don't know if we'll rule the future (seriously- God forbid!) but I agree with him that society seems to be widening its horizons, recognizing minds that are not necessarily linear nor number-driven nor particularly detail-oriented.

Mr. Pink is not the only one foreseeing a shift in how business will need new types of abilities.  As quoted in a recent issue of Fast Company Magazine, Silicon Valley investor John Doerr, of Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers, stated that the World Wide Web is shifting “from an old Internet of documents and sites to a new one that’s all about people and places and relationships.” The largest, leading edge companies, according to Doerr, see this relationship building endeavor- social media/networking and the like- no longer as "add-on's" but rather a core component of doing business.
In turn, billions of dollars have already been poured into creating these high touch, relationship-oriented corporate endeavors.

Given Doerr's sweeping statement, what does that mean for the next wave of hires that companies will be tracking down? Several questions come to my mind from a career standpoint:

Will those people who are more relationship and concept-oriented than fact and detail-oriented become hot commodities?

Will Monster.com soon be filled with more abstract, right-brain job descriptions?

And on the university front:

Will social science and art departments join ranks with business and engineering as "good choices" in the eyes of parents?  (English majors rejoice!) 

Could it be that corporations and small businesses will end up giving social science grads interviews instead of passing glances? 

Lastly, and most importantly, will the schools of Arts & Letters, sometimes nicknamed "Arts & Parties" at certain universities, now be known as Arts & Income?

Perhaps.  But I know you are thinking the same thing I am:  it's gonna take a looooooong while, if this is indeed the case.

Admittedly, despite the evidence I read on a daily basis, I myself am not convinced that society will no longer prefer detail-oriented individuals (like my significant other, for example.)  But I do know that the times they are a changin' and we will see an openness to talents of all shapes and sizes.  And if a right-brained, big picture person doesn't figure out what he or she has to offer (besides straining to fit into the standard fare of very linear and detail-oriented jobs), these same individuals may miss some very meaty opportunities.  Of that I am sure.

No really, I am certain of this fact, not like the number 8315, or 8513, or whatever it was I was only approximately sure of.

Check out the Fast Company article in its entirety by clicking below:
http://www.fastcompany.com/1696941/doerr-get-social-or-get-left-behind?partner=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+fastcompany%2Fheadlines+%28Fast+Company+Headlines%29


You can find Daniel Pink's A Whole New Mind at most major booksellers or at http://www.amazon.com/Whole-New-Mind-Right-Brainers-Future/dp/1594481717/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289160174&sr=8-1



 

Is Every Day Halloween for You?

Once again, October 31st will bring much merriment to our household.

For starters, I plan on imbibing a shameful amount of candy corn and regretting it immediately.  There will be neighborhood Halloween parties, spider web cupcakes, warm apple cider, spooky jack-o-lanterns (on other peoples' doorsteps, not ours- we don't have the carving skills or the time.) New costumes will make their debut with unprecedented flourishes.  This year my son, donning a precious little monkey costume, shall amble shamelessly around the neighborhood foraging for candy.  And his older sister shall portray the monkey's pet dog, of course.  For didn't you know, every monkey needs a dog?

(That's okay, I didn't either until a couple of weeks ago when we picked out costumes.)  

And thus, in the spirit of Halloween, I thought I'd broach the subject of pretending, not just on Halloween, but all year long.  And who better to begin with than a recovering pretender such as myself?

Fortunately and unfortunately, the art of pretending comes to me quite naturally.  I played the role of a corporate account manager for quite some time before admitting to myself the job wasn't really me.  I believe it was actually an image of what I thought I should be, versus who I really was.  But I played it rather convincingly, as one would portray a character in a play. Behind the scenes, however, nothing about my performance felt satisfying or real.

Later on, as I forayed into theatre, pretending became my profession.  Throughout my theatre career I played a wide array of roles, including (but not limited to):  a nun, a baby clown, a sister, a mother, a French person, an Irish person, a British person, a Southern person, a feral child raised by wild animals, a Greek chorus, a smoker, a queen, a farmer's daughter, a peasant, a crotchety old woman, a self-righteous dowager, Marie Osmond, a maiden, and a scrappy newsboy.  I also played the part of a temp who tried to convince herself that endless entry level admin work was indeed worth it in order to sustain an acting career.

At one point I played the role of a tap dancer.  However, before landing the role, I'll admit that I couldn't dance my way out of a paper bag.  But I practiced like mad to appear like I could tap dance, and I think I ended up pulling it off fairly convincing.  Now, granted, I landed this show in the very beginning of my theatre career, and it took place at a less-than-reputable dinner theatre.  But that's beside the point.  I knew that pretending I could really tap was only as good as the gig I was in and lasted about as long.  Sustainable?  Hardly.  That's because pretending never lasts, no matter what field you are in.

I see a lot of people in the professional world playing the part of someone else, someone who pretends they enjoy their job/life and that it truly suits them.  These employees can often fake the role quite well, especially for the first couple of years.  After that, the fact that the job doesn't use their talents and interests becomes very real and possibly outwardly apparent.  Drama may ensue in the form of employee conflict, resentment on the part of coworkers, getting fired, legal issues, or perhaps internal strife that eventually causes health issues. 

Whether the person plays the role of a corporate exec, a lawyer or accountant, an engineer or banker,  he or she believes, deep down, that the job pays just enough for the cherade to be worth it.  Perhaps pretending to like one's job, at least temporarily, may truly be the only way to survive and pay the bills.  For example, paying off student loans, medical bills, high costs of living or supporting dependents, all provide ample driving force for a while.  But then what?  Once that impetus passes, where does that leave the pretender?  With some serious questions to answer about his or her future.

Which brings me to ask, what roles are you pretending to fill?  Are they genuinely you or are you playing a part rather than living authentically?  If your current role suits only immediate financial needs then it must be thought of as just that:  temporary.  What roles would better suit you as you look to the future?  Most importantly, can your financial "needs" change?  Perhaps you don't "need" as much as you thought you did, now that you know the price of pretending.

Or maybe you are indeed playing yourself, and your roles truly become you.  If so, I salute your authenticity.  Let's leave pretending for the last day of October!

Now I shall go and enjoy my Halloween... and pretend I do not like candy corn.

When I Saw Paul McCartney Standing There

Seriously, I did see him!  Just a few weeks ago, in The Hamptons.  I did a double-take too, thinking, is that really him??!  And by the amused grin he gave me, you bet your Beatle it was.  He apparently still gets a kick out of all of the double-taking, deer-in-the-headlights blokes like myself.  (Now, for those skeptics out there, I found out that he does indeed have a house in the Hamptons, so the sighting was authentic.)  I can see why the ladies have fawned over him for decades, because he really does have an alluring quality about him, even at age 68. 

But did I get his autograph?  Heck no! 

And could I just kick myself for that?  Heck yeah! 

I suppose I felt too intimidated by his musical greatness to dare approach him.  And it was lunchtime and the Indian restaurant next door beckoned to me with its savory wafts of curry and lentils.  And I'll have to live with this decision for the rest of my life, as this is the story I'll be forced to tell my grandchildren someday, that Grammy never got Paul McCartney's autograph because she was too chicken.  And hungry for dosas.  That's just sad.

But I digress.  I actually do have a point in boasting about my McCartney sighting.  I'd like to share with you an article that features Yours Truly.  As you know, I'm a firm believer in partnering with someone else in order to accomplish one's personal career goals.  If you'll remember, I dedicated much of my No Day But Today post genuflecting composer/lyricist Jon Larson's creative collaboration.

So you know I was beside my career-geek-self when I learned that Joshua Wolf Shenk, a writer who seems to be as fascinated with psychology and creativity as I am, has started a series on Slate.com about creative partnering.  And who is featured in Part One? None other than Sir Paul McCartney himself!

And, of course, his sidekick, John Lennon.

You see, I'm pumping up Paul as the star because I actually made eye contact with him.  So don't you Lennon fans get your feathers ruffled.  If I see John I'll give him equal billing... from the nuthouse, where I'll be residing because I saw John Lennon.

Anyway, click on the link below and enjoy!

http://www.slate.com/id/2267342/entry/2267343

Home and Life Makeovers

Designers Guild, my favorite purveyor of wallpapers and fabrics

They say...

You reap what you sow.

You get what you give.

And I say, pay the experts.  You'll save yourself some expensive DIY mistakes.

Take home decorating, for instance.  I used to think that only rich people hired interior designers, so, like most people of the non-rich ilk, I merely played the game of trial and error with home decor.  Buy a couch on sale here, hit a yard sale there... schlep fabric swatches, a dizzying amount of paint chips and tile samples to a big box home store and lug home a few gallons of pretty decent paint.   Two days and wads of used drop cloths later, things were... better.  Not great, but not too too bad.  At least the walls looked more interesting with some color added. 

On occasion, for a visually stimulating treat, I'd frolick fawn-like through home design stores.  And then I'd drool over shelter magazines for ideas.  But then it was back to Ye Olde Faithful Giant DIY Warehouse of Blah for more DIY blah projects.  Saved money on each project, but in the end had a houseful of not-so-cohesive and not-so-exciting rooms.  And most importantly, I kept wanting more solutions, so I'd keep scouring stores and estate sales for more "bargains."

Eventually, during one of my frolicking sessions in a local home design store called Decorium*, I saw a sign.  For a few hundred bucks one could get an in-home design.

Say what?

Hmmm...  The wheels got to turning.  But should I spend the money on just a design, I wondered?  Money that could go to a new armoire or sofa at a FANTASTIC PRICE?

Or, I pondered some more, would that initial investment actually save me money in the long run and prevent me from constantly needing to correct mistakes with new stuff?

I decided that the latter made more sense and... voila!  My home makeover was about to begin!

Having an expert interior designer take my design boards (I had a record number the designer told me with a chuckle) and create a cohesive, visually stunning plan just blew me away.  I felt as if this weight had been lifted off my shoulders, because although I am a very artistic, visual person, I don't have the skills required to put together an entire home design that flows from room to room.  And I certainly don't have the time to piece together resources that a designer has at his or her fingertips.

Now of course, we couldn't afford to do everything he suggested, especially all at once, but I finally had a plan!  A vision!  A direction!

A plan, a vision, and a direction.  Hmmm... sounds kind of like career design doesn't it?

See, an even more profound relief happened when I later decided to bite the bullet and spend a few hundred dollars on a career assessment.  And then another small investment to do a career coaching program which helped me implement my newly-discovered talents and aptitudes.  Talk about another weight being lifted off of my proverbially laden shoulders!

Now, I'll admit, before investing in the aforementioned career program I had the same kind of concerns I had with the home design expert. Should I spend the money on guidance instead of investing money in a new business?  Or another degree?  And the answer came much more easily the second time around.  Just as the design expertise had proved exponentially beneficial, I knew deep down that getting a direction for what to do with my life would pay me back tenfold, and not just in terms of a future salary.  (Which typically pays for itself within one or two months of employment, by the way.) The payoff also meant a tremendous boost in confidence, a much-needed break from worrying about what I was going to do with my life, and an emotionally uplifting vision to create a professional life I could enjoy.

So how is my house now, you might ask?  It looks beautiful, has energy and vitality, and has proven a welcome retreat for me, my family, and friends.  We eventually did do most of the recommendations of the initial design plan, save for a few very creative tweaks implemented to help us stay within budget.  And being the visually sensitive person I am, my home aesthetic improvements have made a big difference in how I feel at home.  A visually pleasing environment really can make a difference in how you feel.

But the improvements to my career life?  Well, I think you know that I've found a fabulous home in career design.


*I highly recommend designer David Chenault at Decorium Gift and Home, located at 116 King Street in Old Town Alexandria or go to http://www.decoriumhome.com

Morning Has Broken

Today's the Day...

... to do something you love to do.

See where it takes you.

Who knows where it will lead you?

"No Day But Today"

Whenever I find myself procrastinating and know I just need a good kick in the pants I turn on some motivational music.  My favorite song is simple and infectious: "No Day But Today" from Rent, a rock musical based on the opera, La Boheme.
 
Since I saw the full throttle musical nearly 10 years ago, I have probably listened to Rent's original cast recording a thousand times over.  This is due, in part, to the fact that I have procrastinated putting more songs on my iTunes list, but also in part because the songs really inspire me.  The "No Day" lyrics have actually become a sort of mantra to me, words I almost subconsciously recant to myself on a daily basis.  The song uplifts me (from sitting on my duff), especially when I'm feeling (justified or not) as if nobody cares about what I have to offer.  Jonathan Larson's beautifully crafted music and lyrics give me the energy and motivation to create something good, something noteworthy, something genuinely me, regardless of the success of that creation.  So I find myself doing, not just thinking about doing.

The other day, while listening yet again to my Rent fix, I decided that I wanted to treat readers to "No Day's" powerful and haunting words.  However, before sharing his lyrics, I thought I'd research the late lyricist/composer Jonathan Larson so that I could provide a bit of background to go along with the words.  And, wouldn't you know it, in doing so I reconfirmed why I love the show and its creator, from both an artistic point of view and from that of a career coach.  Here are just some of my reasons:

"You're Not Alone" (What You Own, Act II)

When my courageous clients design their own line of work they are initially propelled by their amazing vision and talents.   Whether they create a position for themselves in a company or start their own unique enterprise, they become the boss of that vision and have exclusive ownership.  However, most of them find, understandably, that they cannot do everything themselves.  Implementing their vision requires finding other specialists to help round out their expertise.  (For example, the architect who wants to open his own niche-driven design firm but needs to enlist the advice or help of business experts.)  Ideally, the collaborators keep the boss on the right track and help navigate when the boss finds himself in unknown territory.  In the simplest of terms, the team provides the creator with a much needed kick in the pants to keep moving past obstacles.

Likewise, Rent was a fully-embraced collaborative effort.  For over seven years, Mr. Larson worked with and was supported by a creative team of individuals who brought various assets to the table.  (And this doesn't even include the designers- set, costumes, lighting, etc., who later came together to bring Rent to life.)  I'm referring just to the development stage:  masterminds who set about getting the show's structure, tone, and flow just right during numerous readings and workshops.  (Jonathan referred to the structural edits as "programming changes.") The collaborators included producers, directors, and a dramaturg who, with their different personalities, abilities and points of view, brought a broad creative spectrum to Rent's development.  Ironically, the multi-perspective effort enabled Jonathan to pare down the show to its absolute essentials. 

Of course, Rent was Larson's own voice and composition, but with assistance from insightful colleagues, the young songwriter funneled every word and note into a powerfully fueled work of art.  Due to the collaborative effort, the show injects just the right amount of humor but never gets too cheery or preachy, too cold or dark, despite the subject matter of AIDS, poverty and homelessness.  Jonathan and director Michael Grief labored over this balance in tone, each bringing his own point of view.  Says Anthony Rapp, the actor who originated the lead role of Mark, "What Jon gave Michael was some of his hope and heart and generosity of spirit. And what I think Michael gave Jon was some edge and realism and complexity, and making sure things didn't all resolve nicely and prettily. It was a good marriage."

By bringing in a variety of sensibilities, Mr. Larson's individual expression of song and story exploded into a universally appealing show.  Not only did Larson win top awards (including the revered Pulitzer Prize,) Rent became the 8th longest running show on Broadway and has been produced prolifically around the globe.  In other words, the musical speaks (or rather, sings) to millions.

"Emotion, Devotion... Causing a Commotion" (La Vie Boheme, Act I)

Using the team approach, any project, business, or work of art becomes rich and full of nuances.  But it's not without some discomfort.  Although the creator needs to feel an emotional connection to their work, even the most talented must be able to accept their own limited viewpoint.  It is impossible to not have differences in opinion when it comes to implementing your vision.  The discomfort, of course,  lies in the ambiguous nature of collaboration.  For example, what happens when the creator's opinion differs heavily from the partners' opinions?  When does the team effort become critical, and when does does the ball need to go back into the court of the individual? 

Larson struggled heavily with this conundrum at one point.  He found himself at a personal breaking point after seven years of endless editing and rewriting spurred on by his colleagues, and he was desperate for reassurance.  So he called on his mentor, composer Stephen Sondheim, and pleaded with him for helpful, objective advice.  Sondheim promptly reminded him that because theater is collaborative, part of Jon's job was "to take into account what his collaborators felt."(http://www.siteforrent.com/abouttheshow/the-history-of-rent.html)  So Jon listened to his colleagues and moved onward with the project.

"Take me for what I am" (Take Me or Leave Me, Act II)

Rent, like all of Larson's work, is genuine, personal and honest.  He wrote from experience and created music and lyrics because he needed to.  In fact, tic tic BOOM, an earlier work that was produced only posthumously, tells the story of Jon's personal struggles:  living with rejection, both professionally and personally; living with no heat in a cramped NYC apartment; grappling with the idea of leaving show business for more lucrative, stable work; juggling his survival job of waiting tables with his creative efforts.  In essence, Mr. Larson's need to write music overrode his desire to live traditionally, without hardship.

The more our creations, including our career paths, reflect us, the more we will succeed in garnering interest in our work.  Make it your own, as the saying goes, and others will be drawn to your bare naked authenticity.  In a world full of redundancy and imitation, share yourself with the world.  Take the risk of putting yourself out there.  While the initial reception may not be immediately to your liking, wait it out and trust your instincts.  Others will eventually seek your fresh perspective.

And if you think that waiting until the time is just right to put yourself out there, think about this: Jonathan Larson, 35 years young, unexpectedly passed away from a aortic aneurysm the night of the final dress rehearsal.  In his own powerful words, there is "no day but today." 

 “No Day But Today” from Rent (1996)

By lyricist and composer, 

Jonathan Larson, 1960-1996

The heart may freeze or it can burn

The pain will ease if I can learn

There is no future

There is no past

Thank God this moment's not the last

There's only us

There's only this

Forget regret-- or life is yours to miss.

No other road

No other way

No day but today

There's only yes

Only tonight

We must let go

To know what is alright

No other course

No other way

No day but today

I can't control

My destiny

I trust my soul

My only hope

is just to be

There's only now

There's only here

Give in to love

Or live in fear

No other path

No other way

No day but today