A Career You Can Feel At Home In

Have you ever thought that you wear too many hats in your career? Are your days at work so filled with commitments, meetings, and to-do lists that time goes by in a blur? Do you feel at home in your career? This week's podcast is from our recent Canadian Career Development Webinar with Sarah Susanka, author of The Not So Big series.

Sarah was a very successful architect with many interesting projects and great demand for her services when she realized that she was not enjoying her work to the same extent that she previously had. She felt as if she was being consumed by her work. You may have reached out to a professional architect like Sarah as your home was not working the way it previously had. Sometimes this is a result of changing needs, or you may have chosen the home for the wrong reasons. Sarah works with her clients to uncover what is working, and what is not working in their home. Out of these discussions, a design and blueprint is created that suits their current needs. Sarah ended up on a similar journey with her own career, asking the same questions about what was working and not working. From the discovery of these answers she created a new blueprint for her career and her life. Sarah shared some key things to think about when designing a career that fits you.

1. Identify what is working & what is not working in your current situation. This is a very simple way to evaluate your career. Creating a list is an effective way to isolate the key career elements that you value.
2. Hire a career architect (coach). We recognize the value of an “expert” when it comes to evaluating and designing our home. An architect can add their unbiased perspective and tools to come up with more creative ideas and solutions. Most wouldn’t consider themselves experts when it comes to designing and building a house yet, many professionals consider themselves career experts. A career coach can increase the likelihood of a great outcome.
3. As you evaluate career options you can determine whether this requires a slight shift in role or sector (a career renovation) which is needed in about 70% of cases. Or whether this requires a new path: changing roles and sectors (a career rebuild) which is necessary in 30% of the cases. This rebuild might involve going back to school as well. There is no right or wrong answer, just determine what the risks and rewards are.
4. You need a Career blueprint and a builder. All great homes start with a blueprint and have a builder who knows how to interpret this blueprint. What is your career blueprint? It doesn’t have to be a 13 page document. A blueprint provides a framework to build your career upon. Don’t leave home without it (pun intended!)

Sarah and I have the same philosophy, we are both focused on finding solutions that result in a better quality of life. Designing a home and designing a career have much in common. They start with understanding who you are and where you are. As Sarah says "one of the primary roles of an Architect is to improve the quality of what you already have."

Sarah shared "this isn't about the neighbors, it is about receiving yourself in a home that suits you." Ironically, Sarah and I are in a very similar business, she helps to design houses that you feel at home in, I help to design careers that you feel at home in.

This week's 60 Second WORKout: What is working and what is currently not working in your career?

This week's Career Poll : Are you in the right career?

Last week's Career Poll results: Would you take a reduced role for better overall quality of life?

FREE Webina r Get the Right Career Right Now! Invest 1 hour of your time to help manage risk in your career? This complimentary 1-hour workshop is based on my book, Get the Right Job Right Now! It's easy to learn simple ways to take control of your career, all from the comfort & convenience of your own desk. Limited to 20 participants. Click and register.

Who's your career coach? Feeling stuck? Need help with a professional resume, job search and interview preparation? Invest in yourself; get the edge in this competitive job market. Take a small step and book an initial consultation with me.

Designing, along the road with you!

Alan

PS. Looking for the right size career. The Career Identity Program is designed to help you create a blueprint for the "right" career.

PPS. Join me Friday, April 30th for our next Career Development Series webinar. I'll be speaking with Sean Aiken who developed The One Week Job Project while in search of his best career fit.