Career paths
From PLN
Career paths
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Shorter notes on aspects of a career over time--not generational issues, but changes and thoughts along the way.
What will you regret?
- by Leslie Dillon from Leader's Digest June 2008
John Izzo’s new book, The Five Secrets You Must Discover before You Die, is based on 250 interviews asking people ages 59-106 from different walks of life to reflect on their lives and careers. Here are some of the themes that emerged:
- People don’t regret their failures as much as failing to take risks. The happiest people pursue their dreams and stretch themselves. We’re “more likely to regret having not tried for a dream than to have failed at it.” While most people fear failure, they should be worrying more about playing it safe.
- Listen to your inner voice! We have inner voices that tell us if we’re sacrificing too much or not being true to ourselves. “If you think your work-life mix is out of whack it probably is.”
- Continued learning and growth are critical to success. People who “never got stuck in a rut” were always eager to learn from others. The “more we keep learning the more success we discover.”
- To thine own self be true. It’s absolutely critical to “follow your own definition of success.” People’s deepest regrets came from not being true to themselves.
- You won’t remember status and power. “The money in your wallet is not the definition of your success but how many lives you touched.”
(Marshall Goldsmith, "What will you regret?," Ask the Coach, Harvard Business Blogs, June 15, 2008.)
Existential necessity of midlife change
- by Leslie Dillon, originally in Leader's Digest February 2008
As life expectancy increases, many people will need to make major changes in middle age, often starting a second career. The middle years can offer “unprecedented opportunity for inner growth,” but first we need to get beyond these two myths:
- Myth 1. Midlife marks the onset of decline. While problems certainly arise in middle age, the fact is that most middle-aged executives “have gained a freedom that only self-knowledge can impart, and they relish unprecedented opportunities for personal growth.”
- Myth 2. Midlife as magical transformation. Midlife transitions “must be rooted in realism.” Contrary to popular self-help books, magical transformations don’t happen. “To make successful transitions, executives must stay open to the possibilities their experience qualifies them for but remain realistic about what they can achieve.”
When people are in danger of losing their job or just simply lose heart, hanging on for dear life isn’t the right strategy. The authors of this article urge readers to “start thinking about alternatives that suit their abilities and personalities when they still have two or three productive decades ahead of them. In this way, they can discover the possibilities that will allow them to work much longer…”
- (Carlo Strenger and Arie Ruttenberg, “The existential necessity of midlife change”, Harvard Business Review, February 2008.)
What shapes careers
- by Walt Crawford, December 20, 2007
What shapes careers: A McKinsey Global Survey reports on the results of a survey asking 891 executives (482 male, 409 female) "about any decisions or events that led to a significant long-term change in their work situation." From the abstract:
- Executives around the world say the events that most profoundly affected their careers originated largely at work, not from family or personal issues.
- Although 40 percent of respondents say they have had difficulty balancing work and home life, they also say this challenge doesn’t drive most career decisions.
- The survey uncovered few differences between the experiences of men and women. However, women are more likely to have had a mentor or role model and to have experienced discrimination.
- Respondents are satisfied with the outcome of career-shaping moments, saying that they led to more interesting and important jobs and to higher compensation.
A few more notes:
- Both men and women say the single most pivotal event occurred when they were around 30, after they had spent about eight years in the workforce.
- Executives averaged five such pivotal moments.
- The most frequent answer to who helped the executive through the event: Spouse or partner. The most frequent outcome: Taking a new position in a new company in a different industry.
Free registration may be required to read the full article at McKinsey Quarterly.
Related articles
- Pernicious myth: Leadership ability--either you have it or you don't - Speaking of myths, here's one that can get in your way if you're changing to a potential leadership position.
- Leadership and succession - Various resources on succession and leadership.
- The age of librarians, On appearances and legitimacy and Generational notes all deal with issues of age and career.
- Looking in the mirror - Library-related notes on self-examination as part of your career.
