Here is my “Career Plan”
Finally I have found an article that explains my vision for a career plan – and what do you know, it comes from the words of President Schlesinger of Babson College. Do you get asked what you see for yourself in 5 years? When you don’t name a specific job, company, or industry, do you get this uneasy, blank stare back from your inquirer? If you are like me, then you know what I am talking about.
Here is the article: Career Plans Are Dangerous – Leonard A. Schlesinger, Charles F. Kiefer, and Paul B. Brown – Harvard Business Review.
Allow me to highlight what I find important:
“Instead of formulating the logically perfect ending job and the optimal path to get there, begin with a direction, based on a real desire, and complement that with a strategy to discover and create opportunities consistent with that desire.”
“So, the process looks like this:
- Determine your desire
- Take a step toward it
- Incorporate what you learn from taking that step
- Take another step
- Learn from that one
- Repeat until you have a job, your own business, or have achieved your goal
The Monk and the Riddle
“Business [... ] is about nothing if not people. First, the people you serve, your market. Then the team you build, your employees. Finally, your many business partners and associates. Sever the chain of values between leadership and the people translating strategy into products and services for your customers, and you will destroy your foundation for long-term success. The culture you create and principles you express are the only connection you will have with each other and your many constituencies” (128).
I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Randy Komisar, a man who has the nickname “A Virtual CEO” who has seen business from the view of the Entrepreneur, CEO, VC, and Angel Investor. A book that explains the difference between passion and drive, how business is certainly about many but first and foremost about people, and how to do what you would be happy doing forever right now instead of after you “work”. A must-read for anyone interested in figuring out their career, business oriented or not.