Thinking About Career Paths
I'd like to share some of the insights that others have shared with me over the years about choosing paths. My favorite insights have always been guiding questions that help me choose my own adventure.
Mentor #1
- Do you want more fame, fortune, time, or love?
- Do you want to be a thought leader or a people leader?
Mentor #2
- What are you doing that you currently enjoy?
- What do you want to do more of each day?
- What do you want to do less of each day?
Mentor #3
- What problems are you working on?
- Who are you working with?
- What impact are you making?
As more folks ask me about their careers, I've found myself talking about three things
- Your network helps you. It's a small world. Don't burn bridges. The best networkers I know, balance their weaknesses through strengths in others.
- Your career is a portfolio of experiences. What do you want under your belt? A twist on this is, what are the unique experiences you can have, where you are right now? For example, what sort of things can I do at Microsoft that I wouldn't do anywhere else and how do I make the most of it?
- Your approach sustains you. Knowledge is very transient. It's how you learn and how you adapt that carries you forward.