"Every decision you make - EVERY decision - is not about WHAT to do. It's a decision about WHO you are." - Donald Neale Walsch
This quotation is particularly relevant when we think about a career path because usually the key question in our mind is, "What do I want to do with my life?" Or, "What do I want to be when I grow up?"
Either way, the question begins with 'what' and it really should begin with 'Who'.
When looking for that next place of contribution, we should take stock of who we are, who we have become and who we want yet to be. Then the 'what' becomes easier to identify.
There are three main areas we should look at to help us assess who we are. They are: Values, Purpose and Vision.
Values are what give rise to choices and behaviors. For example, I once counseled a man who chose to work as a lobbyist for a major tobacco company. When he was let go he found it extremely difficult to find another position.
People perceived that his values were not in sync with theirs or their company's values. He later admitted he had ignored his own values in choosing that particular career - not as a lobbyist, but as a lobbyist in an industry that promoted unhealthy products.
If we go against our values, we feel uncomfortable and uneasy. So it's important to identify our core values before we look at career paths.
What are your core values? You should have 6 or 7 that are definitely descriptive of who you are.
You can easily uncover them by writing down all the values you think you have; include those of people you admire. Next, rank order them from 1 to 7.
Then, from that list, or perhaps apart from it, identify a value that is so core to who you are, it could be considered your foundational value. It is so identified as part of you; you could never NOT express that value.
Now you have a list of 7 or 8 values that describe you. Next, identify your life purpose.
What is it you think you are here to be and do? Are you here to express a vision? Are you here to extend scientific knowledge, to express music creatively, to inspire others?
What is it for you? It's important you identify this purpose because it is the rock on which the 'who' of you is built. And before you choose a career path, you must take into account your life purpose.
Then, you should identify a vision for your life. If all the stars were aligned and you could have whatever you wanted in terms living out your vision for your life, what would it look like? Who would you be with?
What would you be doing? What sort of contribution would you be making? To whom?
There are other elements you should look at as well, but these three are key to choosing a meaningful career.
Knowing your values, your vision and your purpose gives you a look at the 'who' of who you are. Using that information, you can then look at interests, skills and abilities which give you additional information.
If you are considering the question of a change of career direction, be sure to examine first who you are. It will make discovering what you want to do easier.
Author Resource:-
Anita Web Weaver is the owner of Design to Shine Consulting, offering coaching, mentoring and speaking services to help people shine, no matter what, in their career, their life and their health.
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