career development — ENGAGE with David Zinger

Career Zingers #32: Whim

September 20, 2018 by David Zinger Leave a Comment

I was listening to an interview of Jack Docherty with Stuart Goldsmith on The Comedian’s Comedian podcast. Near the end of the podcast Stuart asked Jack what his career plans were for the next 5 to 10 years. Jack responded, “I have no plan.” He said he operates more on a whim and was somewhat apologetic for this and openly wondered if this was the right way to go.

Whim can be defined as a sudden wish or idea, often one that cannot be easily explained. This seems to go against the grain of life and career planning — knowing your short and long term goals.

There are many paths to career development. I am not opposed to meticulous career planning with long term goals but I am opposed to people who tell you that there is the only one true path.

Jack, myself, and countless others navigate our careers on whims. We may improvise a life and possibly take the proverbial road less travelled but as Robert Frost so eloquently stated at the end of his poem The Road not Taken, “that has made all the difference.”

Career Zingers #30: Your Career is Never a Solo Endeavour

July 9, 2018 by David Zinger Leave a Comment

Picturing Your Career – The Double Ensō and The Venn Diagram

I don’t believe that life is linear. I think of it as circles – concentric circles that connect. ~ Michelle Williams

While working at my desk today my ice water glass created a double ensō as it rested upon a piece of paper beside my computer. Ensō means circular form and may symbolize elegance and strength as well as the void. Rather than career as a linear progression or feeling we are “going around in hopeless circles at work” we can embrace the circular nature of our career.

If you have a mathematical mind you might see the same image as a Venn diagram, named after John Venn, with two overlapping circles indicating where items share something in common.

To be successful, view your career as circles of relationship. How well do you overlap what you love to do with what you need to do? How successful are you in joining your work contribution with what your organization or client needs? How united are you with others at work? And what other circles do you need to join to be successful at work?

When two circles merge into one we experience perfect engagement. This may be a fleeting career ideal but it can draw us forward to a greater feeling of belonging at work.

Career Zingers #27: Jumping Ship

May 4, 2018 by David Zinger Leave a Comment

Do you feel lost at sea in your current work?

During our careers, many of us begin looking for a new job even while we feel stuck in our old job. The old one might not pay enough, have a bad boss, not offer enough challenge or meaning, not be a good fit, or not be right for a variety of reasons. Yet, I believe the way out of something is often through it. Don’t quit on the old job before you leave it. Some of the best work you can do for your career is to work well wherever you are even if you are exploring other opportunities. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule but exercise caution in jumping ship without ensuring your last job is in shipshape.

Your past work performance is often a good predictor of your future work contribution.

Career Zingers #26: What’s Your Currency?

April 25, 2018 by David Zinger Leave a Comment

Money often costs too much. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

What’s your currency at work? Currency is a medium of exchange. We narrowly think of currency as being money. I am not saying money is unimportant, just that it is not as important as we think. Countless studies have demonstrated that on the list of important motivators and contributors to employee engagement money is lower on the list.

Pause right now, consider what do you truly exchange your time, effort, and self for at work?

Over the years, I have learned my personal currencies for work are:

curiosity,
connection,
creativity,
playfulness,
stories,
learning,
expression, and
contribution.

When work offers me these currencies I am engaged and motivated. I have said numerous times, “I can’t believe I get paid to do this work.” I forget I am getting paid in the currencies listed above. When you exchange your work for the right currencies, work will make you well.

Career Zingers # 24: Beauty Is Not About How We Look, It Is About How We See

April 19, 2018 by David Zinger Leave a Comment

To find beauty, see with fresh eyes

Susan, my wife, received some lovely roses. After a number of days I was ready to throw them out as they were withering. Susan stopped me, she cut the stems and put the roses in a new vase. The next morning while I was eating yogurt and granola for breakfast, I found myself staring at the roses. They were not new, they were not fresh, but they were beautiful. After reading this post, I encourage you to find beauty in yourself or in others even as you and others age and wither. Beauty is not about how we look, it is about how we see.