Career coaching is a great way to keep things interesting and for me to stay engaged as a consultant. As part of that process I’ve been prioritizing my career goals. And it turns out? “Delivering justice” is the most important thing. My coach urged me to define it more deeply and unfortunately, I said, it’s a bit like the Supreme Court’s 1964 definition of pornography, in that I just know it when I see it…
Likewise, I know it when I don’t.
Next comes compensation. This goal requires something of a balancing act with the first. Because very often, particularly in justice-driven settings, many of us are willing to work essentially for free. But that leads to burnout and dissatisfaction. I’ve found that it’s more important to balance the sustainability of one’s charging structure with the importance of the work.
Next, for me, is working style. I’m quite flexible, but I do synthesize information quickly and I like to work in settings where people are empowered to make decisions. It gets tricky for me when those decisions get gummed up. Practical considerations are also important to me. I like the flexibility of remote work and my ideal future state is being able to benefit from the broadband in, say, Berlin, for a bit, while servicing a global client base and exploring what else is possible. Very important for me too are the people I’m working with. I like to work with bright, dynamic, kind, energetic people and to spark off their skills and abilities. Basically, I like to work with people I like. And my tolerance for drama is low.
Less important to me are following a conventional career path (hello, LinkedIn profile!), work/life balance as it’s traditionally understood, and avoiding risk. Maybe it’s the yoga teacher coming out, here, but I’ve realized I tend to thrive in settings where we look at the abundant possibilities in front of us and don’t necessarily dwell too much on the downside risks, once they’re appropriately managed. As my grandfather used to say, “you only get one go in life.” So one might as well live it at its fullest.
Well. That was a therapeutic email for me to write. I’m not sure how useful you will have found it. But hey. We’re getting to know each other! Let me know if you ever fancy a conversation about your career priorities and I’d be delighted to indulge you.
Also: My wife is due to have our baby this weekend. I know I buried the lede, there. But it probably explains all the introspection. Because I’m likely to have a lot less time for it in the near future! Needless to say, as Prince Harry said to Meghan Markle at the altar: “I’m sh*tting it.”
God bless those two, by the way. And likewise: Here’s to our future. I’m very proud and excited.
