I am often asked about how I arrived at what I do today with regards to strategy, process and consulting. It’s typically a question for those that I interact with to put the pieces together in their mind on how I arrived. Not that I have arrived, but mastery can look that way to the person who is unfamiliar with the thousands of hours working when it’s not showtime.
I can often recall my inclinations in every phase of my professional and academic life. When I was studying as an engineer, I gravitated to creating order first before diving in. I worked best with systems that helped to sequence and scale work itself.
In my early jobs as an engineer, I would design working environments. I liked interacting with networks, technology and bringing a strategy for information flow and getting things done. It was not in my job requirement. I pursued the frameworks for work enthusiastically. I enjoyed how business systems and the process of business worked.
Over time, I took to the sales and marketing side of things and segued from my engineering roots. None of the work or training was wasted. It was all augmenting me over time and I found my groove where I enjoyed the work and realized the value it created for others.
When I talk to young adults who are launching into their careers, I tell them what an early boss told me, “You likely won’t find your right job until three or four tries.” I think he was right.
We have to get out there and interact with reality to see what fits and what we are willing to push through. Then, we make a decision whether we will just sell out and work for money and security or seek to risk something and go after our innate passion which may or may not be lucrative. It’s our calling and finding that path can be awkward.
How about you? How did you find your path or how are you looking for it?