Description

Introduction

Over the course of our lives, we’ll dedicate an average of 90,000 hours to our careers. While this may seem like ample time to achieve professional success and mastery, the modern career landscape has become increasingly complex and non-linear. Gone are the days of linear career progression, where loyalty to a single organization was rewarded with a gold watch and pension. Today, we must navigate a rapidly evolving job market, where agility and adaptability are essential.

These summaries will guide you in unlocking the potential of a squiggly career, embracing its twists and turns to achieve success. You’ll learn how to:

– Align your work with your core values

– Overcome the true barriers to confidence

– Understand the relationship between money and happiness

By embracing the squiggly nature of modern careers, you’ll be empowered to make the most of your 90,000 hours and thrive in the new job market.

 

One: Compared to previous generations, we have more freedom to decide how our careers play out.

Traditional career progression, once dictated by corporate hierarchies and promotions, is becoming obsolete. Today, individuals have the autonomy to shape their careers, deciding where, when, with whom, and why they work. Job-hopping, once a liability, is now viewed as a positive trait, indicating adaptability, open-mindedness, and a willingness to pursue excellence.

The modern workforce is constantly evolving, with automation transforming industries and professions. A McKinsey & Company study predicts that up to 375 million people may need to change careers in the next decade. To remain relevant, it’s essential to focus on project-based skills and continuous learning, rather than relying on specialized expertise.

Embracing lifelong learning and adaptability will ensure future opportunities. With the rise of flexible work arrangements, employees and employers can benefit from increased productivity (up to 72% according to a YouGov study) and improved work-life balance. However, remote work also presents challenges, such as loneliness and blurred boundaries between work and personal life.

To navigate this new landscape, start by identifying small, practical changes that can help you create a fulfilling, squiggly career. By taking control of your career path and embracing flexibility, you can thrive in this era of constant change.

Two: Identify your strengths, and focus your energy on developing what you’re already good at.

The concept of focusing on one’s strengths rather than trying to be a jack-of-all-trades is a crucial aspect of personal and professional development. In today’s complex work environment, it’s easy to get caught up in trying to master multiple skills and tasks, but this approach can lead to mediocrity and burnout.

By concentrating on our strengths, we can:

1. Increase productivity and efficiency
2. Enhance job satisfaction and engagement
3. Develop a sense of expertise and confidence
4. Differentiate ourselves from others
5. Make meaningful contributions to our organizations

Natural talents, learned skills, experience, attitude, and behavior all combine to form our strengths. Recognizing and leveraging these strengths can lead to exceptional performance and success.

The 80/20 rule suggests allocating 80% of our time to enhancing our strengths and 20% to addressing weaknesses. This approach allows us to:

1. Build on our existing abilities
2. Develop new skills that complement our strengths
3. Minimize the impact of our weaknesses

Identifying our “super strengths” – those qualities that others associate with us when we’re not present – is also essential. These are areas where we excel and should be utilized frequently and visibly. By doing so, we can:

1. Establish a strong personal brand
2. Build recognition and reputation
3. Increase our value to our organizations
4. Create opportunities for growth and advancement

If our current role doesn’t leverage our super strengths, it may be time to explore new opportunities that showcase our exceptional abilities. By focusing on our strengths and super strengths, we can unlock our full potential and achieve greater success and fulfillment in our personal and professional lives.

Three: Recognize and integrate your values into your daily work.

Imagine landing your dream job, complete with a hefty salary, luxurious company car, and complimentary lunches. Yet, despite the enticing perks, you can’t shake off the feeling that something is missing. The work itself lacks meaning and purpose, leaving you unfulfilled. Can a few enticing benefits truly compensate for 90,000 hours of unfulfilling labor?

According to the authors, by our mid-twenties, we develop three to five core values that shape our behavior, motivations, and sense of happiness. These values are cultivated through three distinct phases:

1. The Imprint Phase (birth to age 7): We absorb values from our parents and surroundings, forming our initial understanding of right and wrong.
2. The Copy-Cat Phase (ages 8-13): We emulate role models, such as teachers, peers, and siblings, experimenting with different behaviors.
3. The Rebel Phase (teenage years): We refine our values, influenced by friends, media, and social circles, and reconcile any conflicts between old and new beliefs.

Our values are a double-edged sword, capable of both empowering and hindering us. Recognizing and understanding our values enables us to:

– Articulate our feelings and motivations

– Connect with others on a deeper level

– Work collaboratively and productively

– Live a more authentic, purpose-driven life

By embracing and living our values, we not only gain a deeper understanding of ourselves but also positively impact those around us.

Four: Confidence can be learned, and improved, through practice.

We’ve all experienced self-doubt at some point, but the good news is that common fears like stage fright and self-consciousness don’t have to hold us back. With the right training, we can minimize our insecurities and their impact on our daily performance.

Confidence isn’t solely innate; it can be developed by understanding and managing our unique “confidence gremlins.” These gremlins may hold us back in specific situations, but by challenging and reframing them, we can overcome their limiting effects.

To start, identify your gremlins and the situations that trigger them. Then, challenge their underlying reasons and develop practical strategies to overcome them. Reward yourself for each small victory, and reflect on areas for improvement.

Confidence also comes from our support network. Visualize your “support solar system” by identifying people who provide different types of confidence-boosting support. Those who understand your challenges, those who motivate you, and those who offer valuable advice all play important roles.

Additionally, practice confidence-boosting techniques like finishing sentences and avoiding indecisive language, active listening and thoughtful responses, and powerful body language and open posture. Regular practice and feedback from others can also help.

By nurturing our confidence and support network, we can navigate the twists and turns of a squiggly career with greater ease and self-assurance.

 

Five: Networking is an exchange of help, and offering to support others can lead to valuable relationships.

As you scroll through your LinkedIn connections at 11:23 p.m. on day twelve of your job search, you’re reminded that networks require maintenance to thrive. The quality of your connections is paramount, not the quantity. Research by Robin Dunbar suggests that we have limited capacity for different types of friendships: 150 casual friends, 50 close friends, 15 confidantes, and just 5 best friends.

To cultivate a valuable network, focus on what you want to learn and surround yourself with diverse perspectives. You don’t need to be an extrovert to build meaningful relationships. Instead of speed networking, identify specific needs or issues and reach out to connections who can help.

Be specific in your requests, such as asking someone about their career path or seeking advice on skills and experience required for a particular role. Ensure your network is diverse, as research by McKinsey & Company shows that organizations with top-quartile gender and ethnic diversity have a significantly higher chance of achieving above-average profitability.

Reflect on your role in the network: are you a consumer benefiting from existing value, a contributor with skills and ideas, or a connector bridging gaps between people? Understanding your purpose will help you navigate your network with intention and clarity.

Six: Focus on exploring future possibilities rather than on following linear plans.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s likely that we’ll change careers multiple times throughout our working lives. The traditional “education-work-retirement” trajectory is becoming obsolete. To navigate this uncertainty, we must embrace creativity and take ownership of our future.

Envisioning possible career paths requires imagination. Consider four types of possibilities:

– Obvious possibility: The next logical step in your current career trajectory.

– Pivot possibility: A new role leveraging your skills and strengths in a fresh context.

– Ambitious possibility: A long-held aspiration requiring overcoming obstacles like education or experience.

– Dream possibility: Your ideal work, unencumbered by limitations.

Remember, your reasons for working (your “whys”) are just as important as your job itself. Your whys are deeply connected to your values and desired impact. For instance, Google’s “what” might be creating an exceptional search engine, but their “why” is making data more accessible and organized.

In the midst of uncertainty, defining what matters most to you – and why – will serve as your career compass, guiding you through the twists and turns of a squiggly career.

Seven: Curiosity, feedback, and grit are increasingly sought-after workplace skills.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s essential to stay adaptable and curious to remain relevant in our careers. With each new role, we encounter new skills and work styles, making it crucial to be prepared for the next opportunity.

To avoid tunnel vision, maintain curiosity by:

– Exploring new interests through magazines, podcasts, or conversations with strangers

– Embracing a growth mindset, open to learning and growth

Additionally, refine your feedback techniques, both giving and receiving, to foster constructive growth. Use the “what went well/even better if” approach to provide balanced feedback.

Remember, natural talent is not the sole determinant of success. Grit, or the effort you put in, is a better indicator. Cultivate grit by:

– Identifying your passions and exploring them

– Practicing deliberate daily skill-building

– Connecting your goals to a greater purpose

– Embracing a growth mindset, fueled by grit

By nurturing curiosity, refining feedback skills, and cultivating grit, you’ll be well-prepared for a smooth career transition when the time comes.

Eight: Objectively examining your job options will help steer you toward the best path.

The age-old question persists: is the grass truly greener on the other side? In a squiggly career, this inquiry will arise repeatedly, and the answer won’t always be straightforward. If you’re thriving in your current role, learning consistently, and utilizing your strengths, think twice before leaving.

When considering a new position, ask yourself:

– Does it align with your values and super strengths?

– Or is the allure solely financial?

Research by Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton shows that salaries above $75,000 don’t significantly impact well-being. If your organization neglects employee development, it may be time to explore alternatives. A study by IBM reveals that employees are 12 times more likely to quit if they’re not growing professionally.

Fortunately, you have options:

– Pursue grants or awards for independent learning

– Design your own course of study

– Become a learning advocate, driving change from within your organization

– Engage in side projects, exploring passions or solving market gaps

Remember, testing your ideas before investing is crucial, as 42% of startups fail due to insufficient demand. When feeling stuck, identify the root cause, explore options, and create a plan to propel your squiggly career forward.

Conclusion

As squiggly careers become the new norm, they present us with unprecedented opportunities to take the reins of our professional lives. By cultivating self-awareness and strategic skills, we can:

– Identify and leverage our strengths

– Foster meaningful networks that drive mutual growth

– Develop confidence and resilience

– Align our work with our core values

– Master the art of giving and receiving constructive feedback

Embracing these practices will transform the uncertainty of a non-linear career path into a liberating journey of discovery and growth. As we navigate the twists and turns, we’ll unlock a more purposeful, exciting, and fulfilling future – one that reflects our unique aspirations and talents.

Actionable advice

Celebrate your weekly wins by documenting your successes. For one to two weeks, take a moment each day to jot down your accomplishments. Alternatively, reflect on your daily progress by categorizing your experiences into “steps forward” and “steps back.” Recognize successes as steps forward, and acknowledge setbacks as steps back.

After a couple of weeks, review your list to assess your progress. If you’ve taken more steps forward than back, congratulations! If not, use this opportunity to learn from your setbacks. Analyze the steps back to identify areas for improvement and adjust your approach accordingly. This reflective practice will help you grow, learn, and move forward with intention.

About the author

Helen Tupper is the visionary cofounder and CEO of Amazing If, a pioneering career development company recognized for its innovative approach. With a distinguished background in leadership roles at Microsoft, Virgin, and BP, Tupper brings a wealth of expertise to her debut book, The Squiggly Career.

Sarah Ellis, cofounder and Chief Learning Officer of Amazing If, draws upon her extensive experience in managing high-performing teams in marketing and corporate responsibility at esteemed organizations such as Barclay’s and Sainsbury’s. The Squiggly Career marks her first foray into authorship, offering valuable insights and practical guidance for navigating the complexities of modern careers.

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