Career Advice: Action Versus Identity

“If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it's not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That's why it's your path.”― Joseph Campbell

From an early age, many of us are asked, what do you want to do when you grow up? In high school, we typically choose colleges to attend and areas of study based on the careers we anticipate pursuing. In college, we choose majors to help us gear up for the careers we suppose are right for us. Our last two years of college, we’re advised to secure internships relevant to our intended careers, and then,  in the months leading up to graduation, the pressure is on to interview and secure a role in our desired careers.

Is this the best way to plan for our futures? Before you’ve experienced a multitude of careers out there – not to mention the array of careers that do not yet exist due to evolving technologies – can you design a career path that’s right for you? Sure, you can read about careers and speak to professionals along the way to gather their impressions – even spend a month or two here or there interning – but until you’ve experienced a career day in and day out for at least 6-12 months, it’s hard to know if something is right for you.  

On that end, perhaps it’s time to reconsider our thinking about career paths. For new professionals starting out, as well as veterans, it may help to think of your career as action – what do you want to do now? – with the instructions to go for it without worrying too much about the long-term career path it provides. Thinking of a career route as one’s identity – I want to be a doctor, or lawyer, or manufacturing professional – may be obsolete at this here and now. Perhaps a better way to think about your career is to acknowledge that what you do today should align with your current interests and skills, while tapping into your sense of purpose, with the expectation that your career may shift down the road to accommodate an evolving you in an evolving society. The days of pursuing a career that spans the next 30+ years doesn’t take into consideration a professional’s shifting interests or a rapidly evolving career landscape. When we lock ourselves so firmly into a career as our identity, we sometimes lose sight of our purpose – and that fact that it may shift over time – and in turn, we move in a direction that may be counter to our true calling and capabilities.

Sure, it may be scary for some to move out of the career as identity mindset and move into a career as action mindset. If you’re driven and a planner by nature, you likely perceive plans as critical to your future success. Beyond that, it’s understandable that professionals starting out don’t want to be perceived as “all over the place” if they move from a career in marketing to a career in technology or shift from a career in private industry to the nonprofit sector. Contrary to those beliefs, shifting careers does not mean that you are all over the place or confused. It means that you are not risk averse and that you are listening to your inner voice, which is guiding you towards your various interests and values, and that you are open to trying new things.

In her 2015 TED Talk, Emilie Wapnick discusses "multipotentialites,” who she defines as people who have multiple interests and talents and are likely to pursue multiple careers. In his book, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, author David Epstein explores the world’s most successful artists, athletes, inventors, amongst others, and discovers that generalists, who often find their path later in life, juggle many interests versus focusing on just one. He goes on to assert that generalists tend to be more creative, agile, and are able to make connections that specialized professionals may not see. If you’re concerned about shifting career interests and worry that you cannot possibly tackle all your interests, Wapnick’s TED Talk and Epstein’s book are great tools to help you reframe your view of what’s possible.

Once you do embark on a career that’s right for you, how do you stay attuned to knowing if your career is still satisfying or if it may be time to take action and break out of a career as identity rut? Career check ins with ourselves – or trusted allies – at least two times a year are a great start. Mark your calendar for a biannual career check in. Use the time to examine if your career still aligns with your values and purpose. Ask if you are growing. Be sure to differentiate between going through a rough patch, or burnout, and lack of alignment. Sometimes we need to recharge ourselves, but it doesn’t mean we have lost our passion or purpose for what we’re doing. Ask yourself if your job is still challenging and rewarding. Ask if there’s still more to learn in your current role with your current employer, or if it may be time to make a move to another role/employer to learn more. If your questioning leads you to stay put, great; you can revisit your decision in six months. If your questioning propels you to consider a move, be sure to do so thoughtfully  and with an open mind, and aim to avoid rushing, which tends to be the counter to reflection and making good decisions. If you decide to pursue a career move, also be sure to journal your reasons, so that you can articulate your why, which will come in handy during interviews.

When you move from one career to another – or from one role or company  to another – you don’t lose the skills and the experiences that you’ve acquired along the way. On the contrary, you get to apply them to new situations, people, and organizational goals, and hopefully enhance your skills and experiences as you move forward. Shifting from career as identity and into a career as action mindset enables you to tap into your various and evolving skills, interests, and values – and to stay relevant, motivated, and purposeful.