Gaining Career Clarity #1

A number of years ago, I had a major professional epiphany.

I realized that I was a consultant. Not primarily a salesperson (though I had done a lot of sales). Not only a marketer (though I was a good one). Not simply a writer or speaker (though I continue to do both).

My core superpower - my identity - was being a consultant. I take up a lot of information, analyze it, sort it, and figure stuff out - then put it into words. Over time, that evolved into a particular focus - clear communications (clarity).

Coming to a realization of that core identity, wrapped up a single keyword, set the course of my career as a solopreneur. It's just what I do, irrespective of any given job role or title or functional responsibility. It's who I am at work, outside of work, and in my own head.

And so, we'll begin this series of posts on Gaining Career Clarity with this one foundational thought: the most valuable thing you can gain for your career development is a brief statement of your identity.

Not your latest job title. Not even a functional role that you happen to be pretty good at. What we're after here is DNA-level stuff. What you were made to do.

How do you arrive at this clear-eyed view of your core identity? Here's the question you need to answer: what is it that I uniquely do well that others keep telling me I'm great at?

What is it that I uniquely do well that others keep telling me I'm great at?

And the key is others. We tend to overlook and undervalue our superpower because...well, that's a subject for psychology class. Because we often can't read the label of the jar we're in, we need the perspective of others who can be objective.

Some people have an amazing capacity to make others feel valued and encouraged. Others (definitely not me!) look into piles of numbers and see answers. Still others take raw materials and, with their hands and their brains, commit acts of beautiful craftsmanship. And some people could organize a 93-year-old hoarder's house in two hours.

(That last one is my wife.)

So, today, take a few quiet minutes and think back over your career and your life. In what specific ways have people affirmed your abilities? Where have you clearly excelled? What do you do that you love (you're in the zone!), and that others love also?

Can you find the themes? Maybe ask a trusted colleague or two for some input. Can you bring it down to one or two keywords? That's going to be your starting point for finding career clarity. It might be your greatest professional epiphany as well.

Steve Woodruff is known as the King of Clarity.