Looking for our puzzle

Another week is in the books in my quest to find my next place in a puzzle. Since I started this journey four weeks ago, I've amassed close to 100 friends, family, and network connections who continue to make this journey more smooth. Thank you to all of you (too many to tag I think) who have been helping. I continue to think about the job search process through the analogy of being a puzzle piece looking to add to a puzzle. I've also met some amazing puzzle pieces along the way that are on my same journey.

That journey of a puzzle piece is not always straightforward. There are moments when we find ourselves attempting to fit into spaces that aren't meant for us or discovering that the puzzle we are part of is already complete. These instances, while challenging, are not without purpose. They teach us flexibility, the importance of continuous learning, and the understanding that sometimes, making way for others can lead to greater completions elsewhere.

Through many conversations, including a great one this week with Brian Nejmeh , I'm better understanding my puzzle piece and where I might fit best. I encourage my fellow job seekers to find mentors and friends to help validate your definition of where you might fit. Brian helped me reflect on the fact that throughout my life, I've been drawn to being the puzzle piece to help other pieces find meaning and provide support. Even as a kid, I pulled together my friends to mow lawns for the neighborhood, and have been pulled into leadership positions throughout my career.

Being a leader puzzle piece involves not just finding where you fit but also helping others discover their place. It's about creating a cohesive picture where the value of each piece is recognized and celebrated. I think that is where we need to seek better understanding of our own skills and interests. I've found an understanding of my The Predictive Index , CliftonStrengths (thanks Pamela P. for refreshing my experience with Strengths) and other 360 assessments to be a great aid in understanding the shape of my piece. If you are still trying to understand your shape I highly recommend bringing tools like these into your job search process.

I also enjoy ancestry research and how the nature of who we are blends with the nurture and opportunities we are given to complete our outline. I learned about the hard-working generations before me who worked in factories and farms. I think our ancestry equips us with the unique edges of our puzzle pieces. Malcolm Gladwell 's book Outliers, is also a great concept to consider in knowing where our pieces might fit. I feel lucky to have a career that has spanned the creation of the internet, on-prem to Cloud, and now LLM and GPT tools (thanks DALL-E for the header image). The combination of all these factors are just fascinating to me to reflect on how they have added up to who I am.

In the end, the quest for the puzzle that needs us — and that we need in return — is a creation of many factors, our ancestors, our abilities, and the joy we find in contributing to something larger than ourselves. It is in the assembly of these vast and varied puzzles that we find purpose, fulfillment, and a deeper connection to the tapestry of humanity.

To my fellow puzzle pieces, hold tight, the puzzles that need us are waiting for us!