MMM | TOO HOT? TOO COLD? JUST RIGHT! – HOW TO MAKE A PERFECT CAREER CHOICE

Happy Tuesday morning (hope you had a great Labour Day weekend!),

The children’s section is one of my favourite spots in book stores. As a father, I loved finding a good book while I was travelling to read to my children when I came home. I am drawn to the design and wisdom in the simple characters and stories.

Two of my personal favourites were Winnie the Pooh and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I slept with a teddy until I was 10 which could have contributed to my bias towards bears. There is also vein of truth that runs through each of those stories.

It’s known as The “Porridge Principle. “

You remember the story:

This bowl is too hot.This bowl is too cold.This bowl is just right.

In cognitive science and developmental psychology, the “Porridge Principle” refers to a person’s preference to attend to events that are neither too simple nor too complex according to their current representation of the world.

This principle can be applied to the professional world as well which we see with our clients on a daily basis. Our clients in these cases have the right skills, but their mindset isn’t ready for their transition.

In this case, the mid point of their career provides the greatest danger and the greatest opportunity. An example of this is when IT professionals see opportunities in a way that is either too simple or too complex according to the current mindset and context.

“It was too early because of my age. My voice was ready, but you need a certain maturity to start those. Not only voice. Your attitude has to be in the right place for those roles.”  – Anita Rachvelishvili

Anita is a Georgian operatic mezzo-soprano and is especially known for singing Verdi. Conductor Riccardo Muti said of her in 2018, “She is without doubt the best Verdi mezzo-soprano today on the planet. Without. Doubt.“

The role in Verdi, was just right and so was she.

This role is too small.This role is too large.This role is just right.

In our professional lives, there are choices that are “just right”. We are ready for them and, they are ready for us. But how do we know what they are? As Winnie the Pooh wisely counselled, “Think, think, think.”

Leading along the road with you,

Alan

P.S. You like working with people and are a natural networker. You are a YES person, are curious and eager to learn. We’re looking for a Bilingual Client Engagement Specialist who can grow with us! Work anywhere M-F 9-5 PST. Interested? Click here for more details!

P.P.S. We’re here to walk with you through your organization’s challenges and successes during this period of transition. Reach out to Jason Parks, VP of Business Development at [email protected] or 1-877-256-2569 ext 600 to chat about how you can support your team.