We seek careers that align with who we are, and our careers shape who we become.
In my short 30 years, I've had a meandering career path with a simple subscript: changemaking.
As I spend more time on the consulting side of things, I see more lessons that I internalize to daily life: treat yourself like a client, create structures, sharpen your saw.
Treat yourself as you would a client
To do good work for a client, you need to agree on the scope.
If anyone deviates, you come together to explore how to get back on track.
The only difference is - you can't fire yourself. You are your client.
Explore your client's needs, ask what's important to them, what are the key performance and experience metrics they'd like to head towards?
And enable them to get there.
Create structures that serve what matters
From how you organize your folders and file names, to where you capture and reuse ideas; systems of structure go a long way.
You've got many parts competing for behavioural outputs.
The part that's scared, that wants to protect you, that wants to push you to the growth edge.
Which of these parts are you serving, and what information do they need access to?
This is as simple as affirmations on your bathroom mirror, podcasts that inspire you, friends that ask the right questions.
How are you structuring your micro and macro experience to serve the parts that matter?
Sharpen your saw so the cuts are cleaner
A consultant needs to be good at their craft, whether data analysis, reporting, relationship management.
You wouldn't bypass the skills you need to refine because you don't feel like it.
The same lesson applies to you, your client.
Which skills does your client need you to hone in on to be of service?
Is it prioritization, emotional intelligence, gentleness with self?
Every career has a bigger story and way it shapes our life. In what ways has yours shaped you?