Issue #1: Climb the ladder, or appreciate the view?
Rethinking career goals to find fulfillment in work and life
Thanks for reading the first edition of On Work!
As we move into the second quarter of 2023, it's likely that you're either doubling down on decisions you've already made or questioning them instead.
The past few years have been challenging, and many of us are rethinking our priorities, including what we want from our careers. Maybe, instead of climbing the corporate ladder, we need to learn to appreciate the view.
Here’s to progress,
James
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Coffee Chat: Climb the ladder, or admire the view?
The last few years have been a challenging rollercoaster ride for all of us. We have lost loved ones, been confined to our homes, and the economy has experienced both booms and busts. It's no surprise that many of us have started to rethink our priorities, including what we want from our careers.
In the past, career goals often centered on climbing the ladder, becoming a people manager, and advancing in rank. But the last few years, have taught us that there's more to life than just professional success.
Figuring out what you want from work is relatively easy: money, time, and a job title.
But determining what you want from a career is more challenging. It requires an understanding of your desired outcomes, career development opportunities, and what fulfills you.
Rethinking your career can seem daunting, but it’s a bold step that requires inspiration, role models, mentors, and exploring paths you might not considered before.
It also - perhaps, more painfully - requires introspection, where you question your self, your motivations, your abilities, and your confidence.
There are plenty of things you can do to help you figure out what you want from a career. You don't have to do it alone.
Seek inspiration from role models, mentors, and peers.
Try value card-sorting exercises to identify your core values and what matters most to you in your career - like this kitsch tool.
Read autobiographies of people you admire to gain insight into their career paths,
Talk to friends and colleagues about their own career journeys.
It's important to accept that our careers don't always have to involve climbing the corporate ladder and reaching higher heights. Sometimes, we need to feel comfortable just admiring the view, and find fullfilment and commitment from our current roles, side projects, hobbies, and everyday life.
What matters most is finding what works for you, and aligning your career goals with your values and aspirations.
It's easy to fall into a vicious cycle of delaying change, burning out, and feeling excitement about the future but never making progress. Taking a step back to consider your career is a necessary step towards achieving making the most out of your life. Don't let the fear of the unknown hold you back from taking the first step.
Over To You
In this edition, we’re hearing from Rhiannon Payne, author of the Remote Work Era and marketer at Remote. Find Rhiannon on Twitter here!
What inspired you to choose your career path, and how did you get started?
As a neurodivergent high school dropout on my own without a clue what to do with my career, I was really inspired by the creativity of my friends in my late teens/early 20s. Many of them were digital content creators doing amazing stuff, and by their example I saw that it was possible to create a monetize content without needing a fancy degree. I launched some projects, learned a lot, and used those skills to segue into a tech marketing career.
What have you changed in the last 6 months that has made a positive impact on your work life?
Honestly, being kinder to myself. Or, trying to at least! It’s a journey. But being kind to yourself, especially as someone who is neurodivergent or struggling with mental health challenges, is so important. Also, tailoring your work style to match your unique needs. There’s no cookie cutter, one-size-fits all way to work and produce results. The remote work era has proven that.
What has been the most rewarding experience in your career so far?
Publishing my book, The Remote Work Era, at the end of 2020! It was a huge labor of love and publishing a book was a big life goal for me.
What’s a challenge you’ve faced in your work life, and how did you overcome it?
Being respected and growing in my career despite having an unconventional education and work background. I’ve had to write my own rules and take an unconventional approach to find success. This has included starting my own companies and launching projects to prove myself. Writing my book was a way of transitioning in my career from working with small startups to being taken seriously in big tech.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
Sometimes the most important thing is the relationships you build along the way. Maybe this is controversial, but it’s something my fiancé has told me and has really stuck with me. Maintaining good relationships and being someone who is honest and that others can rely on is most of the battle.
How are you maintaining a healthy work-life balance?
It ebbs and flows! Sometimes I spend too much time inside the house and at my desk. It’s important to invest in hobbies too. Recently I’ve taken up dance and it’s improved my life so much!
Want to be featured in the next issue of On Work? Get in touch!
The Rundown
Five interesting things we thought you should know
1. Remote work impacts family formation
“Unmarried remote workers are significantly more likely to marry in the next year than their non-remote counterparts, potentially driven by higher migration rates.” Get the stats here
2. Fulfillment
3. Work from home grows
About a third of U.S. workers who can work from home now do so all the time …but 61% of workers can’t work remotely.
4. Asking for remote work flexibility
Could you request to go remote? Here’s how you can make the case.
5. Top 150 remote work experts
Remote searched the globe for the top 150 remote work experts you should follow for tips, advice, free resources, and credible insight. Get the report now.
This was On Work, a monthly newsletter to help professionals thrive in their careers.