life@work

Variety vs. Security - How Much of Each Do You Want in Your Career?

5 years is the maximum amount of time I want to spend doing the same thing at the same place.

This insight comes to me as I look back on my life, and it’s an idea that, looking ahead, gives me a feeling of curiosity and relief.

Outside of my career life I am remarkably consistent and enjoy sameness. I’ve been living in the same city for 20 years, have been with the same man for 21 years, have had some of the same friends for over 25 years, and of course there’s no changing being a mother to the same two people, something that's been true for 11 and 8 years.

I generally order one of two ice cream flavors, always get my favorite dish when I go to my favorite restaurant, and could visit Cannon Beach, Oregon every year from here on out.

But ever since the 6^th grade, I have changed what I do or where I do it at least every five years. Well, almost. I've been a life and career coach for the past six years. Gulp.

Many people are like me and want to move on to something different fairly frequently. Others want to stick with the same thing or the same place their entire career. Still others end up sticking with the same thing but aren’t quite sure why they did or how they could have chosen differently.

When it comes to career happiness, the elements of variety and security are essential to understand. When you know your demands and tolerance for these two elements you can better design a satisfying career plan.

For instance, my five year rule is the formula that blends my desire for both variety and security. I don’t want to job hop, but I don’t want to feel stale and bored.

Your formula for happiness might mean staying with the same company for 20 years but changing jobs within it every four or so. Your desire for security (financial, job, emotional – there are so many different kinds) might be much stronger than your need for variety. Or you may find ways to create variety in small ways that don’t threaten your requirement to stay in the same position for many years.

Different careers offer different opportunities to blend security with variety. A freelance management consultant is going to experience more variety and less security than a tenured university professor, for example.

Take a look at your situation and how it fits with your needs for variety and security. If it falls short, are there small tweaks you can make to strengthen your position?

If you think about this every once in a while, instead of only when you become desperately unhappy in your job, you can head off a whole lot of angst at the pass.

I'd love to know - are you satisfied with the mix of variety and security you experience in your career right now?

Setting Goals with 43 Things

Most of the time I view goal setting as a necessary yet tedious task. 43 Things is an online tool that can help you inject a bit more enthusiasm and even whimsy into the process.

I learned in Goals 101 class that when you want to get something done, you need to write it down and you need support from others, just for starters. Typically the most useful support comes in the form of some kind of accountability, as in "cattle prod", "feet to the fire", or "kick in the butt".

43 Things is a way you can "discover what's important, make it happen and share your progress", online. It takes away the isolation and boredom of trying to change a habit or do something new.

"What do you want to do with your life?" is the heady question that greets you in bold when you log in to 43 Things. If you don't have any idea, scroll through some of the thousands of things that other people are doing for inspiration.

Are you looking for a new job? As I write this, 1069 people on 43 Things are too. 184 people want to change careers. 1243 people want to get a better job.

One person wants to become a giraffe. Did I mention this can be a whimsical process?

Many people have generously written about how they accomplished their goals - check out their stories as you embark on fulfilling your goals. The ability to send and receive comments and "cheers" adds to the community feel of the site.

And all of this good stuff is free! Gotta love that.

Check out 43 People and 43 Places for more sharing about, you guessed it, people and places you know, want to go to, or have something to say about.

I'd love to know: Have you had success reaching your goals using an online tool such as 43 Things?