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www.Superfunctionalism.com
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Career success is the fourth quadrant of Superfunctionalism. Although not literally a part of the human
being, career is a necessary element in Superfunctionalism, because it serves as an end to
Superfunctionalism's means. People are blessed with free will. If not for inspiration, or for hope, there
would be no motivated endeavor. Without inspiration, all actions beside mere survival would be pointless.
In most cases, we human beings do have hope, we do have inspiration, to change the world in some way or
to create something. Inspiration is yours, and it is up to you to make your vision a reality. Your career is
what you do with your free will in order to change the world.
A career need not bring you money to be a career. Quite the opposite, you can have a career as a parent,
or as a philanthropist - and actually give your money away. You can have a career as an artist or a
student. You can have multiple non-professional careers in addition to a dayjob, or a bread-and-butter
career. The foremost feature of a career for the sake of Superfunctionalism is that it summarizes your
voluntary affect on the world outside of yourself. The affect you create on the world outside of yourself is
up to you.
To the end that your affect on the world is what you make it, there are principles you can study and practice
in order to be more effective at bringing about your will in the world. You can be more successful in your
career by studying these principles. These principles are basically tailored applications of the achievement
process. This section will address those principles.
Principles of Career Success
The principles of career success include career planning, career plan implementation, influencing others,
and presenting yourself. Because every person who reads this book will certainly have different
aspirations, I will avoid getting too involved in specific career oriented advice. For additional information,
please purchase the Superfunctionalism eWorkbook, which covers resumes, professionalism, business
communications, and other business-related career advice.
Career Planning
Whether your career is as a parent, a student, or an electroencephalographic technician, you will be able
to get more out of it if you plan your moves. Career planning is a multi-step process which can be quite
daunting a task for someone who does not like to be bogged down in details. Because of its necessity,
however, you must force yoruself to do it, and so I recommend that before you begin, you ready yourself.
Preparing for the Career Planning Process
Great ways to be ready to tackle career planning are: 1) Set aside at least 3 hours to do this task. 2) Be
sure to have eaten, have something to drink with you, and bring a snack. Also bring all necessary
materials, including writing utensils, paper, folders, a laptop computer (optional), and a scheduler or
organizer. Include anything else you need to work, such as the Superfunctionalism eWorkbook, another
career planning help guide, or your notes from this chapter. 3) Go to a place with a large desk where you
can work. (You will need the space to spread out and work comfortably.) 4) Turn off all distractions (tvs,
phones, machines, etc.), 5) Set up your work area so that fresh sheets of paper are readiy available, you
have a designated place for trash, a place to put finished work, and all of your working tools arranged
ergonomically. Get comfortable in the chair, and be sure you have all the light you need. 6) Then get to
work.
The components of Career Planning are:
You will rely on goal setting to give you an overarching strategy and timeline for your career goals. With
time management, you will turn your career goals into a workable plan, and then refine a daily routine by
which you can live your life, be superfunctional, and conquer your career goals one step at a time.
Goal Setting
Types of goals.
Generally, experts in the career planning field accept three catergories of goals: Long-term, Mid-term, and
Short-term. Classifying your goals is not an exact science, however, and you will use these categories very
generally, and with your best judgment.
Making goals. Unless you already have clear, concrete goals in place, you may need to take some time to
reflect on what you want out of life. How much time you take is up to you. It may take years to really know
exactly what you want out of life, and this may also change over time. At this stage, it is good to think for
about an hour on questions like:
questions at the top of a sheet of paper, and then use the remaining space to answer them. Use additional
pages if necessary. Visualize every detail of your answers.]
Your Values:
Perhaps the reason so many people are unfulfilled in their lives is that they perceive their occupations as
work. In the modern age, most people are required to have occupations in order to earn a living and
support themselves and their families. This need, however, is not mutually exclusive with the possibility that
you can also be fulfilled.
"Work" has a negative connotation. Most people associate work with something they don’t want to do, or
that they gain little benefit or reward from, other than a paycheck. However, in the self-actualization sense
of work, then it must be viewed with the attitude that it is a task performed for a higher purpose. This higher
purpose must be in line with a person’s core values and beliefs for self-actualization to take place.
Moreover, the person must also then reach his or her full potential in order for Self-Actualization to take
place.
For example, let’s say a person is inspired by the joy in a child’s eyes, and believes that the world should
be a place appropriate for children. However, this person had circumstances which for one reason or
another prevented them from obtaining a high school diploma. They also lack any technical training. This
person can only be employed as a janitor at an elementary school.
To most people, sanitation is a chore. They do it in the home, or in certain professions, such as service,
they do it as a part of their job. The idea of being an elementary school janitor is not appealing to them.
However, the individual of which we are speaking could be EXTREMELY satisfied with his occupation, not
because cleaning floors and bathrooms is somehow glamorous, or even comes with a very big paycheck,
but because he realizes that a sanitary environment is essential for children. His job is important to him,
then, and something in which he can take a lot of pride, when the children are not sick on a regular basis,
and are happy and healthy in the environment he keeps for them. This is how he can reach level four, self-
esteem: here he has a sense of confidence, mastery, and achievement in life.
But in order to reach level five, this person must reach his full potential. Luckily, his line of work is related
to his inner beliefs. But, in order to fully self actualize, he will need to do more with it. One way, for
example, it to become the head of sanitation in the school district and enforce policies to make sure all the
children across the district are getting as clean of environments as his kids are at the school where he
works on the bottom of the pole. This will require leadership, business skills, a degree, management
experience and more. Thus, our hypothetical man will have to go to community college at night to get his
GED and then complete a business/leadership based associates degree, and maybe even go on to a four
year degree from there. Since he works full time, these assignments will have to be completed on the side.
In order to have the energy required, he will have to exercise and eat right, and be sure to still get sufficient
rest. He will have to spend a lot of time and thought in how his energies will best be focused to maintain the
highest efficiency in his life in order to balance his spiritual needs, of, for example, spending time with his
family. He will have to have a positive attitude, and throughout it all, keep his eyes on the prize – self
actualization. It is thought that when self-actualization is achieved, a person experiences the ultimate
catharsis of identity and satisfaction. So if you ask, is it worth it to bust his butt and go the extra mile when
he is merely some lowly elementary school janitor? You bet! If you refer back to the parable of three
valleys, you will remember that it only took a few hours’ work regularly applied to make a huge change in
the long run, whereas when the extra work was not applied, the suffering was much worse than the reward
of laziness. On the other hand, when the steps were taken, the payoff was much greater than the cost.
Social stigmas, misrepresentations, and improper programming by the media have caused many people to
lose their ability to see things in this light. When a young person is first introduced to the concept of
earning money, they are often sent off to “get a paycheck,” not to “change the world.” Unless this person is
at some point introduced to the idea that “work” means simply “to perform an action,” and that it is possible
to gain true fulfillment from performing actions which bring about results to change the world in positive
ways we believe in, they will likely have a negative attitude about work.
The longer a person has a negative attitude about work, the less they will want to work. The less someone
wants o work, the less likelly it is that they will be inspired by the rewards of self-improvement for the sake of
reaching their potential in their career, because to them that only means more of something bad. That’s
why it is essential to redefine your understanding of “work,” and to develop the self confidence to believe in
your ability to change careers, or to work in a field where you can make a contribution with your actions to a
higher cause. These changes will bring about monumentous improvement in your life.
YOUR PERSONAL WANTS
In order to determine the most suitable career path for a person to take in thier life, counsellors often use
exploratory questions to develop self understanding and point someone in the direction of doing something
they will love and by which they will feel fulfilled. Of course, this usually is best suited for people who may
not be in the right career and want to switch careers entirely, since people who are searching in this way
may not be fulfilled. Below, I will explore this option, of finding an entirely new path, as well as the often
unexplored option of making your current career more fulfilling.
OPTION 1: Finding a Suitable Career From Scratch
In Office Space, (c) 1999, a hilarious film by Mike Judge, creator of King of the Hill, the age-old career
counselor’s question is posed: "What would you do if you had a million dollars?" This question is used to
circumvent the idea that careers, and work, are necessarily inconveniences or burdens we undertake for
the accumulation of money. One especially enlightening portion of dialogue goes like this:
"Peter Gibbons: What would you do if you had a million dollars?
Lawrence: I'll tell you what I'd do, man: two chicks at the same time, man.
Peter Gibbons: That's it? If you had a million dollars, you'd do two chicks at the same time?
Lawrence: Damn straight. I always wanted to do that, man. And I think if I were a millionaire I could hook that
up, too; 'cause chicks dig dudes with money.
Peter Gibbons: Well, not all chicks.
Lawrence: Well, the type of chicks that'd double up on a dude like me do.
Peter Gibbons: Good point.
Lawrence: Well, what about you now? what would you do?
Peter Gibbons: Besides two chicks at the same time?
Lawrence: Well, yeah.
Peter Gibbons: Nothing.
Lawrence: Nothing, huh?
Peter Gibbons: I would relax... I would sit on my ass all day... I would do nothing.
Lawrence: Well, you don't need a million dollars to do nothing, man. Take a look at my cousin: he's broke,
don't do shit."
This humorous take on the question reveals its essential flaw: the question presumes that you define
career as a need to have money. Peter Gibbons‘s astute neighbor cannot concieve of how having a millon
dollars is necessary to do nothing. The "million dollars" hypothetical never gets to the real heart of the
issue. Therefore, I am not going to ask the same old question. I’m going to ask a new one:
After you have answered this question, you are on the right track, but have a long way to go.
To explore further, answer the questions:
EXERCISE: EXPLORING YOUR INTERESTS
The following exercise will help you to develop more concrete answers based on the generalities you have
begun to explore above. Re-create the examples below on a piece of paper and answer them in writing.
Ways you like to spend your time: Have I done this in the past month? Preference Rank #:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Now look at the list and relate the activities to career possibilities:
CAREER POSSIBILITY: WHICH ACTIVITIES DOES THIS ENCOMPASS?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Now look at things that you like to do that cannot be turned into careers. You should maintain these as
hobbies. In Superfunctionalism, hobbies are approached as ways to spend time on the side of your career,
but still developing skills that you will use for self-actualization.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The answers to these questions may reveal to you that you like to do something completely different than
what you are doing currently. If so, then you should consider the full impact of a career change, and
whether it is right for you. Superfunctionalism encourages those who do have a binding conviction about
some specific change or creation that would bring about the betterment of mankind, society, or the future,
ultimately should be working toward that, no matter what their current occupation.
Option 2: Finding new meaning in your current career.
If you are not ready to make a major life change of switching careers, there is another option for you which
is seldom discussed by counselors – finding meaning in your current career. Most careers already work
toward some good in the world, and, because of the stigmas discussed above, don’t get the credit they
deserve.
For example, if you work as a cell phone sales person in the mall, you might just look at each day of work
as a time when you have to go in and hit your quota to get enough bonus to make ends meet and not get
fired. You might loathe going into work and think of it as an unwelcome interruption in an otherwise
satisfying day. But, what do cell phones actually do in the world? For the most part, they allow people to
keep in touch. Is this enough to inspire you? Possibly not.
Try looking at the bigger picture. Ask yourself, "What does people keeping in touch really accomplish?" If
there’s an accident, it could mean the difference between life and death. Maybe you sell the phone to the
person who calls the president and talks him into signing a treaty for world peace. Maybe you sell the
phone to the doctor who gets inspired with a cure for AIDS, and he is able to call in time to get the funding
authorized for the research and development. From this perspective, the profession seems very important
to humankind. However, an entry-level position such as this one probably will not lead to self-actualization
in the long run.
How would you turn this exercise into self-actualization? By expanding upon it and following it to its full
potential. For example, if you find true value in communication, you could go to school to study the
business aspects or engineering aspects, or some other aspect, of telecom. This education, you could put
toward a nobler cause, such as bringing better communications infrastructure to 3d world countries, or
using political clout to encourage important legislation. The fact is, communication is the single most
important occupation of humankind. If you don't see that from your position as a cell phone sales rep at the
mall, then you are possibly missing the bigger picture, and this is what causes your dissatisfaction with your
occupation.
Superfunctionalism encourages having a broad perspective on life and society, and each of our individual
places within it. Strive to understand the human condition so that you can use your valuable time here to
improve it. That's the real basis of a satisfying career.
Inventories and interactive career exploration programs:
Here is a list of helpful resources which can help you to understand more about your preferences and
abotu suitable career choices. Be sure to gain as much input as possible before setting out down a path to
which you may not be dedicated.
The Strong Interest Inventory
The Self-Directed Search
The Campbell Interest and Skill Survey
Kuder Career Search & Person Match Inventory
Meyers Briggs Type Indicator
Influencing Others
Interpersonal influence is the oil that will lubricate the gears of your career. Nothing great may be
accomplished without the assistance, no matter how slight, of other people. Even if this statement can be
disproved, it is nonetheless a better attitude to have than one which will isolate you from others.
The two factors in influencing others are communication and self-presentation. Studies in the social
sciences show that people are more willing to cooperate and assist people with whom they feel rapport.
Below, the remainder of this page will be dedicated to methods for developing this rapport with people that
can be put to use immediately.
The best book on this subject is How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie.
being, career is a necessary element in Superfunctionalism, because it serves as an end to
Superfunctionalism's means. People are blessed with free will. If not for inspiration, or for hope, there
would be no motivated endeavor. Without inspiration, all actions beside mere survival would be pointless.
In most cases, we human beings do have hope, we do have inspiration, to change the world in some way or
to create something. Inspiration is yours, and it is up to you to make your vision a reality. Your career is
what you do with your free will in order to change the world.
A career need not bring you money to be a career. Quite the opposite, you can have a career as a parent,
or as a philanthropist - and actually give your money away. You can have a career as an artist or a
student. You can have multiple non-professional careers in addition to a dayjob, or a bread-and-butter
career. The foremost feature of a career for the sake of Superfunctionalism is that it summarizes your
voluntary affect on the world outside of yourself. The affect you create on the world outside of yourself is
up to you.
To the end that your affect on the world is what you make it, there are principles you can study and practice
in order to be more effective at bringing about your will in the world. You can be more successful in your
career by studying these principles. These principles are basically tailored applications of the achievement
process. This section will address those principles.
Principles of Career Success
The principles of career success include career planning, career plan implementation, influencing others,
and presenting yourself. Because every person who reads this book will certainly have different
aspirations, I will avoid getting too involved in specific career oriented advice. For additional information,
please purchase the Superfunctionalism eWorkbook, which covers resumes, professionalism, business
communications, and other business-related career advice.
Career Planning
Whether your career is as a parent, a student, or an electroencephalographic technician, you will be able
to get more out of it if you plan your moves. Career planning is a multi-step process which can be quite
daunting a task for someone who does not like to be bogged down in details. Because of its necessity,
however, you must force yoruself to do it, and so I recommend that before you begin, you ready yourself.
Preparing for the Career Planning Process
Great ways to be ready to tackle career planning are: 1) Set aside at least 3 hours to do this task. 2) Be
sure to have eaten, have something to drink with you, and bring a snack. Also bring all necessary
materials, including writing utensils, paper, folders, a laptop computer (optional), and a scheduler or
organizer. Include anything else you need to work, such as the Superfunctionalism eWorkbook, another
career planning help guide, or your notes from this chapter. 3) Go to a place with a large desk where you
can work. (You will need the space to spread out and work comfortably.) 4) Turn off all distractions (tvs,
phones, machines, etc.), 5) Set up your work area so that fresh sheets of paper are readiy available, you
have a designated place for trash, a place to put finished work, and all of your working tools arranged
ergonomically. Get comfortable in the chair, and be sure you have all the light you need. 6) Then get to
work.
The components of Career Planning are:
- Goal Setting,
- Time Management, and
- Professional Improvement.
You will rely on goal setting to give you an overarching strategy and timeline for your career goals. With
time management, you will turn your career goals into a workable plan, and then refine a daily routine by
which you can live your life, be superfunctional, and conquer your career goals one step at a time.
Goal Setting
Types of goals.
Generally, experts in the career planning field accept three catergories of goals: Long-term, Mid-term, and
Short-term. Classifying your goals is not an exact science, however, and you will use these categories very
generally, and with your best judgment.
Making goals. Unless you already have clear, concrete goals in place, you may need to take some time to
reflect on what you want out of life. How much time you take is up to you. It may take years to really know
exactly what you want out of life, and this may also change over time. At this stage, it is good to think for
about an hour on questions like:
- I'm 72 years old. What is my life like? Where do I live? Who do I know?
- What are my work values? How important are they in choosing a job or career?
- What are my interests? How to they relate to a career I might choose?
- What are my skills and abilities? What new skills would I like to develop? What new skills will I
need to develop? - What are my personal values? What effect do they have on my career and way of life?
- How do I feel about myself and my ability to make changes? How can I enhance my self-
esteem? - What lifestyle considerations are important to me? How to they relate to a career I may
choose?
questions at the top of a sheet of paper, and then use the remaining space to answer them. Use additional
pages if necessary. Visualize every detail of your answers.]
Your Values:
- How importance is work to you?
- How is work defined?
- Doesn’t everything take work?
Perhaps the reason so many people are unfulfilled in their lives is that they perceive their occupations as
work. In the modern age, most people are required to have occupations in order to earn a living and
support themselves and their families. This need, however, is not mutually exclusive with the possibility that
you can also be fulfilled.
"Work" has a negative connotation. Most people associate work with something they don’t want to do, or
that they gain little benefit or reward from, other than a paycheck. However, in the self-actualization sense
of work, then it must be viewed with the attitude that it is a task performed for a higher purpose. This higher
purpose must be in line with a person’s core values and beliefs for self-actualization to take place.
Moreover, the person must also then reach his or her full potential in order for Self-Actualization to take
place.
For example, let’s say a person is inspired by the joy in a child’s eyes, and believes that the world should
be a place appropriate for children. However, this person had circumstances which for one reason or
another prevented them from obtaining a high school diploma. They also lack any technical training. This
person can only be employed as a janitor at an elementary school.
To most people, sanitation is a chore. They do it in the home, or in certain professions, such as service,
they do it as a part of their job. The idea of being an elementary school janitor is not appealing to them.
However, the individual of which we are speaking could be EXTREMELY satisfied with his occupation, not
because cleaning floors and bathrooms is somehow glamorous, or even comes with a very big paycheck,
but because he realizes that a sanitary environment is essential for children. His job is important to him,
then, and something in which he can take a lot of pride, when the children are not sick on a regular basis,
and are happy and healthy in the environment he keeps for them. This is how he can reach level four, self-
esteem: here he has a sense of confidence, mastery, and achievement in life.
But in order to reach level five, this person must reach his full potential. Luckily, his line of work is related
to his inner beliefs. But, in order to fully self actualize, he will need to do more with it. One way, for
example, it to become the head of sanitation in the school district and enforce policies to make sure all the
children across the district are getting as clean of environments as his kids are at the school where he
works on the bottom of the pole. This will require leadership, business skills, a degree, management
experience and more. Thus, our hypothetical man will have to go to community college at night to get his
GED and then complete a business/leadership based associates degree, and maybe even go on to a four
year degree from there. Since he works full time, these assignments will have to be completed on the side.
In order to have the energy required, he will have to exercise and eat right, and be sure to still get sufficient
rest. He will have to spend a lot of time and thought in how his energies will best be focused to maintain the
highest efficiency in his life in order to balance his spiritual needs, of, for example, spending time with his
family. He will have to have a positive attitude, and throughout it all, keep his eyes on the prize – self
actualization. It is thought that when self-actualization is achieved, a person experiences the ultimate
catharsis of identity and satisfaction. So if you ask, is it worth it to bust his butt and go the extra mile when
he is merely some lowly elementary school janitor? You bet! If you refer back to the parable of three
valleys, you will remember that it only took a few hours’ work regularly applied to make a huge change in
the long run, whereas when the extra work was not applied, the suffering was much worse than the reward
of laziness. On the other hand, when the steps were taken, the payoff was much greater than the cost.
Social stigmas, misrepresentations, and improper programming by the media have caused many people to
lose their ability to see things in this light. When a young person is first introduced to the concept of
earning money, they are often sent off to “get a paycheck,” not to “change the world.” Unless this person is
at some point introduced to the idea that “work” means simply “to perform an action,” and that it is possible
to gain true fulfillment from performing actions which bring about results to change the world in positive
ways we believe in, they will likely have a negative attitude about work.
The longer a person has a negative attitude about work, the less they will want to work. The less someone
wants o work, the less likelly it is that they will be inspired by the rewards of self-improvement for the sake of
reaching their potential in their career, because to them that only means more of something bad. That’s
why it is essential to redefine your understanding of “work,” and to develop the self confidence to believe in
your ability to change careers, or to work in a field where you can make a contribution with your actions to a
higher cause. These changes will bring about monumentous improvement in your life.
YOUR PERSONAL WANTS
In order to determine the most suitable career path for a person to take in thier life, counsellors often use
exploratory questions to develop self understanding and point someone in the direction of doing something
they will love and by which they will feel fulfilled. Of course, this usually is best suited for people who may
not be in the right career and want to switch careers entirely, since people who are searching in this way
may not be fulfilled. Below, I will explore this option, of finding an entirely new path, as well as the often
unexplored option of making your current career more fulfilling.
OPTION 1: Finding a Suitable Career From Scratch
- What Would You Do if You Didn’t Have to Work?
In Office Space, (c) 1999, a hilarious film by Mike Judge, creator of King of the Hill, the age-old career
counselor’s question is posed: "What would you do if you had a million dollars?" This question is used to
circumvent the idea that careers, and work, are necessarily inconveniences or burdens we undertake for
the accumulation of money. One especially enlightening portion of dialogue goes like this:
"Peter Gibbons: What would you do if you had a million dollars?
Lawrence: I'll tell you what I'd do, man: two chicks at the same time, man.
Peter Gibbons: That's it? If you had a million dollars, you'd do two chicks at the same time?
Lawrence: Damn straight. I always wanted to do that, man. And I think if I were a millionaire I could hook that
up, too; 'cause chicks dig dudes with money.
Peter Gibbons: Well, not all chicks.
Lawrence: Well, the type of chicks that'd double up on a dude like me do.
Peter Gibbons: Good point.
Lawrence: Well, what about you now? what would you do?
Peter Gibbons: Besides two chicks at the same time?
Lawrence: Well, yeah.
Peter Gibbons: Nothing.
Lawrence: Nothing, huh?
Peter Gibbons: I would relax... I would sit on my ass all day... I would do nothing.
Lawrence: Well, you don't need a million dollars to do nothing, man. Take a look at my cousin: he's broke,
don't do shit."
This humorous take on the question reveals its essential flaw: the question presumes that you define
career as a need to have money. Peter Gibbons‘s astute neighbor cannot concieve of how having a millon
dollars is necessary to do nothing. The "million dollars" hypothetical never gets to the real heart of the
issue. Therefore, I am not going to ask the same old question. I’m going to ask a new one:
- What would you do if you could get paid for doing what you thought was the noblest thing
in the world?
After you have answered this question, you are on the right track, but have a long way to go.
To explore further, answer the questions:
- What could you do today in order to advance that same cause? What is stopping you
from doing those things?
- Think back to a time of your life when you were the happiest, most satisfied and
fulfilled. Were you achieving a sense of self-actualization? When was it? What were you
doing? What skills and abilities were you using?
- Is there a way you could work towards achieving the noblest cause in the world by
doing something that made you happy or using skills and abilities you were good with?
- What careers are available in that field for people with your talents and skillset? What
could you do to increase your skills to go even further? What would your ultimate potential
be?
EXERCISE: EXPLORING YOUR INTERESTS
The following exercise will help you to develop more concrete answers based on the generalities you have
begun to explore above. Re-create the examples below on a piece of paper and answer them in writing.
Ways you like to spend your time: Have I done this in the past month? Preference Rank #:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Now look at the list and relate the activities to career possibilities:
CAREER POSSIBILITY: WHICH ACTIVITIES DOES THIS ENCOMPASS?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Now look at things that you like to do that cannot be turned into careers. You should maintain these as
hobbies. In Superfunctionalism, hobbies are approached as ways to spend time on the side of your career,
but still developing skills that you will use for self-actualization.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The answers to these questions may reveal to you that you like to do something completely different than
what you are doing currently. If so, then you should consider the full impact of a career change, and
whether it is right for you. Superfunctionalism encourages those who do have a binding conviction about
some specific change or creation that would bring about the betterment of mankind, society, or the future,
ultimately should be working toward that, no matter what their current occupation.
Option 2: Finding new meaning in your current career.
If you are not ready to make a major life change of switching careers, there is another option for you which
is seldom discussed by counselors – finding meaning in your current career. Most careers already work
toward some good in the world, and, because of the stigmas discussed above, don’t get the credit they
deserve.
For example, if you work as a cell phone sales person in the mall, you might just look at each day of work
as a time when you have to go in and hit your quota to get enough bonus to make ends meet and not get
fired. You might loathe going into work and think of it as an unwelcome interruption in an otherwise
satisfying day. But, what do cell phones actually do in the world? For the most part, they allow people to
keep in touch. Is this enough to inspire you? Possibly not.
Try looking at the bigger picture. Ask yourself, "What does people keeping in touch really accomplish?" If
there’s an accident, it could mean the difference between life and death. Maybe you sell the phone to the
person who calls the president and talks him into signing a treaty for world peace. Maybe you sell the
phone to the doctor who gets inspired with a cure for AIDS, and he is able to call in time to get the funding
authorized for the research and development. From this perspective, the profession seems very important
to humankind. However, an entry-level position such as this one probably will not lead to self-actualization
in the long run.
How would you turn this exercise into self-actualization? By expanding upon it and following it to its full
potential. For example, if you find true value in communication, you could go to school to study the
business aspects or engineering aspects, or some other aspect, of telecom. This education, you could put
toward a nobler cause, such as bringing better communications infrastructure to 3d world countries, or
using political clout to encourage important legislation. The fact is, communication is the single most
important occupation of humankind. If you don't see that from your position as a cell phone sales rep at the
mall, then you are possibly missing the bigger picture, and this is what causes your dissatisfaction with your
occupation.
Superfunctionalism encourages having a broad perspective on life and society, and each of our individual
places within it. Strive to understand the human condition so that you can use your valuable time here to
improve it. That's the real basis of a satisfying career.
Inventories and interactive career exploration programs:
Here is a list of helpful resources which can help you to understand more about your preferences and
abotu suitable career choices. Be sure to gain as much input as possible before setting out down a path to
which you may not be dedicated.
The Strong Interest Inventory
The Self-Directed Search
The Campbell Interest and Skill Survey
Kuder Career Search & Person Match Inventory
Meyers Briggs Type Indicator
- Computer based Interactive Career Choice Programs:
SIGI
DISCOVER
CHOICES
National Board of Career Counsellors:
www.nbcc.org
Influencing Others
Interpersonal influence is the oil that will lubricate the gears of your career. Nothing great may be
accomplished without the assistance, no matter how slight, of other people. Even if this statement can be
disproved, it is nonetheless a better attitude to have than one which will isolate you from others.
The two factors in influencing others are communication and self-presentation. Studies in the social
sciences show that people are more willing to cooperate and assist people with whom they feel rapport.
Below, the remainder of this page will be dedicated to methods for developing this rapport with people that
can be put to use immediately.
The best book on this subject is How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie.
All Contents of this page and every other page in this domain are Copyright (C) 2007 by Michael Patrick Rooney.
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CAREER SUCCESS