By: Shekerah Primus In life and career-planning, there is no shortage of advice. There are the motivational one-liners we’ve all heard since childhood, such as, “Reach for the stars!”, and, “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.” There are also the chant-worthy slogans of, “Be all you can be,” “Just do it,” and, “Yes we can!” This has given rise to the rapidly self-replicating genre of self-help books with provocative titles such as “Girl, Wash your Face”—you obviously have to read it to get it. Honestly, I do appreciate that all this advice-giving is an endeavor to aid in our journey of self-discovery and the pursuit of happiness. But I wonder how much of the advice we hear actually leaves a lasting impact, and how much of it just leaves us bewildered and asking, “Am I doing this life thing right at all?” I admit it, I’ve definitely felt bewildered at times, but I would like to share a few pieces of career-centric advice that gave me some clarity. 
- To have a fulfilling career, determine where you would provide the most value.
This advice is not new; it basically means the same thing as “find something you love and do it well.” This particular phrasing resonated with me because of the component of adding value. In fact, much of our endeavor to “find where we belong” is fueled by the desire to be valuable. Don’t misunderstand, this does not mean to find the thing you do better than anyone else, instead, it’s a recommendation to choose a career path based on a thorough evaluation of your strengths and interests. As PhDs, we focus so much on our scientific training that we often don’t know how to describe the value we bring outside of our scientific expertise. Evaluate yourself (see here and here for ideas), and don’t sell yourself short. You are very valuable! Once you’ve evaluated yourself, navigate your career path until you find something that you care about. The perfect career for you does not have to be your first job—let your experiences guide you. Imagine the value you would add when you apply your strongest skills and qualities to doing something that really matters to you. That is a powerful combination!
- Clarity of purpose and values will provide you with a renewable source of energy.
This piece of advice resonated with me particularly because I remember often saying the words “I feel re-energized” after attending an iJOBS or another career event. I make the most progress in achieving my goals when I feel energized. Clarity of purpose and values is essential for good leadership, as explained in “Too many bosses, too few leaders,” a book that I highly recommend, by Rajeev Peshawaria. In this book, the author tells stories about remarkable leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Howard Schultz, and others who achieved extraordinary results despite the odds, in large part because they had clarity of purpose and stayed true to their values. Of course, defining one’s purpose is no easy task. It requires unfettered soul-searching and that you be brutally honest with yourself, but the rewards are boundless. The author proposes the following 6 questions—the first 3 to define your purpose and last 3 to define values.
Questions effective in gaining clarity:
- What few things are most important to me?
For example money, hard work, leisure, fun, adventure, travel, learning, being liked, being a good spouse or parent, being a good manager, making a difference to others, service, integrity etc.
- Do I want to:
- Lead a simple life rich with everyday small pleasures?
- Achieve great success in an individual endeavor?
- Lead others toward a better future?
- Do something entirely different with my life?
- What results do I want to bring about?
- How do I want people to experience me?
- What values will guide my behavior?
- What situations cause me to feel strong emotions?
According to Peshawaria, a large paycheck or a prestigious position can also be energizing, but these sources are finite. He suggests that a clearly defined purpose and associated set of values is the best way to get an unlimited source of emotional energy to fuel yourself. And finally:
- Your journey is your own.
Okay, I admit that this one isn’t typical career advice, but it definitely helps me keep things in perspective. We all have the tendency to compare ourselves to others, judge ourselves, and either find ourselves lacking or pat ourselves on the back. This tendency is a reflection of our society; we are trained from a young age to compete and compare. When walking your path, instead of comparing yourself to someone else, let your own experiences empower you. Compare yourself today to yourself from a year ago or even 5 years ago. How have you grown since then, personally and professionally? What do you appreciate about the present you that you had not noticed before? What accomplishments are you proud of, and what steps have you taken that have helped you clarify or get closer to achieving your goals? Remember, take inspiration from the paths that others have walked, but always take time to celebrate and enjoy your own journey. Please share your favorite pieces of advice. This article was edited by Monal Mehta, Maryam Alapa & Paulina Krzyszczyk