Mika (a pseudonym) is loving her new place. She has just moved in and on the scale of change, this year has been a biggee. In addition to her move with her nearly-five-year-old daughter, she has also left her job as a senior executive at her firm. It’s scary but she’s owning it, driving through it, and Bringing Work to Life! We can learn a lot from her story.
Mika has been on a career path for growth throughout her career. She joined a firm after she graduated from design school and subsequently worked her way from junior to intermediate to senior designer to partner. She took on increasing responsibilities and focused on high achievement early in her career. She earned the NCIDQ and AAA licensing. She progressed quickly but found that real success is only achieved in alignment. Here are her lessons:
3 Strategies for Growth
- Grow by loving what you do. Mika loves what she does. It’s the reason she has been so successful. She has been on the fast track, achieving partner status in two different firms. She is well-known in her community for her capability and creativity. She sets the bar. She says it’s easy to ‘dive right in and swallow it up’ when you love what you do. The lesson here? Figure out what you love, set a direction, and take action toward that course.
- Grow by tapping into enthusiasm. Another lesson? Tap your own enthusiasm and that of those around you. Mika says that she knew design was her best path because she woke up every morning looking forward to her work. She didn’t dread it. It was a visceral feeling of having plenty of energy for the day that was just ‘waiting to be used up’. At our best we’re aware of this energy and enthusiasm, and also aware of the times when we’re without it. Energy becomes a barometer. Pay attention to what energizes you, and don’t ever have a job where you’re not doing that thing at least part of your working time.
- Grow by taking risks. At one of the firms where she was a senior leader, Mika noticed that one of the partners, Trish (a pseudonym) wasn’t treating employees in the way that Mika believed was right. Mika got along with Trish and worked to offer coaching, leadership, and intervention, but realized that she wouldn’t be able to change Trish’s behavior and would not be able to effectively affect the culture that was long-established. Mika left the firm. She says that once you know your truth, you can’t walk away from it. Her truth? A commitment to acting with respect and dignity toward others. The morning after she left her organization, Mika had two job offers with other organizations. We accomplish growth when we’re willing to take smart risks to make a change if something doesn’t feel right.
1 Test for Success
- The Value of Value. The ultimate test of career success isn’t based on title, rate of pay, or having the corner office. The real test of success is whether your work is aligned with your values. Recently, Mika was working for a firm that was burning people out. One evening, she noticed a junior staff member, Aidan (a pseudonym), in the office working late. His wife had just had a baby. Mika asked him why he was still in the office and Aidan said that although his project wasn’t urgent, he just felt he should stay late because it’s what was expected. Mika had also noticed that while the firm was chock full of talented designers, leaders were constantly second guessing their work, leading them to lack confidence or a sense of happiness and satisfaction. One mid-level designer, Joy (a pseudonym) came to Mika and confided that she didn’t believe she would get the promotion that should have easily been hers. After 14 years with the firm, she had lost a sense of confidence about her abilities. These are two examples of where Mika saw the firm having negative effects on associates and she was concerned. Finally, on a Thursday morning in October, Mika received a caustic email from her boss. It was a mirror of all the ways her values weren’t aligned with those of the organizations. She left.
The big test is whether an organization is aligned with your values, and whether you think you can positively influence the organization. Take initiative. Improvement and/or alignment may not require leaving an organization, but it will surely require adjusting or influencing yourself or those around you.
Where is Mika now? She’s starting her own firm and already booked with a few clients to begin the year. She says it’s been a scary time. She says it’s worth it. She knows she deserves to work in a way that makes a living for her and her daughter, but also that offers satisfaction and happiness. These are not only important beliefs from which she is navigating her career, but also to pass onto her daughter.
Would you like to tell your story? If so, let me know by emailing me at tbrower108@gmail.com. Why? One of the foundations of Bringing Work to Life is abundance: the idea that it is possible to find fulfillment, have it all, and avoid the trade-offs between work and life. After all, work and life aren’t separate things to be placed in containers, but part of an integrated whole of a satisfying life. Another foundation of Bringing Work to Life is the idea of multiple right answers. As we’re all seeking ways to bring work to life – and bring life to work – we can learn from each other’s unique solutions and stories. I’d love to learn about your story so others can as well!