Careerism is death.
That phrase got my attention. Do you agree or disagree? Either answer…why?
That interesting phrase was attributed to Robert Penn Warren by Ken Burns, an American filmmaker known for his historical documentaries. I heard this phrase mentioned by him as a guest on the Joe Rogan podcast (#2336). Joe had marveled at the incredible fact that the Civil War documentary series produced by Ken over 35 years ago remains the highest-rated and most-watched series in the history of American public television.
Choosing a Professional Life Over a Pre-Carved Career Path
Later, Joe asked Ken, “How did you have the clarity to realize that that (Hollywood) was not the correct path for you? Ken responded with, “I didn’t want to follow a rut. A carved path that’s already well-worn.” He said he doesn’t ever use the word, “career,” but rather referred to his work as his “professional life.”
I was a bit curious about this and googled to find out more. On another podcast featuring Ken Burns (Neal Brennan podcast), Ken had this to say,
“I never use the word, career. I always say, “my professional life.” Always. Career is often something that locks you into someone else’s determination of what’s best for you. The route for you to go. Parents wanting you to be a doctor is the classic example, but we make our own traps. We set our own minefields for ourselves. I felt if I could just listen to that dictum, “Careerism is death,” then I could figure out how to make choices that were not about career choices, but what I needed. It’s all about curiosity and how not to kill it.”
What Are Your Career Choices Really Driven By?
Moving From External Expectations to Internal Conviction
An AI summary of multiple podcasts with Burns on this topic resulted in, “Burns emphasizes that his satisfaction comes from the daily process of making the film better, rather than a focus on external validation or the final product as a mark of career success.”
Hmmm, how many times in my professional career (yep, mixing the words together here), did I fall prey to emphasis on what I perceived as the right “career move” vs. what might have been more rewarding for my “professional life?” I’m not a fan of, nor a participant in, regret, but if I want to learn from my experiences, I need to reflect and delve into that a bit deeper.
After all, I can’t tell you the number of times over my career I’ve been asked, “What do you think would be best for your career?”
When You Reach a Fork in the Road, What Should Guide You?
The answer should not be summarized as Hall of Famer and 10x baseball World Series champ, Yogi Berra, simply said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” I mean, there needs to be some filters applied. 🙂
So, what could those filters be? How can you best assess your current career or professional life situation and figure out where to go next? How can you not fall into a career rut, but at the same time be wise with paths already traveled? What can you learn from others’ “lessons learned” that might benefit you and your path?
Filters for Evaluating Your Career or Calling
Filter #1 — Work That Brings God Glory and Serves Others
Award-winning actor Denzel Washington once said, “I don’t look back. Man gives an award. God gives a reward.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Gotquestions.org has an interesting article entitled, “What is the purpose of there being rewards in heaven?” It says, “The rewards we gain in heaven are not like the rewards we earn here on earth. We tend to think in material terms – mansions, jewels, etc. But these things are only representations of the true rewards we will gain in heaven. Any rewards or honor we gain in heaven will be precious to us because they carry the weight and meaning of our relationship with God – and because they remind us of what He did through us on earth.” For me, one filter could be to ask, “What work has God prepared for me that gives Him glory and is for other’s good?”
Filter #2 — What God is Calling You to Do vs. What Simply Satisfies You
Similarly, another filter could be whether our work choice is based primarily on what satisfies us versus what He is calling us to do? What I mean by that is, God doesn’t call us to do any work that He won’t provide for us to do – – whether that is in our skills, abilities, passions, provision (money), values, and/or past experiences. Please see last week’s blog on God qualifying the under qualified to do His work. (Link HERE).
Filter #3 — Aligning Your Work With Your God-Given Purpose
A third filter could be how does the work you’re doing align with your life purpose? In simple terms, why are you here? What reason did God have for putting you here on this earth? We are all unique in how He made us and what He gave us. If you’re not clear on how unique you are, please see our Unique Distinctions blogs (HERE and HERE). We can use those unique distinctions to accomplish the “why” we’re here.
Filter #4 — Understanding the Difference Between a Career and a Calling
The last filter I’d suggest can be found in our Crossroads Career exercise contrasting the similarities and differences between a career and a calling. Find out more HERE.
Get Guidance Before Choosing Your Next Path
Finally, I’d call your recollection to the famous Robert Frost poem, “The Road Not Taken,” emphasizing the uniqueness of all life’s choices. The poem closes with, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference”
Friendly amendment. Rather than just choosing a path less traveled or potentially careerism, get some guidance from one of our Crossroads Guides to help you determine the right filters and answers for God’s purposes for you! You can schedule your FREE 45-minute consultation with a Guide HERE. Blessings!
Dave Sparkman currently serves as the volunteer Crossroads Career board chair and local ministry leader. He is also the founder and managing director of Spark Your Culture, a corporate culture consulting firm. Prior to that he worked at UnitedHealth Group, a Fortune #5 public company, serving in the role of Chief Culture Officer. His unemployment experience came from the implosion of Arthur Andersen, where he served as the West Region Managing Partner, People.
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