The rules have changed – and to get ahead in today’s job market, you have to think outside of the box. It requires a change in thinking, a change in approach and, sometimes, a change in direction. Read about our other Me, Inc. blog posts that detail this change and explain how you can adapt.
The Mindset Shift explained:
How do we make the adjustment to a “Me, Inc.” attitude? Here’s a few of the paradigm shifts:
| Shift From: | Shift To: |
| ” I’m an employee and always will be.” | “I have a great opportunity to leverage my skills in multiple environments, perhaps even simultaneously, maybe as an employee or perhaps as a contractor. It might be full time, or better yet, part time, where I have the flexibility to work for more than one company at the same time. This may be ideal for me (variety, less dependence on any one company and its success, or lack thereof), but is also likely as beneficial to those who employ my skills.” |
| “I’ll do whatever it takes to pay my bills, even if it’s not a great fit for my skills and interests.” | “I was designed by God with very specific talents and gifts. These were not an accident, nor should my career be accidental. Even if today I’m in a role that is not an ideal (or even a close) fit, my goal is to find the role that is consistent with and takes advantage of my God-given talents. This may take time and effort, but it honors God to find the role that allows my light (and skills) to shine for others to see and benefit from. |
| “I expect to have this job indefinitely (i.e. forever).” | “I expect that the role I currently occupy is for the short/mid-term, and the prudent thing for me to do is to consistently explore other career options and alternatives in order to maximize my opportunities-both short and long term. This is not being dis-loyal or underhanded to my current employer! It’s simply recognition that there is no longer permanence in today’s job market, and both employer and employee are best served to understand this reality.” |
| “I will do what’s best for my employer, no matter the cost to me personally, to my family or to my career.” | “I must do what’s best for “Me, Inc.” and ensure that my client (the company I work for in whatever capacity) gets fair value for fair compensation. If either of these does not occur, the relationship will likely be short-lived.” |
| “My employer is responsible for my career development.” | “No one will care for my career and my future like I will, so I’ll take personal responsibility for my development, including training. To whatever extent my employer can contribute, so much the better!” |
| “I feel dependent on my employer for my well-being and future.” | “I am clearly benefiting from my current employer relationship, but I’m not relying on it to take care of my long-term career. I’m proactively exploring career options; I’m exploring options to create health insurance plans that reduce my reliance on any single employer; and I’m increasingly recognizing that my long-term well-being is far better placed in the care of my Heavenly Father — for now and eternity. |
| “I’ll keep doing this job until the next one comes along.” | “I’ll continue to do an exceptional job in my current role, but I will continuously and actively identify and pursue new opportunities simultaneously for the benefit of all concerned.” |
| “I don’t have time to network with people outside of my day-to-day responsibilities.” | “I must proactively network with other people, inside and outside of my direct contacts, in order to nurture existing relationships and develop new ones for the benefit of discovering future opportunities and serving the needs of others in the process.” |
| “Since I’m more than 50 years old, I’m just happy to have a job at all” | “Because I’m over 50, I have exceptional skills and experiences. I’m willing to minimize the risk for the employer who is concerned with my energy, health or my likelihood of retiring prematurely by working on a contract or part-time basis. I will be comfortable, perhaps even eager, for alternative work arrangements that are good for me and good for my employer.” |
It’s obvious from these contrasts that this will not be a natural shift for many because it runs so counter to the way we’ve been taught to think as “employees.” This shift wouldn’t even be needed if the employment environment hadn’t changed dramatically, but it has. Are you adapting accordingly?
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