{"id":1039,"date":"2011-01-24T11:45:48","date_gmt":"2011-01-24T18:45:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dierschow.com\/wordpress\/?p=1039"},"modified":"2012-06-01T14:55:33","modified_gmt":"2012-06-01T21:55:33","slug":"the-why-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dierschow.com\/wordpress\/career\/the-why-questions","title":{"rendered":"The “why” questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
\nWe’ve reached the end of all the who<\/a>, where<\/a>, what<\/a>, when<\/a>, and how<\/a> questions.\u00a0 The final questions are WHY, which I’ve left to the end because they’re so important.\u00a0 These provide the reason and energy for doing all the other hard work, and indeed for having any career at all.<\/p>\n

Why do I work?<\/strong> On the face of it, this may seem an absurd question.\u00a0 You work so you can get money, so that you can afford everything else in your life.\u00a0 But wait just a minute!\u00a0 If that’s all you ever get from work, why do you do?\u00a0 Why aren’t you out there doing something illegal, just because it would give you more money?<\/p>\n

I’ll challenge you to create a list of five reasons why you work<\/em>.\u00a0 Sure, money’s on there, but what are the others?\u00a0 Is there something about making a contribution, serving customers, or developing yourself?<\/p>\n

Why am I here in this world?<\/strong> This may feel much too philosophical, but stay with me.\u00a0 The answer to this question will help to highlight your worldview – in general, why people exist, and specifically, how that relates to you personally.\u00a0 If you view the world in a religious sense (people exist to fulfill God’s plan, that kind of thing) then it can help you to discover the larger spiritual basis of your life.<\/p>\n

If your view is more that societies and groups are the core reason for existence (we are here to help each other and accomplish important things as a group), you’ll steer in a direction of investigating which group and society goals you identify with.<\/p>\n

You might have an individualistic view (I exist to accomplish what I can and develop my skills and position).\u00a0 In this case you’ll be looking for your current position and assets, and what’s the most that you can make out of it.<\/p>\n

You get to choose.\u00a0 But it’s perhaps the most important decision you could possibly make.<\/p>\n

Why am I in this situation?<\/strong> Building upon the world view, you’ll have opinions about why you are where you are.\u00a0 But this is extremely tricky, because the easy answer is to blame your situation on the actions of other people.\u00a0 It’s largely true, of course, because other people outnumber you by about 6 billion to one.<\/p>\n

But it’s not particularly useful, because there’s little you can do about it.\u00a0 So the more fruitful direction to take is to look at what you’ve done to contribute to the situation<\/em>.\u00a0 If you were a contributing factor, then if you want to change or expand it, you also contribute to that.<\/p>\n

Let’s take a concrete example, from about 20 years ago in my own past.\u00a0 Why had I achieved my position at that point, which had both positive and negative aspects?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Because I have a certain set of skills<\/td>\nUseful:\u00a0 This reminds me that I am able to develop new skills<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Because I grew up in a middle class family in Colorado<\/td>\nNot particularly useful:\u00a0 I can’t change it<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Because I had a passion for software from an early age<\/td>\nSomewhat useful:\u00a0 It gives me insight into what kinds of things (software or otherwise) that I might be good at<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Because I’m naturally introverted<\/td>\nOnly useful to the extent that it helps me to focus my learning, if I want to become more extroverted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Because I’ve been lucky<\/td>\nNot useful:\u00a0 I don’t want the result of my life to just be due to random luck<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Because I’m analytic and careful<\/td>\nUseful:\u00a0 This shows me some skills and inclinations I have, which can be both an asset and a curse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

I’ll leave you to work on these broad questions, which can become an important foundation for the creation of your new career and life direction!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

An important resource<\/h2>\n

LinkedIn<\/a> is so much more than a place to put your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 or CV, or to connect with others in your profession.\u00a0 Did you know that you can learn about companies by their LinkedIn profiles, and the people who work\/worked for them?<\/p>\n

I’ve heard growing numbers of stories of companies that actively go out and look for employees through LinkedIn, because the prospect of thousands of responses to an advertisement are so daunting.\u00a0 And like it or not, some companies have the perception that most of the top employees are already working someplace (e.g. competitors) and not looking at advertisements.\u00a0 I think this is faulty logic in the current economy, but I know of people who think this way.<\/p>\n

The most powerful aspect of LinkedIn, for me, is the long list of groups and areas of special interests.\u00a0 There are interesting and valuable discussions taking place, and participating in them will give you information and help you to establish a presence with people you’ve never met.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Carl Dierschow is a Certified Small Fish Business Coach<\/a> and author of the career management guide, Mondays Stink! 23 Secrets to Rediscover Delight and Fulfillment in Your Work<\/em>. He is a career coach for those going through interesting transitions, and works with small business owners who need to create breakthroughs in achieving their business goals. Find out more at www.Dierschow.com<\/a> and www.SmallFish.us<\/a>.If you are interested in individual career coaching, group coaching, or other resources which might help you with difficult choices, please contact Carl at carl@dierschow.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Connect with Carl on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and LinkedIn<\/a> to get timely updates and connections to a broader range of professionals.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, send an e-mail to newsletter@Dierschow.com<\/a>\u00a9 2010 Possibilities Partnership LLC<\/td>\n\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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