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For the 21st century, you need intuition
From Cathy's ebook, Your
Intuitive Move
The nineteenth century brought the Industrial Revolution,
which changed the way we did things. The twentieth century
introduced change in the rate of change.
In the first two-thirds of the twentieth century, you could
plan a career and hope for security. People were advised,
"If you choose Profession X, or learn Skill Y, you'll
always have a job."
My high school advisors said, "If you can type, you
can always work. We will always need secretaries." A
few years ago a CPA told me the partners of his Big Six firm
are typing their own letters and memos. Three partners share
a single assistant.
Some people remain in the time zone that ended more than
two decades ago. A former academic colleague shared concerns
about his children: "I want them to major in a technical
field so they can always get a job."
His oldest child is fourteen. By the time she enters the
work force, technical skills may be taken for granted, and
universities may no longer offer the tenure that constitutes
his own security blanket.
Today, you need flexiblity and intuition. Flexibility means
being a free spirit, being willing to take risks and make
moves because they feel right, not waiting until we are forced
by circumstances. We need skills to roll with the punches,
not tools that can be used only when the ground beneath us
is firm and solid.
Intuition means sensing that, "This move isn't right
for me," or, "I will need a job change soon."
We need to rely less on rules and external process and more
on, "The emperor has no clothes. I don't care what everyone
else says. I know"
The airline world is beginning to realize that their procedures
were based on assumptions that were turned upside down. They
taught their employees to follow the rules. In the aftermath
of 9-11, people began saying, "The rules won't work here."
Well, the rules aren't working in a lot of life domains that
rely on procedures: health care, justice, education and more.
Those sectors ultimately will be transformed, not just revised
with a new layer of rules and assessments.
The New Career Strategy calls for a combination of freedom
and intuition. You can't rely on a counselor to calculate
your future from a battery of tests. What's needed is a change
in values from security to adventure, and a jungle guide to
help you find water in the career desert.
| Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. is an author, career coach, and
speaker. She works with mid-career professionals who want to make a fast
move to career freedom. Visit her site http://www.movinglady.com
or call 505-534-4294. |
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