In part 1, I shared several tactics to help you gain the necessary insights or information to refine your career vision. Part 2 expands on test and learn experiments; and focuses on visioning, revamping your story and executing your vision.
3. In Aerialist, Katrin Ley from Reebok, reinforces the importance of partnering with the right expert, Cirque du Soleil in their case, creating a vision that excited them, considering a lot of different options and then narrowing in on one to launch. This is the fun part of the coaching process, this is where my clients create their vision in technicolor, no judgment is allowed, the key is to end up with something that makes you a little uncomfortable, otherwise what is the point? We then discuss how to make their vision actionable. Katrin also goes one step further to show they were willing to do what was necessary to make it work. This is where passion and persistence comes in. If you have truly figured out your passion, nothing will get in the way of you achieving it.
4. In Freshmaker, Simon Unwins shares how he helped one of my favorite grocers, Tesco enter the US market with a new brand. Unwins emphasizes the importance of incorporating feedback during testing, tweaking the prototype, moving from prototype to reality and continuing to test along the way. As my client embarks on their test and learn experiment, they are armed with learning objectives to: (i) make sure they gather the necessary information to make a decision and; (ii) to enable them to tweak their experiment real time. It is not a setback, if your experiment is not going as planned, but a great learning opportunity. Tesco built listening and responding into their DNA and made gradual rather than sudden changes. If you study people who have reinvented their careers, you will learn that it takes time, anywhere from 18 – 36 months, sometimes longer to get it right.
5. In Bean Queens, Danielle Paris talks about McDonald’s establishing credibility in the coffee industry so that consumers would willingly follow. When you are considering reinvention, a big concern is: What will others think? Personally, when I considered transitioning from the corporate world to career coaching, those who really knew me got it and the rest I had to bring along, I found when I started to talk about my transition confidently it was easier for others to support me. Echoing Sofia Therios’ comment “We’ve built a relationship with customers so they’ll feel comfortable with something new.” My clients gain credibility, because they invest their energy into understanding why they want to pursue a different path. We then spend time practicing their story so they feel comfortable sharing their career vision with others. One of the final steps is to create a network to inspire, challenge, inform, support and guide you; as well as connect you with others, as you execute your vision.
What is left unsaid about creating big bold ideas or reinventions for that matter, is that there will be many exhilarating moments followed by low moments, it is during these moments when your passion, purpose or a certain je ne se quoi pushes to innovate on a magical level. This passion catalyzed my reinvention and is what inspires me to get up everyday to help my clients actuate theirs.
What creative steps have you taken to reinvent your career? As always if you have any comments or questions, feel free to use the comments section below or email me directly.
Tags: Innovative Career Strategies, Reinventing your career, What's Your Story?, What's Your Vision?
