What happens when you know you can do great things.
But you don’t fit within anyone’s box?
I’m not a square peg. Or a round peg. Or even a peg that has a name for it.
I’m multi-faceted, highly-talented and if I was going to be a peg, I would be a half-hexagon, half-cube, with feathers on the tip. Oh, and I’d be yellow. Just like a cartoon lion.
That’s the kind of peg I am – unique!
In days gone by people left education (those who went) and took up an apprenticeship. That was then their job. For life. That was it. Round peg training >>> this way >>>
Not only have apprentices become a lesser-known species.
A job for life has become so obscure, it is virtually extinct.
The days of round pegs are all but over.
Enter unique and original pegs, of every shape and colour. Most of which you have never heard of and are yet un-named.
This brings to pass an interesting phase in the world of corporations… and an increasing number of consultants, associates and small(er) businesses, fluid and forward-thinking enough to write job specs for people, rather than the other way around.
Who knows, this could be the beginning of the end of the rigid job spec
… and the start of a new way of recruiting. A way that supports people and their passions. Rather than trying to stuff them in a wrongly-shaped, ill-suited box.
In the meantime, my unique peg of a friend, here are some tips for achieving satisfaction through work:
- Consider working for a much smaller company. Small(er) organisations typically welcome diverse skills. They don’t have budget for absolute wish lists of people and therefore appreciate you being able to wear a multitude of hats. Possibly there will be no healthcare or a pension, but they will not be so fixed on you doing one specific task. Can you exchange quality of life right here, right now, for life as a round peg with package benefits? Particularly as when your small(er) company becomes successful these things might become part of your future remuneration package.
- Look into permanent part-time options. It may be you can offer your services to five companies, who all hire you one day per week and that each of those organisations ask you to do something different for them. Giving you diversity of role and environment.
- Think about setting up on your own – either with your own business, or in partnership with other unique pegs. If between you, there are sales, marketing and finance skills, a product or service to offer and a vision of where to go with it you have the cornerstones of your own small(er) business.
- Take a part-time job, the minimum you dare and use the rest of your time to follow your passions into new avenues. Start having different adventures and see if you can earn some money along the way. When the latter overtakes the former in terms of revenue generation it’s time to jump and do it your way.
- Create a video of YOU. Be passionate, be inspiring, be uniquely you. Put it on the Internet and see what comes back. Maybe the person who needs your blend of skills will be attracted to watching it (post it on LinkedIn if you’re looking for work). If, as a result of gaining extra clarity on your own uniqueness during filming, you decide to do one of the above options, you have your first piece of marketing material.
In the words of Richard Branson: ‘Screw Business as Usual’.
