Making the Best Use of Your Productive Life? Check Again?

Tekena Craig Fubara

Some argue that Leaders are born, while others argue that Leaders are made. One thing I have definitely noticed, and which many will agree with is that those who are successful at what they do, have shown constancy in their chosen endeavour. This then begs the question that; how can I maintain constancy in my endeavour if I am not clear about what my optimal career path should be? Many try to quickly confirm that they are in their best chosen career path at the flip of a coin, which might most likely be wrong in this case. This is based on the fact that there are so many factors to consider when making the right choice. George .A. Miller in his work published in 1956 [The Psychological Review, Vol. 63, pp 81 - 97, 1956] showed that the human brain is only capable of processing 7 plus/minus 2 different items at a go. This rule is widely applied in most military training programs where the 'Chunking' phenomenon is used to manage huge volumes of information. 

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Bearing in mind that you spend about 67% of your productive life while awake at work, it is therefore really important that you are making the right choice on the right endeavour to be engaged in. I will propose a method that allows logical reasoning over smaller bits of information to identify this life path.

First of all, consider all the factors that matter to you in any endeavour or job you are involved in or want to get involved in, and narrow this list to the top 8 items which are of most importance. Develop a Personal Value Loop as shown in Figure 1. On a scale of 1 to 10, think logically through each individual value driver and quantify each item with your individual preference. Do not quantify all at once, but ensure you think through each one at a time. When done, think through all at a time and highlight the top 3 most important value drivers for you - items you will never compromise on. Close this chart and put it away.

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Figure 1: Personal Value Loop (Note that these elements are just examples, and yours can be different).

Then go ahead to develop your current or future Endeavour Value Loop, where you analyse on a scale of 1 to 10 what your current job or future job gives or intends to offer to you with the same value drivers you had listed on your Personal Value Loop. Do this analysis thinking though item by item for each value driver. 

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Figure 2: Endeavour Value Loop

Once complete, compare the two charts together and focus on the top 3 items which should capture value drivers you will never compromise on. You can do this for several jobs or career options to identify the one with the least gap. This exercise only works when you follow the steps and analyse each item step-by-step, and the results can be astonishing and revealing.

Having said all, this gives you the most logical answer to what your career path should be. However, your intuition or emotion sits above all logic. Once you have completed all logical analysis, sit down quietly, meditate and listen to your intuition. Ask yourself, does this feel right? Quieten the noise and flurry of activities around you and just listen to yourself. Your intuition can never be wrong. If done right, your intuition and your logic should match or show resonance.

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