Since I’ve returned from vacation, I’m even more dissatisfied with my chosen career. Most of you who know me, also know that I’ve been in search of a new career for oh, about 8 to 10 years (about as long as I’ve been employed where I am now). I’ve run the gamut of ideas: venture capital (very soulless), consulting (unstable), sustainable business (not enough prior work in the field), socially responsible causes (pay too low). Anyway, I’m good at a lot of things, expert in almost nothing except networking, connecting people and communication (some of you have really heard me talk, and talk, and talk). I now find myself in the midst of a few interests, doing random things that satisfy a number of creative outlets, but nothing that would lend itself to a new career. I’m about to go do my 2nd volunteer coordination gig in Luray, VA this weekend, I’ve been trying to get the guys from Arrow Bicycle up and running with a new web site that tells you more about who they are and what they do, and I emailed the folks at Chrome Bags about their new shop and great line of products. I see a need, I want to help, and most of the time its stuff that I’d do for free. But as the Joker in the most recent Batman movie said “If you do something well, never do it for free” so I need to be a bit more aware of not only what I’m worth but what the value of my contribution is to others. I’m an excellent people person, I motivate people to do things, I can talk to anyone, promote almost anything (regardless of whether I understand it or not) and can make things pretty simple to understand.
For example, I’ve been sidetracked at work with a bizarre project that has nothing to do with my primary job function. This project is a collection of data sources and the project managers are trying to internally market the resource. I conceived of the idea to give employees steps to create a bookmark so that the resource was always accessible. I thought it would be cool to create a “bookmark” that told you how to “bookmark” a page. Brilliant, right?!? Very simple, cutesy, portable, etc. It worked. We held training sessions where the bookmarks were distributed and folks loved them. Simple, easy, portable, voila!! Success! How do I make a career from that? What is that job called? Is that a marketing/communications consultant?? Who knows? Anyone out there need that kind of skill? I’ve got it in spades!
Other career ideas include launching a restaurant that emulates the slow food movement, open a “mini” farm where everything is diminutive (how cute!) including all the animals, or go into some sort of sports promotional direction.
