The journey through our dreams is never easy nor rarely obvious. Expect to course correct. Set your standard to learning from and engaging in every experience.
I can’t ever remember not being on this journey. Sure, there have been different forms, opposing viewpoints, and at times I was in a barely self-aware needle-in-a-haystack search. But never did I let go of at least a mere inclination that each and every career experience should be part of my personal path toward discovering who I am and why I am here. And really, not just that, but what to do with my life?
After reading the first half “What Should I Do with My Life?” by Po Bronson, I’ve discovered that I am not alone. This struggle is common. This question is explored by people from all walks of life and backgrounds. It does not matter who you are or what you are dealt, you have a right to engage in a meaningful dialog (maybe only with yourself) about “what it is you do here” when the reference of here is life on earth, not a particular job in a particular cubicle.
And what does this book have to do with bridging the gap between business and IT? Very little directly, but everything broadly. Bridging this gap requires passion and commitment. It’s not about doing technology or defining business processes, it’s about committing to helping organizations grow and succeed. A recent CIO article stated, the new critical persona of technology leaders is “results-oriented activist”…i.e. you have a passion for achieving results within a broad context. Side-by-side was an article on IT talent management, the mantra being to cut overall staff and refocus training, development, and salary money on those with expertise in the most relevant IT skill sets and the ability to engage the business. The old skill sets are fading in relative importance with respect to collaboration, proactive natures, and excellence.
So why discover “What Should I Do with My Life? “ Because if you want to make it in this new environment, you better be passionate about what you are doing. You owe it to yourself to make a contribution and a career choice you can be passionate about.
And if you think you’ve found your passion as a business analyst, check out How to Start a Business Analyst Career, for tips on how to qualify for an entry-level business analyst position.
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By Laura (Brandau) Brandenburg. Laura Brandenburg is an independent business analyst consultant. She is passionate about the BA profession and is committed to contributing by supporting this blog as a forum for business analysts to build on each other's experiences. View more blog posts by Laura (Brandau) Brandenburg |
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Laura,
Count me as one who is working to find his passion and make a living at it! I do thoroughly enjoy I.T. and how it challenges me. However, I will still search for what really gets me juiced to get me out of bed in the morning.
In a job club this week I was introduced to the book “48 Days to the Job You Love”, so will be checking that out soon.
–Joe
Glad to hear it Joe. It’s a great place to be. Let me know how you like “48 Days to the Job You Love”…it might be right up my alley. Something else you might look at, if you haven’t already, is “Go: Put Your Strengths to Work.” It’s about transforming your current job into one that suits you day-by-day.
I simply believe in the saying “love what you do and the money will follow”… Channeling your passion into a certain thing, especially when pursuing you career would simply transform into something very fruitful. It would satisfy not just your monetary needs, but also the other aspect of your self. It allows you satisfaction and fulfillment!