There’s a very real community of people choosing to rewrite the rules of their professional and personal lives. For some that means leaving the corporation to design their own lifestyle. For others it’s about evolving a way of being that allows them to thrive in employed roles.
If you’ve been reading this series, you’ll know I call this community The New Work Pioneers.
And so far we’ve talked about what prompts them to take a different tack; how they think differently about success; the hallmark milestones of their journey; and why they really bother.
But what really, really sets successful New Work Pioneers apart from those who’d aspire to this path, but fall short?
Self direction
Successful New Work Pioneers see themselves as powerful agents in setting and steering the course of their own lives.
In psychology the jargon is that they have an internal locus of control. This means that on balance they attribute their successes to their own effort, and failures to more variable, often external factors. Which allows them to keep moving forward self-assuredly.
Positive outlook
Adrian Swinscoe wrote earlier this week about optimism. People who are successful in carving out different ways of working and living tend to adopt a positive lens in looking at the world.
They’re no Pollyannas. Nor do they feel the need to adopt any inauthentic persona of the always upbeat person.
They have a realistic view of the world. And it’s one that sees the good; the possibilities and opportunities in each situation.
Life goals
Goals give shape, purpose and direction to life. Successful New Work Pioneers set themselves life goals which they actively pursue. If they’re in a committed relationship, they’ll often set these goals jointly with their partners.
Interestingly, while their goals are often explicit about the material and practical things they want from life, the goals to which they give most attention are those they can imbue with meaning and purpose. For example, they may think of how their work ambitions foster the positive development of their target market; or of how their desire for children will enrich their experience of family.
The deep sense of positive emotional engagement they make with these goals gives them an energy that sustains them.
Flexibility
Even if goals create a map, the terrain once you reach it can look quite different. Successful New Work Pioneers understand this and are not too wedded to a fixed sense of themselves, or of the world. They take bumps in the road as experiences they can learn from.
They don’t allow themselves to be so controlling about things that they get stuck in their own minutiae.
Self knowledge
Smart New Work Pioneers have clocked the importance of understanding themselves. They tend to be committed to their own personal development, seeing it as a life-long pursuit.
Many of them will have an intimate awareness of their personal values and will see how putting them positively into practice not only makes them happy, but gets them great results.
And they’ll unfathom any limiting beliefs they’re holding onto that may threaten to derail them.
Engaging with others
Successful off-piste career folks take satisfaction in good connections with others. Whether it’s in the context of a special love-relationship; with children; with family and friends; or with colleagues, they value the sense of themselves they get from being intimately engaged. The energy they get from this boosts them and supports their onward journey. Particularly if those relationships are mutually respectful and supportive.
Meaning at work
The happiest New Work Pioneers are those who find flow experiences in work. Of course, it helps if they naturally love what they do. But for many that’s not where they’re at. At least not yet.
Still, successful ones will find meaning in whatever form of work they’re doing. Contributing to something that’s bigger than them. Giving something back. Making a difference.
With a felt-sense of purpose, work can feel inspiring, which in turn can fuel the New Work Pioneers endeavours.
Making the most of most things
Sometimes times are good. Sometimes they’re bad. Sometimes just so. Being a New Work Pioneer isn’t a recipe for an incident-free life. Still, the successful ones are those who tend to take life as it comes and make the most of all situations. This equanimity; the finding of satisfaction in what is, allows them just to be.
And just being is in essence what they are seeking to achieve.
So, does this resonate with you? What strategies do you adopt to keep yourself on a different path?
Finally, thanks to the community of readers that has been reading these posts each week over the last couple of months. I really appreciate your having stuck with the series. Now for the task of turning it all into an eBook!If you don’t want to miss out, subscribe for regular updates here!
Twitter: ali_davies
says:
For me what you say in your first parapraph is absolutely key- “community of people choosing to rewrite the rules of their professional and personal lives” – most people are living by rules made up by society, their parents or some other external source which is why there is so many unfulfilled people in their lives and careers. The key is to consciously create your own rules.
.-= Ali Davies´s last blog ..Are You Trying to be a Superhero? =-.
Absolutely, Ali.
Sadly, we tend to be schooled in how to follow rules well so that we can adapt to society. Breaking free of that mindset so that we can determine what’s really best for us is fundamental.
Hi,
I’ve always been on a different path. I was 17 and pregnant when married and at 19 I started my own flower business from home. The only time I worked for someone else was after graduate school for two years. The I open a private practice as a therapist.
3 years ago I gave it up to move from MI to AZ. My license isn’t valid here and I’d have to get another degree in order to continue that line of work…not for me! I’m 56 now and still married to the same man! Our four children are all in their 30′s!
I love your blog!
Lovely to see you here, Tess!
You have indeed been on a different path all those years – and it sounds like they’ve been happy and successful ones for you too?
Glad you enjoy the blog. Swing by anytime you like!
My strategies include, having goals, continually learning and having a positive filter.
As you taught me this week Christine, valuing yourself and believing completely that you have something of worth to give is vital for me to keep on a different path.
.-= Ben´s last blog ..Friday’s Personal Development Homework – A Twist =-.
Thanks for sharing that, Ben.
I like your words: “valuing yourself and believing completely that you have something of worth to give”. That is indeed vital to staying on a different path. Awesome discovery, Ben!
Twitter: adrianswinscoe
says:
Hi Christine,
I have always found that having a clear goal of where I want to go and being unhappy where I am and what I am doing do not always coincide.
So, when I get that feeling that this is not for me I tend to start thinking about other things I could be doing as little reconnaisance exercises as it also helps me define what my next goal is going to be. It also forces me to try new things and take a few risks.
My little maxim: Do something as long as it feels good. When it doesn’t, try something different.
Adrian
.-= Adrian Swinscoe´s last blog ..The Strength of Your Brand is Not Dependent on the Size of Your Marketing Budget =-.
That’s a really interesting approach to share, Adrian. Like you use your own knowing as an inner compass to help direct and course-correct you. Love it!
Hi Christine, it’s nice landing on your blog from Jen’s Reach Our Dreams.
I like how you outline The New Work Pioneers. Many people think that being a new pioneer is risky because it’s not the conventional type of work in society, but I read a post from once of Steve Pavlina’s post once that said that having a job is more risky than working for yourself.
I think if you know what you’re doing, then you can make the process less risky and more safe for yourself. Thanks why I agree with your idea of self-knowlege. We have to be able to know ourselves first including our limiting beliefs so we can at least try.
Finally, what I like most about being a new pioneer is what you mention at the end. In regular jobs, you are told what to do and do it. Thus you may not find work meaningful. But by doing what you naturally love to do, you work your best, and if you can give it your all everyday, it stands a better chance at making bigger impact in the world.
Thanks Christine and nice blog!
Welcome, Hulbert! Pleased to meet you, thanks to Jen
I like that view that having a job is more risky than working for yourself. As you say, it all comes down to self-knowledge. My take is that, so long as you are working consciously, the issue of whether you’re employed or not is less important than what you’re getting out of it. For example, I’ve got a coaching client who’s a business consultant and prefers to work self-employed, but has just taken a job that’s on his client’s payroll. Although the company see it as a “permanent job”, my client is thinking of it as another two-year assignment for him. It fits in perfectly with his longer term plans and so is perfectly meaningful to him. Taking this view of things is stopping him getting sucked into the usual games and politics that go on in big companies that can be so soul-destroying. He has given himself freedom although from some perspectives it wouldn’t look that way.
It’s great that you took the time to leave such a detailed comment and lovely to “chat” in this way!