by kgettelfinger | Feb 10, 2009 | Career management, Uncategorized
I love technology. I’ve seen how its proper use can transform a process and create valuable efficiency. I’ve seen it impact my life in very positive ways (I’m not sure I could keep things straight without my Blackberry).
I’ve also seen it derail a system and make things more difficult or at a minimum get in the way of its own success. Too often people/organizations gravitate toward a technology for its promise of the good life without really examining how the features will fit into their life/process. Technology is meant to enhance a process, it can rarely replace one perfectly. I have yet to find a process that will replace my lovely manual to do lists for example. No one system seems to really understand the way I think. There are systems out there which purport to mimic my mind and thought flow but to date none of them have convinced me to change my behavior completely. And who can blame the software? I don’t think you can successfully implement a software solution if you don’t understand your process to begin with and my mind still has its mysterious elements. I will never be able to make the most of those slick systems until I understand how to map out the process of my thinking. That will take time and multiple iterations for me to achieve success. But, I like my paper process and my wall size to do list. I can’t help it. I’m not ready to let it go. So while on the one hand I will happily help companies think through their implementation and integration strategies and put them into play, my inner ludite will likely be with me for a long time.
by kgettelfinger | Jan 15, 2009 | Career management, Uncategorized
Have you looked back at the disparate pieces of your career and thought they didn’t add up to much? The whole of you is greater than the sum of your parts. How do you figure out this equation? For me I looked back at all the different things I have done and asked questions about them like the following:
What were the things that I really liked (disliked) about that role or that company?
What pieces made me really excited or brought out my creativity?
I discovered that at the core of my favorite roles or companies there was a theme. I need to work in a growth environment with people who are interested in growing the business, the people in the business and their customers business. I really enjoy connecting with others and helping them succeed and I found this in some element of the roles that I enjoyed.
What trends have you seen in your path? What tricks have you used to connect the dots?
by kgettelfinger | Jan 6, 2009 | Career management, WFN Defined
By definition my being employed seems to counter any claims I make to being a Workforce Nomad. Am I not owned by the company that has hired me? I receive a salary. I am not currently a contractor. How does that work? I think WFN is a state of mind or a state of being. Even within the walls of my company I don’t belong to one group. I am an internal consultant. No home, no defined structure. I land in meetings or projects for other groups and give them the benefit of my skill and then I am as quickly moved on to the next project. How does this work and how is it not just schizophrenia?
It makes perfect sense to me, as I have been this way my entire life. I never fit completely into any one group. But I blend into many groups quite well. It helps me be very objective about the people I am with, it means I probably avoid any real entanglement for better or for worse.
You can definitely be a Workforce Nomad even within the confines of a corporate structure. In fact I encourage it. When you are being your creative self you can get motivated on your own excited about your projects and bring fresh ideas and value to your company. You could be a great long timer really because you’ve reinvented your life at the company and continued to make things happen.
