Would you rather do a few things well or a lot of things badly? For now, I’ve chosen the latter.
The “kaleidoscope model” of career decision-making might be relevant here:
Recently Lisa Mainiero and Sherry Sullivan (2005) suggested that there might be alternate explanations about women’s career decision-making. In their article Kaleidoscope Careers: An Alternate Explanation for the “opt-out” Revolution they outlined how three key parameters: authenticity, balance, and challenge have different impacts at different times in our lives.
They suggest that early in our careers, challenge and goal achievement is the primary concern; balance and authenticity have lesser influence. In mid-career, balance becomes the primary concern, and challenge and authenticity are more likely to be secondary considerations. Later in our careers authenticity is the primary concern, and challenge and balance are secondary. Notice that authenticity, balance, and challenge are of importance throughout women’s careers, but priorities shift and these elements are adjusted, much like the changing patterns as we view a kaleidoscope.
I’m roughly in the middle of my career, so according to that theory, I should be prioritizing balance. But instead I seem to be chasing after both authenticity and goal achievement in equal measure, with the result that I have gone almost completely insane.
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If this is insanity, well it is creative insanity. I think you are doing well. our little community of WWD readers seems to agree with me on this one!
“…almost completely insane.?
I guess that means that you’re “partially insane” like the rest of us.
Question: Why does a dog chase a car? (Dogs have seen cars parked so it’s not like they could expect to do anything more then bark if they catch it.)
Answer: For the fun of the chase!
Your work as always is well done, enjoyable, and thought provoking…now you just need to learn to enjoy the chase!
As I was launching my business this summer, a close friend asked “why now?” shouldn’t I be in the “easing phase” of my career. I think there’s a right-brain component that skews the kaleidoscope theory. If the first part of your career emphasized the left-brain, and you have a creative side, at some point you are compelled to “try things”. Thus, you skip right over balance to pursue authenticity with your creative side. This triggers the whole insanity cycle. At least that’s the story I’m telling myself
bummer about the snowbank.
Creative insanity, that’s a good way to frame it! Or partial sanity.
I am mostly enjoying the chase, but then I make some mistakes and I feel rotten, even though I know mistakes are inevitable.
I don’t know where the balance phase of my career went. Oh wait, I do–that was the five years out of the workforce. And now, the insanity cycle. No time for balance. No interest in it either.
More on the Kaleidoscope Career Model and Anne’s Situation
The KCM does explain where you are at Anne. During the research for our book “The Opt-Out Revolt: Why People Are Leaving Companies to Create Kaleidoscope Careers” (2006), Lisa and I found that while most women follow a Beta Career Pattern of Challenge, then Balance then Authenticity, some women follow an Alpha Pattern of Challenge (sometimes into midlife), then Authenticity and then Balance. So, while keeping in mind that Authenticity, Balance and Challenge are always active throughout one’s life, Anne may have a Beta Career Pattern.
If you would like more information on the KCM, please visit our website at http://www.theoptoutrevolt.com. We have a family friendly audit posted there that can help you evaluate your current company’s culture or a potential employer’s work environment. We also have many more details about the model and careers. We also have a self-assessment instrument for determining your career pattern that is being used by career coaches and counselors. Anne—if you are interested in the instrument, please email me through the website and remind me of your posting on this site and I’ll see that you get a free copy.
Sherry Sullivan
co-author “The Opt-Out Revolt”