#atom

Strategic design and navigation of professional trajectory

Core Idea: Career planning is the intentional process of designing and navigating one's professional path based on skills, values, market conditions, and evolving personal priorities.

Key Elements

Planning Approaches

• Traditional linear planning: Progressive advancement within a single field or organization
• Portfolio career planning: Developing multiple income streams and professional identities
• Ikigai-based planning: Finding intersection of passion, mission, profession, and vocation
• Optionality-focused planning: Maximizing future choices by developing transferable skills

Key Components

• Skills assessment: Identifying current capabilities and developmental opportunities
• Values clarification: Determining what matters most in work context
• Market analysis: Understanding demand for specific skills and roles
• Network development: Building relationships that provide opportunities and insights
• Experimentation: Testing assumptions through projects, roles, and conversations

Critical Decision Points

• Selecting educational paths and learning investments
• Choosing between specialization and generalization
• Navigating the local vs. global focus continuum
• Balancing financial stability against other priorities
• Determining acceptable tradeoffs between different work characteristics

Implementation Strategies

• Horizon planning: Maintaining different planning timeframes (1-year, 5-year, lifetime)
• Decision filters: Creating frameworks for evaluating opportunities
• Feedback loops: Establishing mechanisms to assess progress and satisfaction
• Pivot preparation: Building resilience and adaptability for inevitable changes
• Lifestyle integration: Ensuring career choices support desired overall life design

Additional Connections

• Broader Context: Intentional Living (designing one's life around core values)
• Applications: Personal Moat (building sustainable career advantages)
• See Also: Local vs Global Focus (impact of geographic scope on career options)

References

1. Burnett, B., & Evans, D. (2016). Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life
2. Newport, C. (2012). So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love

#career #planning #professional-development #work-life-integration

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Sources:

• From: Sivers-Hell Yeah or No