Expanding Your Notion of Career Beyond the Job: Why a Narrow Focus on Job Hunting Limits Your Ability to Make Your Contribution
If you’re looking for a career in climate it might just be that you’re looking in the wrong place. Lost in the miasma (ooh lovely word) of job titles, employment profiles, and company descriptions because you are looking for a “job”.
You may be trapped thinking that your contribution lies solely through your job, because what you think of as a career path is neatly defined by the invisible rules of success you’ve adopted over the years. But what if I told you that by clinging to this narrow focus, you’re actually limiting your potential to make a genuine contribution?
The truth is, the "career ladder" might just be a limiting construct that’s holding you back from a more fulfilling life. Let’s dismantle this together and consider the possibility that your Contribution could be far more than a job title.
The Invisible Rules of Success and the Linear Career Path
We often get caught up in what society tells us is the "right" way to succeed: study hard, get a degree, climb the corporate ladder, buy the house, and maybe, if we’re lucky, retire with a decent pension. But this blueprint doesn’t take into account who we actually are or what we truly care about. These rules, unspoken but rigid, often stop us from even entertaining the idea of an alternative path.
Why? Because they’re invisible, and that makes them dangerous.
Society’s Expectations: From an early age, we’re conditioned to believe that success is linear – like some kind of achievement video game where you “level up” at each stage. The problem is, this narrative doesn’t allow for detours, deviations, or entirely new destinations.
Parental Pressure and Fear of Rejection: Many of us inherit values and expectations from our parents. They want what's best for us, sure, but their well-meaning advice can become a straitjacket, making us afraid to stray off the path. Perhaps the “job for life’ mental model was true then, but it isn’t now.
If we internalise their advice we can start to fear rejection, failure, and the idea of not fitting in. And let’s be honest, that fear is a powerful motivator to stick with what’s familiar, even when it’s not working for us.
The Values You’ve Been Given: The world may have told you that a prestigious job title or a high salary equals success, but have you ever stopped to ask yourself what you value? It’s not easy to break free from these inherited values, but it’s essential if you want to find work that truly aligns with who you are.
Why You're Not Thinking About All the Ways You Could Contribute
It’s easy to stay stuck in a narrow mindset when society, family, and our own fears reinforce the idea that a job is the only valid way to contribute to the world. But this belief limits the multitude of ways you could make an impact.
The concept of "Contribution" is far more expansive than any job title. Think about all the roles that exist outside of the conventional career path: activists, community organisers, artists, coaches, fractional advisors, freelancers, mentors, and thought leaders. These roles aren’t just jobs – they’re ways of showing up in the world that go beyond the traditional exchange of time for money.
To be clear I am not suggesting you need to forego all worldyl goods and live on spring water and a sense of self righteousness. Simply that there are many ways to make a contribution. Our planet doesn’t care if your way has a job title.
Opening Yourself to New Career and Life Ideas
To begin considering alternatives, you need to shift your mindset from a narrow job-seeking perspective to a broader contribution-seeking one. Here’s how:
Becoming the CEO of YouName Inc. : start by reframing how you answer that most dull of dinner party conversations “So what do you do”. Try out a few lines that do not conventionally mention your job. For example you might say “I sell some of my time to [employer name] and use the rest of it to [insert hobby, passion, cause].
This one of my favourites, so click through the exercise above for full details of this exercise. (You’re welcome)Cultivate Curiosity: Start exploring areas that excite you, even if they seem unrelated to your current career. Join a local community group, take up a hobby that you loved as a child, or start volunteering. These experiences can open up new pathways and ideas that you wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.
Embrace Experimentation: Instead of seeing your career as a straight line, treat it as an ongoing experiment. Try out different ways of contributing, whether it’s through side projects, volunteering, or collaborating with others on something meaningful. Allow yourself to play, fail, and learn.
Visualise a Life Without the Constraints: Imagine you were starting from scratch. No job titles, no expectations, just a blank canvas to design your ideal life. What would you create? This exercise can help you step outside the limiting narratives and consider new possibilities.
5 Ways to Cultivate a Creative Mindset
To break out of the "job" mindset, you need to start thinking more creatively about how you can contribute to the world. Here’s how:
Use Reverse Job Ads: Instead of scouring job boards, try creating a “Me for Hire” flyer that showcases your unique skills, passions, and the kinds of projects you’re excited about. Share this with your network or even post it in online communities. This proactive approach can attract opportunities you might never have considered.
Surround Yourself with Diverse Thinkers: Step outside your industry bubble and connect with people from different backgrounds. Engage with artists, activists, entrepreneurs, and community organisers. Their perspectives will inspire you to think differently about your own contribution.
Practice ‘What If’ Thinking: Take any limiting belief you have about your career and turn it on its head by asking, “What if the opposite were true?” For example, if you believe you can’t make a living doing something creative, ask, “What if I could?” This simple shift can open your mind to new possibilities.
Focus on Proximity to What Matters: Spend time around people, projects, and places that align with your values. It’s easier to stay inspired and creative when you’re surrounded by those who share your vision of contribution.
So, What About Activist, Community Organiser, Founder, N.E.D., Fractional Advisor, Freelancer?
It’s time to get creative. These are just a few of the many ways you can contribute that don’t fit neatly into the job title box. Don’t limit yourself to what’s been done before. The most fulfilling roles are often the ones we create ourselves, combining our skills, passions, and experiences in unique ways.
Wrapping It Up: Reclaiming Your Career on Your Terms
When you stop seeing your career as a linear path of ‘jobs’ and start treating it as a multifaceted journey, you open yourself up to endless opportunities for contribution. You’ll find that the question “What do you do?” becomes an exciting prompt rather than a source of dread.
You are not defined by your job title. You are defined by the impact you make, the values you uphold, and the way you choose to show up in the world. So take a step back, get curious, and start designing a life that’s built around more than just a job – one that’s rooted in your unique Contribution to the world.
