That seat in which you’re sitting right now? It’s not going to be the same one you’re sitting in the day you retire.
I’m not a betting man, but I feel that’s a pretty safe bet.
You see, jobs aren’t permanent. They haven’t been for a long, long time. And yet, we all get caught up in the idea that they might be.
This might be the job I keep forever. I might love it so much here, that I’ll stay. And stay happy. My kids will work here.
Phooey. Not going to happen.
Somewhere, in the recesses of our brain, we got attached to this idea that a job was a marriage. A til death do us part arrangement. True blue. Forever and ever.
But that’s a mistake. Your career isn’t even a marriage. Your career is a serious relationship, but it’s not a marriage.
And jobs are even less serious. Jobs are like dating.
Now, to keep myself from being completely cynical, there are some cases of true love. Some jobs turn into careers. Some careers turn into a lifelong commitment. But those are happenstance. Luck.
Whoopee. Lucky you.
But, they’re not the standard. They’re the thing of folklore. Something with which to regale the masses.
But you’ve got to break that thought. You’ve got to say it.
I’m not going to retire from here.
Because you’re not.
And if you treat it like a marriage, then guess what? You’re going to be getting a divorce every few years.
Hoo boy. That will be fun.
I’m not going to retire from here.
And that, that little phrase, will give you the vantage to think about your career. Or, more importantly, to think about you. What do you need? What should you be doing? What will help you grow?
Get a little selfish.
You’re not going to retire from there.
9 responses so far ↓
Anne // Feb 23, 2007 at 8:25 am
Love the way you write…
lol… career is neither marriage nor relationship to me. no… I am not willing to commit to anything that is not on my best interests…. selfish I know….
I’d love to have you join our blog network and I can’t wait to get your permition so I can feature your blog on mine. Let me know if you are interested to swap a link.
Have a great day!
Kathy Sierra’s bad marriage metaphor dead on for employees, too | More than a living // Feb 26, 2007 at 7:30 am
[…] You don’t need me to sit here and prattle on, yet again, about how much of a genius Kathy Sierra is. If you do, I’d be happy to do that. But I won’t until you ask. (Maybe I’m just tittering on about her, this time, because we both just used the marriage metaphor in blog posts. Who knows?) […]
Hey ma, look! I’m a social entrepreneur. | More than a living // Feb 27, 2007 at 2:10 pm
[…] And both Penelope Trunk’s and my own post of the same ilk. […]
Cheyne Rood // Mar 2, 2007 at 11:36 am
Well yeah in a way you’re right; I’m never going to retire. Retirement is synonymous with death, no?
Rick Turoczy // Mar 2, 2007 at 11:44 am
If not death, then utter boredom, to be sure.
How’s your career road map coming along? | More than a living // Mar 28, 2007 at 10:26 pm
[…] Even if you’re working the best possible job right now, you need to be thinking about your career. Because that job isn’t going to last forever. You’re not going to retire from there. […]
Hiring decisions, when mistakes keep on giving and giving and giving | More than a living // Apr 13, 2007 at 7:43 am
[…] And I’m not even talking about all of the positive growth and advancement and adding value to the organization stuff. I’m not talking about any of the skipping-down-the-yellow-brick-road-of-happiness, touchy-feely stuff. I’m talking about the dark spectre that we all like to ignore. The “You’re not going to retire from there” factor. […]
Alma Pater | More than a living // May 24, 2007 at 9:42 pm
[…] And all of this is based upon an understanding. An understanding of planned obsolescence. An understanding that, while you won’t be retiring from that organization, you will have a lifelong relationship with them. […]
You’re hired, you’re fired | More than a living // Dec 20, 2007 at 3:25 pm
[…] Anyone who talks to me about their current corporate career will likely have heard me utter—likely innumerable times—my quintessential thought about staying in one place too long, “You’re not going to retire from there.” […]
Leave a Comment