The Three Questions

You have the right to create work you love, -- work that is fun, work that is meaningful, work that allows you to develop your talents, and work that is rewarding (and I mean financially).

That is your right.
That is your responsibility.
That is your privilege.

But how? How do you “create work?” What does that really mean?

If you are like most of us, you were taught to search for the perfect job or project by going out into the marketplace and looking for what is available. You seek out the “box.” And, then you try to find ways to fit yourself into that predefined box.

This is a reactive process. Reactive in the sense that you are responding or reacting to work that is out there and that has been predefined by someone else. It’s hard to create meaningful, fun, fulfilling work that way when it’s someone else’s box of things to do.

Creating work is a proactive process. You don’t start by seeing how you can fit yourself into a box. (Ha ha… If you are anything like me, you don’t fit in a box!)

Don’t start by looking into the job market to see what role you can fill. Begin by looking within yourself. Start with you and figure out what you have to offer.

In order to create work effectively, you must be able to answer these three questions:

1. Who am I and what do I have to offer the marketplace?

Think of your talents, your gifts, and your abilities, all those things you do well and that come naturally to you. You can add in your skills and experience and weave together what I call a "value proposition." Specifically and literally, how are you proposing to add value to a company, a team, an organization? What do you really have to offer and what makes you unique and different from everyone else?

2. What results do I bring and why does this matter?

What happens when you bring your "value proposition" to a company? What kind of impact do you have? How is it relevant? Think of your past. What contributions have you made? Where have you made a difference? What proof do you have that your value proposition is actually valuable? Make a case for where you have added value in the past and quantify it.

3. Who needs what I have? Who can I help?

Once you have determined what you can do and where you can really make an impact, you’ll want to think about who you can help. Who needs what you’ve got? What kind of company, team, or industry will benefit from what you have to give? When you have this figured out, reach out to them.

How did you do with these questions? Great! Now you are ready to go out into the marketplace and make a case for who you are and what you have to offer. You are going to become an advocate for your "value proposition." You are going to seek out those who need what you have. And that, my friend, is how you create work!

If you have had some trouble answering these questions…and some of them are hard…reach out to me here.

(PS. I am going to begin working with small groups…and may start a small coaching group at the end of June. Will keep you posted. Let me know if you are interested. In the meantime, have fun creating! And, let me know how you are doing…)