Guest commentator: John Martin, Principal Consultant, JMartin Creative
When young hopefuls come out of school—whether higher learning, high school, trade school, or otherwise—what many find is that the “real world” is nothing like school! No learning plans, syllabi, maybe an advisor (mentor) if we’re lucky. I remember at twenty-two years old having no idea what the “right” choice was, and I was terrified. I often recall a piece of choice advice from a program director in my undergrad, regarding internships:
“Sometimes the most valuable thing an internship will teach you is what you don’t want to do.”
I would extend that to all professional experience, beyond internships. It’s hard to accept that despite our best efforts there is a chance that things may not work out. And that’s just life; the same goes for dating, getting a pet, moving to a new city, and so on. In my experience, the lessons that I’ve been able to salvage from difficult situations, rather than writing them off as “bad,” are what have encouraged real growth. If we’re not failing, we’re not growing. What matters more is what we do with that new information. Risk is healthy – unless you’re selling insurance.
In my career thus far I’ve worked in salaried, contract, and freelance positions. And each has had a different appeal. Working a 9-to-5 was stable and helped develop my skills. But as a highly risk-tolerant individual, that wasn’t always exciting. When I felt I was ready I went out on my own in my field of study, media production. I found risks, alright! And high highs to be had, being my own boss – until I couldn’t find work. Eventually I joined up with a company in my field, hoping to expand my knowledge of the business side of creative services. That went well for a time, before I went back out on my own with a stronger personal network.
Each situation had benefits and drawbacks. While the stability of an office wasn’t appealing at 22, now at 28 I like the sound of a health plan and 401k. Freelancing had flexibility, but I had to always be on the lookout for the next job. Small business environments allowed more agency, but less resources to support one’s efforts. What do you mean coffee isn’t a business expense?
The important thing to me is that each situation helped me better understand what I want, by getting in touch with the things I don’t—I need to be part of a team, a group I can rely on. I need more resources at my disposal than one 28-year-old can muster; I need a sense of ownership in my work, but also someone to help me keep on track. All of these conclusions came out of not having those things, and seeing how it went – and each hard situation made the next decision easier by using what I had learned to clarify my needs versus my wants.
In closing – it’s not that serious.
No decision is permanent. That’s hard to believe when you don’t have the experience to back it up, but it’s the truth. Learn to sort the medicine from the bitter herbs, and don’t go at it alone. Be willing to fail, but be sure to have people around you to put the pieces back together. Get clear about what you want from your life, and your career as a part of that life. Not every need will be found in a job description.
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