What to do next. (Career Management).

Why work?

Many of us never stop to ask the question, "Why do we work?" or if we do the quick assumption is, "Well, I have to or I can't live." While that is true, Jerry Gillies, author of Money-Love, lists some other interesting reasons why working is not only a good thing to do but is a privilege of healthy people. Gillies' reasons to work include:

* To make money for survival, luxuries, and to give to others. Gillies talks of ways to feel positively about both saving money and spending it for pleasure. He recommends that when you save money, you visualize saving it for pleasure, not for illness or emergencies. Keep three things in mind when you spend money. "If you spend money on an object that gives you no pleasure, and performs no useful service, and stimulates no new ideas, then you can consider your money exchanged for a poor bargain." (1) If spending money does one of those three things, then it is money well spent and you should give up feelings of guilt.

* For stimulation and excitement--to meet new challenges and have variety in your life. Without either paid or volunteer work, how would we fill our days? I've talked to people who retired early to play all the golf they wanted. In one to two months they had accomplished it. They just couldn't play anymore day after day. They needed something else to do so golf could once again be a fun diversion.

* For love and affection--to be with colleagues, clients, customers. To provide security and protection for family and friends. We work so we can have an excuse to be with people without needing a one-on-one intimate conversation every time we are together. We like providing security for family and friends, if that is one of the reasons we work, but not the only one. Assuming survival needs have been met, if all money is going to family, people become resentful. But if some money is kept for personal pleasure, people generally enjoy the ability to provide for their loved ones.

* To leave a thumbprint on the world. To change individuals, systems, institutions, Most of us want to make a difference. It feels good to make someone's life better now, and it gives us a bit of immortality to think we might be remembered after we are gone. "When Dr. Abraham Maslow studied self-actualized people, that tiny portion of the population who made the most of their human potential, he found that they all had some work they felt was worthwhile and important." (1)

For quality life, it is necessary not only to work but to enjoy your work. Not every day. That is too much to ask. When I was first out of college and teaching high school English, if I had one really good day a month, it was enough for me to say, "I'm doing the right thing." What is your minimum quota for satisfaction? "There is no way you will ever be able to buy back enough pleasure to make up for what you missed by not enjoying your work." (1)

Why work in management?

Most of the physicians I talk to on the phone are considering careers in management. I strive to figure Out whether they just want to get out of clinical practice because they are frustrated with all the changes in health care or whether they are really turned on by management tasks. If they are not truly excited about most management activities, they will not be successful.

Gilles, when discussing how to make more money, suggests an unusual question to spark creative answers. Instead of asking "How can I earn more money? ask "How can I have more fun? (1) If you are heading towards management, you need to view some of the tasks as fun or you probably won't stay with it very long. Do you like the challenge of making meetings a bit shorter and more effective? Do you enjoy getting out in the organization and visiting with people--managing by walking around? Do you view being nice to people to get what you want as totally kissing up or do you think it is generally appropriate behavior that greases the wheels of civilized society? Do you get satisfaction and pleasure from speaking to groups--from showing off your confident voice with good information?

A publication by Drake Bean Morin, an outplacement firm, describes the traits that are necessary for someone to enjoy and thrive in management. General management requires certain types of "emotional competence: The capacity to be stimulated by emotional and interpersonal issues and crises, rather than be exhausted or debilitated by the them; the capacity to bear high levels of responsibility without becoming paralyzed; and the ability to exercise power and make difficult decisions without guilt or shame. (2)

Just as you can't tell what marriage is like until you are married, you can't know how you will respond to management activities until you have done some of them, "Until a person actually feels the responsibility of committing large sums of money, of hiring and firing people, of saying 'no' to a valued subordinate, that person cannot tell whether he or she will be able to do it or will like doing it. (2) This is why most organizations will not hire physician executives unless they have some management experience in either a volunteer or paid position.

You also need to decide how much the unpleasant parts of management tasks get you down one of the most difficult aspects of the job is functioning day after day without giving up. getting an ulcer, or having a nervous breakdown. The essence of the general manager's job is to absorb the emotional strains of uncertainty, interpersonal conflict, and responsibility. (2)

What do you want to do next?

As you plan what you want to do next and whether management is a desirable option for you, do some writing to explore your motives. Laura Day, in Practical Intuition for Success, suggests you ask yourself some questions and then see what your intuition has to say. You can record the answers by writing in a journal or speaking into a tape recorder. "...history's most creative and productive individuals, from da Vinci to Edison, all kept journals to record their observations, and even minor thoughts. Journals are undeniably an excellent way for you to gain access to your intuitive and creative powers." (3)

Putting a goal on paper helps it come to fruition. Day says, "Be sure to write it down, as opposed to keeping it in your head.' The mind is a very disorderly place. If you write something down, it begins to exist. You know where to find it, what to do with it. You can take it out of the messiness of the mind." (3) When you put it on paper, your brain thinks it, your hand writes it, your eyes see it, and then your subconscious and the universe begin to plan ways to make it happen.

References

(1.) Gillies, Jerry. Money-Love. New York, NY: Warner Books. Inc., 1978.

(2.) Schein. Edgar H., Ph.D. Career Anchors. San Diego, CA: DBM Publishing, Pfeiffer & Co.. 1990.

(3.) Day, Laura. Practical Intuition for Success. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 1997.

(4.) Maister, D. Managing the Professional Service Firm. New York, NY: The Free Press, 1993, pp 3.4

RELATED ARTICLE: QUESTIONS YOU CAN ASK YOURSELF TO HELP YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO NEXT

1. What do you want? Make a list of all the things you can think of. Be expansive, outrageous. When doing such an exercise, people often say to themselves--I don't deserve this, I can't have this, who do you think you are for wanting tills? Write anything that comes to mind without allowing such thoughts to gain control. You can even write the negative, judgmental thoughts down but keep on writing what you want. (If you don't know what you want, answer question 2 first and then come back to this one?)

2. What don't you want to do anymore?

Now pick one item from your want list and answer the Following questions with it in mind.

3. What will you have to pay (sacrifice) to get what you want?

4. What might get in the way, be an obstacle to getting what you want?

5. What are your "evil secrets?"

"This question "may help you clarify what you really want. One key to discovering what you really like and love is to ask yourself what are the things you don't like to admit. 'I don't like to admit It, but I need to be the center of attention: OK., find a career path that will let you show off. 'I don't like to admit it, but I don't like dealing with other people.' OK, then devise a role that will let you make your contribution through things done in your office, such as intellectual creativity and true technical superiority. 'I don't like to admit it, but I really want to be rich.' Fine, go out and build a business. 'I don't like to admit it, but I'm an intellectual snob.' That's all right, so find a career path that will allow you to work only with smart people. Play to your 'evil secrets Don't suppress them. You are a lot less flexible than you think. (4)

6. Picture yourself already having what you want. What do you see?

7. What one thing could you do today that would move you toward your goal?

Barbara J. Linney, MA

Barbara J. Linney, MA, is the Director of Career Development at the American College of Physician Executives in Tampa, Florida and a member of its faculty She can be reached at 800/562-8088.