Little did I know that when I received my gold watch at WGN Radio for my 25 years of service I was only weeks away from getting fired. Looking back, I can see that the lack of any formal presentation (or lunch to go along with it) was very clear writing on the wall that something was up.
Bottom line, the watch symbolized passage of time, but nothing more. I can see now that I was clinging to a title (News Director) rather than truly living out my passion. My title was keeping me from future success.
Bottom line, the watch symbolized passage of time, but nothing more. I can see now that I was clinging to a title (News Director) rather than truly living out my passion. My title was keeping me from future success.
Seth Godin, in his book Small is the New Big, asks about your job description, "Is it a hopeful, optimistic, powerful document that gives you permission to explore new opportunities and to get something done? Or is it a defensive shield that makes it easy for you to identify what's not your responsibility!"
Two quick points:
- Don't think of your job as a job. Think of it as a service or specialty. Like a musician arriving for the next concert, think of how you can "perform" using your expertise and innovation.
- Don't just show up. That's passing time. Show up to produce something marvelous. Don't get hung up on whether something does or does not fit your job description.
The reality is that I now have multiple job descriptions as I move forward into new ventures (speaking, consulting, media and public relations). There will never be another gold watch, but that's okay. The real gold, the real value, is in the meaning and purpose we derive from the service we offer and the products we create.
How about you? Is your job merely a passage of time, or are you becoming a personal gold mine?
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