Early in my career, my father would constantly tell me that my career and career path should be managed as my own company. Admittedly, it took me many years to understand this, but once I did, my choices were more focused and had favorable outcomes. If you had your own company, some of the priorities are:   Control costs for your business; Prioritize; and Return on your Investments.

Control Costs

With limited funds available, it is important that money and time are allocated to the priorities, and in this case, your priorities. Gaining on the job experience is the most valuable way to expand your career growth. However, there are only so many hours in the day. Devotion to your path is important, and more so is having a balanced life. As I get older, I believe in achieving a balanced and fulfilled life that brings happiness. Those who know me well will tell you my career is important to me - sometimes, too important. I am learning there is more to life than work, and creating a life filled with purpose brings me fulfillment. For me, this includes (in no particular order): work; professional development training; volunteering with National Association of African Americans in Human Resources and Streetwise Partners; lots of travel; and meaningful time with family and friends. I, too, have to manage my time and budget to allocate my resources appropriately.

Prioritize

Let’s face it, as much as we want to do everything, it is not possible. The ability to prioritize and be agile enough to adjust to shifting priorities, will contribute to your success. In You, Inc. Wearing multiple hats and having all the responsibilities is par for the course. However, each business leader knows she or he will have to say, “No”, or “Yes, but not right now”. The same goes for your career. There may be times when a choice needs to be made as to which project to work on, or whom to meet for a coffee. The answer may change based on so many factors. Once I had an opportunity to work on a global project which would give me the experience I wanted. However, it came at a time that another career defining opportunity presented itself, which was also aligned with my career path. The global project would give me more exposure, and the other opportunity would further develop my skills with complex employee investigation. I had to make a choice. I would have done both if possible, but I also had my day job and obligations outside of work. Which option do you think I chose?

Return on your Investment

Time is money, and with limited resources, it is important for You Inc. that you get the most out of any investment made. For example, if you invest in LinkedIn as a recruiting tool for your company, then you want to see qualified candidates for your open jobs. Last year, I made two investments in my career path. One was a professional certification, which was expensive, and the other was an Improv class, which had a low cost, but more time commitment. It required 3-hours a week for 6 weeks, and this followed a 10-hour day at the office. Improv would help improve my consultation skills by “staying in the moment”, and the certification added an additional layer of credibility in my chosen profession of Human Resources. I’ve had to let other opportunities go because the results relative to the time and money was questionable.

Earlier I asked which project you thought I selected. Drum roll please.... I chose the employee relations experience, which allowed me to work closely with a well-respected employment attorney. This was a lateral move, and later, the experience gave me instant credibility with clients; sharpened my technical skills in employee relations; and ultimately helped me secure a new position a year later with more responsibility and more money. I was not looking for a new role but when approached, the timing was right. There were no other opportunities at my current employer, and I had been ready for more growth for at a year. Projects became insufficient. These three priorities helped shape my career path and contributed to a more focused and profitable investment in me, and my company.

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