What’s the worst career advice you’ve ever gotten?
For Scott Dinsmore, it was when a friend told him: “Just focus on building your resume.”
Luckily, right around the same time, he heard some better advice from Warren Buffet, paraphrased as: “taking jobs to build up your resume is the same as saving up sex for old age.”
Dinsmore wants to make an impact with his work, starting now, even if he makes mistakes along the way. And he is not alone. At Newcastle Associates, I talk to candidates every day looking for inspiration in their professional lives.
Finding the passion and intention behind what you do is a critical lever in feeling good about getting up in the morning.
But how to get there?
Dinsmore suggests putting some effort into becoming a “self expert.” If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you’re never going to find it. Itemize your strengths, your values, your experiences and the way you make decisions.
In this way, you create a “framework for success,” that helps you decide which jobs to pursue and accept.
