By Ethel Cofie – blog.ethelcofie.com
Who said you have to follow a traditional career path to be successful? In today’s rapidly evolving world, the concept of a “career” is no longer confined to a single job title or industry. Just like Dr. Sanjay Gupta, John Grisham, and Charles Michael, you too can redefine what a career means to you. In this blog post, we’ll explore how you can break the mold and turn your unique blend of skills into a novel career path.
The Traditional Career Path: A Thing of the Past?
According to a study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average person changes jobs 12 times during his or her career. This statistic alone challenges the traditional notion that a career is a lifelong commitment to a single profession. But why is this shift happening? One reason could be the rapid advancements in technology, which are creating new job roles and making some obsolete. Another could be the changing priorities of the workforce, where work-life balance and job satisfaction are becoming as important as the paycheck.
The Necessity of Building Novel Career Paths
In a world where industries are being disrupted at an unprecedented rate, sticking to traditional career paths can be limiting. According to a report by McKinsey & Company, about 60% of all occupations have at least 30% of activities that could be automated. This means that job roles are changing, and you must adapt to stay relevant. Creating a novel career path not only makes you more adaptable but also opens doors to opportunities you may never have considered.
Charles Michael: The Chef Who Teaches Leadership
Then there’s Charles Michael, a chef who has leveraged his culinary skills to teach creative leadership for Fortune 500 companies. According to a Harvard Business Review study, companies that invest in leadership development see a 21% increase in profitability. Charles Michael is contributing to this statistic in his own unique way.
The Smart Woman: A Case Study
I’m particularly inspired by the author of “The Smart Woman,” a finance professional who wanted to teach personal finance. She wrote a fictional book that has now been turned into a Netflix series. According to Netflix, the series has been streamed by over 5 million viewers in its first month.
It’s Your Box to Recreate
Success doesn’t have to fit into a predefined box; you have the power to recreate it. A recent Gallup poll revealed that 87% of millennials say that professional development or career growth opportunities are very important to them in a job. This shows that the younger generation is already thinking outside the box when it comes to their careers.
Conclusion
Your skills might not be novel, but how you use them can be groundbreaking. Don’t let societal norms dictate your career path. Challenge the norms, defy the odds, and create your own career. After all, it’s your path to forge. In a world that’s constantly changing, creating your own career path is not just a luxury; it’s a necessity.
Thank you for reading, and remember, it’s your life. Don’t let someone else write your story.
The writer Ethel Cofie, is the CEO and Founder of EDEL Technology Consulting, an IT Consulting Company in West Africa and Europe who was recently named IT Consulting Firm of the year by the Telecoms and IT Industry.
Ethel has been named one of the Top 5 Women impacting IT in Africa. She is also the Founder of Women in Tech Africa, Africa’s largest women in tech group with members in over 30 Africa countries and in the diaspora and growing.
To get more of Ethel Cofie’s resources, you can subscribe to her website www.ethelcofie.com .
