CATHARINE MARTINET
Will the knowledge you gain, or the financial reward, be worth
the cost in terms of
your health?
Careers–Summer 2003
BY CATHARINE MARTINET
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” I wish that I could begin this column by writing about how my career path was characterized by boldness and that I followed all of my dreams. That would not be the truth. Although I am a dreamer, I never have been very bold. The truth is, I never even had a career. As a teenager, I was envious of my peers who seemed to know exactly what they wanted to do with their lives. That certain knowledge seemed to escape me. When I was in high school every student took a survey in sophomore English class. The survey generated a report of possible career choices based on the students’ reported interests. The only two selections I remember from mine were dentist and social worker. No way was I going to be a dentist! That would require too much science for my taste. As for being a social worker, I wasn’t clear about what they did and never thought to ask anyone. That was unfortunate, because I’ve always enjoyed helping people and probably would have liked working in that field. So much for that survey.
By the time I entered college, I had only a vague idea of what kind of career path I wanted to pursue. Thinking it would be fun to work in the tourism industry, I initially chose to major in French and Spanish. I don’t remember how I came to this decision, but it was not a long-lasting one. Eventually, I graduated with a degree in psychology and planned to get some life experience in the working world before I pursued graduate studies in counseling.
As it turned out, my working life consisted of a patchwork of jobs in divergent fields, some more fulfilling than others. I know I am not alone in this. These days, it is common for people to change fields or careers a few times in the course of their lives. In the early years, pragmatism was the most important value in my job search. I did not want to be caught without health insurance or a long-term disability policy. As time progressed, I learned to consider some other important issues before taking a job. These considerations helped me attain increasing levels of job satisfaction.
It is helpful to consider the demands of the industry or the job for which you are applying. Will the knowledge you gain, or the financial reward, be worth the cost in terms of your health? I spent years working in the financial services industry. While it was intellectually fulfilling, the energy demands were harsh. I came away with knowledge about investments and how to handle my money; but my health suffered from the grueling schedule. I had to be at work between 6 and 6:30 a.m. every day. The order of the day was to skip lunches and breaks, sometimes working up to ten hours. People who fulfilled such expectations were rewarded with the most lucrative positions, while others were shuffled off into “Siberia”. I finally decided to leave that field after seven years. I think that was far too long to wait.
Figure out whether you are an introvert or an extravert. (This is not the same as figuring out whether you are shy. Most people already know if they are shy, which has to do with some level of social anxiety.) Introversion and extraversion are complimentary attitudes towards the world around us. Everyone uses both attitudes, but each person has a preference for one of them, which is usually more developed. An extravert’s essential stimulation is from the environment – from the outer world of people and ideas. Conversely, an introvert is stimulated from within, through the inner world of thoughts and reflections. There are innumerable books written about the differences between introversion and extraversion, some of them more helpful than others. The most reliable tool to use is the *Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), which has been used, updated and statistically verified since the 1950s. If you have access to a community college, the career-counseling department might be able to administer the MBTI for you. This tool will also give you other information that should be helpful for making career changes or deciding what you want to do with your life.
You may wonder why the above is important information for a person who is looking for a job or deciding on a career. The answer is energy. Energy is a precious commodity for everyone, especially those of us who have cystic fibrosis. If you are an extravert, but are expected to work alone in an enclosed space all day long, you may become de-energized and even depressed. Conversely, an introvert who is expected to work out in the open with lots of interruptions and distractions could become exhausted by the end of each day. Identifying these preferences in yourself should not be used as a means to argue against your abilities to achieve a certain career goal. For instance, some introverts make excellent sales people, especially if they really love what they are selling. They will probably need to make sure their environment at home is very serene, allowing them to recharge. Extraverts are also capable of finding satisfaction in working alone, but they usually need to find a way to break the monotony once in a while by getting out of the office. An active social life might help to balance their alone time at work.
The important thing is to look at these considerations holistically, with job or career demands as part of your entire life. I like to think of my energy reserves like a bank account. I don’t want to make too many withdrawals without making some deposits. When I was just out of college, I could handle a distracting, noisy and public work environment without much trouble, even though I am introverted. At the time, I also had a very active social life. As time progressed, so did the effects of cystic fibrosis. By the time I was in my mid-thirties, I found that it was essential for me to have an office, where I could close the door when needed. My life outside of work became quieter, so that I would be able to recharge for the next day. Since I stopped working, my life is quieter still; I need that solitude in order to have the energy to spend time doing the things I love.
I never did go back to graduate school as I originally intended. I got caught up in all of that life experience I thought I needed in order to be a good counselor. Still, I learned a lot about myself through the process of changing my job focus. I even found ways to help people outside of the formal counseling setting. I also learned to be a bit bolder and to follow some of my dreams. Today, I am finally following the path my sophomore English teacher wanted for me. In spite of what the survey said, she told me I should try my hand at writing.
Resources:
Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type—Revised and Updated Edition Featuring E-careers for the 21st Century, Tieger & Tieger, Little Brown & Co. (2001)
*Gifts Differing, Isabel Briggs-Myers, Consulting Psychologists Press (1997). The definitive book about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Contact me at the information on page 2 and I will be happy to direct you to other resources about the MBTI.
I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It, Barbara Sher, DTP (1995)
The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success, Nicholas Lore, Fireside (1998)
What Color is Your Parachute 2004, Richard Nelson Bolles, Ten Speed Press, (2004)