Three Reasons You Need to Become a CEO
As the millennial generation enters the workforce in larger numbers, those of us who have been here for a while may have noticed that they’re a bit different. Call them entitled. Call them uncommitted. But whatever you call them, you have to admire their desire to design careers that allow them to enjoy life now instead of when they retire in 30 years.
Work doesn’t have to be a four-letter word. But far too many of us have resigned ourselves to misery in exchange for a paycheck, stock options or “job security.” However, the days of a guaranteed career with one company until you coast into retirement with a gold watch and fat pension are going the way of the dinosaur. And just as it disappears, a new trend is emerging: Landing meaningful work is becoming an important element of the compensation package. .
Are you passionate about your work? If not, why not do something else? That may mean going after a role in a different department, pursuing a career in a new field, or even launching your own business. Whatever the path, you owe it to pursue the possibilities. Can you imagine reaching the end of your life filled with what ifs?
No matter what your employment status is, you hold the role of CEO in the Business of Being You. You have assets and liabilities. You deliver a product to your clients. You even have a brand! When you show up every day as the business instead of simply working in one, everything changes.
Why should you accept your new role as CEO in the Business of Being You? Here are three good reasons:
- You’ll regain your power. Especially if you’ve been feeling like a victim trapped in a dead-end job.
- You’ll develop a methodical framework to go after what you really want. Less dreaming, more doing.
- You’ll have more confidence in your talents, skills and experience, which translates into higher earning potential.
So here’s your homework…
Look at yourself as a business and answer the following questions for your current role or an opportunity you’d like to pursue (including entrepreneurship):
- What is the mission of my business?
- Who are my clients?
- What problem do I help them solve?
- What personal assets (talents, abilities, experiences, relationships, etc.) will allow me to serve my clients better than others?
- What liabilities (bad habits, knowledge/skill gaps, etc.) do I need to manage?
You don’t have to be a millennial to decide that a meaningful career that allows you to enjoy your life worth pursuing. Will you accept your new role as CEO?
