By Shaun Johnson, Co-Founder at Startup Institute
Thinking about your career is always an evolving conversation rife With introspective conflicts: Should I chase the money? Will that make me happy? Why can’t I just get paid to do *insert hobby* all day? I can’t decide—why isn’t there a career where I get to do all (or none) of these things at once? How do I find a career that’s right for me?
No matter where you currently stand in your own career planning, there are mental models that can help bring clarity and an underlying sense of design to your career. At Startup Institute, we ascribe to The Hedgehog Concept, made famous by business consultant and leadership writer Jim Collins. At a high level, The Hedgehog Concept is a simple model that can be understood in three key points. Where they merge is where the magic happens:
1) What can you be the best in the world at?
Even the words “best in the world” seem audacious— but, that’s exactly the point. Nowadays, most careers contain many micro-careers, but this does not mean you shouldn’t have a common thread or focus, and it doesn’t mean you should stray from the path to mastery. Do one thing and do it well. This is where the name for the hedgehog concept comes from. In his book Good to Great, Collins shares a parable of a cunning fox and a simple hedgehog. The fox keeps coming up with new ideas to eat the hedgehog, but the hedgehog defeats him each time with his one trick: rolling into a thorny ball.
Do one thing well and let it be a cornerstone in your career pathing. The time you spend working should compound upon itself: thrusting your understanding, fluency, and expertise further downfield. You’ll know you’re on this path when you can take on challenges of increasing difficulty, especially ones that previously seemed out of reach. If you haven’t found your strength yet, start a side project, volunteer, or join a cross-functional hackathon where you can try on new roles. Which duties did you leap at and succeed in? Which did the team appoint to you, perceiving what they felt to be your forte? Usually, when these intersect, you’re onto something.
2) What are you passionate about?
Confucius said that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. What are the experiences from past jobs that you enjoyed most? Do you have hobbies or projects you enjoy after a day of work? Think about tasks you’ve done where you forgot the time. Focus on these moments and identifying your passion will follow.
3) Where can you make money?
Money is what separates a hobby from a career. Money certainly isn’t everything, but it is does provide options, freedom, and a means to provide for yourself and family. Understanding where your skills and passions intersect with what the market needs is the key to finding a job you love. Note that as your skills increase—fueled by your passion and desire to improve—so will your ability to monetize your career.
What are you great at? What are you passionate about? Where can you make money?
A meaningful career lies at the intersection of these three variables. If you’re searching for the right fit, you need to first develop clarity around the nexus of your interests, skills and livelihood, and then explore strategies that will bring them closer together.
Join me on Saturday, February 6, for a one-day workshop designed to help you discover a career you’ll love. Through a series of exercises and inspirational speakers, including Josh Mohrer, General Manager of Uber New York, we’ll dig into the blockers that are holding you back and help you to craft a story that can propel you forward. You’ll leave the day with a clear picture of what you’re great at, what you’re passionate about, and how to earn a living doing both. Visit the event page to learn more: GET UNSTUCK.
Let’s get you to a job you love. Learn more about how you can launch your career in New York’s tech sector with Startup Institute’s full-time program. Download your free copy of our program guide here.
