Where Do I Belong?

...most people, especially highly gifted people, do not really know where they belong until they are well past their mid-twenties.

A small number of people know very early where they belong.  Mathematicians, musicians, and cooks, for instance, are usually mathematicians, musicians, and cooks by the time they are four or five years old.  Physicians usually decide on their careers in their teens, if not earlier.  But most people, especially highly gifted people, do not really know where they belong until they are well past their mid-twenties.  By that time, however, they should know the answers to the three questions: What are my strengths?  How do I perform? and, What are my values?  And then they can and should decide where they belong.

Or rather, they should be able to decide where they do not belong.  The person who has learned that he or she does not perform well in a big organization should have learned to say to to a position in one.  The person who has learned that he or she is not a decision maker should have learned to say no to a decision making assignment.

Equally important, knowing the answer to these questions enables a person to say to an opportunity, an offer, or an assignment, "Yes, I will do that.  But this is the way I should be doing it.  This is the way it should be structured.  This is the way the relationships should be.  These are the kind of results you should expect from me and in this time frame, because this is who I am."

Successful careers are not planned.  They develop when people are prepared for opportunities because they know their strengths, their method of work, and their values.  Knowing where one belongs can transform an ordinary person--hardworking and competent but otherwise mediocre--into an outstanding performer.

ACTION POINT:  Understand your strengths, how you perform and your values to know where you belong.