If your parachute isn't golden, you might be looking for some help finding your way to your calling, your next career move or your legacy. So here's an exercise that not only helps you look in a mirror, but to see yourself as others do.
Try this at a meeting to create greater self-awareness and groupsourced career counseling in less than 30 minutes. Alchemist Chris Grant designed this exercise for The Vine and called it resume unbound.
Giving us five minutes, Chris had each of us write out two or three phrases under three headings on a single piece of paper:
- my values at work
- the value I add
- skills, characteristics and qualities.
Then, you and the person sitting next to you take five minutes to exchange resumes, explaining what you have written before standing up and wandering the room holding your partner's resume. In the next five minutes, you must talk to at least three people, pairing up to ask what they would do if they could borrow the person you represent for a year. With surprising answers in hand, you return to your original partner to download life-altering career suggestions.
My partner was the ultimate blend of Jim Collins and Deprok Chopra. He came back with three suggestions for me: run a think tank; be a facilitator and consensus builder; or become a community organizer. Works for me and it makes a much better elevator speech!
