Are you one of those people who can't decide on a career path simply because you have so many career ideas and don't know which one to commit yourself to?
Perhaps your CV is littered with several random jobs with no apparent link. The strange thing is you've actually enjoyed all the jobs but found yourself getting bored easily and had to get out before you felt suffocated.
Or maybe you're seen as an eternal student, studying a range of unconnected courses.
If that sounds like you, don't worry! In fact there's a name for people like you (according to Barbara Sher in her excellent book 'I could do anything, if only I knew what it was') – you're a scanner. And you're totally normal!
As a scanner you embrace variety and flexibility. However you're probably concerned that you'll come across as someone who can't stick at anything. Why would anyone want to employ someone like you?
Our culture appears to value a straightforward linnear career progression. However, things are beginning to change with many people opting for 'portfolio' careers which allow for diversity of interest and passion.
So here's how you can literally have it all…….
- Write down all the things you'd love to do with your career.
- Now decide which of them you can commit to in the next 12 months
- Which one can you do when the first one is completed?
- Which activities can you do for 20 minutes or less each day?
- Which ones can you do in a weekend?
- Which ones can you do once in a while?
Breaking your ideas down this way will help to take the stress out of your career. The key thing to remember is that you don't have to choose one interest at the expence of others AND you have more time than you think.
As Barbara Sher says, 'if you're a scanner, don't do a thing to change yourself. Instead of designing yourself to fit the world, you can design a life to fit your abundant gifts'