Would You Take This Dream Job?
The following situation (or something substantially similar) actually exists in real life. How close is this to your dream job, or is it pretty much the opposite?
The Job:
Congratulations. You have been chosen to start work at our organization.
You get to pretty much design your own job; it just has to fit within the broader mission of the organization and produce mutually agreed results, which we call outcomes. The outcomes need to be visible, scalable and have a tangibly positive impact on our organization and the broader community.
We expect you to devote an agreed upon chunk of your professional time to this role, but we will not clock you in and out. Where, when and how you do the work is up to you. What we care about are outcomes, and all you have to do is deliver. When you show up for work, come prepared to “go big, or go home”.
No one is going to tell you what to do or how to do it. If you have a great idea, test it out on a few of us and then if you still think it’s a great idea, figure out how to make it happen. It’s up to you to go for it.
While we are 70,000 strong across five locations, it doesn’t always feel so large because we are really a collection of many many smaller groups, each performing their part of the broader vision. There’s not a lot of structure or hierarchy, so you will have to build your own bridges and relationships to get things done across the organization. And since each of these smaller groups has its own mini-culture, adaptability is important.
You will get paid fairly for the role and you will have the chance to accomplish great things, but you won’t get rich.
Outstanding or Overwhelming?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Clearly, not every job is for every one, and as the song says, “one man’s ceiling is another man’s floor.” It’s all about finding a good match between the work environment and one’s own characteristics and qualities.
So, are you in (or heading toward) a role that is aligned with your own strengths and qualities? If so, congratulations. If not, then is this the time to do something about it?
P.S. – I start in two weeks. Will let you know how it goes!