Consider three dimensions of work: what you know a lot about (the source of your wisdom), what you love to do (the source of your passion, or “psychic compensation”), and how you want to engage and be engaged (your “terms and conditions” for working. Your sweet spot is defined by where they overlap.
Now create those three lists for yourself. Here’s mine:
- Wisdom
- Growing and sustaining profitable professional services businesses
- Designing and delivering professional development programs
- Understanding what it takes to be an expert project or programme manager
- Knowing what best practices are critical to non-profit Boards
- Passion
- Being a change agent
- Being a coach/facilitator/provocateur
- Collaborating with trusted and respected colleagues
- Stretching and learning, for myself and with others
- Terms
- Independence
- Part-time, or full-time for a limited duration
- Only traveling internationally if in business class
- Having fun.
Now think about when in your professional life those three areas overlapped, because that is your sweet spot.
In my case, two stand out:
- designing and delivering professional development programs for professionals on an executive track, and
- working with – or on – non-profit Boards in Baltimore.
So where is your sweet spot? What were you doing when you were in your sweet spot? Where will you go for your next sweet spot adventure? What will you do to make it happen?
