Diamond in the Rough - 5 Facets to Unleash Your Brilliance

As a Career Resiliency Coach I work with my clients to strategize how they can map out a career plan that allows them to be true to their values and achieve their personal and professional goals. This last year has been one of learning and growth for me as I defined how I wanted to be in my world and dealt with a few roadblocks that my health put in my way. While I maintained my consulting and coaching focus, this was truly and opportunity for me to step back envision what my future would hold. This is career resiliency. I can tell you first hand that the tools I use have assisted myself and others in navigating the many curves in the road that happen on the path to getting the career and life that we desire.

My focus this year has been in coaching and helping clients build foundational strategy before jumping to actions. This helped them get to the root of what they needed and take deliberate steps to get the necessary outcomes. As part of my practice I have worked with individuals and groups to build resiliency to help them weather the storms of life that come both personally and professionally.

In a recent group coaching discussion we were talking about the importance of planning annual and long term goals. As we were discussing the importance of investing in yourself in the same way you commit to your family, friends and your role, I could not get the idea of a diamond in the rough out of my mind. Our careers can be like a diamond - valuable when left uncut but even more priceless when we refine it to be able to demonstrate integrity in all aspects of our life. How does this happen?

We often think of value in fine gemstones as only present when the stone is polished and placed in a setting. While refining the rough diamond does increase it's value, it does not mean to say that the original diamond did not have value. In addition, it takes time to cut a diamond to maximize the brilliance of the final gem.

The rough diamond pictured above was 236 carats as a rough stone and was worth $5.75 million. The finished gem was 101.73 carats and took over 21 months to get to flawless and symmetrical perfection. It sold for $26.7 million. It took time to map out the plan, cut the diamond in such a way to maintain as much of the original brilliance and strength possible to increase the value of the finished stone. Each cut and polish had to be made carefully with predetermined angles to maintain the integrity of the original store and get the most value from it. It is a process that can't be rushed.

What does this have to do with career resiliency? Many books have been written on leadership skills and developing the right attitude for success. There seems to be a never ending buffet of ideas to help you get the job or life you want. Sometimes the theories agree and sometimes they seem to collide with each other, so how can you find success in your career? Both diamonds above were valuable and for some people the value of the rough diamond is their definition of success. For others, they want to be able to shine by learning and developing in their career.

5 Key Facets of Career Success:

Having a own game plan for your career helps you make choices to align with what is personally meaningful. Just as the brilliance and value of the diamond was brought out by carefully refining each facet, I have found 5 key facets that will assist you in designing a career plan to move you closer to the success you want.

1. Values - Planning your career in a way that allows you to balance life and work and do things that are meaningful for you are an important first step in achieving overall success. Matching a role to your core values allows you to show up authentically in your role and live in alignment with what is important to you.

   
   

2. End Game - Clarifying where you want to be will help determine a path to get there. If you don't know what success you want, any path will get you there. Knowing where you are going allows you to be open to learning along the way. Understanding your motivations and goals allow you to design a path that will meet your short and long term goals.

   
   

3. Enjoy the Journey - The diamond took 21 months to polish, Developing your career takes work to polish the skills and experience for success. Just as the artist cut the diamond slowly, each step you take allows you to learn and grow, and sometimes refine your direction as you move towards your goals and adapt when your plan.

   
   

4. Pivot - Every career and plan requires flexibility. Each new perspective or skill adds to your toolbox to help move you one step closer to the career and life you desire. Being able to learn from what doesn't work helps build resiliency and refine your career path. Every unplanned step is an opportunity to learn and adapt.

   
   

5. Engage Others - The artist refined the diamond to bring out its brilliance. In your career journey, being open to a combination of formal training, peers, mentorship and coaching helps you to learn and apply skills in ways that builds confidence. You don't have to go it alone when you find support to guide you. This makes the journey more enjoyable and may reduce some of the bumps along the road.

   
   

   I am honoured to work with my clients to help them define, refine and grow in ways that align with who they want to be and how they want to show up. Being authentic and grounded in your values brings out your inner brilliance and allows you to shine in all aspects of your life.

   
   

   If you would like to learn more about how career resiliency planning can help your journey, please connect with me at judy@molnarconsulting.ca.

   
   

   We have only one life to live - live it with integrity!

   
   

   Judy