The text discusses the importance of focusing on meaningful work and prioritizing what matters in one’s career. It emphasizes the limited amount of time individuals have to work and the need to balance work with other aspects of life. The text highlights the challenges of senior roles and the increasing expectations for high-impact work in less time. It advises against engaging in activities such as snacking, preening, and chasing ghosts, which can be low-impact and distracting. The text suggests focusing on existential issues, areas with room for growth, and nurturing the team around you. It also emphasizes the importance of finishing projects and engaging in work that only you can uniquely accomplish. Ultimately, the text emphasizes the value of doing work that matters and aligning with companies that value genuine expertise.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time for work becomes scarcer as career progresses | Balancing work and personal life becomes crucial | More emphasis on pacing career and work-life balance | Desire for sustained success and personal fulfillment |
| Avoid snacking and focus on high-impact work | Shifting from low-impact to high-impact tasks | More deliberate tracking of high-impact work | Desire for greater impact and effectiveness |
| Stop preening and focus on valued work | Balancing visibility and impact in work | Greater emphasis on balancing self-growth and valued work | Desire for personal and professional growth |
| Stop chasing ghosts and focus on essential work | Avoiding low-impact, high-effort projects | More focus on understanding the status quo | Desire for meaningful and effective work |
| Work on existential issues that threaten the company | Prioritizing company’s survival and success | Increased focus on addressing existential risks | Necessity for company’s survival and success |
| Work in areas that have room for growth and attention | Finding areas with potential for improvement | More focus on areas with growth potential | Desire for impactful work and personal growth |
| Foster growth by developing the team around you | Prioritizing team development and mentoring | Increased emphasis on coaching and onboarding | Desire for long-lasting impact and legacy |
| Edit projects to make small changes for greater impact | Making small modifications to improve outcomes | More value placed on quick and impactful edits | Ability to leverage organizational privilege |
| Help finish projects that struggle to close | Assisting in completing projects that are stuck | Greater emphasis on project completion and impact | Maximizing value through project completion |
| Focus on work that only you can uniquely accomplish | Identifying and prioritizing unique contributions | Greater emphasis on individual expertise and skills | Leveraging individual strengths and capabilities |
| Do work that matters to be valued in your career | Prioritizing impactful work and genuine expertise | Increased recognition of work that truly matters | Desire for career advancement and recognition |