6 ways to thrive in a big career transition

Pursuing paid employment as a "passion" may be a factor in the inequality of work as well as its seeming drudgery, and could be exploited by employers who know "passionate" employees may work longer for less, says Erin Cech, a University of Michigan associate professor and the author of "The Trouble with Passion: How Searching for Fulfillment at Work Fosters Inequality." "Collective solutions -- championing better work hours and working conditions, stronger benefits, and less overwork -- would not only make paid work more manageable for passion-seekers but also make work better for workers who labor in jobs that hold little potential for the expression of passion," Cech says.

Put it into practice: Before taking a job that you feel passionate about, Cech recommends asking yourself what you want your relationship to be with your paid work -- such as flexible hours, good co-workers and a kind boss. Cech also encourages workers "to demand to demand the worth of their passion-inspired work."

Significant career transitions spark changes in approach some may not expect. Leadership consultant Alaina Love writes about six areas to keep in mind, such as your new responsibility for shaping the culture of your team and ensuring you feel passion in your role and make it shine through in your work style.

Put it into practice: When stepping into a new management role, consider autonomy: How much will you have, and how much do you want your team to have? In addition to advice on accountability and expectations, Love also advises remembering that influence doesn't come from your new title; it comes from continuing to learn and sharing your knowledge.

Despite her Southern roots, Beyonce didn't get the warmest of reactions from some country music fans when she performed with the Chicks at an awards show in 2016 -- but her new "Cowboy Carter" album gave the naysayers something to talk about. Three businesswomen explain how, in the intervening years, Beyonce went through an exclusion evolution with three strategies: Exiting the conversation, working for change and creating your own lane.

Put it into practice: A common approach to exclusion in the workplace is "channeling your energy toward more affirming professional relationships," the women write in Harvard Business Review. Beyonce's effort to change the system came from co-writing songs with Black and white country artists, while she paved a new lane using her strengths, "reframing [her] marginality, and then mobilizing to generate new ideas," they explain.

Valeriya Yusupova, the founder and CEO of Val Jewellery, shared her journey after trying eight business ventures that failed before her line of hypoallergenic jewelry led to success. "Trying, failing, and keeping going is the only way; there are no shortcuts," said Yusupova, a member of Gen Z who graduated from college in 2020.

Canadian writer and film photography enthusiast Dmitri Tcherbadji is experimenting with several different compounds he can use to develop film, including perhaps becoming the first to use cannabis flower to create a developer he calls Sativa Cannanol. Tcherbadji says the weed-based developer did not work as well as a more popular home concoction derived from coffee but did best developers made from urine and pond water. Whoa, dude.

In my undergrad studies, I recall taking a class on operations management and one lesson was on the topic of job optimizaton. My instructor made it very clear that only some employees want their jobs optimized. He said, "Not everyone finds passion in their job. Many come to work to get paid so they can use their money to pursue what really jazzes them. For some, it may be fishing."

This lesson made a significant impression on me, one that I hadn't seen echoed until I read the interview with author and professor Erin Cech, who speaks of "choicewashing" -- the belief that we must choose paid work that reflects our passion.

Indeed, some have found their passion in their day-to-day job, but others are working to earn the resources to pursue a passion outside of work -- something bosses need to keep in mind. As my college instructor said so long ago: "Not everyone wants their job optimized."

Where do you find your passion? On the job? Outside of work? Some combination of both? Tell me about it!

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