Working Identity

by Herminia Ibarra

The Nature of Career Transitions

"Career transitions follow a first-act-and-then-think sequence because who we are and what we do are so tightly connected."

The Importance of Process in Career Planning

"A successful outcome hinges less on knowing one’s inner, true self at the start than on starting a multistep process of envisioning and testing possible futures."

Personal and Professional Fulfillment

"Was in a long-term personal relationship that worked. I had a great reputation and was comfortable financially. But that wasn’t enough. I projected myself into the future: more books, a bigger reputation, a nicer house. So what? None of that fulfilled my longing for spirituality."

Personal Growth and Career Choices

"In the end, she had to reconsider not only the kind of work she wanted to do but also the kind of person she wanted to be and the sacrifices she was prepared to make to grow into that new self."

Maybe, the most important question in life we could ask ourselves is as follows: What are we willing to suffer for? We can do anything we want, as long as we are willing to give up parts of ourselves.

The Evolving Nature of Aspirations

"Bottom line, no matter where we start, our ideas for change change along the way, as we change. Where we end up often surprises us. For these reasons, as much as we would like to, we simply cannot plan and program our way into our reinvention."

The Efficiency of Spontaneous Planning

"Because so many new ideas and bits of information surface once we get moving, spending too much time up front figuring out 'the plan' wastes energy."

Early Career Influences

"One argument goes that in early adulthood, we are all too often victims of other people’s expectations. As we mature, however, we realize that many of our career choices were based on the desires of our parents, teachers, spouses, or unexamined (and often dysfunctional) institutional loyalties."

Rediscovering Passion in Work

"At first I wondered what I would do with my knowledge of literature. It seemed like such a waste. But then I realized that what I have always wanted is a job that keeps me constantly interested and always learning new things."