Carl Welte is the principal of Welte Associates, a consulting firm whose purpose is to help organizational leaders and teams gain greater clarity, confidence, and skill to head in desired directions. If you would like to send a response to Carl Welte personally, then write him at carl@welte.com

You Are More Than Where You Have Been Although I am not in the business of career counseling, I get more than my fair share of calls requesting career advice. Most times I agree to meet with the caller over an espresso to listen and, if I can, help. I am amazed at the number of people who limit themselves by thinking of their career future in terms of their career past. There is nothing wrong with that as long as what you have been doing is what you want to continue to do. But given the increased opportunities in today's fast-paced, ever-changing, knowledge-based world of work, why limit yourself? Common to the old model of work was people working at one career, and often for one employer. Those days are long gone. And I for one think it is for the better. Today's workers can count on working for several employers, perhaps including themselves. They may also have a few career changes along the way. So why not take advantage of the designed or forced career decisions to do some quality reflection regarding career aspirations and take control of your destiny. To quote the title of the book by Noel Tichy and Stratford Sherman, which focuses on the transformation that Jack Welch spearheaded at General Electric -Take Control of Your Destiny- or Someone Else Will. In taking control of your destiny, the place to start is to look inward. Rather than think of your career as a linear projection of the past, you need to think about what they are really good at, and what excites them. Life is too short to spend much time at things we do not really enjoy, and are good at. So rather than think about accumulated experiences and skills, you need to look inward and specifically identify one's talents ("what am I really good at?") and passions ("what really excites me?"). Talents and passions, rather than skills and experiences are the keys to architecting one's career. A useful way to help you identify your specific talents and passions is to reflect on past important projects, assignments, or position responsibilities which really excited you and at which you excelled. What was it about those opportunities and challenges that excited you? What was it about the work itself that allowed you to glide rather than grind things out? Think of at least three such experiences. Be specific. Write things out. What were you doing that was so exciting for you? What were the specific talents you were using that allowed you to glide through the work and excel? The last part of the three-legged stool for architecting one's career is the market. That is, "is there a market for the talents and passions you have identified? What is it? Where is it? Does it exist already, or do you have to develop it? Do not give up just because the market opportunities for your cherished talents and passions are not staring you in the face. Very few things worthwhile are handed to us. Most times we have to work hard to obtain things that are valuable. So, when you come to your career, remember that you are in charge. No one else knows you like you. You have to control your destiny. And always keep in mind your specific talents and passions, and the market for them. By looking inward, you can truly control your own destiny.

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