Carole Kanchier, PhD © 2014
carole@daretochange.com
www.questersdaretochange.com
Questers Dare to Change
Are you a Quester? Would you like to become one? Is it important to strengthen Quester qualities today?
Questers represent all occupations, ages, and walks of life. They’ve been around for centuries. Many famous Questers have made significant contributions to humankind. Galilei Galilio, the Italian physicist, proved the earth revolved around the sun; and Dame Margaret Thatcher, considered to be the most influential British Prime Minister, fought for the right of individuals to run their own lives.
What personality traits give Questers courage and confidence to take charge of their lives and pursue causes important to them? Could you do the same?
My research on occupational change conducted on over 45,000 people is elaborated upon in the 2014 edition of “Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life” (http://www.questersdaretochange.com/book/ ). Questers tend to be authentic, have a sense of purpose, courage to risk, and take charge of their lives. They’re confident, resilient, and value intrinsic rewards such as autonomy and challenge more than external rewards likes status and security. Innovative and inner directed, they view failure as learning experiences and measure success by internal standards.
Questers create work in harmony with their purpose and move up or down the occupational prestige ladder to achieve fulfillment and growth. Career advancement, to them, means growth of the whole person. Periodically, they reevaluate goals and make needed modifications to maintain congruence between who they are and what they do.
Fred studied mechanical engineering because he loved “fixing things.” He enjoyed his early work but not senior management. Therefore, he created a maintenance position in an apartment complex that enabled him to fix things. “If you’re doing what you like, it’s not work,” he shares.
Attuned to changes within and around them, Quester anticipate layoffs. While her colleagues worried about being laid off, Manu upgraded her skills and contacted employers. She was offered a job the day she received the pink slip.
Individuals, who take a more conventional approach to their careers, are Traditionalists. They tend to value external rewards and measure success by how their careers measure up against the approved societal timetable. Sometimes, crises such as layoffs and illnesses, force Traditionalists to come to terms with who they really are and want.
The differences between the types lie on a continuum. My research indicate that people who report relatively high scores on Quester traits tend to disclose greater self awareness, job and life satisfaction, and health than those who report lower scores.
We are born Questers. You can see these characteristics in babies and toddlers. They continuously explore their environments, and feel good about accomplishing challenging tasks, as demonstrated by their sparkling eyes and laughter.
Unfortunately, as we grow older, various life experiences may cause us to set up barriers to growth that are manifested in expressions of resistance such as fear, denial, delay, and impatience. Fortunately, we retain Quester traits within and can strengthen them if we desire.
Are You a Quester? Take the Quester Quiz: http://www.questersdaretochange.com/services-2/quester-quiz/
Nurturing the Quester Spirit
To succeed in the digital age, we would benefit from strengthening Quester traits.
Create a life in which you continue to grow and have choices. You have enormous power to change. Use this power. Refer to chapter 3, “Questers Dare to Change,” for suggestions: www.questersdaretochange.com.
Tag: Dr. Carole Kanchier, career and personal growth expert, is author of the award winning, purpose-driven, groundbreaking book, “Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life”: www.questersdaretochange.com.
Kanchier inspires people to realize their potential, and look at career growth in new ways to thrive in changing times. Dr. Kanchier has the breadth and depth of experience to show people how to create and grow their careers. A visionary, Kanchier pioneered a unique, holistic, developmental model of lifelong growth and decision making which she shares in her award-winning, leading edge book, Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life. Uniquely qualified to talk about transitions and empowerment, Kanchier researches, writes, counsels, and conducts workshops on career change. She walks her talk!
