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Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life Shows How
https://www.amazon.com/Questers-Dare-Change-Your-Life/dp/1508408963
Who are Questers?
What personality traits enable them to succeed? What gives them inspiration and courage to pursue causes important to them? Could you do the same?
Are you a Quester? Take the Quester Quiz: http://www.questersdaretochange.com/services-2/quester-quiz/
Questers, who have been around for centuries, represent all ages and backgrounds. They’re not perfect, but possess many characteristics needed to succeed in uncertain times.
My research on lifelong career change and empowerment, described in Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life, describes people with Quester qualities. https://www.amazon.com/Questers-Dare-Change-Your-Life/dp/1508408963.
Questers are 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, challenge, and growth more than external rewards like status, money, and security.
Optimistic, creative, and inner-directed, they view failure as learning experiences and measure success by internal standards. Periodically, they re-evaluate goals and make needed modifications to maintain congruence between who they are and what they do.
Individuals, who take a more conventional approach to their careers, are Traditionalists. Committed to organizational careers, they value external rewards and measure success by how their careers measure up against the approved timetable. Although they may achieve temporary security, future options are limited. In a world of continuous change, security must come from within.
The differences between the types lie on a continuum. Everybody needs some security, growth, and challenge, but the types have different priorities. Quester qualities are healthy and enable us to adapt to change. Questers report higher levels of self awareness, job and life satisfaction, health and longevity than Traditionalists.
Questers create work in harmony with their purpose and move up or down the occupational prestige ladder toachieve fulfillment and growth. Career advancement, to them, means growth of the whole person.
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.
Jasmine came to North America from the Philippines when 28. She wanted to “learn about the world.” Jasmine took various odd jobs while studying English and software development. After 7 years as a software developer, Jasmine is in the process of moving to Saudi Arabia where she plans to teach software development skills and learn Arabic. Reflecting on her moves, Jasmine says, “It is challenging, but I feel confident knowing I can do things!”
Attuned to changes within and around them, Questers anticipate layoffs. While his colleagues worried about being laid off, Chen upgraded his skills and contacted employers. He was offered a job the day he received the pink slip.
Questers, ahead of their times may have to buck societal standards. Galileo Galilei, Italian astronomer and physicist, was considered a revolutionary by the Church. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. both risked going against the tide of popular opinion to defend causes important to them.
Few Questers think of “retirement,” but continue involvement in meaningful paid or unpaid activities that give them purpose, direction, and continuing growth. Dr. Ephraim P. Engleman, a pioneering rheumatologist, continued his medical practice and instructed part time at University of California San Francisco, until his death at 104.
Some Quester centenarians are attending school for the first time providing more proof you can teach old dogs new tricks.
Fortunately, we retain Quester qualities within that can be strengthened. Sometimes, crises such as layoffs, illness, and divorce precipitate self-evaluation and growth.
Strengthen Quester Traits
- Clarify purpose. Identify themes: absorbing childhood activities, proud accomplishments, when you feel very energetic, a favorite Halloween costume.
- Be authentic. Do what’s right for you. Ensure actions are consistent with thoughts and feeling. Set goals in harmony with your purpose.
- Believe in yourself. Focus on positive qualities. Avoid, "I can't." Don’t compare yourself with others. Judge accomplishments against personal standards and strive for excellence.
- Continue to learn. Read, take courses, volunteer. Challenge conventional beliefs. Recognize and seize opportunities. Find better ways to do things. Try. Place no limitations on yourself.
- Enhance courage to risk. Review three successful risks taken. Note what made these successful. Identify perceived barriers for taking another risk and explore ways to overcome these.
- Manage fear. Identify worrisome issues. Minimize these researching relevant information and resources. Live in the present. Let go of "attachments." Form a support system.
Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Your Life provides additional tips to strengthen Quester qualities and attain desired goals. https://www.amazon.com/Questers-Dare-Change-Your-Life/dp/1508408963..
Check audible version: https://www.audible.com/pd/Questers-Dare-to-Change-Your-Job-and-Life-Audiobook/B07VZNKGJF?asin=B07VZNKGJF&ipRedirectOverride=true&overrideBaseCountry=true&pf_rd_p=34883c04-32e5-4474-a65d-0ba68f4635d3&pf_rd_r=TN801GRP49AWQSSYMDYC1
Carole would love to share experiences on the life career quest, and looks forward to exploring possibilities.
Contact: Carole Kanchier, PhD; carole@questersdaretochange.com; carole@daretochange.com
