BRAD PITT AND ROLE FIT

Behold Brad Pitt--entrepreneur and role-fit exemplar extraordinaire. He's a great fit for the movie star archetype: handsome, creative, and ambitious. It's no wonder he's been so successful!

Don't settle for less yourself. To maximize your happiness and professional success, find a role that is a great fit for your passions and your talents. As a leader there are four basic choices for career role fit:

1. Work for someone a. Pros: Predictable income, a built-in team environment, the opportunity to learn from seasoned leaders. b. Cons: A boss whose weaknesses may constrain your opportunities.

2. Solopreneur a. Pros: You are the boss, financial and personal growth opportunities are unlimited, complete control over your schedule and priorities. b. Cons: Can be lonely (especially if you’re an extrovert), financial risk.

3. Entrepreneur Owner-Operator a. Pros: You are the boss, you hand pick your team, your financial and personal growth opportunities are unlimited, complete control over your schedule and priorities. b. Cons: Most of your time is spent working in or on the business which leaves little time for other career pursuits, financial risk.

4. Entrepreneur Owner a. Pros: You can leverage your business savvy to create a variety of businesses that you own without most of your time spent in any one business, financial and personal growth opportunities are unlimited, complete control over your schedule and priorities. b. Cons: Financial risk, not being part of a close-knit team.

Choose the option that suits your passions and talents, and it will make all the difference in your long term happiness and success.

The principle of role fit also applies to the members of your team. You'd be surprised how many times I see leaders asking quarterbacks to be linemen.

The classic examples are very successful salespeople who get promoted into sales management. Very often they fail because they're not talented at management, nor are they passionate about learning to manage. Don't do that. Find people who love sales and management and they'll blow the doors off.

Move over Brad Pitt...

Techniques

Technique #1: For maximum happiness and career success, don't settle for less than a great role fit for your passions and talents.   

Technique #2: Decide whether you're happiest as an employee, solopreneur, owner-operator, or owner. 

Technique #3: Pay close attention to role fit in your team--for maximum individual performance, don't ask a quarterback to play lineman.

Copyright Terry "Doc" Dockery, Ph.D. All rights reserved.