If I'm not doing the work I used to be doing, who am I?

It often seems there are themes that run through my conversations with coaching clients.

This week's theme seems to be: "If I'm not doing the work I used to be doing, who am I?"

Both of the clients I spoke with are business owners who are at a place in their careers when it's appropriate to shift out of doing the work of the business and begin doing more aspirational or visionary work—the kind of work that will help bring their businesses forward and make them sustainable, like innovating new products or markets.

But each of these gentlemen is conflicted and wondering: how will people (and themselves) place value on work that doesn't yet produce, or is not yet measurable?

Many years ago, I was leading a team when my boss approached me to say that an open position I had was being filled by a former client who was retiring from his high-profile position and wanted to work for us as his second act.

His name is Bill, and he was one of my best producing employees ever, even though he'd never worked on our side of the fence. He had purchased big-ticket products and services from us for years.

I was uncertain at first.

But as I sat and listened to how Bill came to his decision to approach us for a job, and as I learned more about him, I came to respect him a great deal. Bill had hired a life coach to help him retire gracefully. His job had been so high-profile, he had so much responsibility, and it was work he loved. So, the coach suggested that instead of retiring completely, he should identify what he loved most about his job and where his unique strengths lie, then find work in that area for a few years as he eased out of the world of work.

I, and everyone on our team, learned so much from Bill's experience as a customer. And our customers loved that he could talk their language and understood their needs and concerns.

Last night, while I was pondering all of the other people I've talked to over the years who had a hard time letting go of doing the work they were known for and moving on—either to a visionary/strategic/innovator role in their company or to step off and combine what they love to do with what they are good at—a friend sent me this YouTube video. I've watched it several times already. Not only is Dana Findwell's voice soothing, but her message helps clarify the meaning of "purpose" in our lives.

Findwell uses examples from women in her life, but in my coaching experience, I find it is more often men who struggle with the false idea that as successful leaders, people must be able to measure and account for their individual output in the same way as their staff. This is not in any way a scientific study—just simply what I've noticed.

Regardless of if you are like Bill finding his next chapter of fulfillment in adjacent but aligned work or like my other two current clients who are ready to reap the rewards of building great teams but have concerns about perception as they shift their own work, I think this video will help you.

What about you?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic and learn more about how you think of purpose and how you assess the value of your work.

Do you measure output (as in transactional work), or do you measure value and purpose differently? Do you think that people who see their value through the lens of what they are able to produce or transact have a more difficult time leading, developing, mentoring, and providing opportunities for those around them?

If you are pondering big questions around what is next for you, I can help.

Book your free call with me: https://bethwonson.com/beth