Deborah R. Brown, MBA, MSW

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"If you're a truly creative person, you know that feeling insecure and lonely is par for course. You can't have it both ways: You can't be creative, and conform too. You have to recognize that what makes you different also makes you creative."

- Arno Penzias in Fast Company.

In my work with attorneys, MBA's, entrepreneurs and other creative professionals, I often watch people struggle with need to conform to other people's expectations. This frequently means having a narrowly defined career and some perceived level of security. It also means fitting in with a particular company culture.

But creative types in particular often require variety in job tasks and freedom to experiment. They tend to be entrepreneurial in spirit, and don't want to be micro-managed. Sometimes this may mean having two or three part-time jobs simultaneously. Or having several different careers in one lifetime. If we look at some of more popular and successful people in entertainment industry, for instance, we see that they not only act, but also may direct and produce. Writers may be reporters, novelists and commentators. Singers may write children's books. Some may choose several distinctly different careers, perhaps as a way to use up all of their talents in one lifetime. I started out as a clinical social worker, then became a stock broker for several years and I have had my career consulting firm since 1993. At all times I have viewed my work as my "craft", and I consider myself to be a creative, resourceful person. Having my own firm has allowed me to concentrate on things I do best, and flexibility to change and grow at my own pace.

A bird does not sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song. - Chinese proverb

Innovative high tech firms hire people who often don't fit traditional mold. The interactive departments of established companies are housed in different locations or at different sections of corporate headquarters. Their culture is less restrictive and dress is casual. One very conservative Fortune 500 company has pool tables in building that houses web design and strategy departments. Rules that apply to rest of company do not apply to this group. In this respect, company has adapted to these creative types in order to recruit and retain these highly talented people. This revolution in internet technology has affected firms who interact with these companies as well. The trend in attire then becomes business casual to adapt to environment of tech firm.

In this example we see how world has changed to accommodate these creative people. Those individuals who are comfortable with what makes them different and stay true to those qualities, expect world to adjust for them. In my years working with creative types, it holds true that those who embrace who they are, rather than deny and suppress their true selves, are more fulfilled individuals. If we are aware of unique combination of qualities and strengths which we alone have, we can then focus on ways to use these in our lives.

Sometimes I work with people who, although miserable, are resistant to making any adjustments to transition to work they enjoy. One such client is a woman in her mid twenties who makes a good salary, but has no full-time work experience except for a year with a law firm. She would like to transition out of law, but refuses to consider a job that would pay her less than her current salary.

Deborah R. Brown, MBA, MSW ______________________________________________________________________________________

"Everything had changed suddenly—the tone, moral climate; you didn't know what to think, whom to listen to. As if all your life you had been led by hand like a small child and suddenly you were on your own, you had to learn to walk by yourself. ....At such a time you felt need of committing yourself to something absolute—life or truth or beauty—of being ruled by it in place of man-made rules that had been discarded. " Boris Pasternak Doctor Zhivago

Over past two years we have experienced many changes. The stock market tumbled when dot.com bubble burst, ending exuberance of 1990's. The shocking events of 9/11 forced us to recognize that we are vulnerable to terrorist attacks that are commonplace in other areas of world. We no longer feel safe. These events placed a further strain on our economy and expanded recession. Corporate scandals with far reaching negative financial implications accentuated greed and lack of integrity in top management of several companies.

Some of us lost our jobs or took reductions in income. For those who invested in stock market, our retirement savings have been reduced. For some these events have meant downscaling our lifestyles, and for others, that we need to work several more years before we can retire.

Even for those who have not suffered financially, it has meant taking stock of what is important, being grateful for what we have, and realigning our priorities. Like Dr. Zhivago during Russian Revolution, we now recognize that we need to re-evaluate rules we have followed for so long - rules that define how we should manage our careers and our lives - rules that tell us how we should define success.

Our jobs represent a public statement of our identity that provides a means of self-expression, status and structure to our lives. Traditional thinking dictates that if people work hard they will be rewarded with challenging work, fancier job titles and higher salaries. But nature of business, work and jobs has changed. People can no longer be assured of making more money every year. The lay-offs and downsizings with management that started with recession of early 1990's continue today. More people are competing for a smaller number of management positions. Many companies that give raises in current economy are merely adjusting for inflation.

At this time we can all benefit by re-evaluating what success means to us. Perhaps for some it does not mean making as much money as possible. For some it might mean spending more time with our families - working less, rather than working more. For others it might mean being able to express creativity in their work. For one client, who tearfully told me that her relationship with God was most important to her, it meant reducing her 65-hour workweeks to allow for regular attendance at religious services. For some it means owning our own business. For others it means finding employment in 2003.