Posted 03/09/2009 - 08:09:21pm by Doug Dickson in Discovering What's Next
Marc Freedman's Encore stool has three legs. Encore careers must 1) be fulfilling, 2) serve a social purpose and 3) generate income. That's useful as a working definition but it makes me wonder: are all three of these legs of equal size and importance?
I take the position that they are not. The part of this definition I'd give the greatest heft to is social impact--that's what really sets Encore careers apart. Without social purpose and impact, you'd just have paying jobs that were personally meaningful. Not everyone can lay claim to that combination, but it's possible. Making a difference in our communities, in our nation and elsewhere on the planet is, I think, the key to Encore.
Fulfillment is what we all strive for in our work, no matter its focus. And pay may not even be necessary if the other two elements are present and income is not a priority. In fact, I'd argue for loosening the Encore definition to allow for non-paying roles as well as paying ones.
So my Encore stool has one very sturdy leg (perhaps located at the center for support!), another of more modest proportions and a third that is altogether optional. It might be a bit lopsided, but it's serving me very well...
What shape is your Encore stool?
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Does it depend on the your stage?
It would seem to me that it would depend on what stage you are in. Are you just starting out or researching what an Encore Career might be? Have you made the transition into a job that has social purpose, but now you find you want it to be fulfilling. So perhaps the length of the legs on your stool can change over time. the key is to keep it balanced.
Yes, Encore stools evolve over time...
I think you make an excellent point, Carol. People, their needs and their opportunities change over time and the definition should be elastic enough to encompass some variation on the Encore theme. The legs on my stool took a different form five years ago than they do today and will likely change again by the time another five years roll by.
And thanks for making the point about balance. It's not just the shape of the legs but how you arrange them that keeps the stool from teetering.