30/07/2025
If you're feeling dissatisfied in your current role, or wondering what's next, why not try this technique of 'unpacking a job' to get under the surface of what it is you like (and don't like!) about what you currently do, and gather some points for what you might do next. (A word of caution about the framing of this article - there is liberal and frivolous use of the terms crazy and mad in it, which I think gets in the way of what is a powerful exercise).
One of the current cohort in our Career Transition coaching program shared this article with us yesterday. I love the concept of 'unpacking a job' and breaking down exactly what that job will be like, rather than what we think it will be like.
"You’ll discover all sorts of unexpected things when unpacking, like how firefighters mostly don’t fight fires, or how Twitch streamers don’t just “play video games”; they play video games for 12 hours a day. But you’re not just unpacking the job; you’re also unpacking yourself. Do any aspects of this job resemble things you’ve done before, and did you like doing those things? Not “Did you like being known as a person who does those things?” or “Do you like having done those things?” but when you were actually doing them, did you want to stop, or did you want to continue? These questions sound so stupid that it’s no wonder no one asks them, and yet, somehow, the answers often surprise us."
If you're considering a career change, or feeling dissatisfied despite being in the 'job of your dreams', perhaps unpacking will help you uncover some surprising insights that are hidden in plain sight.
(Disclaimer: I don't love some of the language and framing of how this article is written, despite loving the unpacking concept he describes. Be aware that there is a fairly liberal and flippant use of the terms crazy and mad throughout the article, which I find problematic).
https://www.experimental-history.com/p/face-it-youre-a-crazy-person?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
