The first step to balance your passion and your development is to define your goals and priorities. What are the social issues that you care about the most? What are the skills and competencies that you want to develop or improve? What are the types of organizations or roles that you would like to work for or in? Having a clear vision of what you want to achieve and why will help you focus your efforts and identify the best opportunities for you.
In my experience it’s about finding the gaps you want to fill and then hustling to get at them. In the field of sustainability, meaning and purpose make the work something you want to do to help move the world forward. In my work, developing the energy workforce of the future is a problem I’ve been looking to solve for nearly 10 years. Once I identified the need and my desires, it’s been a worthwhile journey in finding how I can make a difference and a dent in my industry.
The second step to balance your passion and your development is to seek feedback and mentorship from others who have more experience or expertise in social impact. Feedback can help you assess your strengths and weaknesses, improve your performance, and learn from your mistakes. Mentorship can help you gain insights, guidance, and support from someone who can share their knowledge, network, and advice. You can seek feedback and mentorship from your colleagues, managers, peers, or external mentors who work in the same or related fields.
The third step to balance your passion and your development is to explore different options and opportunities that can enrich your career and broaden your perspective. You can do this by taking on new projects or tasks, volunteering for a cause that you care about, joining a professional network or community, attending events or workshops, or pursuing further education or training. Exploring different options can help you discover new interests, learn new skills, meet new people, and find new ways to create social impact.
The fourth step to balance your passion and your development is to be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs and demands of the social impact sector. You might encounter challenges, uncertainties, or failures that require you to adjust your plans, strategies, or expectations. You might also encounter opportunities, innovations, or trends that require you to update your skills, knowledge, or approaches. Being flexible and adaptable can help you cope with change, embrace diversity, and seize opportunities.
The fifth step to balance your passion and your development is to take care of yourself and your well-being. Working in social impact can be rewarding but also stressful, demanding, or emotionally draining. You might face high expectations, limited resources, complex problems, or ethical dilemmas. You might also experience compassion fatigue, burnout, or self-doubt. Taking care of yourself can help you maintain your motivation, energy, and resilience. You can do this by setting boundaries, managing your time, practicing self-care, and seeking support.
The sixth step to balance your passion and your development is to celebrate your achievements and the impact that you have created. Working in social impact can be challenging but also fulfilling, inspiring, or meaningful. You might have contributed to a social cause, improved a situation, or changed a life. You might have also grown as a person, a professional, or a leader. Celebrating your achievements can help you appreciate your efforts, recognize your value, and inspire others.
Social impact work will ebb and flow with the economy, current social issues, etc. Right now many tech companies are cutting the social impact jobs they added just a couple of years ago. To have a successful career in social impact you need to find a combination of what you’re good at, what you’re passionate about, and figure out how to make a decent salary doing it. Have grit, be flexible, focus on long term impact, and do lots of self care.