logo-newlogo-newlogo-newlogo-new
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Audit Trail Academy
  • Advisory Services
  • Books
✕
  • Home
  • Chambers on Internal Audit
  • Uncategorized
  • Are You Pursuing Your Career in Color?

Are You Pursuing Your Career in Color?

Outsourcing Internal Auditing: Do’s and Dont’s
May 1, 2017
Does Your Organization’s Cyber Culture Make You #Wannaaudit?
May 15, 2017
May 8, 2017

In 2013, I published a blog post that resonated widely with readers. In “Do You Live Your Life in Color?” I reflected on the passing of two people — one a friend and one a relative — who lived their lives with vigor and passion, never failing to pursue their dreams and ambitions.

I observed that their passion for their work “inspired me to live my professional life as if I would only live it once.” Unfortunately, far too many professionals today are simply punching the clock when it comes to their careers. Quite frankly, they are pursuing their professional careers in black and white!

We spend far too much time in the workplace to be content with it simply being the source of a paycheck. While our careers are only one aspect of our lives, we should pursue them with all of the energy, enthusiasm, and desire that we can muster. A career pursued in color provides rewards far beyond the compensation that enables us to live the more critical aspects of our lives.

I addressed this topic at the close of my first book, Lessons Learned on the Audit Trail, when I urged young auditors to approach their work with open minds and positive attitudes.

If you have true passion for the profession, if you cherish your yesterdays and envision bright tomorrows, and if you live every day in full color rather than black and white, I believe you will find internal auditing among the most rewarding jobs on the planet.

I should hasten to say, I offer this advice to people in any field, not just internal auditing. Indeed, I have worked with or encountered thousands of men and women from many different career fields. As I reflect on those who have pursued their careers in color, there are five characteristics common to them that stand out:

They have a career vision. Pursuing a career in color demands a vision — a fully developed, rich, and inspiring guidepost for your professional future. For those who have not taken this important step, I recommend the article “Creating a Career Vision for Your Life: Envisioning Your Ideal Career,” by Randall S. Hansen, founder of Quintessential Careers. Hansen shares several excellent examples of career vision statements that can serve to inspire those who are struggling with this important step. Some of these examples may come across as overly lofty, but if you want to reach the top of your field, you have to aim high.

Of course, I am under no illusion that running around with our career-vision statements tattooed on our foreheads is the secret to a happy life. Yet, as Lewis Carroll noted, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” I believe that most of us would agree that in the 21st century, a programmed destination and a good GPS make for a much less stressful journey.

They have genuine passion for their work. Whether natural or nurtured, passion for one’s work feeds enthusiasm, curiosity, lifelong learning, and other factors that help make careers fulfilling. Having ardor and zeal for what occupies so much of our time can’t help but make the ups and downs of daily life more palatable. Passion drives personal growth and innovation. It fuels success. It builds leadership by inspiring those around us. Enthusiasm for your work can be contagious.

They are determined and patient. The partner of passion is determination — the willingness to stick to a goal and not be deterred by temporary setbacks. Coupled with patience, it helps you keep going through the tough times when it would be easy to throw in the towel. It’s helpful to remember career success came late to some of the greats, including Charles Darwin, who was 50 when On the Origin of Species was first published, and Julia Child, who was 39 when her first cookbook was published and 51 when she debuted on television as The French Chef. And, as I often joke, I was 50 years old when I finally landed my first job with a Big Four accounting firm!

They are willing to take risks. Career coaches urge young people to find what they love before choosing a career path, but life sometimes gets in the way of that luxury. People who pursue their careers in color may not find their calling before heading into the working world, but they are willing to take risks to pursue their passion when they ultimately determine what it is.

They maintain perspective and balance. While this post is all about nurturing passion for one’s vocation, it is not my intention to suggest that life should be all about work. Those who successfully pursue a career in color often also pursue their lives in color. They understand they must strike a balance between work and home, career and family, and occupational demands and personal health.

It is important to identify what you value both in work and in life. Maintaining perspective and balance will help you comfortably intertwine them allowing for a healthy and productive give and take.

Pursuing a career in color isn’t easy. It demands focus, determination, hard work, persistence, and the willingness to bounce back from setbacks. Admittedly it is easier to settle for a career in black and white, but I find greater rewards in battling with passion than in surrendering to safety.

In a perfect world, your career would be the intersection of your passion and your skill, but those two do not always coincide. It is in your hands to pursue your career in color and strive for the ideal situation where you do what you love and love what you do.

As always, I welcome your thoughts.

Share

Related posts

March 13, 2023

New IIA Report Is a Timely Benchmarking Resource for Internal Auditors


Read more
May 16, 2022

THE STAGGERING TOLL OF COVID RELIEF FRAUD: WHERE WERE THE THREE LINES?


Read more
February 3, 2022

To Live a Life in Color, You May Have to Change Channels


Read more

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What’s Trending

03-20-23

New Report Reveals Surprising Insights from Internal Audit Executives


03-13-23

New IIA Report Is a Timely Benchmarking Resource for Internal Auditors


03-02-23

6 Things Audit Committee Members Often Won’t Say to Internal Audit


Read More

Archive

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009

Contact Us

PO Box 1441
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170

+1-407-463-9389
rchambers@richardchambers.com

About AuditBeacon.com

AuditBeacon.com is a resource center for internal auditors and risk professionals from around the world. In addition to more than 500 blogs authored by Richard Chambers, the site includes links to news and insights on internal audit and other information that illuminates the value of this important profession. AuditBeacon.com is provided as a service by Richard F. Chambers and Associates, LLC.

Copyright © 2023 Richard F. Chambers & Associates. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Audit Trail Academy
  • Advisory Services
  • Books