I'm burned out in tech. How do I use my creative talents for good (and good money)?
Using your talents to truly do something good for the world, while also pulling in a decent salary and benefits, can feel impossible. We've tapped a career coach in the impact space for help.
Careers are deeply personal; most executive career advice isn’t. Crux is here to help.
Ask a Career Coach
I’ve been working in tech for the past 12 years. I’ve worked in a creative role at a few startups before moving to one of the larger, more well-known companies (you know it). Despite the ups and downs of startups and tech, I’ve always felt drawn toward the field, and especially my current company, because there were such clear missions. There was a real sense that if our company succeeded, we could truly change the world. As a leader, it’s always been easy to inspire both myself and the teams I’ve led around that mission
However, with all the evolution in the tech space in the past several years, it’s clear that my company and others like it are not mission-driven as they once were, or as I once believed. In fact, I’m not sure I want to participate in where the industry is headed, and as a manager I’m struggling to motivate my team around a mission I don’t believe in. How can I use my creative talents to truly do something good for the world while still having a job with a decent salary and benefits?
In the midst of a career turning point or crisis? Crux wants to help. Send us your question to be answered (anonymously) by a career coach in an upcoming newsletter.
A Career Coach Says
As a coach in the impact space, this hits home.
It’s great you’re pausing and checking in with yourself. Questioning can be scary, but it’s necessary to honor yourself.
There’s a few things going on here. If I were to reflect it back, the core problem is that you’re feeling less inspired and connected to their vision. Thus, you’re having trouble motivating your team and wondering how to do something more impactful.
The first step is to clarify YOUR vision and what kind of work would inspire you. The rest will follow. Let’s break down how to do that into parts.
1. How can I…
We’re going back to the basics. Who are you, dear creative, mindful tech person? Coming back to yourself and making decisions from that place is key to inspiring work (and life).
“Who am I?” is a big philosophical question, but it’s grounded in your core values. You can start identifying what those core values actually are by reflecting on what energizes, what relaxes you, and who you want to be. Feel overwhelming? Try my Uncover your Deeper Values worksheet with prompts and exercises to get you started.
This exercise is one of my favorites with clients. When the values deeply resonate, it’s a super helpful compass. For example, I had a client with similar conflicted feelings of working at a tech company. She landed on ABSURDITY as a key value and she was taken aback. It was a wake up call that articulated a big part of her that she cherished but was completely missing at her job and company.
2. Use my creative talents…
How do you want to use your talent? This is a sneaky question because people can often only envision what they’ve seen and only know what they know.
But which talents you use and how you use them is up to you. And how you work now doesn’t need to be how you work in the future.
So what other ways of working have you daydreamed about? Seasonal, freelance, remote, part-time, doing, teaching, speaking, volunteering... take examples from different people and cultures. In Amsterdam, where I live, four-day work weeks are normal.
What role would you like work to play in your life right now? If you were in a car, is your work steering the wheel? Is it in the passenger seat navigating? Or is it in the backseat entertaining you? There is nothing wrong with any of these roles. Everyone needs something different from work, and that may change at different times in their life.
3. To do good…
Another client’s work was in solving a systemic issue. It was important, long-term, heavy work. He got a new job and felt unsure about it. Through our coaching, he realized he did want the hands-on work he was doing now. He enjoyed immediate impact, connecting to people, and feeling lighter. His need and way of making an impact changed. (Check out my snapshot of the impact-driven landscape to understand more about this.)
So my questions to you are: How do you want to see the world change? What issues or communities are important to you? What kind of role do you want to play?
4. While still having a job with a decent salary and benefits…
Let’s do a quick reframe on money. Contrary to popular belief, money is not the thing we want. It is a means to get you the things you desire, like free time, security, health, adventure, creative pursuits, etc.
So take an honest look at the role money plays in your life. What does it provide? Are there other ways to get those things? It’s OK if there aren’t, but it’s good to always dig deeper on why you want a certain salary so you understand why you’re prioritizing it (or not).
A good question to ask yourself if you’re not sure: What are your true needs in this life stage right now? A new family member or art hobby makes more free time the most important, while caring for a health situation means benefits take precedent. Money may indeed be the focus when buying a home or starting a business. Decide what you mean by decent salary and benefits based on your goals right now.
The Framework
I hope this framework helps you clarify what you need and truly want. Clarification is the foundation for an authentic long-term vision and the short-term steps to eventually get there.
Meet the Coach of the Month: Michelle Arrazcaeta
In her own words:
Michelle is a strategist, coach, and founder of Super Good Society, a transformation studio based in Amsterdam. You can say she’s a creative entrepreneur and coach for changemakers.
For 15 years, she’s designed award-winning strategies for global brands like Nike and Google and innovative startups like Thinx. She’s mentored and coached budding and established creative changemakers who want to use their skills, energy, and genius for good across the US and EU. She speaks and hosts events and is passionate about passion.
Offers for Crux Readers
Schedule a free 30-minute Intro Coaching Call
Sign up for a Crux Readers Private Workshop
Take 25% off a Personal Brand Toolkit
Michelle’s Go-to Resources
Super Good Society Tools
Super Good Society Bookshop, a BCorp org supporting local, indie bookshops
In the midst of a career turning point or crisis? Crux wants to help. Send us your question to be answered (anonymously) by a career coach in an upcoming newsletter.
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