Portfolio careers – find your ‘element’

The Element

Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson explores the limitations of the education system and how people can reach their full potential in The Element: how finding your passion changes everything. The title may seem a bit unpalatably ‘self-help’ to some, but persevere because Sir Ken is a truly 21st century global intellect with some interesting research and insights, shared (with the help of Lou Aronica, a professional author) in this very accessible book.

Ken Robinson was knighted in 2003 for his contribution to education and the arts. His TED lecture on how education kills creativity has been downloaded in 200 countries over 3 million times. In this book, he defines the element as taking a ‘deep delight and pleasure’ in what you do. He argues it is more than just having a natural aptitude for something and being very good at it; it’s about having a real passion for it.

Many of the interviews cited in the book, for example with Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, suggest that people who find their ‘element’ do so in one field; be that art, music, maths or science. This made me wonder how the ‘element’ works for portfolio careers, which may span a number of different spheres or combine several elements of just one. For me, being in my element, is about having a portfolio of work that draws on very different skills at different times.

Robinson suggests that there’s no such thing as luck. It’s easy to look at very successful people, who are clearly in their ‘element’ and feel that they have been in some way privileged, that it was purely by chance that they were ‘in the right place at the right time’. Robinson argues that ‘lucky people often make their own luck because of their attitudes.’ I’d go further than this and say it’s not just often, it’s always. Creating and taking serendipitous opportunities is an important skill that can be learnt and in my view has nothing to do with luck. It is vital for the portfolio careerist.

For your portfolio career to succeed, I’d recommend Robinson’s advice; anticipate positive outcomes, create self-fulfilling prophecies and make a conscious decision to set a course for achieving your life ambitions!