This involves becoming creative about different scenarios that you are willing to entertain about your career in the future as you move on after the EMBA programme. You do not have to be considering a radical career change to get value out of this exercise. Even if you are perfectly content with your current arrangements, there is always room to explore more rewarding ways of advancing your chosen career path. Before you get there, however, it is important to take stock of your aspirations and commitments. If you have kept a copy of your UGM assignments on your “dream job” and your “eulogy” – or even your essays from your application to the programme – you may find it useful to pull them out and re-read them. In addition, please refer to the conversations that you have had with your career coaches during the programme. This assignment has two parts, both of which need to be submitted (in a single document).
Part A: In about 500 words:
1. Describe how your aspirations have changed in the last 1.5-2 years:
• Point out 2-3 key differences between the aspirations you currently have and those that were implied in either your “dream job” or “eulogy”
• Describe your near and longer-term aspirations and how they relate to your core values
• Think about those changes in your aspirations that would not have taken place had you not embarked on the EMBA programme. What specific aspects of your experience would you credit with triggering these changes? For example, you can refer to courses and lecturers that influenced you, fellow students, serendipitous moments, work colleagues, speakers, etc.
2. Describe the commitments that will help you to realise your aspirations.
• What commitments will you have to make or alter?
• What commitments are fixed, which you would never break or renegotiate?
• What resources will you develop to help you reinforce your commitments?
(You may want to refer to the article by Sull & Holder posted on Canvas, for tips on how to think about commitments.)
Part B: Draw three “Odyssey plans” (see below) and provide a brief explanation for each
Now put aside your aspirations and commitments statement and place your energy in outlining 3 “odyssey plans” (Burnett & Evans 2016: 78-91; see also template at end of syllabus). Imagine you are a designer in charge of plotting out your life and you want to describe three increasingly outlandish scenarios that you are considering.
• Plan 1 is the one you will undertake if nothing changes
• Plan 2 is the plan if the above is no longer available
• Plan 3 is the plan if you are not concerned about loss of income or loss of face