Had a call today with someone frustrated she didn’t get a big job she had applied to. The title, the team, the salary…..it was all supposed to be hers. “Why didn’t I get it?” she asked. I gave her one small piece of advice, apologizing in advance as I’m not a certified coach: Stop chasing bigger jobs. Start chasing clever ones. She of course didn’t like my answer at first because, let’s face it, chasing bigger feels easier and more natural. Big jobs often demand skills like perfecting the art of nodding enthusiastically and always agreeing with your boss. Clever jobs give you the chance to build something new. We laugh because I told her I’ve been there. In my career, once, I lost out on a big job. The real feedback: “You have too many opinions.” So, I stopped chasing big and started looking for clever. And you know what? Clever jobs took me further, teaching me how to solve unique problems and create meaningful impact. A bigger job might make you visible, but often at the cost of your voice. A clever job makes you irreplaceable, not for the company, but for the industry I told her to stop focusing on titles and start asking better questions. I left her with the question I’ve asked myself for the last few years: If you could design the cleverest job for yourself, the one that challenges, pushes, and transforms you, what would it look like? So, here’s the real hope for all: that you can find the clever job that challenges you, pushes you, and transforms you into someone even you didn’t know you could become, no matter how big it is #CareerGrowth #ThinkClever #WorkSmart #CleverOverBig #Leadership #CareerAdvice #PersonalGrowth #IrreplaceableImpact #ProfessionalDevelopment
Great advise and I can confirm that taking on clever, sometimes smaller, jobs have broadened my horizon, required me to learn entirely new skills, and ensured a high level of agility.
Walter Susini, I always read your posts with a smile, and this one is no exception! You have a gift for saying out loud what many of us silently feel, and it's so refreshing. The distinction between chasing 'big' jobs and pursuing 'clever' ones really hit home for me. I'm on a similar journey myself—not just chasing, but actively building what I hope will be my 'clever' job. It’s a process that’s pushing me to think differently, solve unique problems, and define what meaningful impact looks like for me. Thank you for this reminder that visibility shouldn’t come at the cost of our voice—it should amplify it.
What you learn in a smaller company with a not so fancy title is more valuable than a high flying job with a fancy title. The real growth happens when you are thrown in the deep end and solve problems as you go along. You need to be clever to do this and either you sink or you learn how to navigate through turbulence. As I tell my daughter, every job teaches you something so don’t get attracted to titles.. when you are ready the right job will come your way.
I’ve already reached to top job doing so 9 years ago so I don’t chase for a higher level. What I do find is so few people understand what activities are encompassed in that level that when I apply to do 20% of it as 100% I’m not even considered. What I will say however I am formulating how not to do recruitment for my current startup from the experience. Always learn from everything you never know when you will use that knowledge.
Sometimes, specially when you’ve dedicated many years working for a global corporation, you get the opportunity to step aside and breath new and fresh air… it is kind of scary at the beginning (because corporations tap into your insecurities and make you feel “economically protected”) but I wish I had done it before. I love the feeling of liberty, independence, and as you say, creating something new. Clever jobs are different for each one, but are the ones that give you emotional rewards!. You can only understand this after a long career.
And if you can’t find it, start designing it around you 🙌
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5dWalter , I enjoy reading many of your posts. Today I’ll wade in. First question, did she apply within her own work place? Is it possible her ambition outpaced her abilities? There is such a thing called ‘reality check’, perhaps she wasn’t ready. And, mostly was she ever receiving constructive feedback. Because in my experience if a person has the skill and is ready for the step up (push), then usually the job is theirs. Second, clever jobs often are bigger jobs. So, were you being polite and suggesting growth first? Sometime pointing out people’s strengths and weakness and helping focus energy where improvement is necessary is constructive.