I recently read an article titled “Stop Hiring Trophy Collectors — Start Hiring Gardeners”.
This was right on the heels of reading the book What’s the Point?
In both cases the focus is where we put our career energy.
The article highlights that trophy collectors focus on their impact and accomplishments, while gardeners focus on developing others and progressing together.
The book suggests a focus on our resume highlights the accomplishments, while a focus on helping others builds our eulogy.
The lasting impact we make vs. the highlight reel that shows what we’ve done.
The gardeners and the eulogy are humble.
The resumes and trophy-collectors are self-promoting.
My Perspective
While differences like this can get us to talk, I think the answer lies in the middle.
Our careers are built on accomplishments.
We can’t go into a job search without a resume.
That said, our resume doesn’t have to just contain information about us.
We can capture teams we led, employees we mentored, and the cultural impact of our approach on the overall business.
I would like to be remembered for all my fingerprints.
The awards I won.
The books I wrote.
AND
The lives I touched.
The difference I made.
It’s in the work itself that we touch lives and make a difference.
Separating the two seems futile and unnecessary.
Your Turn
Do you have more content in your trophy case or in your garden?
How do the two work together?
If you think about expanding both, where do you focus next?