Genius, purpose, and cool job descriptions - What are *you* built to do? [Matt's Idea Blog]
Over the past year or so I’ve been collecting job descriptions I think are tres cool, i.e., stimulating to me. I’m sure this started when I was planting the seeds of my career change - when I was actively thinking about finding my “thing,” what Dick Richards calls our genius (see Is Your Genius at Work?: 4 Key Questions to Ask Before Your Next Career Move - Dwayne’s got a nice article on it here).
I worked through that book a while ago, but I’ll admit it was difficult and I didn’t get it down to two words. (What I love about Richards’ approach is he has you get it down to one gerund - a verb that ends with the suffix ing - and one noun, e.g., Digging Deeper.)
Reflecting on this process after some time, I’ve realized two things. First, my primary motivation for doing personal productivity consulting is to help people free up their minds so their genius can come through - either by making space to hear what it is, or by turning their smart ideas into action [1]. This is the big picture, and the main reason to get on top of everything.
The second realization is that my personal one (Richards says you only have one - I disagree) is something like this (apologies for the dry language):
- Read tons of books.
- Discover ideas that can potentially change personal world views - radically.
- Experiment with them on myself.
- Teach the most valuable ones to others.
Provide terrific value to others, add money, and repeat. (Haven’t got it down to two words, obviously 
So - here are some of the more interesting job descriptions. Do any of them give you ideas about your genius? Please share!
- Attention Management Consultant (from Fatigue from information overload has a remedy, expert says)
- Balance Expert (from The Oracle of Organization)
- Brain Calisthenics Coach (from As Minds Age, What.s Next? Brain Calisthenics)
- Brain Trainer (from Brain Training
- Continuous Self-Improvement Guru (from Continuously Increase Productivity by Embracing the Optimization Mentality)
- Culture Coach (from NPR: Intercultural Relationships: Can They Work?)
- Defective Systems Detective (from Do it tomorrow)
- Director of Insights & Innovation (from the IdeaFlow blog)
- Doctor of Invention (from this blog)
- Experience Designer (from Top Jobs 2007)
- Flexibility Consultant (from A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder - a stimulating read, but ask me about its flaws)
- Freak (from #49: FREAKS RULE! in 100 Ways to Help You Succeed/Make Money, Part 1)
- Joyologist (from A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future)
- Knowledge Champion (from Wikis Are Alive and Kicking in the Enterprise)
- Labyrinth Designer (from Labyrinth Society)
- Master Craftsman of Value (from The Fred Factor: How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary)
- Member, [Technology] Simplicity Advisory Board (from Thinking Simple At Philips)
- Passion Catalyst (from Curt Rosengren)
- Professional Amateur (from Marcel Wanders Studio)
- Wooden Roller Coaster Designer (from Marketplace: Day in the Work Life: Building quite a ride)
References
- [1] I’m leading a marketing study group using Middleton’s Action Plan Marketing workbook, and we just did the meme section. I’m still working on mine, but they alll have to do with smart people, and helping turn their ideas/inspiration into action.
Original post here: Matthew Cornell
Comments: