A tale of a diverse workscape

Once upon a time in a bustling medium-sized city, there lived a woman named Mia. Mia was a dedicated business analyst at a local bank, a mother of two lively children, and a daughter to an aging father with dementia. Despite her seemingly full plate, Mia often found herself gazing out the window of her office, daydreaming about a richer, more varied life. A life where she could use her talents in more than just crunching numbers and attending endless meetings.

One crisp autumn evening, as Mia walked through the leaf-strewn paths of the park that led to her daughter’s soccer practice, her thoughts wandered to all the possibilities of her workscape. She imagined herself helping at a global charity for dementia research, inspired by her father’s condition; coaching her daughter’s soccer team to foster her leadership skills; and even influencing the design of the IBA annual conference for business analysts. Each dream painted strokes of joy and fulfillment on the canvas of her life.

However, as she shared these aspirations over coffee with friends and colleagues, she was often met with furrowed brows and skeptical remarks.

“Focus on one thing, Mia. You’re spreading yourself too thin,” cautioned her colleague, Marcus, as they walked back from a team meeting.

“Your personal brand will only be confused about who you are,” advised Saachi, a long-time friend, shaking her head disapprovingly.

“Stick with your passion for analysis. These side activities will just distract you,” her mentor warned during one of their mentoring sessions.

Each comment was like a gust of wind, trying to blow Mia’s seeds of dreams away before they could even sprout. But Mia’s spirit was not so easily broken. Each evening as she watched her children play, or visited her father, who smiled a little brighter each time she sat by him, Mia felt a deep resolve strengthen within her.

Determined to prove that her dreams were valid, Mia took small, deliberate steps. She volunteered her analytical skills to the charity, finding innovative ways to boost their fundraising efforts. She became the deputy coach for her daughter’s soccer team, her strategic thinking bringing fresh plays and tactics to the young team’s repertoire.

As the annual business analysts’ conference approached, Mia volunteered to help with the design and administration. Her creative solutions and meticulous planning were soon noticed, earning her praise and respect from her peers.

With each role, Mia found unexpected synergies. Her enhanced leadership skills from coaching helped her manage her team at the bank better. The patience and empathy gained from caring for her father enriched her volunteer work, making her efforts deeply impactful.

At the end of the year, as Mia stood on the stage at the conference, ready to present a summary of the year’s achievements, she felt a profound sense of fulfillment. The audience applauded not just for her professional insights but also for her contributions across her diverse roles.

“People used to tell me to focus on one thing, that I was dreaming too much. But here I am, living those dreams,” Mia shared, her voice steady and confident. “Our workscape can be as diverse and rich as we dare to make it. It’s about the value we create the growth we experience, and the impact we make—not just at our paid jobs but in our lives.”

Mia’s story spread, inspiring others to explore and embrace their own diverse workscapes. They saw in her a model of how blending various roles could bring not only personal fulfillment but also a broad impact on many lives.

And so, Mia continued, her life a vibrant tapestry of roles that brought her joy, growth, and a deep sense of purpose, all woven together by her courage to dream differently and defy the traditional norms of work.

Author

Helen Palmer, Founder of Self unLimited, not only dreams of a diverse workscape, she lives in one. And in her choices, she role-models the possibilities for others who might seek to have a difference experience of work than they currently inhabit. One of the things she loves to do is exercise her creativity, like turning her ideas into a story like this one about Mia.

Image by Helen Palmer and DALL·E