I’ve been a fan and proponent of Mark Savickas and his Career Construction Narrative process for many years, as well as attending many of his training sessions. I’m a big fan of Mark as well. One take-away I picked up from Mark was that if I do not have time to conduct the whole narrative interview process with a client, go with the early role model question.

It goes like this: When you were a young child of say 7, 8, 9 or 10, was a role model for you. A role model can be anyone (other than your immediate parents), real or fictional, such as a superhero, cartoon character, famous individual, sports hero, influential friend, neighbor or relative. Ask what impact did this early role model have on you?  Why did you choose them? What were their characteristics? What was their career?

These early role models represent the self we are becoming. And the characteristics they display are characteristics we would like to have. 

When asking this question with an individual, try and come up with at least three. See if there are any overlapping characteristics that show up, such as caring, funny, smart or others.

Here are my three when I participated in this process many years ago. 

My first was cartoon character Bugs Bunny who I chose because of his quick wit, his cleverness and his ability to talk his way out of tricky predicaments.

My second was Superman with his incredible powers, his work for good, his vulnerability and his double life with Clark Kent.

My third was Willie Mays with his athletic ability, his courage, presence, his enduring spirit, laughter and good will. 

These may be characteristics an individual may unconsciously want to be developing in themselves and potentially in their career. You may want to ask, which of these characteristics would you like to show up in a potential career, or in the career you currently have.

I encourage you to ask yourself about your early role models. The first may be the hardest one to come up with. However once you have one, more will materialize in most cases.

Give this exercise a try and let me know what comes up for you.