Mr. Mitch Menchaca
How Soon Can You Have a Mid-Career Crisis?
Posted by Oct 20, 2009 2 comments
Mr. Mitch Menchaca
Am I already going through mid (career) life crisis at the age of 31?
A few weeks ago, I was sitting in a work committee with a mix of arts administrators and colleagues from other sectors. The term emerging leader came up and I proudly stated that I was an emerging leader and if someone wanted more information I would be happy to chat about it. As I was talking a couple of colleagues stated that I was not an emerging leader. They felt that emerging leaders were not classified by age, but more for their years of service and I didn’t fit their criteria. After that moment in the meeting, I tuned everything out and had a mental breakdown. All that ran through my head was… am I an emerging leader?
10 years ago the Americans for the Arts emerging leader program was created. With that, a target demographic was established. “The Emerging Leader Network targets professionals who are either new to the field, with up to five years of experience, or are 35 years of age or younger.” With that set of characteristics, I meet the criteria and can state that I am an emerging leader (and do)! Americans for the Arts and other national and local organizations have done a great job of working to ensure that anyone who wants to identify or participate as an emerging leader has the opportunity.
But the initial conversation comes down to age or years of service for a potential emerging leader or for an emerging leader advocate. What does or should the term mean today? Is it more than age or years of service?
For me, I identify as an emerging leader because I still feel green in many areas of my career and I want to continue to expand my professional network and job related skills. I also feel being an emerging leader comes down to these principals. Being passionate about the service of their organizations; energized by the process of learning their business and craft; supportive of their peers; searching for collaboration, cooperation and education opportunities; taking the lead to make arts and culture organizations inclusive, innovative and well-respected.
Comments
At 31, you're still an emerging leader. One of the minor things that irks me about the 20UNDER40 project though is the suggestion that arts leaders are either just emerging or nearing retirement. What about people (like me) who've just reached 40? I'd like to see some attention given to mid-career leaders. Before you know it, you'll be there too.
Mitch,
If determining whether you are an Emerging Leader is your quarter-life crisis, I think you are doing ok. :) Nevertheless, you bring up a good point and an issue that affects many of us. Some people balk at labels; some people seek them. I happen to like them as it gives me some boundaries to my otherwise insouciant nature. It also helps me build a roadmap for my identity. Today I'm an emerging leader, tomorrow I'm a mid-career leader, etc.
The fact that you have a strong direction and understanding of your values will lead you out of any mini-identity-label crisis. And when those labels and identities ultimately fall to rubble, there is always tomorrow to recreate yourself. Hail to the crises!
Katie