You are not the same person you were when you entered the
roofing industry. Time changes who you are and what drives you. But
add growing technical expertise, financial success, and more and
bigger projects, and you have the foundation for professional life
shifts. The daily hurdles and uphill battles of your early years
lead to a search for greater meaning and satisfaction. By
recognizing these shifts occur and embracing them, you can align
your professional focus and business practices to revitalize your
company and leadership.
Decades ago, Erik Erikson, a renowned developmental
psychologist, noted adults mature along observable dimensions. As
we age, he says, we move through developmental stages in pursuit of
two major life goals—love and work. Although material
success, recognition and skill building dominate early work life,
later we become interested in guiding the next generation and
giving back.
More recent surveys by human-resource researchers support the
argument for an age-related shift in the meaning and goals of work.
Younger workers seek financial and professional independence and
opportunities for advancement. These desires eventually shift to
where older workers seek to enjoy their work and relationships with
co-workers and have interesting and...
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