Our everyday highs and lows eventually add up to our whole career. Each moment contributes to our character development and professional learning, but we must stop and recognize them well to remember what we learned. So much of our real career education fits into a journal rather than a resume. We call this living record Roses and Thorns.
What is a Rose? A rose is a positive moment that you may not be able to capture elsewhere formally. You may have had a successful sales call. Or, you had a breakthrough with a member of your team that made them better. Another time you may want to record a Rose is when you make an advancement on a big project. We have so much to be grateful for when noting the positive moments in our careers.
What is a Thorn? A thorn is a moment that may have been painful but is an experience to mine for insights down the road. Nothing is wasted, especially not seemingly experiences that feel negative on the surface. You didn’t get the job you wanted. You didn’t finish the project correctly, and your boss wasn’t happy with you. When happening these moments can be rough, but we often learn the most from these experiences.
To know yourself well, you should note your Roses and Thorns frequently. Take note, reflect, and account for these critical moments. Roses and Thorns will become the “tape that you play back” when you realize you have successfully overcome hard and scary things in your career.
This activity takes only a few moments, and we suggest you complete Roses and Thorns a few times a week at a minimum.