Aerodynamic or Ergonomic?

Beth salt

I used to get these two words mixed up all the time even though I know they are completely different. For some reason they seemed similar to me. Recently the Holy Spirit showed me that they are two different aspects of how we approach our lives and careers: 

Aerodynamic - this refers to how objects move efficiently through air to reduce friction and drag. People with aerodynamic careers think about long-term plans and strategize to move forward. There can be many reasons for being aerodynamic, and not all of them are negative. The person may be ambitious, easily bored, want to achieve a lot of different goals, or even save for a large purchase. 

How do you plan for an aerodynamic career? Your long-term and short-term goals should be set and evaluated regularly to guide you along the way. 

1. Research what education might be required for your career goals, and plan the costs attached to the education (e.g. law school is expensive and takes a lot of time to complete successfully, so you may need support along the way). 
2. Have a contingency plan because even the best laid plans go wrong. Be ready to be flexible or pivot to a completely new plan if necessary. That may mean you have to stay put for longer than you want to. 
3. Be relational not driven - even in achieving goals, relationships matter most. Don’t lose sight of the people around you in the process of achievement or perfection. 

Lorri had an aerodynamic career. Her husband was in the military, so they moved every 5 years or so. When she got news of their next posting, she researched the local community, set goals, and planned her action steps in advance. She used her connections across the country to make contacts, and was very successful in transitioning to permanent roles when others worked part time for years. Lorri also had to pivot a few times; she and her husband moved to one city and then he was offered another posting at the last minute so she remained in their home while he travelled during the week to work. This enabled her to pursue her own career pathway in a community that had more options for her. 

Ergonomic - this refers to systems and actions intended to minimize repetitive strain or injury due to consistent use. People with ergonomic careers intend to stay put for the long term. They may move within the same organization, but don’t intend to go anywhere else. They may put up with a number of conflicts and challenges in order to maintain the stability of a predictable situation. 

How do you plan an ergonomic career? Find ways to avoid strain or burnout from repetitive behaviour. 

1. Sustainability is important - if you hate change, you aren’t going to be able to avoid it by staying in the same job. Things will still change around you. Build supports in your life in case your job shifts unexpectedly. 
2. Avoid over-use - address conflict assertively (not aggressively and not passive-aggressively) in order to keep work and personal relationships tuned up. Be willing to change, and don’t put up with things that are obviously wrong. 
3. Hope and faith are important - God is always the Provider in any situation, not your employer. If things go wrong, you need to know that God has your back. 

Mark had an ergonomic career. He started out working in his local movie cinema during high school and university, then was promoted to manager of the theatre and worked there until it was closed. He was transferred three times to theatres within Toronto and then was finally laid off. He joined an acquaintance who was setting up his own business and worked for him for years, even when it wasn’t paying his rent. Eventually he had to find another job and after months of a tough search, he found a job in customer service that he loves. His clients request him by name, and praise him highly to his supervisors. He plans to stay there until he retires, and has now made himself completely indispensable. 
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Neither of these two career paths is better than the other. They both have positive and negative sides. You may gravitate to the one that is most comfortable, but you should prepare for the possibility that you will need to pivot and accept more change (or less) than you like. See it as an opportunity for growth. God will be right there with you!