As far back as the 2nd century BCE the Chinese were developing a Taoist cosmology around four mystical creatures: the White Tiger, Black Tortoise, Azure Dragon, and Red Phoenix. These creatures guarded the four directions of the compass, appeared as the corresponding seasons, and represented quadrants in the sky.
Imagine now--in our earthly realm--we pair these celestial beings with the Four Career Concepts, as outlined by former professors Michael Driver and Ken Brousseau of USC. Driver and Brousseau extrapolated this theory on the basis of the more common Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, which in itself was developed from the personality types identified by psychiatrist Carl Jung. Career Concepts are broad categories that help define how people think about the work they do and their motivations for work. Paired with their celestial creatures they are:
Linear-- White Tiger
Steady State Experts --Black Tortoise
Spiral-- Azure Dragon
Transitory- Red Phoenix
For generations of Americans who were told that the goal was power and wealth, the Linear model represented a career path marked by steady promotions and increasing responsibility, leading to top leadership positions and handsome pay. These are the Tigers-- aggressive and determined. The problem is that not everyone has that ambition, and some who pursued it discovered that they were ultimately unhappy.
At the same time, there were the mid level managers and blue collar workers; those employees who put effort into becoming proficient experts and took pride in their craftsmanship. The Steady State Experts were reliable Tortoises working in positions that promised a pension and a nice retirement at the end of their career.
Then the world changed; unions were on the decline, and the promise of power and wealth was harder to achieve. Driver and Brousseau identified two additional Career Concepts that people gravitated toward in this changing work environment. The Azure Dragon is not just one animal, but is the combination of many; it has the body of a serpent, scales of a fish, horns of the deer and feet of an eagle. Spiral motivated workers move from one career to another, advancing by accumulating knowledge along the way. They change careers because they have a desire to learn and grow.
The Phoenix is light and airy and moves with the wind. As with the dragon, it is a combination of birds; pheasant, duck, peacock, crane, parrot, and swallow. Transitory workers have accumulated knowledge but they work only enough to allow them to do other things; to fly and be free to explore other interests in their life. In the mythology of the Phoenix, she would appear from the sky and swoop down to bring good fortune on the household. She also represented change and adaptation.
The Four Celestial Beasts are all necessary for the world to exist, and each part of the Career Concepts model contributes to the value and success of an organization--leadership, expertise, innovation, and support.
In my own career I would say I was decidedly Linear. As a performing arts executive, I am fortunate to be in a leadership position that suits my personality. My perfect client on the other hand would be the Dragon or Phoenix; someone who may be looking for a challenge, looking for change, looking for meaning, or following a wandering path to success.
Decide and embrace who you are. Tiger, Tortoise, Dragon or Phoenix.