Friday, January 19, 2018

In Search of a Career (Part 2): Career Planning

In Search of a Career (Part 2): Career Planning 
Tap your eight realms of  intelligence 
Dr Abe V Rotor 

Career planning is defined as the ongoing pro
  • Explores his interests and abilities; 
  •  Strategically plans his career goals; and. 
  • Creates his future work success by designing learning and action plans to help him achieve his goals. 



These are three elements in career planning for every individual seeking a bright prospect in his career. They are categorized in this sequence along the career path he has laid out in mind as ambition, and in remote and vague term, as dream. 

Taken as a whole these elements cannot be determined in just one sweeping study, much less measured and assessed as a comprehensive career map that can be handed down as a lifetime guide, for three principal reasons: first, by the nature of the study, it needs a long and continuing research, and that the methodology 
involved is varied; second, there are alternative elements which may be missed out, not unanticipated in the process; and third, there are inevitable circumstances and unpredictable factors which are likely to be encountered in such a long-term study. 

Stages in Career Planning

The first stage in career planning which is to explore the interests and abilities of the person is essential, in fact primordial in any undertaking. Every person is endowed genetically with certain abilities passed on from his forebears through generations, and particular from his biological parents. There are eight realms or fields of intelligence, often referred to as 
, which are applied in examining and assessing a person’s potential intelligence or set of intelligence.

Multiple intelligence pioneer Howard Gardner's pluralistic view of intelligence suggests that all people possess at least eight different intelligences that operate in varying degrees depending upon each individual. Gardner initially present only 7, naturalism was included later. (Multiple Intelligences Theory, Howard Gardner, PhD)



A Survey on Multiple Intelligence

The 8 primary intelligences identified are as follows: by Gardner include the following: (not in proper order)
  •    linguistic intelligence,
  • 2    logical-mathematical intelligence,
  • 3    spatial intelligence,
  • 4    bodily-kinesthetic intelligence,
  • 5    musical intelligence,
  • 6    interpersonal intelligence, and
  • 7    intrapersonal intelligence.
  • 8   naturalistic intelligence
The eighth field of intelligence was not part of Gardner's original framework but was added in 1996 to include those who excel in the realm of natural science.

The general characteristics associated with each of these intelligences are described below. (CM Doria and AV Rotor: Humanities Today – An Experiential Approach C and E Publishing 2012)
  
Applications of Multiple Intelligence cartoon 
1. Linguistic intelligence - refers to an individual's capacity to use language effectively as a means of expression and communication through the written or spoken word (Examples: poets, writers, orators, and comedians. Some famous examples include: Jose Rizal, Shakespeare, Virginia Woolf, Abraham Lincoln and Walt Whitman).

2. Logical-Mathematical intelligence - refers to an individual's ability to recognize relationships and patterns between concepts and things, to think logically, to calculate numbers, and to solve problems scientifically and systematically. (Examples: mathematicians, economists, lawyers and scientists. Some famous examples include: Charles Newton, Albert Einstein, Erwin Schrodinger, and John Dewey).

3. Visual -Spatial intelligence - refers to the capability to think in images and orient oneself spatially. In addition, spatially intelligent people are able to graphically represent their visual and spatial ideas (Examples: artists, decorators, architects, pilots, sailors, surveyors, inventors, and guides. Some famous examples include: Fernando Amorsolo, Juan Luna, Picasso, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Leonardo DaVinci).

4. Musical intelligence - refers to the capacity to appreciate a variety of musical forms as well as being able to use music as a vehicle of expression. Musically intelligent people are perceptive to elements of rhythm, melody, and pitch (Examples: singers, musicians, and composers. Some famous examples include: Ryan Cayabyab, Nicanor Abelardo, Mozart, Julie Andrews, Andrea Boccelli and Leonard Bernstein).

5. Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence - refers to the capacity of using one's own body skillfully as a means of expression or to work with one's body to create or manipulate objects (Examples: dancers, actors, athletes, sculptors, surgeons, mechanics, and craftspeople. Some famous examples include: Manny Pacquiao, Michael Jordan, Julia Roberts, and Mikhail Baryshnikov).

6. Interpersonal (Social) intelligence - refers to the capacity to appropriately and effectively communicate with and respond to other people. The ability to work cooperatively with others and understand their feelings (Examples: sales people, politicians, religious leaders, talk show hosts, etc. Some famous examples include: Rodrigo Roa Duterte,  Bill Clinton, Ghandi, Oprah Winfrey).

7. Intrapersonal intelligence - refers to the capacity to accurately know one's self, including knowledge of one's own strengths, motivations, goals, and feelings. To be capable of self-reflection and to be introverted and contemplative are also traits held by persons with Intrapersonal intelligence. (Examples: entrepreneurs, therapists, philosophers, etc. Some famous examples include: Pope Francis, Sigmund Freud, Bill Gates, Socrates and Plato).

8. Naturalistic intelligence - refers to the ability to identify and classify the components that make up our environment. This intelligence would have been especially apt during the evolution of the human race in individuals who served as hunters, gatherers, and farmers. (Examples: botanists, farmers, etc. Some famous examples include: Eduardo Quisumbing, botanist; Aristotle, Charles Darwin, E.O. Wilson).

Awareness of Multiple Intelligence "helps create communities of reflective, self-directed learners, to encourage the pursuit of deep understanding within and across disciplines, and to promote critical and creative thinking" (AV Rotor, Light from the Old Arch, UST 2001)


These intelligences are often attributed as God-given gifts, particularly in traditional and religious societies. This belief is reinforced by the fact that no normal individual is without any appropriate field of intelligence, often complemented by others to form a compatible combination.  

For example, Fernando Amorsolo, Philippine national artist, is evidently gifted with spatial intelligence and naturalism, hence his masterpieces are mainly nature’s scene, and the aesthetic human beauty. Teachers to be effective must possess the proper combination of intelligences: interpersonal for good human relations, logic for scholarly and methodical teaching, language for clear expression, intrapersonal as guide to teaching as a vocation.  In fact, there is no other profession that calls for the highest and widest application of all eighth realms, other qualities notwithstanding.

What are other elements other than the 8 realms of intelligence?

Jose Rizal is exceptionally endowed with a number of intelligence, from spatial to logic to language, as manifested in his works and biography. The question as to what makes a martyr, singularly manifested by bravery, sacrifice and sense of nationalism, may not be traced to mere intelligence.  Which therefore raises the  need to know more about the development of a person outside the eight realms of intelligence.

The question is also raised on great men and women who veered from their career path and by circumstances fate led them to fame, such as popularity in modern music (Elvis Priestley), original thought (Albert Einstein, E=MC2), ideas ahead of their time (Jules Verne, the science fiction novelist), radical life to the point of madness (Vincent Van Gogh, founder of Expressionism movement in art), or simply, demonstrating non-violence as a tool of liberation (Jose Rizal, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela).  [avrotor.blogspot.com]

Career planning is based on self-assessment of the eight realms of intelligence. It starts in the family, parents as talent scout of their children, friends and relatives affirming the dawning of evident talents, school providing motivation and direction, and the community in nurturing public appreciation.

It is for this reason that early detection and subsequent development of talents is key to career planning, more so in the pursuit of career path. It is also a fact that no one can’t possibly succeed under “no man is an island” condition. Career is greatly, in fact inevitably, influenced and dependent on these and other factors.
Surprisingly, the road to success is a rough and thorny one, and along the way lays crossroads of indecision to the point of feeling lost and forlorn.

This is the sad fate of many who settle down on careers not of their own choice and making, yet as life must go, and acceptance is a matter of adjusting to the prevailing conditions and circumstances.  Whether these people are happy or not may be gauged on their accomplishments and people’s perception.  A would-be lawyer settled down as businessman, a would-be doctor as a local politician, a would-be engineer a craftsman. Failure is not the word to describe them for failing in their planned career, but by the grace of humanity they are looked upon for meritorious achievements, contributing to the welfare of the community, being examples of the youth, and having a happy family.

Where do the eighth realms of intelligence come in? They may have the fullest expression of one realm of intelligence, like  Beethoven or Ryan Cayabyab, exemplars in musical composition.  But they also possess certain qualities found in  say St (Mother) Teresa,  Montessori, the teacher-innovator, Manny Pacquiao, the athlete political leader,  Ramon Magsaysay, people’s president.  They are in their own ways Spartans, Samaritans, and the like.  

From Failure to Success in the Pursuit of Careers

Models of success are not necessarily found on the pedestal, much less exclusive icons. Many may have failed once, or more, but were able to overcome such predicaments.  They may have taken another career path.  They may have found more meaning in a less prominent one.

Many are called late bloomers, which confirm that “life starts at forty,” or even later.  Gifted individuals, prodigies in the art, science, and other fields, simply took the path to success such as Mozart and Mendelsohn (music), Newton (physics), Bobby Fisher (chess). 

It is a dismay though for child prodigies who failed to sustain the extraordinary momentum.  In an commercial advertisement, a certain girl Allyia (not the real name) had higher IQ than the great astronomer Galileo, because she was regularly drinking a milk formula. This may be exaggerated but it is an example of a genetically gifted individual who failed because the other elements of development were not sufficiently given.

On the other hand, Severino Reyes (Lola Basyang) wrote his first story for children in past seventy.  He wrote volumes of bedtime and fantasy stories for the Komiks, movies, radio and TV series, and on stage.  (Rotor AV and CM Doria, Philippine Literature Today 2014)  

4.1 Twenty World’s Most Famous Failures
Career doesn’t come on a silver platter, it is earned, and earned with sacrifice, persistence and focus on a “dream to come true.” The ingredients however may be initial failure, in fact repeated failures, as in the cases of thousands of world famous men and women, among them are cited in this study.

Nelson Mandela, first president of South Africa, has this to say on failure as a springboard to success, to wit:

“Failure is a word which everyone dreads. Each of us wants to have a taste of success and be praised once in life time at least. Success certainly does not come that easy, it takes to strive hard to achieve our share.”

“Never give up on your hopes and your dreams. Never allow someone else to tell you that you’re not good enough, smart enough or talented enough to achieve greatness in whatever capacity you’re seeking. You can do anything you put your mind to. Anything.”

Biographies of great men and women, twenty of them cited here, are recommended for reading to the career seekers, as well as those who need encouragement to go on in spite of failures.



1. Abraham Lincoln - 16th President of the United States
2. Albert Einstein - One of the most brilliant minds to have ever lived,
3. Bill Gates – Founder of Microsoft, richest man in the world
4. Charles Darwin – World’s authority on the science of evolution
5. Charlie Chaplin – pioneer in the movie industry

6. Colonel Harland Sanders – Founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken
7. Elvis Presley – Most popular rock music star
8. George Lucas – Film maker, revolutionized the film industry
9. Henry Ford – Founder of Ford company, pioneer in car manufacturing
10. J.K. Rowling - author of the wildly-popular Harry Potter series of books

11. Nelson Mandela – liberated his country South Africa from British rule
12. Emily Dickinson – one of America’s greatest and most original poets
13. Marilyn Monroe - pop culture icon and sex symbol, unparalleled to this day
14. Oprah Winfrey – TV program host, first black woman-billionaire
15. Thomas A Edison – Inventor with dozens of parented works

16. Fred Astaire – stage dancer and comedian, actor and movie producer
17. Harrison Ford – famous actor in adventure movies
18. Jack London – author of Call of the Wild is now a classic
19. Howard Schultz – Founder of world famous Starbucks
20. Jack Canfield Chicken Soup for the Soul Series ~

These are Filipino celebrities who experienced hardships before becoming famous personalities. Their humble beginnings were recognized because of all their sacrifices just to have a better life. What then is the most important ingredient of a successful career?

1. Coco Martin, one of ABS-CBN’s most prized artists, starring in the top-rating TV series, Ang Probinsyano.
2. Ai-ai delas Alas Ai-ai, dubbed ‘Philippine Queen of Comedy’
3. Willie Revillame TV Host ‘Wowowin".
4. Jennylyn Mercado was once hailed as the sexiest woman by a local magazine.
5. Jericho Rosales Mr. Pogi’ of ‘Eat Bulaga,’
6. Vice Ganda Comedian Vice Ganda,
7. Richard Gomez Mayor Richard Gomez of Ormoc City
8. Nora Aunor, The Philippine Superstar
9. Marvin Agustin Agustin, actor and successful businessman
10. Isko Moreno – actor, politician ~

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