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8 How to Thrive as a Library Professional For Joy, this was an opportunity to take a break, breathe, and very delib- erately think about where she wanted to go next. She took stock of what she really loved about the type of work she had been doing, along with the kinds of things she liked to do outside of work. She thought about her per- sonality, what she found rewarding, challenging, and frustrating about her previous position, and contemplated different types of industries and opportunities that might provide success and fulfillment for someone with her background, talents, and desires. Librarianship was one of the career paths that stood out to her. She remembered how much she enjoyed going to libraries as a child and spending time there while in college. She learned more about the profession and the wide range of career options that librar- ianship offered. Once she had enough information to understand the dif- ferent kinds of potential roles and institutions, the day-to-day work, and the variety of patrons and clientele and communities served in the profes- sion, Joy knew that she ultimately wanted to take on a leadership role in a public library. After choosing a destination, she considered the skills, experiences, and credentials that she might need to get there. Finally, she focused on what she wanted to do next. She was ready. Developing a vision and taking meaningful steps on the path toward that vision are exercises rooted in commitment and action. Whether you’re a student just beginning to think about your future as a working profes- sional or, like Joy, you’re looking for a new path and wondering if there’s a different position in your future, developing a sense of where you want to go and visualizing a path forward may help you do the best, most ener- gized, and rewarding work of your professional life. This chapter will help you build self-awareness: What do you know about yourself as a profes- sional or professional-to-be? What work is most meaningful for you? As you contemplate these questions, it is important to visualize a destination: Whom will you work with? As a librarian, what constituency will you serve or support? What will you help them accomplish? Would you find more fulfillment in a focused specialization or working on an eclectic range of projects? Building an effective professional career also requires deliberate action. How will you use your time and energy to reach that destination? What are the first steps on the path that will allow you to cultivate the future you envision? This chapter will get you moving in the direction that’s right for you. VISION, ACTION, AND MOMENTUM People who take the plunge, who commit themselves to going after what they really want, often . . . begin to attract to themselves the knowledge, relationships, and resources they require to accomplish their work. —Boldt (2004, p. 23)