Your core business interests

There are 8 categories fo interests. Most people have between one and three core business interests, some of which may be stronger than others. For example, you may be fascinated by create activities and feel great satisfaction in helping other people learn to problem solve as well. These core interests remain relatively stable over your lifetime 

 

Category 1: Application of Expertise

1. Application of Technology (an interest in the inner workings of things; curiosity about better ways of using technology to solve business problems; and comfort with mathematics, computer programming, and physical models of reality)

2. Quantitative Analysis (interest in problem solving that relies on mathematical analysis)

3. Theory Development and Conceptual Thinking (broadly conceptual approaches to problem solving; interest in and comfort with ideas, imagination, theory, plans, scenarios, and forecasts)

4. Creative Production (interest in highly creative activities)

5. Counseling and Mentoring (interest in helping others and developing relationships as an integral part of business work)

6. Managing People and Relationships (interest in dealing with people and interpersonal issues daily)

7. Enterprise Control (interest in having ultimate decision-making authority for an enterprise, division, or project)

8. Influence through Language and Ideas (interest in influencing others through the skilled use of written and spoken language)

Figuring out your core interests

You can identify your core business interests simply by (1) learning what typical activities express the various interests, and then (2) seeing which of the activities you find most appealing. The following tables give examples of such activities.

Core Interests: Categories

Category 1: Application of Expertise

Application of Technology
Examples:

  • Engineering
  • Computer programming
  • Production and systems planning
  • Product and process design
  • Process analysis
  • Production planning
  • Systems analysis
  • Mechanical crafting/manufacturing
  • Research

Quantitative Analysis
Examples:

  • Market-research analysis
  • Forecasting
  • Computer-model building
  • Production scheduling
  • Cash-flow and investment analysis
  • Accounting

Theory Development and Conceptual Thinking
Examples:

  • Economic-theory developing
  • Business-model developing
  • Competition analysis
  • Designing « big-picture » strategy
  • Process design
  • Teaching business theory

Creative Production
Examples:

  • New-product design
  • Marketing and advertising
  • New-idea generation
  • Developing innovative approaches and solutions
  • Event planning
  • Conducting public relations
  • Entertaining
  • Writing
  • Illustrating

 

Category 2: Working with People

Counseling and Mentoring
Examples:

  • Coaching
  • Training
  • Teaching
  • Helping
  • Drawing people out
  • Supporting
  • Providing feedback and advice

Managing People and Relationships
Examples:

  • Managing others to accomplish the goals of the business
  • Directing
  • Supervising
  • Leading and inspiring others
  • Selling
  • Negotiating
  • Motivating

 

Category 3: Control and Influence

Enterprise Control
Examples:

  • Controlling resources to actualize a business vision
  • Setting strategic direction for a company, business unit, work team, or division
  • Having ultimate decision-making authority
  • Making deals
  • Holding ultimate responsibility for business transactions, such as trades, sales, etc.

Influence Through Language and Ideas
Examples:

  • Negotiating
  • Deal-making
  • Conducting public relations
  • Selling
  • Persuading
  • Designing advertising campaigns
  • Communicating ideas through writing or speaking

Other ways to determine core interests

To determine your core interests, you could also try this exercise:

  1. Think about whether you’re envious of one or more particular colleagues. That is, do they have jobs that you wish you had?
  2. What activities do these people do that you wish you could do?
  3. In previous jobs that you’ve held, what kinds of activities did you keep gravitating toward?