The case of Ben
Ben is a 53-year-old CEO of a company called Geek-Tech. Geek-Tech is an electronics retailer that sells computer equipment and peripherals to customers across South Africa. The company started out as a small online business, but thanks to its effective marketing campaigns, has become one of the leading electronic retailers in the country.
Ben added much to the success of the company by combining his technical expertise in electronics, with his persuasive and sociable character. Ben is very detail orientated and can describe all the facts and figures of various hardware components. He is also well organised and likes to plan well in advance when meetings new business clients.
As an ambitious and driven individual Ben aims to improve the sales targets of the company and find new and innovative business venture opportunities that can improve his profits. He mainly makes decisions based on the feelings they evoke and seem to be somewhat excitement seeking. Ben is often described as someone that thrives on difficult challenges.
As a result of his dedication to the company, Benhas started to struggle withwork-family balance. He often feels that there is not enough time in the day to get everything done. Work overload is often cited as one of the key challenges Ben needs to deal with.
QUESTION 2
2.1 Identify the current life/career stage Ben is currently in and explain typical characteristics of this
life/career stage
(4)
2.2 List five life tasks/challenges often found in this career/life stage?
(5)
2.3 Explain what is meant by individuation.
(2)
2.4 Distinguish between the psychological polarities that Ben will have to resolve to achieve greater individuation. (8)
6
2.1 Ben is currently in the midlife career/life stage. This stage typically occurs in one’s 40s and 50s and is characterized by a focus on career advancement, financial stability, and work-life balance. Individuals in this stage may experience a shift in priorities from ambition and success to personal fulfillment and well-being.
2.2 Five life tasks/challenges often found in the midlife career/life stage include:
- Balancing work and personal life responsibilities
- Reflecting on career achievements and setting new goals
- Dealing with physical and emotional changes associated with aging
- Reevaluating relationships and social connections
- Planning for retirement and financial security
2.3 Individuation is the process of becoming one’s true self and achieving personal growth and self-awareness. It involves embracing one’s unique qualities, strengths, and values, and developing a sense of autonomy and independence.
2.4 In order to achieve greater individuation, Ben will have to resolve psychological polarities such as:
- Work-life balance: finding a way to balance the demands of work and personal life without sacrificing one for the other
- Ambition vs. personal fulfillment: reconciling his drive for success with the need for personal happiness and contentment
- Stability vs. change: balancing the desire for stability and security with the need for new challenges and growth opportunities
- Social connections vs. self-reflection: maintaining meaningful relationships while also taking time for introspection and self-discovery
- Planning for the future vs. living in the present: finding a way to set goals and make plans for the future while also enjoying and appreciating the present moment.