Donald Super created a systematic approach to vocational and career counseling which, together with a longitudinal study of eighth and ninth graders in the state of New York, constituted the most important changes in career counseling since the early 1900s.

​

     Super’s work was based on personal happiness and motivation theory using a developmental approach. He believed that the better people were at matching their interests, values, and needs to an occupation at a particular time in their life, the more likely they would be to create a satisfying career pattern. Therefore in planning, a person needs to understand that career goals will change over time, over the lifespan. It is understood, in his theory, that these changes come with a change in a person’s sense of self.

​

   Across the lifespan developing a sense of self while creating a career path is entwined with the developmental role that a person is taking. The Life Career Rainbow visual developed by Super in 1980 demonstrates the relationships among age, label for the age group, and name for the development stage (life role).

    

      Knowing one’s role in life at each stage and working at using the stage to develop your sense of self, including knowing your needs, interests, and values, form the basis of career decisions which will not only be motivating but will also create happiness and therein is the essence of work-life balance.