According to an article by CNN, 50% of workers are unhappy with their jobs. I am convinced too many people settle for jobs due to either a defeatist attitude or inauthentic goals.
For the defeatist, they give up on accomplishing personal goals. The do not believe in themselves or their future. They view mistakes not as learning opportunities, but nails in their optimistic coffin.
For the person whose goals are inauthentic, they have chosen a career because of money, status, relationships, or other external factors. The problem is they experience cognitive dissonance. They feel tension because they are not doing what they want to do. Eventually they build a trap, which can be near impossible to escape.
There are three questions you can ask to avoid these negative prisons:
Am I stuck because I don't know how to develop and grow? That's okay if you don't know. We all start asking, "Well, now what?" There are resources via books, school, mentoring programs, the internet, seminars, and more. Discover what your heart beat is and then find people who can help you make a career in it.
Am I stuck because I'm afraid to fail? No one likes to fall flat on their face, and it's those who get up and keep walking who succeed. Tony Robbins says, "There are no failures, only results." That is freeing. View each result as a lesson to learn. Stop thinking people are watching from the rafters to see you fail. They're too busy worrying about their only mistakes to care about yours.
Am I stuck because I won't be as good as other people? If you want to be mediocre, hang with mediocre people. If you want to be a bad golfer, golf with bad players. If you want to be great, get with great people. Successful people are typically mentors. They want to see others succeed. They have the knowledge and experience to be great. You can too once you get over your "inadequacy" and partner with the greats.
If these questions still leave you paralyzed, ask more questions. Am I waiting to find a sure pathway to success? If so, it doesn't exist. Am I unmotivated? If so, you're not discontent enough and you haven't find your heart beat yet. Keep seeking answers, but not at the expense of action.
What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?Labels: career, cnn, cornerstone leadership solutions, growth, heart beat, questions, work
