Is Your Successful Career Worth It?
I allowed opportunities to dictate my next move in my career for nearly 20 years. Instead of driving my career, it was driving me.
Promotions and opportunities led me from one position to another. In hindsight, and now moving forward, knowing and understanding my purpose are the key drivers.
Now when presented with opportunities I ask myself, “Is this aligned with helping women move toward their purposes and fulfilling their callings while here on this earth?”
I’m not just out here blowing in the wind as doors of opportunity open. Please understand, I’m not knocking that life. I lived it for a long time.
What I’m saying is it’s easy to get caught up in a career that’s comfortable – the pay is good, the benefits are great, the people are tolerable, the position is high-profile.
You worked hard to get where you are now. You may have even earned another degree or two. Why would you give it up?
Well, it may be costing you a more fulfilling life with a career or business you truly enjoy.
You may be sensing there’s something more. If you’re honest with yourself, you’re working hard to make your boss look good and overextending yourself to make your company more money, and you’re over it.
You aren’t passionate about what you’re doing.
After working for years, it’s easy to become cynical and give up on the idea of having a purposeful life and career.
You’ve got bills and may even have additional mouths to feed. Switching gears can appear risky. I want to reassure you that I’m often seeing women successfully ditch their long-time careers. I haven’t heard any regrets.
I’ve seen them go from an attorney to a vlogger, a nurse practitioner to an interior designer, a consultant to an acupuncturist, a government worker to an attorney, a customer support rep to a teacher.
But, there is a commonality: sacrifice.
Is it worth it to go back to school, to take a pay cut, to skip a vacation for a couple of years, to take out student loans, to create a new identity or to pay for a degree(s) you aren’t using directly?
Many people, maybe even you, will continue being comfortable . . . because it’s comfortable. Living a purposeful, fulfilling life often requires faith and a desire for something more that becomes so strong you can no longer ignore it.
4 Questions to ask yourself if you feel stuck in your career:
1) Is the pay, benefits, bonuses, etc., I’m receiving worth more than living a life that’s meaningful to me and impacting others?
2) Why am I staying at this job, and is that a reason I’m OK with right now?
3) Is this job allowing me to make a difference that’ll continue impacting others when I’m no longer here?
4) Does leaving a legacy matter to me?
Living a life focused on significance and not success is less popular. But, let me tell you, it’s beyond worth it. The hard part is taking the first step to find out.
Check out 7 Quick Tips to Get Your Career Unstuck if you need a boost or, for more hands-on support, sign up for a free 45-minute breakthrough call today. And if you know someone who needs to hear this message, share it with them.