I read the text “I need your advice ASAP? Can we chat PLEASE!” A frantic plea for help from my friend who was wrestling with a BIG decision. A career decision.
After 12 years in the same job she’d been offered a new role and didn’t know what to do.
I knew she wasn’t happy and in a rut at work. Although very busy, she’d been on autopilot for years and there was nothing challenging her there anymore.
She’d spoken to her boss months ago and had been given some extra projects to work on….. ALL on top of her existing work load.
This simply created a new frustration, not enough hours in the day. Not wanting to appear hard to please she began taking work home to finish at night.
The more she did, the more came her way and as her extra projects mounted her dissatisfaction returned.
Her rut was now laced with resentment, for the hours taken away from her family. And worst of all she still dreaded her work days.
Then this new role came up. Still within the company, in a new location and with a different team. It would be challenging, stimulating and her workload would reduce.
I was curious… So what’s the dilemma? What more does she need to know? Why isn’t she jumping at the opportunity?
“What if it doesn’t work out?” she said. “There’s no guarantee I’ll like the work or even be good at it.”
“No there’s not” I agreed. “I can guarantee you one thing though, you won’t be happy if you stay in your current role.”
She’d been still for so long, that just considering a career move was uncomfortable and generated self doubt.
As dissatisfied as she was, she was also comfortable where she was.
I shared my advice… that to find fulfilment and meaningful work again she would need to take a step, a courageous step in faith without guarantees.
We can plan and research our ideas and next moves to a point, but our future dreams are only ever realised by taking action (even when in doubt).
I meet many people who waste months, and even years, pondering possibilities and massaging ideas.
They devote hours to research, study and conversations about what they might do one day, without ever making any real progress.
The quickest and most direct way to know if an idea will work and if a path is for you is to start walking down it.
Over the years I’ve discovered time and time again that action is the best way to overcome doubt.
That getting involved and doing is how you activate your inner knowing. That wonderful instinct in your gut that slices though the hard work and confusion to reveal your ‘feels right’ or ‘not for me’ intuition.
Once activated you’ll know if you’re on the right path, or if further change is needed.
Our gutsiest moves all come with uncertainty, doubt and discomfort. They also offer clarity for what’s next, as the second step doesn’t always reveal itself until you’ve taken the first.
Its easier to clarify your future vision when you’re actively engaged in creating it.
For every change we desire, every idea we wish to pursue, it begins with making a move toward it.
To anyone who’s been comfortable for too long I challenge you to take that first step in faith.
You may be surprised by how far it takes you because a once a dream is in motion, even the smallest steps keep it in motion.
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