Make Your Career Count: Aligning Work With What Matters
Mark Twain said: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
A recent global workforce survey revealed that more than 50% of people experience excess stress in the workplace and 70% believe that the cost of living is outpacing their salary.
This places them in a predicament as they have no control to manage the challenge they are stressing about – companies and bosses run their lives.
An important 2012 article in the Harvard Business Review highlighted the challenges professionals have with careers – “their regrets” (even more relevant today).
The top 5 regrets were:
#1: I wish I hadn’t taken the job for the money.
#2: I wish I had quit earlier.
#3: I wish I had the confidence to start my own business.
#4: I wish I had used my time at school more productively.
#5: I wish I had acted on my career hunches.
Learnings
Hearing about other people’s stories can spot a seedling of the same feeling in yourself and hopefully get you to do something to make a change today.
Regret gets you stuck in the past playing it over and over.
Regret is a by-product of fear.
Changing jobs, starting a business, having less financial stability or new responsibilities are fears that can hold you back from taking on things you really want. These fears will lead to your own regrets.
Face the fear, as most people never regret getting out of a negative situation.
How to overcome career regrets
There are several ways to cope with, and get rid of, regrets.
Embrace change as it opens your mind to new ways of thinking.
Examples of change:
– Finances: Budget and save and live within norm to take on opportunities when presented;
– Career goals-and-planning: Set SMARTER-goals and work with a career coach to achieve results;
– Time-management: Prioritizes what is really important and align your calendar accordingly:
– Red flags: Be aware of your past experiences and have a plan to address in future;
– Confidence: Master decision-making and trust your gut more.
No regrets
Remember regrets about your personal life stay with you well after the ones about your career fade.
Good luck with your exciting career journey and don’t regret anything you could have done something about.
As published in leading business journal ASA in November 2013.