People are judgmental jerks. Yes, even you. In fact, I bet you’re the most judgmental jerk when it comes to your dreams.
I see it all the time in my work as a career coach– intelligent and capable people, aka you, who think you aren’t good enough to have a fulfilling career and earn a decent living. Maybe you show up in my office, thinking you need a degree or experience you’re lacking, thinking you’re not yet worthy. So judgy!
Sometimes it’s Impostor Syndrome at work. Despite all evidence to the contrary, you think you don’t deserve success. You want to go after something bigger but you just can’t seem to get started.
Maybe you spent years in dead-end jobs before visiting with a career coach. Time and time again you’ve taken the job you think you can get instead of going after the job you really want until you found yourself sick and tired of changing jobs every few years, working below your potential.
I see it in entrepreneurs, too. Are you doing the work you know you can get paid to do instead of creating the work you dream about sharing with the world?
When “fine” isn’t good enough.
I recently met with a woman who was in a career transition after spending 10 years at the same company, doing work that was neither good nor bad, it was “fine”. One day her husband surprised her with divorce papers and she realized she was tired of living a “fine” life. She wanted more than “fine”. She quit her “fine” job without another job lined up.
Her bright eyes shined with intelligence and enthusiasm as we talked.
“I don’t know what’s next for me. I thought I knew what I wanted but I sent off a few resumes and I didn’t get a response so now I’m thinking I might go a different direction,” she explained with conviction.
“So you know what you want to do next, but after sending a few resumes you’ve decided that dream isn’t going to work. Do you have enough information to come to that conclusion,” I inquired. “Are you really ready to give up your dream job?”
All too often people, or you know, you, decide to give up on what you really want after the smallest setback, choosing to pursue the obvious or easy path. Accepting complacency and mediocrity. Just please stop, okay!?!
There are times to postpone or alter your dream, but before you do be certain you’re abandoning your dreams for the right reasons! (Which is not because your judgmental brain has determined that a) you’re not good enough, b) you’re not smart/qualified/experienced enough, c) you’re not sure it will work.)
If now is not the time to abandon your dream, don’t let it go! Challenge your judgments. Don’t buy into career advice from your unemployed uncle. Get help when you need it.
If you find you need a regular motivation to stay on track in pursuit of your dreams, sign up for your once-a-month motivational kick in the pants, from me to your inbox! It doesn’t get easier than that!
[mc4wp_form]Now go out and do great things!