What are You Willing to Risk?
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” ~ Anais Nin
Sometimes, people ask me if I should not be promoting career change in this economy. After all, it’s risky. I must admit, career change is risky, but it doesn’t matter whether it is in a good economy or poor. Most of life is about risk, it’s merely a matter of the importance you attach to it.
Think about it, you are taking a risk even when you go to the movies. You are risking your $20, or so, that you will enjoy the movie and be entertained for a few hours. It doesn’t always add up, especially when the movie is a flop, but you are risking your cash against the reward of entertainment.
You also risk a lot when you get into your car and drive down the road. You are risking your well being on the trust that your car will function properly and you won’t veer off the road or have someone else hit you. That’s a pretty great risk when you think about it, and yet, most people do this every single day. Is it really any better, or worse to risk a career transition?
By the time someone is seriously considering job change, a lot of damage has already been done in their lives. They have suffered through numerous hours of frustration, boredom, and anxiety. The stress caused from a position that is making you unhappy doesn’t stop because you walk out the door at the end of your shift. Coming home is sometimes not a happy thing either because so much aggravation is built up inside, and believe me, your family notices. The wrong job can also cause you to question your own abilities, despite experience to the contrary, because of the tangled web that is created trying to justify why you stay and continue to muddle through each workday.
When you recognize that you can let go of some circumstances and move forward to something better, the thoughts surrounding the risk of making change start to shift. Inner turmoil is caused by the desire for something different. When the turmoil becomes too strong to deny, change is imminent. This is usually when I meet clients. At this point, neither the economy, time of year, nor year of life is enough to hold them back. It is more important to break out of the situation and thrive than the strength of the fear of any risks involved.
Think of the rewards when you make decisions, that’s what you risk doing things for – the reward. A rewarding career, which you enjoy and is meaningful, always shows itself to be well worth the risk.
I welcome your thoughts and comments on these articles.
Lesley V. Ingves
Comments
Nice article! You’ve articulately shown how fear of risks can hold some people back…
The point which I liked the most is when you said: “By the time someone is seriously considering job change, a lot of damage has already been done in their lives.”
100% true!
Looking forward to read more articles
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