In today’s business world, it really can be a dog-eat-dog kind of place. I think this happens most frequently when people get caught up in the idea of what or where he or she should be and disregard what or where they really are. Sometimes, we get in our own way in a self-sabotaging manner, creating a lot of friction that we think is just part of the process. But what if it isn’t? What if the struggle is a way to lead you in a different direction?
Most of us start a career and create a plan — in 1 year I will be… in 5 years I will be… Feel free to fill in the blank with your plan. But in doing that, many times we miss some key markers that happen that may open the door to other career opportunities off of that path that could potentially be a better fit.
I get it. I’ve been that person. For me, the plan went something like this: In 1 year, my name will be known throughout the company. In 2 years, I will be a top sales producer. In 3-5 years, I will be in a position to move into management. It was all I saw, a goal I had set, and I continued making decisions that kept me on that path. I resigned from that first position after 3 1/2 years for career advancement into management, but was then downsized after 8 weeks, leading to 8 months of unemployment. Following that, I was downsized and/or terminated four more times over the course of 5 years. Not once did the caution bell go off in my head that maybe I was not in the right place or the right field. Instead, I kept trudging along.
In the last effort, I moved my family across 8 states only to realize that the management team I was under was not comprised of strong leaders. They were of a “one size fits all” mentality, regardless of personal strengths or physical location. I come from a different mentality, introduced to sales under a leader who believed that each individual needs to play the game using strengths as an advantage and weakness as an area to improve over time. Needless to say, the situation was toxic and I decided to resign, and in resigning, I retired from my career in outside sales.
I know that I am a great sales person. I believe wholeheartedly in my abilities, and I think I could have continued. But I am also a firm believer in two things:
- I believe that everything happens for a reason. Across the board in persons, places, things, and ideas, I believe that we are where we are meant to be at every moment.
- I believe that we must learn the lesson in order to move forward. We tend to have the same things happen until we learn the lesson or lessons that God or the universe or a higher power (whichever you choose to believe) has intended for us.
Today, I am fortunate to say that I am still working in sales and marketing doing what I love, but in a position that utilizes my strengths as a salesperson and as a creative individual. I work in a less-stressful, family friendly environment, and I have the ability to work a second job as a real estate agent. Once I opened up to the possibility of using my strengths in a different way, the path before me widened, and it was a clear view. Not only do I enjoy my work, but I enjoy my down time much more. And I am able to focus on the other areas of my life and my career ambitions that I have put on the back burner.
If you find that you are struggling in your career, or any of your life, take a step back and really focus on the foundation. Is it really an external issue, or are you just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Is there another step you should be taking, or another path you should be on right now? Are there areas of growth that you may have missed because you had blinders on?
Finding our place in this world is tough. Although I think it’s good to have a plan, I also think it’s important to be open to the possibilities that are unfolding on our journey. Even if they take us off the main road or sidewalk, the path through the woods may provide a more fulfilling opportunity.
As we go into 2018, reflect on the past year, and take inventory of your current situation.
- Are you happy? Or are there areas of struggle that need some attention?
- Make a note of any areas that you neglected, and determine if there is a lesson that is being communicated to you. Do you need to change a behavior? For example, have you been working 12 hour days and neglecting your family?
- Make a commitment to yourself to become more astute in your struggles, and open to the possibilities of opportunities that may be different than you planned.
- Be determined to find your passion, and do something every day to drive that passion…NO. MATTER. WHAT.
Happy Struggles!
The E.I. Insider 