The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

I get it, I have absolutely no right to write about that in any way or form. But since when has that ever stopped me?

Anyway, the next few days may have some use for anyone wanting a career – be it in a company or on their own. I don’t write it because I have all the answers, but more because I’ve experienced a lot of the problems. Self made and otherwise, ha.

So recently, someone I know told me their career hadn’t turned out as they hoped.

The thing is, they had done well.

Lived and worked around the World.

But despite that, they felt it wasn’t what they hoped it would be.

I get it … we all probably have had moments where we’ve felt that, especially if you see others you don’t think are as good as you, having a better career than you.

But while that can spur you on, it can also bring you down.

Making you focus on what you failed at rather than what you’ve gained, or forget that someone out there is probably looking at what you’ve done with the same jealous eyes as you are looking at someone else.

The reality is everyone has something they wish they were better at.

Or should I say, better than someone else is at.

Might be their career.
Could be their talent.
Hell, could even be their looks.

Even that rich arrogant prick Elon Musk wishes he was funnier than he is. He won’t admit it of course, but you can tell by his actions and behaviours that’s the case. From bringing a sink into Twitter when he bought the company to prancing on stage holding up a chainsaw – he is desperate to be seen as someone he isn’t.

And while he may try to front it out, his actions show a deep insecurity with who he is. That he knows he isn’t all he wants to be.

And while I am not trying to suggest we should all be happy with what we’ve got and who we are … it is a reminder that its worth remembering the bits you’ve done that were good, because it’s amazing how they tend to be the first things we forget.

Throughout my career I’ve had people talk to me about feeling they’ve hit a ‘dead end’ and my response to them is the same every time ..

“Go back and review all the work you’ve done in the past 12 months and then come back to me if you still feel the same way”.

To be honest, most of them do come back … but also most admit that maybe they’ve done more than they had first thought they had.

A career is a big thing to have.

It’s hard to get but also a privilege to be able to have.

Not just because times are always changing and certain prejudices are continually remaining … but because we, as people, tend to continually be judging, comparing and competing.

Some with others.
Some with ourselves.
Some with people in industries we have nothing to do with.

So while having ambition and hunger is a key trait of career progression – as is, to a certain degree, jealousy – so is acknowledging and respecting who you are and what you’ve achieved, even if it is not quite what you hoped.