Like most people, you’re probably eager to make progress in your career.
But sometimes, as you acquire more experience and take on additional responsibilities, you become so incredibly busy you lose track of why you’re working so hard in the first place. And given your efforts, you might wonder why you’re not moving closer to your goals.
Before spending another minute on your to-do list, it’s imperative that you pause and ask yourself one simple yet important question: Why am I doing this?
And by “this,” I mean each activity, behavior, and environment you choose to engage in. Consider every aspect of your professional world: your job, role and responsibilities, industry, how and with whom you spend your time, and when, where, and how you work.
Though asking yourself that question might seem silly initially, your answer matters because it can help you gain more awareness about your actions and understand whether you’re making the right decisions to move you closer to your goals.
Ideally, your answer to the question is:
- Because it gives me knowledge
- Because it provides income
- Because it fulfills me, and
- Because it aligns with and supports my goals.
But, if your answer is:
- Because I’ve always done it
- Because someone else expects me to, or
- I’m not sure
You may have outgrown that activity, association, role, or season in your career, or strayed from doing what matters most.
Though realizing this can be jarring, there is good news:
First, discovering this enables you to see and acknowledge that you’re in a career rut.
Though it seems obvious, many people don’t realize when they’re in a rut, career-wise. They busy themselves being busy, ignoring the red flags of their discontent or using their fear to avoid confronting their reality. But the first step in solving a problem is identifying it as a problem.
Second, it provides greater clarity around what you want (and don’t want).
Asking yourself, “Why am I doing this?” leads to another essential question: “What do I want?” Now is the time to answer that question honestly—even if the answer differs from what you thought it might (or should) be. Equally as valuable is what your awareness tells you you don’t (or no longer) want. Clarity is about focus, so drill down and get specific.
Third, it helps you take action that aligns with and supports your goals.
Without alignment, you’ll forever spin your wheels and waste your efforts on being busy but not productive. When you understand why you’re doing what you’re doing, you ensure your choices reinforce that. True career progress comes from taking action aligned with what matters most to you.
Remember, every decision you make, from the profession you pursue to the people you interact with to the environment you operate in, should be an intentional choice that aligns with and support your goals.
If it is, great, carry on.
But if it isn’t, asking and answering this question can be the wake-up call you need to make much-needed changes.
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