A single mistaken thought or misguided perception can send you down a career path that will be frustrating, inappropriate or just plain wrong for who you are. Here are 5 of the most common mistaken beliefs that derail people’s careers.
Sure, we all like making money – but a high salary can never substitute for authentic job satisfaction. Following the dollar rather than your passions can actually make you bitter, lower your productivity, pull you off track and rob you of the positive feelings and exuberance that comes from loving what you do.
Being an entrepreneur may lead to huge rewards – but it also may be the very opposite of freedom. Often it means never being able to stop thinking and worrying about your work, your company 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It could also mean having to choose between family and work. If you’re not really passionate about what you’re doing, you won’t have the energy to sustain the motivation needed.
If you’ve chosen a career direction and the degree supports your getting there – that’s great. But if you’re thinking “I’ll get the degree first, and decide later,” then that degree could end up as a very expensive postponing technique. Before you pay thousands of dollars and time going to school, you better be sure you are focused on an appropriate, well thought out goal.
What a job or industry looks like from the outside is often the very opposite of what it’s like from the inside. Glamorous industries are often fraught with long hours, internal politics, detailed drudgework and shallow values. It’s important to collect first hand information and understand the industry issues. If you don’t do your research you could end up for a big shock, by finding out you’ve chosen a totally inappropriate career.
Over-generalizing can lead to drastic moves. It’s so important to isolate the problem and differentiate the issues from the assumptions. Being unhappy may cause you to over emphasize the negative without being aware of the positive. Often I’ve seen people become totally happy by making a slight shift or finding another job in the same industry. Not every problem requires huge shifts.I’ve spent over 15 years helping people solve their career problems, identify the mistakes they’re making and implement effective career plans that lead to fulfillment and satisfaction.. Often it’s a matter of sweeping away mistaken perceptions about yourself or the workplace. I’d be happy to help you resolve your career issues and implement a plan. Nothing is more life-transforming than a career that makes you happy.