We are concluding the series on how to find a job based on your aspiration. After he first and the second post explaining the two of the three steps, here my perspective on the third point “GIVE YOURSELF CHANCES” and be easy on you.
The Problem Statement
Some of us start off our careers as idealists who want to change the world or at least make a difference through our work. Some others think that they will go on a never ending journey of learning and enlarging their social circles through work. Thus, they are quite excited about this new beginning of their lives.
In the end, we put high hopes and expectations on our jobs so much that we bear quite the hardships in the beginning of our careers in hope of reaching our aspirations. Trying to understand the business world and its dynamics, we provide so much tolerance hoping that everything problematic will go away the day we learn enough or achieve enough. We always wait for the day when our jobs become more likable and satisfying since we work harder every day.
Unfortunately this is not the case. Ever.
What adds to the problem is that being hooked on what comes next as a challenge, we get overwhelmed and forget to appreciate ourselves. We overlook the achievements we made and the most importantly the effort we put at our work. As a result, we get lost in a feeling of insufficiency. We spend long time in this state of mind and end up having 10 year experience but no satisfaction from our jobs. Then, we start questioning what and when went wrong.
We also forget that this world is cruel to the idealist, merciless to the perfectionist and senseless to the unprepared. By knowing yourself and the job you seek, you will not be any of these three and therefore, you will have a chance to reach your aspired job.
The Solution
Does not matter if you are newly beginning your journey, or you are midway or towards the end. Be the realistic to approach the matter. Knowing how this world works and placing yourself accordingly in it, will definitely bring you the success and satisfaction you are seeking.
Most importantly, be easy on you. Just because you miss an opportunity for starting off in your dream company or dream field of work does not mean you fall behind. If not in short term, in the long term you can definitely get what you want unless you give up on your dream and quit running after it.
The attitude while doing this should be self-appreciating and positive so that you do not fall into self-pitying and self-victimizing psychology for the conditions you cannot change and out of your control.
Give yourself chances to fail sometimes too. Life is not always full of butterflies and sunshine. Remember, we need to be realistic. Be realistic about yourself and determine the reasons of your failure try to improve those aspects. You may have wasted your time in a company that did not any contribution to your career development. Or you may have discover that your dream job is not a dream at all and want to change the area of expertise in the middle of your career.
Do not forget!
It is only realistic and mature souls who can reward themselves for their achievements and punish for their “neglects” or “mistakes” (in case you consider them as they are). This people always go beyond themselves and reach their goals. Be a realistic so do things differently all over again.
Give yourself credit for what you have accomplished and get ready for new adventures. Be easy on you on this road of self-discovery.