There's a saying, "Be careful what you wish for…". Have you ever found that what you wished for came true and it wasn't quite what you had in mind? Perhaps it is that "dream job" you landed or maybe it is the great assignment or maybe your side business is taking off.
Sometimes we are caught off guard by the our successes. Perhaps there's a great learning opportunity in this. For those who are planners or analytical, this change can open up a pandora's box of unexpected situations which can result in feeling overwhelmed. For those that regularly go with the flow, it isn't so much of a big deal. However, they will have their own set of challenges.
One of the things I think is OK to admit, to yourself, is that you have no idea what you are doing. This is not to be an excuse or denial of accountability. When you do this, it might give you permission to make mistakes. It might give you permission to ask for advice. It might give you permission to actually learn something new. I have been confessing this a lot lately and each time I do, I've been able to better evaluate what I've learned.
I've met so many people who have gone 6, 8, 10 months supposedly "looking for work" on their own, only to realize, they had no idea what they were doing. Why did it take so long to come to this realization? My hunch, money became an issue. PAIN. We respond/react to it.
All this means is that there are vast opportunities to learn and grow. None of the great leaders have been able to do it on their own.
Ask for advice and guidance from those who do know what they are doing. Remember, however, that we are unique and that advice is not absolute.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
