Stuck in Your Career? This One Question Will Change Everything.
You may feel like you’re lost in your career. Like you climbed the corporate ladder to the top and realized the view isn’t as good as you thought it would be. I see this a lot in my coaching practice: people coming to me looking for clarity and purpose, knowing that they are unfulfilled in their life and career, but they’re not sure what direction to take. I call these people the Seeking High Performers.
What is a Seeking High Performer?
A high performer who wants clarity on their career and to live their life’s purpose. You want a life and career more aligned with your purpose and values, and you’re seeking clarity on them. You’re here to make a huge impact on the world.
Characteristics:
Purpose-Driven: Desires clarity on career and life purpose.
Value Misalignment: Feels their current job doesn’t align with personal values.
Approval Seeking: Cares too much about others' opinions, even from people they don’t respect.
Self-Doubt: Constantly questions their decisions and feels stuck.
For more information on the Seeking High Performer, listen to the episode The Four Types of High Performers. Which One Are You?
If you feel like you are the Seeking High Performer, here is the one question to ask.
What Are You Optimizing for at This Point in Your Life?
This is the most important question you can ask yourself if you’re stuck. Typically, I see people optimizing for one of these things.
Money
Health
Relationship
Children
Travel
Growth
Healing
The danger here is trying to optimize for all things at once. It’s very hard to go on a huge career spike and growth when you are also healing from childhood trauma. Or to want money above all else, but also really want to prioritize time with your children. There will have to be some sacrifices, but understanding what you’re optimizing for will help you overcome shiny object syndrome.
Beware of Comparison
If you don’t know which area you are optimizing for, then you will be more likely to compare. For example, let’s say you don’t know your one optimization, but you have a niggling feeling that you need to look after your health. You aren’t sleeping well. You’re not prioritizing working out. You have low energy. Then, your friend Emily gets promoted. You feel a rush of envy. You want to get promoted as well. You want the pay increase and the new title and the feeling of accomplishment. You start working later and trying to get promoted as well, all while you’re health is declining.
I’ve seen scenarios like this play out many times, because the person hasn’t decided to fully commit to their health, and therefore they tend to get shiny object syndrome and compare themselves. If this person had committed to their health, they would be unlikely to step into the comparison trap.
Understand Your Values
Get clear on your core values and then understand if your career choices also align with your values. For example, I had a client debating to decide to return to work five days a week after working a four day work week. However, one of her main values was family. Giving up that one day a week meant that she couldn’t spend the extra day at home with her toddler. She decided that she would honor her value of family and keep the four day work week instead.
Know Your Risk Tolerance
What risks can you afford right now? Are you in a phase where you can take bold leaps, or do you need to play it safe? Do you have a mortgage and children, or are you child-free? If you have less commitments, this is the time to take bigger risks financially.
Work in Seasons
Life isn't a nonstop sprint. Recognize when it's time to push hard and when it's time to rest. If you’ve gone through a sprint period, do you have a corresponding rest period? If you’re a female, do you pay attention to your energy levels during your cycle? Understanding and scheduling things in season can help career prioritization.
Ready for the next level?
If you want to go into a deeper dive about your ideal life and career, apply to the Life & Work Transformation.