Career and identity

When you meet someone new, what’s the first topic of conversation? Often it is your career. “What do you do?” is the most common way to break the ice and get to know someone new. If you’re not happy with your career, it can make social occasions more difficult. When you’re proud of the work you do, it shows. Others hear it in your voice; see it on your face. You feel good about yourself, and enjoy the conversation

One of the things that hold people back from a successful career is fear. There are many types of fear. Fear of failure, of being judged, of embarrassment, of the unknown, of loss. Some people fear success itself, based on the idea that success is likely to mean more responsibility and attention, coupled with pressure to continue to perform at a high level. Or perhaps you fear the bad things that could happen if you decide to make a change in your life.

 

Fear is the enemy of self-confidence. Self-confident people face their fears and act. Which of these stop you from moving forward? What are you doing about them?

Successful people learn from their failures so they don’t fear them but welcome as part of the learning process. If you never make a mistake, you have never really pushed the boundaries. By taking action on your fears, you win either way. You win if you make a good decision and things work out. You win if you make a bad decision and things don’t go so well, because you have an opportunity to learn from your decision and the problems you faced.

Career fulfillment can change your reality. If you want it, create it. But don’t try to deny it matters.