Do you remember *why* you took your current job?

I just got off a call with a potential client. 

During that call she said, “we just talked about my perfect day at work but that all seems like a luxury right now.”

And you know what I told her? That she was absolutely right.

Dreaming and thinking about our ideal situation is a luxury.

Sometimes you feel like you’re just trying to get by, and you’re in a pandemic, and it feels luxurious to dream of anything besides our current circumstances.

The truth is, once you have chosen a job only for money you tend to stop dreaming big.

And that can be a part of your plan -- get a job now so you can pay your bills… and have room to dream again.
 

But dreaming and thinking about the bigger picture is actually the most important part of breaking the cycle of burnout and underwhelming, boring jobs (that honestly, you could complete in 2 hours/day, right?).

You can’t move towards a job that you actually want until we clarify what it is that you want and why you want it.

Why you ask?

Because if you don't, my friend, you just keep taking more and more jobs that burn you out in two years instead of one that will help you grow over the next two years and be a stepping stone to your future.

If you go into a job interview knowing why and how this fits into your plan, then you can respond more authentically in interviews, and when you (inevitably!) get the offer you can negotiate powerfully and get behind whatever the role throws at you.

It’s ok to take a job just for the money. If you do, know that when you get bored or tired of the job (which might/will happen) in a few months remember your “why” was the money. Now you can expect and accept that.

And you can then start to shift from desperation and shame to a place of why and choice.

You can understand that you have agency in the matter, that you chose it to support your family, to get through the pandemic, to make it work, without shame or guilt.

You can look for a job that matches your career trajectory that allows you to spend more time with your loved ones and enjoy your hobbies.

And then you can feel great and get back to work on finding a job you ACTUALLY want when you have a renewed capacity to dream, when you’re not feeling desperate anymore, when you have that net to catch you.

Know your why so you can avoid the shame or guilt of taking yet another job you hate. 

By knowing your why, you won’t feel guilty or ashamed when you get tired of this job. You will know the reason for taking this job. 

And you can instead feel proud of yourself for taking the best action for the situation.

Were you reading this love letter and thinking this is exactly what you need right now? Hit reply with the words “BIG VISION” if you’d like to learn more about how I can support you to get clear on your why.

Love,

—Nic

PS. I wanted to share a resource that I really trust right now to help women build their careers together. On Tuesday, Elpha launched a new product called The Elpha Talent Pool which promises to “help you connect with companies that are a culture fit for you. Create a profile describing the cultural qualities that are important to you at work, and we’ll connect you with companies that are uniquely suited for you.” 

How cool is that? And here is a private invitation from yours truly.