(Today’s thought provoking guest post is by Derek Halpern. Derek recently launched a free Sales Training Workshop at Prevential.com).
Do you constantly feel out of place despite being a leader at work? You’re smart and ambitious, but everything you do just doesn’t feel right? Well, you may be a duck in eagle school or visa versa.
In Leadership Gold, John C. Maxwell, illustrates one of the most important factors of becoming a successful leader and that is “Don’t send your ducks to eagle school.” After all, a duck will never soar like an eagle, just like an eagle will never swim like a duck.
When pursuing a life-time of leadership like John C. Maxwell, you need to make sure you’re doing the right things in the right profession and if you’re not, you need to stop doing the right things in the wrong profession.
It seems simple right? Unfortunately, there are countless people sticking out a job that does not resonate with their strengths or values. It’s demoralizing and hinders success. So, remember, you’re only on Earth for approximately 75 years and you might as well give it your best shot to achieve your fullest potential.
So, what are you going to do about it?
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This is something I have actually thought a lot about recently as do may people do at our age. I’ve always admired colleagues of mine who are able to completely change professions just because they felt they needed a new challenge. However in today’s environment this is easier said than done.
Personally, I think the concept is spot on, but it an effort to maintain the security of my profession, I think looking into various positions that better yourself within your current company may be a more plausible idea in the short term. Look to expand your skill sets and make yourself more marketable even if the new role is not your dream job.
So true! I see this happening everyday. I have friends that are so risk averse that they stay in a position that they hate and are constantly unhappy. It ends up stifling the morale of co-workers as well. Good Post
One of the places I see that the most is in management and supervisory positions. In many companies those are the only way to get increased pay and preferment. Plus those same companies don’t seem to do a good job of selecting people with the skills to succeed at being a boss. Result: lots of people in jobs they don’t like and often can’t do well.