Unpredictable
A client, Raya (not their real name), was always an ambitious achiever, and their career was always moving upward. They prided themselves on cultivating an exciting network, leveraging board opportunities to further position their influence, and they were a thought-leader in their industry. They worked long, hard days before returning home to their young family. Yes, they were exhausted and always experiencing parent-guilt. But providing for their family was something they were very proud of.
So last summer, they had a once-in-a-lifetime work opportunity present itself– an invitation to level up in a way they’d never dreamed and have more visibility and a great impact to their field and community. It meant harder work and more personal sacrifice. It was only for four years… they reasoned they could do anything for four years.
Raya had been looking for opportunities to make the right change. They were itchy to try something new. They’d prefer a bit more work/life integration. So this opportunity arrived at the right time.
But they hesitated. It didn’t feel right. It didn’t feel good. In fact, this offer was everything and nothing they wanted. There was the expectation that they would, of course, say yes. It was a logical extension of their hard work and career goals. The easy, expected thing would have been to accept the position and not think twice about it.
But the easy thing and the right thing are so often not the same thing.
They didn’t accept the position. And they left their job in order to be a full-time parent while they got clear on what they wanted their career to be now; to align their values with the things they wanted for themselves and their family. As they, and so many others, said, “What am I working so hard for when I can’t enjoy the things that hard work brings for my family?” They kicked expectation in the face.
When you’re looking at your life and you’re putting goals into place…
When you’re weighing whether to choose this thing over that thing…
When you’re figuring out what’s a yes and what’s a no…
Don’t choose what’s expected just because it’s expected. Don’t choose what you think They want you to do. Don’t choose only the safe thing.
Choose adventure. Choose what inspires you. Choose the Funknown.
By being brave and going against expectations, you’ll give yourself the freedom of a clean start. You’ll discover more about yourself as you experience new things. You’ll develop new ways to be humble and nimble and adaptive and open. You’ll learn quickly what is and isn’t in your control.
