Take off the safety….

by biscuitinabasket on March 28, 2010

Joe (the plumber) scores a well paying job with great benefits. He rubs his hands with glee, and could not wait to get started. 4 years later he starts thinking – where am I going in this job? What does the future hold for me? I can see people moving up around me, but the pace of my ascent isn’t anywhere close to theirs – why is that so?

Over the last 10-15 years, a large majority of people between their early 20s to early 40s have learnt to move jobs when the situation does not suit them well. This is a major shift from the generation of our parents and grandparents, where they held one job in the entirety of their career.

Obviously, if you are someone who is moving jobs often within a period of ten years, it implies that you are a disposable resource. Yes I have to agree that in today’s day and age, the ability to earn more is probably more important than loyalty. And yes, loyalty works both ways – I know. My point however is focused on the people who are classed as disposable.

In the majority of cases, there is one common factor which separates the assets from the disposables – the ability to step out of the comfort zone. Nothing has ever been achieved in cruise mode, and nothing ever will be. In order to progress with the vision that you have in your mind, you have to push yourself that 10% harder than what you think your limit is.

Far too often, people want to sit where they are, wait for opportunities to turn up, and then decide if they are game or not. Personally, I have yet to experience or read about anyone who has succeeded in a career via that approach, and the good money says that they won’t either.

Lesson number 3 in making yourself an organizational asset – The rady made path is full of unknowns which you have no control over. Take risks, create your own destiny, and with time become the pillar which is crucial to any organizational structure.

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