As I relaxed on my couch last night with my boyfriend, my cat, Sylvia, decided she wanted to join us to get some pets. She was so excited to have four hands there to pet her and two laps to sit in! Of course, she couldn’t decide where she wanted to settle down and nest. I saw her ‘wheels’ start turning. I could tell she wanted to move from my side of the couch over to Tony’s side of the couch. But she also wasn’t quite sure how to navigate the terrain. There were uneven laps and legs, a lumpy couch, cushions, blanket, etc. She knew where she wanted to go but she was weighing the risks to get there.
In this simple everyday moment I realized this is what we humans do in so many parts of our lives, including our career. We know where we want to go and what we want to achieve (or we have some ideas) yet we slow down, pause, and wonder what bumps and hazards there may be on the path to get there.
Now, often times it’s good to pause and plan. And, as in Sylvia’s case, it’s even good to consider your options on how to get there in the most efficient and safe way possible. But sometimes the pause can be too long and we lose site of our desired goal. Our focus shifts to the difficulties instead the wonderful outcome before us.
How did it turn out for Sylvia? Well, after a while I realized she was mentally stuck to I helped her cross the chasm of the couch and she was much happier on the other side. Sometimes people ask me how career coaches can help them and this is a great example: Someone to support you in achieving your dreams and goals as you weigh your options and keep your eye on the prize. Because the prize is so worth it.
