One of the most common indicators that you’re struggling with your career is a lack of excitement about job prospects. You’re endlessly scrolling through LinkedIn or Indeed and feeling nothing about anything you see. The worst-case scenario is that you talk yourself out of applying to anything and the best-case scenario is that you’re applying for jobs you know you don’t want. Grim either way.
Here’s how it sounds:
I'm having trouble finding and conveying excitement about new prospects. This has already (unexpectedly) cost me one job offer that I thought I had in the bag.
Even as I was applying I didn’t feel a strong connection. The most disturbing thing was knowing I’m not thinking purposefully, I’m just swinging from one vine to the next.
I feel overwhelmed and stressed. I have options to choose from but I’m feeling pretty negative about all of them and can't make a decision.
I would like to stop going for opportunities that feel lackluster to me or don't excite me.
I’m disinterested in a lot of opportunities I see or companies that I talk to. I've tried to power through and talk to any and every company that reaches out to me but it’s hard to keep an open mind and not judge what comes my way.
I feel that my options in life are narrowing and that my only path forward is one that I don't find terribly exciting.
Can you hear how trapped they feel when they don’t enjoy their current role but can’t see anything on the horizon that could be a fit?
What do you do at that point? Lower your bar? Assume it’s impossible to feel any different about work?
Of course there may be moments in your career where you do choose a job that is not exciting but pays the bills, where you do take anything you can get to secure financial security, or where you need a stepping stone in that moment. But if I have anything to do with it, you will get to make every decision with agency and intention (even if it’s the boring job!) and lowering your bar will not be the default.
Luckily, clients experience a huge shift when they focus on a few different areas:
Releasing pressure and expectations
Understanding what matters to them in life and how work fits into that
Clarifying their strengths and unique value
Discovering what gives them energy at work and what drains their energy
From there, we get to experience one of my favorite outcomes of the program—not only seeing, but landing bigger possibilities.
Here’s what that sounds like:
I have an opportunity through work that is even better than I ever could've hoped for at this point in my new career! It feels EXACTLY right for me, and I hope it’ll open a lot more doors on this path.
Now, having the courage to dream big and picture exactly what I wanted out of a new work environment, I am in the workplace of my absolute dreams.
I broke through my hesitancy to demand happiness for myself at work. I thought I would never be able to find an opportunity like this, let alone get it.
It’s so interesting to see where I ended up. I’ve untapped new skills in this role that would have stayed locked at my previous company.
I’m most surprised by how I ended up accepting an offer with the organization and role that I least expected, and now I’m really excited because of the people, impact of the work, and learning opportunities.
And let’s always be clear that it’s not that these jobs are perfect in every way, have no tradeoffs, are dream jobs every day, etc. We do not focus on unrealistic glamour around here and there will always be tradeoffs, hard days, and adjustments to make. But I want you to see a possibility for yourself where you get to discover and land opportunities that you never dreamed were possible.