"Choose your Hard"

As I now regularly do, I was listening to Janet Mbugua 's Sunday snippets on Facebook this past weekend and one particular?video grabbed my attention titled "Choose your Hard". It was very profound to me on a personal and professional level but of course you know I'll be focusing on my version of this message in the professional aspect.

I do have to share though, I found my smile and my spirit when I accepted my version of hard in my own time. What it had to offer, the sacrifices I had to make and coming into myself alot more (whatever self for now, because we are humans and we evolve! Evolution is literally part of our DNA).

Other versions of this saying "Choose your Hard" I have come across based on a couple of conversations with people in my close network - Pick your battles, Choose your struggle, You can't have it all.

What hard are you experiencing at the moment?workwise?

Before you answer let me share my definition of hard - It's not a storm or a season, it's just your daily weather at the workplace or in your work routine. I'll give you an example I have experienced in senior/ leadership roles and it's probably one many of you would resonate?with; when things don't go as planned (off-budget, off-timelines, rescinded or rejected offers for those of us in the Talent Acquisition space), all eyes are on you to find a solution, no excuses, and find it fast and the icing on the cake would be make it sustainable i.e. ensure it never happens again! Now fortunately or unfortunately, that's just the "hard" of sitting in smaller organizations where there are not too many people to be held accountable when things go right or wrong, and senior positions overall. But guess what it comes with the territory and I personally call it "flying close to the sun" - the warmth is great but you can get sunburn or burned overall. Why do I continue to choose this hard? The challenge always gives me an adrenaline rush, I also happen to be a creative so I need room to try and fail and have those light bulb moments that remind me why I am so passionate about what I do and the best place to do them effectively is either in smaller organizations or senior roles; so essentially I have chosen my hard.

I thought about a couple of other "hards" professionals face and came up with a few which I'll share below but my challenge to you all is - flip the coin over on the other side and ask yourself why you keep choosing and staying in this hard? What's?in this "hard"for you? If there's nothing well it may be the best season to reflect so you can reset your thinking or even your current situation by the new year.?

1. Self employment vs. employment

2. Politics in the workplace

3. Compensation dissatisfaction vs. learning & growth opportunities

4. Being an individual contributor vs. a manager

5. Staying on in your current organization as a redeundant employee vs. waiting for your team to share a potential fit opportunity.

It's never an easy decision but the point is it's your decision to make. Once you make it my take is to focus on the pros, take every lesson you can for your next "hard".

I continue to be available for professional coaching - let's talk!