Do You Have a Case of the "Should-Do's"?
Many of us, at points in our lives, face a grave threat to our career health called the “Should Do’s.” First detected in the early days of commerce, and becoming more widespread in the decades following World War II, mutations of the “Should Do’s” continue to persist into the modern era.
What exactly are the “Should Do’s”? They’re the opinions of other people – or perhaps even the voice inside your head – that tells you what you should be doing in your career:
Sometimes the “Should Do’s” insidiously disguise themselves as “Shouldn’t Do’s”, but they’re all very similar.
“Should Do’s” are especially prevalent as we progress through school and contemplate our first career steps. This is the time when we feel a lot of pressure to do what our parents or other influential adults want us to do. And for many, that starts us off on a career path that is all wrong for us. What’s worse is that we probably knew it would be wrong. We were just afraid to speak up for ourselves.
But the “Should Do’s” often crop up later in our careers as well. This is where our significant others – or we ourselves – tell us we should take a certain career step. These “Should Do’s” can be every bit as angst-causing as the ones we might have heard while going through school or at the start of our careers.
What’s the cure for the “Should Do’s”??Taking ownership for your own career.?It’s your professional life – and your life in general – so you should aim to be happy and fulfilled doing whatever you choose to do. Others will have opinions. You shouldn’t necessarily tune them out. But in the end, the choices you make should be yours, and you should own them. (By the way, it’s not lost on me that I have used the word “should” three times to make the case for avoiding the ”Should Do’s.”)
If you’re facing “Should Do” pressure, step back. Ask yourself: What makes you happy? What gives you energy? What are you good at? Where is there a need in the world that fits you well? If you’re still struggling, take a career assessment or two, or work with a coach. Assessments will help shed light on some of the questions above, and a coach will help you make an informed choice while remaining objective, as they won’t have any stake or vested interest in your decision. If you’re contemplating a job or career change, you can also check out our online program on that topic.
All of these suggestions will help immunize you to the “Should Do’s”. But the first step is about taking ownership. So, if you’re suffering a case of the “Should Do’s”, go find a mirror and tell yourself that your career decisions are your decisions, not those of others. And then work on figuring out what’s best for you.
What “Should Do’s” have you faced in your career? Which ones are you facing now? Email us at?[email protected] ?and let us know your thoughts!
JR and the PathWise team
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May 6, Finding a Job – And Fulfillment – When You’re Mid-Career or Later, with John Tarnoff.?John is a studio executive turned coach who works with mid-to-late career professionals. One of his core beliefs? Your professional life need not be ianywhere close to over when you turn 50. John knows this from personal experience. He’s 72, and he’s still going strong. Not because he needs to, but because he wants to.
*** As always, our “Career Sessions, Career Lessons” podcasts are available on all the major podcast platforms, with video versions on PathWise’s YouTube channel.
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May 6 – Coaching.?Perhaps we’re showing too much self-interest by featuring Coaching as a Career Theme, but it’s only because it can be so helpful to us in our careers. We get coaches in other parts of our lives. Our careers matter a lot to many of us, and they have an outsized impact on our sense of happiness and fulfillment. So this week we’ll talk about the many benefits of working with a career coach.
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