Greener Over There

I’ve always believed that if you want to grow or win in a different way, you need to get yourself a mentor who’s a winner in that area and learn from them. There’s nothing wrong with admitting you don’t have all the answers – it’s actually not only a mark of humility but wisdom as well.

One of the people who I continue to learn from is my Dad. John Viscito has spent much of his adult life managing both people and processes across a wide array of disciplines. When I’ve been in need of advice or council in the challenging times I managed people – he’s usually got a one-liner of wisdom that helps to put things in perspective.

Once, I was so frustrated with an old job that I was looking at anything and everything to get out. I just wanted to escape. The problem is that desperation in a setting like that can lead to some questionable career decisions if you’re not careful.

I remember I was telling him about this opening I had applied for and about how my life would be instantly better if I got it – keep in mind, it was exactly the same thing I was currently doing, just with another company.

My Dad, to his credit, heard me out and listened to all my talking points and how I’d already convinced myself that I was ready to make a move. When I was done, or took a breath, he just smiled gently and laid the following gem of wisdom on me:

“Chris, the grass looks greener over there because it’s fertilized with a lot of crap that you can’t see from where you’re standing.”

All too often when we feel as though we’re trapped by the lack of career mobility, support from leaders, opportunities to grow or issues in our personal life – we start noticing how much greener the grass is somewhere else.

Believe it or not, this is actually a great moment to stop and reassess your career priorities and goals. Maybe our frustration is caused by not working towards a clear career goal. A work-life balance problem could also cause these feelings. The belief that you’re not being fairly compensated for the work you do is a big driver for people to start having the “greener pastures problem”.

I recommend you speak with your current manager, or establish a mentor in your field or company to help guide you along the path. Set clear goals and begin to work towards them – understanding that sometimes, the result is that you may leave your current company.

Getting inside information on a company from a friend or contact can also help frame your understanding. It’s not always just about the role, it could be about the nature of the business the company is in or the culture they have. Having someone help verify your current level of understanding of what it’s like to work over there could help you decide if you’re seeing things clearly or not.

At the end of the day – you want your career to moving you not just forward, but onward. Sometimes it’s a lateral move, a promotion or even a step down from your current role that can help move you towards your goals.

Just keep in mind, like my Dad said, sometimes it looks greener over there because there’s a lot of stuff beneath the surface that you may not see, and choosing to see only the positives can be just as problematic as not putting a plan in place to improve your current situation.