Permission to Single-Task

It’s easy to feel pressure at the beginning of one’s career to be more and do more. After all, don’t young professionals have to get noticed, stand out from other recent grads, and quickly prove value as new employees?  

I mean, yes… but—  

What I’m learning recently is that doing more is the way my brain measures adding the most value to my team—and I genuinely want to benefit them. But if I’m being honest, sometimes I want to do more because I want to be the MVP of the game. I want to prove to my colleagues that I’m competent and capable of carrying a heavy task-plate. Which maybe I am, but it doesn’t mean I should. And it sure as heck doesn’t mean my worth as an employee (or as a human) is dependent on it.  

I have weekly one-on-ones with my supervisor and we usually discuss insights I’ve discovered and ideas I’ve created as a result. Idea-generating and sifting through the realm-of-possibility is the core of my current job description. Though, what I appreciate most about my supervisor is that she keeps me grounded and continually helps me focus my ideas on what’s feasible and realistic. Like many young professionals, I expect a lot from myself. My supervisor says to me at least once per meeting, “Those are good ideas, but I think you should focus on one of them.” 

Gah. Sometimes I hate that answer, because what I want to say is, “Put me in coach! I can do it! I’m ready! I can do it aaaaaaalllllllllll.” In helping me keep focus, my supervisor has helped me see that my value to the company isn’t found in how much work I can do—but the quality of the work I deliver in the end.  

So, to all the ambitious, driven, talented, and sometimes overwhelmed young professionals,  

“…you should focus on one…” 

Let those simple words and gentle redirecting grant you permission to single-task. Let it be a reminder that you don’t have to conquer the world to be valuable to the company.  

 Because, doing one thing really well, can be good enough.