Should I Stay or Should I Go - 8 Questions To Ask Yourself
Russell Ammons
Best in DFW, Mortgage Broker (Dallas Morning News) - Most Connected Mortgage Professionals (National Mortgage Professionals Magazine) - Published Industry Writer
The good news, unlike in the '80s song by The Clash, you don't have to leave this decision in the hands of another...you get to make it, it's all up to you!
I voluntarily participate in a LinkedIn career advice program and often sit down during my lunch to try and add value to others lives as so many have done for me. I was just asked for a bit of career advice and thought I should pass this along in case it might help you as well.
I firmly believe life is too short not to focus our attention on something that gives us life, and can earn us a living, and I'm of the persuasion that both can be accomplished, 100% of the time, if we are willing to be introspective and ask ourselves a few questions…
- Do I enjoy what I am doing for a living?
- Does what I’m doing for a living bring me life?
- Am I staying where I am only because it’s comfortable?
- Am I staying where I am out of fear of the unknown in another industry or job? (keep in mind, there is just as much uncertainty where you are, as where you may go because nothing is guaranteed.)
- Do I care more about what others think of me in my current profession than taking the initiative to change? (in the end, it really doesn’t matter what others think, I’ve found those critical of me or who don’t support me in my decisions are not people I want to associate with anyway.)
- Am I ready to take a risk and live the life I’ve always (or now) want to live?
- Do I care more about a higher income in a career I don’t really enjoy, rather than doing something else that may initially have a lower income, or perhaps may always have a lower income? (I have been in careers where the income was very good, but along with that, the stress was equally as great, and in careers, I absolutely loved with significantly less earning potential. Guess which ones I have loved more…that’s right, the later.)
- Do you realize how truly short your life is?
I wish anyone walking through this dilemma the very best and hope this has helped.