Considering a job change or other life change? 7 questions to ask yourself first
Contemplating a significant life shift like a job change can be daunting. Before taking the leap, it's crucial to ask yourself some pertinent questions. Here are seven thought-provoking queries to guide your decision-making process and ensure you're making the best choice for your future.
7 questions to help us decide if a new challenge is worth pursuing
There is a nearly limitless range of things that are possible, they require only that we believe and act on our belief.
- Exploration is key because it helps us make good decisions despite a mind-boggling array of choices.
Is this my why?
Find out what motivates you – the “why” behind what you are doing.
- Ask people you know well why they enjoy being around you and what their relationship with you does for them. If you can get candid, straightforward answers from them, they will reveal to you your “why.”
Is it achievable?
Wistfully thinking “That would be nice…” often signals we don’t think a goal is possible and, therefore, it won’t be.
- If, instead, we are optimistic, saying, “I am so happy I’ve achieved this” as if we already have, there is a kernel of belief that it is within reach.
Is the reward worth the cost?
What I will gain will be sufficient to offset the tangible and emotional costs of scaling this new S Curve
Is it easy to test?
Find simple ways to test new S Curves of Learning
- Start small
- Set your initial expectations and incremental increases so laughably small, that you deactivate your inner procrastinator
- Is this S Curve feasible? Can I sustain this long term?
Does it align with my values?
In the final analysis, the measurement of our life ill fall short of what we hoped if the work we are doing, the time we are investing, and the things we are accomplishing don’t lead us in the direction of our deepest aspirations and our most deeply held values
- Know what your shadow values are.
- Understand what aspects of your personality feed them.
Whitney Johnson
The author is the CEO of Disruption Advisors, a tech-enabled talent development company, and one of the top 10 management thinkers in the world
Is it familiar yet novel?
Familiarity helps you relax and feel safer; too much familiarity may mean stasis.
- The unfamiliar in small doses surprises and delights and can lead us in new directions. In large doses, novelty and uncertainty create anxiety and fear.
Does it fit my identity?
It’s less difficult to take on a new learning curve if it aligns with our current identity.
- If the new S Curve we’re exploring is too aligned with who we already are, the potential for growth may be too low. But if it’s too far out of alignment, then the price of reaching for a new identity might be too high.