What will you be doing in ten years?
This week I was reflecting on something that a student of mine recently said to me in an email: “I cannot bear the thought of where I’ll be ten years from now in my job if I don’t make a change.”.
It stood out to me because it’s something people rarely ponder.
See, most people calculate the cost of taking a risk. The risk of doing something different. The risk of failing and not succeeding. The risk of being kicked from the metaphorical tribe and being shunned by family and friends for failing.
The reality is the cost of not taking action is far greater.
If you dislike your job, If you can’t imagine yourself in a more senior position at your job (as I couldn’t either since my boss’s job looked so miserable).
If you’re at home but you can’t fathom the thought of working for someone…
I ask you this: Where would you be in ten years if you didn’t take any risks? What soul-crushing realities will you be reckoning with because you played it safe and refused to stand out? (Plus, how hard would it be to go back to that soul-crushing job even IF you failed (which you won’t if you set your mind to it but just saying)).
That oh so boring job is ALWAYS waiting.
I think it was Les Brown who said that the richest place on the planet is the graveyard.
It’s where all hopes, dreams, aspirations, and desires are buried.
Plans of a different life that never blossomed.
When my father died, that was him to a degree. He had tried so earnestly his whole life to get different results. He tried extremely hard, but passed away before he could make that happen.
And as much as it breaks my heart to say, he died a bitter and resentful man because he felt like it was too early (which it was too early, and I 100% felt his deep pain).
We all walk around with this arrogance of assuming another day. But it is far from assured.
So rather than be crippled by that, I humbly suggest you let it permit you to live life to its fullest.
I’m reminding you today that the cost of inaction is far greater.
Enjoy the rest of this beautiful day.
Sarah, xo
