{"id":1146,"date":"2011-05-02T10:53:48","date_gmt":"2011-05-02T17:53:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dierschow.com\/wordpress\/?p=1146"},"modified":"2012-06-01T14:50:53","modified_gmt":"2012-06-01T21:50:53","slug":"choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dierschow.com\/wordpress\/career\/choice","title":{"rendered":"Choice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. \t\t\t\tIt is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be \t\t\t\tachieved. <\/p>\n

~William Jennings Bryan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

I came across this great quote from a US Statesman in the early part \t\tof the 20th century.\u00a0 It really got me thinking about how I \t\tstruggle with expectations and obligations, and the choices that I make.<\/p>\n

Jobs are great, but feeling a lot less secure than they used to.\u00a0 \t\tSociety is changing – quickly – and nobody really knows what the right \t\tpath is.\u00a0 That means that “security” is often just a temporary \t\tsituation, and depends as much on luck as on your own behavior.<\/p>\n

A job is just an exchange:\u00a0 You agree to change your behavior \t\tfor a certain number of hours a week, in exchange for money in the short \t\tterm and some kind of expectation of longer term security.\u00a0 That \t\tlonger term might be a month, a year, or a decade, depending on your \t\temployer and the industry.\u00a0 But we’ve all come to recognize that \t\timages of long term security are often based more on wishes than \t\tanything absolute.<\/p>\n

But that’s the way it’s always been, if you think about it.\u00a0 \t\tFifty years ago, people might be able to stay with a single employer for \t\tan entire career, but that “security” was based on advances in \t\ttechnology, the whims of the market, the decisions of politicians, even \t\tthe possibility of natural disasters.<\/p>\n

What’s different now is that these things are changing at a much more \t\trapid rate than before.\u00a0 Which means that NObody is able to make \t\ttrue long term commitments about your job.<\/p>\n

What it comes down to, then, is making choices in your life.\u00a0 \t\tThat’s what you DO control, but often leave up to other people.<\/p>\n

Here’s a simple example: “I HAVE to go to work today!”\u00a0 Well, \t\tno, actually that’s not an absolute.\u00a0 It’s a choice.\u00a0 Which \t\thas impacts, of course, but let’s think about this.\u00a0 On the \t\tpositive side, going to work will please some people, it will bring you \t\tsome pay, and increase the likelihood of pay and “security” in the \t\tfuture.\u00a0 On the negative side, it takes you away from your family, \t\tand takes your time and energy away from other things you might be \t\tdoing.\u00a0 Like taking steps toward your future career.\u00a0 Or \t\thelping people in need.<\/p>\n

The reason for doing this exercise is to realize that even such a \t\tfundamental action is still a choice, one which you should make \t\tconsciously.\u00a0 Not that every morning you’d get up and ponder your \t\trole in the universe – that’s a bit esoteric – but there’s a time and a \t\tplace for questioning how you’re using your time, energy, and money.<\/p>\n

William Jennings Bryan liked to frame this as working toward your \t\tDestiny, but perhaps you relate more to other ideas such as career and \t\tlife goals.\u00a0 The quote is just as true:\u00a0 You’re not going to \t\tmake significant progress in ANY direction of your choosing until you \t\tmake some choices.<\/p>\n

Some choices might be tough, but nobody said life was going to be \t\teasy.<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Carl Dierschow is a Certified \t\tSmall Fish Business Coach<\/a> and \t\tauthor of the career management guide, Mondays Stink! 23 Secrets to \t\tRediscover Delight and Fulfillment in Your Work<\/em>. He is a career \t\tcoach for those going through interesting transitions, and works with \t\tsmall business owners who need to create breakthroughs in achieving \t\ttheir business goals. Find out more at \t\twww.Dierschow.com<\/a> and \t\twww.SmallFish.us<\/a>. <\/p>\n

If you are interested in individual career coaching, group coaching, \t\tor other resources which might help you with difficult choices, please \t\tcontact Carl at carl@dierschow.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Connect with Carl on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and LinkedIn<\/a> to get timely updates and connections to a broader range of \t\tprofessionals.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

To \t\tsubscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, send an e-mail to \t\t newsletter@Dierschow.com<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u00a9 2011 Possibilities Partnership LLC<\/td>\n

\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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