What Would You do Differently in Your Career?
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010
Every career is filled with moments that we wish we could have done differently. It’s natural. We get smarter and look back and shake our heads at some of our decisions.
If you would have known this one thing when you were first starting, you could have saved youself a lot of pain and time.
My question to you is…
What is that one thing you would have done differently at the start of your career?
I’m asking because I want you to help someone who may currently be in the same position you were in last year, five or twenty years ago. You have a chance to save them a lot of time and pain. So share in the comments section and let’s help someone avoid the pain that we wished we could have avoided.
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Interesting question. I can’t say I would have done anything different because I wouldn’t be where I am now. I needed the pain to get me out of pain. I wish I had known there were other choices besides business school. But even then, those skills come in handy and I’m so glad I have that background. Will be curious to see what other’s say.
Hi Stacey, Business school can be a waste of time unless you have a definitive reason. I have a few friends who wished they would have just started a business instead of paying $30,000.
Thanks for a question that made me really stop and think! I would have stuck with my first job a little longer. Back then, the job market was in excellent condition, and I took a better offer six months in. Looking back, I would have stayed and embraced the opportunity I had – money isn’t everything. And I’ve always regretted not finishing a few key projects that would have made great first job success stories!
Hi Cindy, I like your comment. There are always learning opportunities that we miss out on. I know that I’ve left jobs because they weren’t perfect. I didn’t engage and missed out on a lot.
Hi Karl,
Not a single thing because it got me to where I am now. So no regrets at all. Wisdom is earned and I earned it.
I know that sometimes it is tempting to look back and say I could have or should have but I think that does no good. You made decisions based on what you knew at that time…if you knew better, you would have done better.
So I just look at it like a form of education. Learn from each situation and move forward. Look at Julia Child…she really did not start her career until she was in her 50s.
Hi Nadia, Good point. We need every part of what we went through, but I’m curious because I’ve read your blog and know that you’ve helped other people overcome their stuckness. I was hoping you could help other people avoid a mistake that you may have made.
Save more of my income;)
Hi Tess, I’ve made some stupid purchases at the beginning of my career too. I bought an expensive video camera that I never used. Wish I could have that decision back.
Hi Karl
Well, in my teaching career, nothing – everything was truly perfect the way it was.
In this “freelance” type of self-employment “career” – I think only not get down about ever comparing myself to others, and simply riding out my own personal path. While I know this and do this today, at the beginning there were a few bumps along the way, as I compared my success or what I thought should be success to those doing similar things as me.
Our success is personal – I know this deeply today and is measured by whatever we set it out to be. For me, as long as I am happy and fulfilled, and at peace at the end of the day – it was a successful working day!
Hi Evita, I’ve made the mistake of comparing my career to others. This is a very bad habit to get into. It’s a confidence killer. We all have different superpowers and weaknesses. We have to work with what we got and learn to optimize it.
I was terrified of accruing student debt so I kept trying to work my way through school – and on many occasions, was forced to choose between work and school. Work always won because it paid the rent.
Now I’m almost 40 and accruing student loan debt.
I wish I had gone ahead and taken out the loans 20 years ago and finished college as a young adult. The loans would already be paid off by now, and I would have made more money in the interim – and been able to sock some money away for retirement. With the new debt I’m accruing right now, the thought of retirement is laughable.
Hi Judy, That’s a tough situation. Sometimes we do need to bite the bullet even if it’s going to put us in a financial hole because it’s worth it in the long run. It sounds like you are going after something you love. Hopefully you’ll love your new career so much you don’t want to retire.
Karl,
I guess for me – the question would be: what is the start of my career? And I’m not sure I can define that… As in – the start of college (which felt like a career direction), my first job out of college (in my chosen field), the shift to some other direction (a couple of years later), etc, etc. Perhaps that is all part of the journey…the journey to where we each are today…and the lines all get a little greyed…
Hi Lance, Sometimes the lines are grey. I guess I was hoping to hear about a mistake at the beginning of one of your careers.
In my first career as a young teacher, I wish I would have known then what I know now! I would have brought my total self into it and inspired my students in all the ways I know now…! I know I did alot of that but not to the degree I would now. I was told however, by an old student from 36 years ago that I met up with on facebook that I was one of his mosts memorable teachers…so maybe we all have more influence than we realize!
Thank you Karl for your inspiration!
warmly,
Brenda
Hi Brenda, I wish I could go back and talk to my “just out of college” self. What a conversation that would be.
Your right, we have so much more knowledge now than just a few years ago. That’s a beautiful thing.
Karl I found you by chance and was curious. What would I do differently? Before leaving the UK Air Force in 1981, a life coach would have helped enormously – but they weren’t around in those days. So I wish you well in your career helping others.
Check out The Levity Project in the USA! It is brilliant. You can find me at http://www.voluntaryaspirations.com
I’m in the UK.
Hi Keith, A good coach can play a key role in our development. It’s a good thing there are more demand for coaches to help guide people through their careers and lives. I’m a big fan of the Levity Project. They do great work.
I took a “safe” job. I would have encouraged myself to go with a job, in my industry, that was wild, crazy, and more on the edge.
I don’t regret the safe job, it has gotten me to a great place. But being “safe” is not always the best decision!
Hi Joy, Sometimes we need to test out the crazy fun stuff to see where our needs are. I feel very similar. I started out safe then as my confidence grew I went more bold. The more bold I went the happier I became.
Hi, Karl,
I would have started my career with the industry/business nature that I can conne to, as I am and have been in those business that I have no interest at all, what I have now at the end of each month is nothing but a pay cheque, that’s why I am looking for a change. Thanks.
Hi Pamela, Good for you. Keep searching for what you love to do then find a way to merge this passion with the people you enjoy working with. Don’t give up. It takes time.
Hi Karl,
I would agree with the others who said this path is exactly as it was meant to be to this very day…but I can see that you are looking for a definitive mistake..
I also agree with Lance..my life has been a timeline of career choices all leading me to now.
Alhtough I think large for others, I tend to think too small for myself..so when I had a catering company and now with life coaching/speaking, I think more one on one who may I reach rather than larger quantities..I preferred cooking for intimate dinner parties and coaching small groups rather than larger corporate events..I tend to think more about making a difference than making large amounts of money..
Hi Joy, It’s funny how we can see the possibilities in other people’s lives, but not necessarily our own. I like how you can see this in yourself and have used this knowledge to leverage your career.
Karl:
The main thing I would like to have done differently would be reading more. I wish I would have spent a little more time simply reading and learning everything I could about my business. I did read some and I have learned a lot, but I could have learned so much more to this point.
I also wish I could have lived and worked a bit more fearlessly. However, that would still be my wish. All in all, I could not have done much differently because that would essentially make me a different person… and I kinda like the goofy guy I am.
Thanks for the question… good stuff
jerry
Hi Jerry, Me too. There are so many great articles, books and interviews out there. I would suggest people starting a new career to read Linchpins from Seth Godin. It’s packed with great information. What book would you recommend?
Great question! I was an undeclared college major for two years and ended up picking the major that I thought I was the best at. I wish I would have done a little more research and chosen what I loved to do, rather than what I thought everyone around me wanted me to do.
Love how your posts always make me think:)
I would have spoken up more and not just allowed my work to speak for itself.
I would have still been happily employed if I would have not believed in JUST CULTURE in the medical field. I need better self-esteem and encourage everyone to learn how to deal with Adult Bullies. Even if you make a mistake you are human and some times you are so close to the tree that you can not see the forest. You can not push replay. I have ruined my family finacial Future, ruined at long career with just one oversight. I did not endanger anyone. My advise would be slow down and be careful.
I don’t have career to the moment when I am 24. I used to be a programmer for couple of companies in my country(Latvia) before I moved to UK(London). Now I do as some people in comments would say “safe” job too, but I find it exiting, when people around me think that I am doing something wrong. I think it is because people usually think if you are doing hard-labor job you are sort of looser as it looks like other with same likely personality you have, do more money without any effort. This is all about your responsibility sense as I wouldn’t advice anyone to take risk at doing something that you don’t have experience in, but on the other hand life is short and you might never drink your real glass of champagne if not taking that risk. Bad thing with me that all my risk trials ended badly so far due to unproficiency.
To this point I 100% agree with “just human” to be careful, with “Judy Schwartz Haley” for not taking loans, with “Jerry” to read more on subject you are interested in, with “Karl” don’t compare yourself to everyone at once as it lowers yourself.
I would also add that it is the best practice to do whatever you can during the times between sleeps and exhaust yourself totally as it keeps you fit mentally. Those things that come on your mind are totally different from what you actually can do, so stop fulling yourself and do practical-thinking in what you really love and people will like it. You also need to let people know what you do otherwise nobody knows and as a result nobody cares.
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