Those who say “quitters never win” are fooling themselves. If you stick something out just because you’re afraid of giving up—and it’s something that no longer serves you—you’re wasting your time. And ultimately, you lose. Sure, you’re not a quitter. But you sure as hell aren’t winning either. Related: 6 Strategies For Surviving In A Job You Hate When it comes to work, quitting is sometimes the best move you can make. Often, it’s a necessary step for forward movement, growth, and pursuing your life’s purpose. Still, as we all know, quitting sometimes really isn’t an option. Not because it isn’t the right thing to do; sometimes, you just can’t feasibly move on. Maybe you just can’t financially afford to leave your current job. Or maybe the health insurance coverage isn’t something you can give up. Or maybe the stress of leaving right now would be far worse than the stress of simply sticking it out for a while longer. These things happen. This is reality.
Whenever I’m explaining the concept of personal branding, I always end up talking about Jerry Maguire. Yes, before Tom Cruise jumped on Oprah’s couch and became the perpetual butt of Hollywood’s joke, he starred in one of my all-time-ever favorite movies. He played the title role, Jerry Maguire, a sports agent who has a breakdown breakthrough that leads to him leaving his cushy job and heading out on his own. He takes with him a fish, a humble secretary, and one client. So, where does personal branding come in?
Out of everyone in my group of college friends, I was the only one who still had the same job two years after graduation. Everyone else had changed jobs once, twice, or even three times. So, I felt somewhat smug—as if I knew something they didn’t. Related: 4 Steps To Break Your Job Hopping Habit It wasn’t until many years later that I understood the positive side of job hopping. It hit me when I suddenly discovered I had forced myself to stay in a job I hated for five years. If only I had just left at the very beginning when I realized it wasn't for me… maybe I wouldn't have wasted all that time being miserable. Of course, job hopping also involves a few pretty serious downsides. In order to make the best decisions in your career, it’s helpful to understand both the positive and negative aspects of bouncing around from one job to the next, and how it can impact your long-term goals.
If you’re a serial job hopper, don’t worry - I’m not here to pick on you. This article isn’t about placing blame; it’s about exploring motivation. You see, I’ve worked with a lot of people who want desperately to find that perfect job—a job that holds their interest and makes them feel truly excited to go to work each day. Related: 4 Steps To Break Your Job Hopping Habit Yet, these same people find themselves bouncing from job to job, unable to make a long-term commitment. Job hoppers often have good intentions, so it becomes frustrating when they just can’t find a job worth holding on to.
Whether you’re looking to convince your boss you need some additional training or you’re hoping to show an interviewer you’re the best candidate for a job, persuasion is an essential tool for professional success. Related: The Secret To Being Memorable And Persuasive Below, I’ve outlined the three basic steps you should follow to be persuasive in the workplace.
Are you afraid of changing your job goals? You're not alone. RELATED: Need career advice? Watch these tutorials! Here’s a lesson I’m still learning: Changing your mind isn’t the same as giving up. You see, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about goals—how to set them properly, how to see them through, how to keep your perspective about achieving them. As most of you know, I’m kind of a goal junkie. But recently, I’ve had to make some... corrections, and it’s been hard. In many ways, it makes me feel weak. Like I’ve failed. But I realized this morning that I’ve been looking at it the wrong way. I’ve been acting like “changing my mind” is the same as “quitting.” And it’s not. You see, changing your mind is YOUR RIGHT. No one can take that from you. The trick is not to be fickle. Give your decision the thought and attention it deserves. But give yourself the freedom you deserve. Here are a few questions to consider before changing your mind:
I know so many amazing professionals who often tell me speaking up at work is a challenge. It’s not they don’t have opinions—they certainly do! Related: 4 Tips For Connecting With A New Boss And it’s not because they don’t have the smarts—these folks are the best and the brightest. But they still have an incredibly difficult time expressing themselves in the workplace. So, today’s post is all about finding your voice at work and overcoming those internal demons that have been keeping you quiet.