Life Is Short!

Tomorrow I am leaving for vacation so I thought I would take this opportunity to begin the process of reflection that is so important when we take time off. Reflection and time away from our typical schedule helps us to not just recharge but also to reset our direction. It allows us to consider what we have accomplished, to decide whether we have achieved our goals, and to determine what needs to change.

One concept I have always tried to keep as a guiding principle when it comes to my professional role and any career decisions I make: life is short.

Most of us start working in our professional careers in our early 20s. With average lifespans approaching 80, and if we’re lucky, most of us will also spend a decade or even 2 in retirement. So on average, we will spend just half our lives working. If life is short, our work-life is much shorter!

So how do we make the most of it? For me it comes down to the level of challenge I am feeling at any point in time and the urgency with which we attack our goals. Time flies when you’re having fun but it flies faster when you are challenged and pushed to the edge. Like a sports car rounding a high curve on a steep cliff, you want to take it fast. Feel the gravity of the turn. Enjoy the power of the engine. But we certainly don’t want to fly of the edge.

So as the summer comes to an end it might help to ask yourself these questions:

• Are you feeling comfortable, maybe too comfortable in your current role?
• Is there a new challenge you can take?
• When was the last time you volunteered for a special project?
• Have you reached out to someone you don’t typically work with just to make a new connection?
• Is there a specific fear you have recently tried to overcome?
• Can you take a risk with your manager by asking to take on more?

Ultimately, I think it comes down to assessing whether you have reached your goals. If not, assume you are the only reason. Take personal accountability and decide what to change. And change it now. Because life – and especially your professional life – is way too short!