There comes a point in your life when you realize that turning the page is the best feeling in the world because there’s so much more to the book then the page you were stuck on.
As a child, I remember wrestling with complex math problems. I was determined to solve them and I usually succeeded. I had a knack for math.
As an adult, when I run into a challenge working on a project … everything else comes to a screeching halt. I am wired such that I need to tackle the imminent problem before I can move on to something else.
I cannot help it. It consumes me.
I am a fixer. A problem solver.
I never liked being stuck. Whenever I found myself stuck, I would do all in my power to get unstuck. It worked for a while until the nature of my challenges became extremely complex.
Then it was imperative for someone to help me get unstuck.
I reached a point in my career where I felt stuck in an overwhelming and uncomfortable way. It wasn’t a project this time. It was my life and my career.
How did I know I was stuck? Here are some of the signs.
1. Loss of enthusiasm and zeal.
I was going through the motions of work. I would go to my job and perform the day’s work. But my heart was not in it.
There was hardly any joy in the experience. I was no longer interested in what I was doing.
My passion fire had whittled down.
2. Lack of clarity and direction.
I knew I wanted to do something else. The big unanswered question was … what would I do?
Much of my career had been in marketing research and analysis. At the time, I did not know how those skills and experience could transfer to a rewarding new career.
There were no visible opportunities with my current employer. Nor were there any interesting job leads in my area.
It seemed like there was no place else to go.
3. Feeling helpless and frustrated.
Some days I felt like a mouse running in a maze. I was turning corners to exit, but I would run into dead ends. I would back track and head in a different direction only to end up trapped against another wall.
There was no way out.
It was frustrating. Wanting to go forward, but I felt constrained to the norms of my job. I was tangled in the web of never ending projects.
The work consumed me. I did not have the time or energy to think for myself. I was giving it all to the job. Yet, I was being drained.
I felt weakened and helpless.
4. Feeling called to a greater purpose and afraid.
There were increasing internal sensations that God wanted more from me, my life. I was beginning to question why I was working so hard for the shareholders to get bonuses. I was beginning to wonder how was I making the world a better place?
I started to wonder what be different because of my contributions? Who was I really helping to get ahead in life? And who did I really need to help move forward?
I had given my all to that job … willingly. Until I became stuck.
I know it was time to move on. Yet, I was afraid and comfortable. The job offered some enticing fringe benefits. I had favor.
Would I risk all of this to become unstuck? Initially no. But eventually yes.
Because I’m a fixer. A problem solver. And I needed to fix my situation.
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