During the 2009 recession, I took a high-profile job with a marketing agency. On the surface, it looked like a dream opportunity. The clients were big, the pay was excellent, and given the economic climate at the time, I considered myself lucky. No, the work didn’t excite me, but what would people think if I turned it down? I started on a Monday, and every morning that week I felt myself growing more and more uncomfortable. On Friday, while I was sitting in on a four-hour conference call in a windowless meeting room, I couldn’t pretend that I wasn’t miserable. I ended up quitting that day, just 4.25 days after I started and without a plan B — yet I felt instant relief.
Before You Agree to Take on New Work, Ask 3 Questions
Do you feel overcommitted, spread thin, or burned out? Maybe you’ve taken on too many “shoulds.” I should take that job. I should join that board. I should take on that new client. Shedding your “shoulds” is what frees you up to do the things that really energize you — and that will have the most impact on your success in the long term. Before you take on new commitments, ask yourself three questions. First, what’s my motivation? Figure out if you’re you really intrinsically interested in the project, or if you’re motivated by external factors like money, praise, or a desire to appear smart and generous to other people — or even to yourself. Second, does it align with your values? Try prioritizing a handful of specific commitments you really want to focus on to help you let the other things go. Third, do you have a choice? We all sometimes have to do things we don’t want to do, but you may have more options than you realize.