Working a low-paid job usually doesn’t sound like a positive development for someone else’s career. There is also no hiatus extended from work.
However, according to bestselling author and leadership expert Simon Sign, a seemingly backward movement can often be like an entry-level role in a new industry, or back to school for a career change, making you happier and more successful in the long run.
“I think a lot of people think that’s the only way to move forward if you only maintain momentum,” Sinek said on his “A Little Optimism” podcast on September 2nd episode featuring a Happiness expert and Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks. “But the reality is this: It’s a bit of a pansou… At some point, you need to go back and then shoot forward much faster than you would have walked the stone forward.”
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Happiness and satisfaction come from learning, pursuing opportunities for you to enjoy, and bounce back from movements that don’t work out, Sinek said. However, people often struggle with how these decisions are perceived by others, making it difficult to love the process. That’s especially true for students and early career professionals who may feel like they’re competing with their peers to reach a certain milestone, he said.
“The whole idea of ’I’m going to go behind’ suggests you’re competing for something. That means there’s a finish line, and that’s what you’re looking forward to most,” Sinek said. “And that’s completely wrong.”
He said that you feel happier and more fulfilled if you are confident in your path to stop worrying about how others will judge your decisions.
A happiness expert, Brooks cited himself as an example of someone who made a seemingly retreated career move and eventually became successful. He was originally a professional French horn player, and at the age of 19 he dropped out of college to tour as a musician, he said. For years he struggled to make a living as a soloist, eventually returning to school in his late 20s and ceased chasing breakthroughs.
Back at Academia, Brooks was placed on the path to his current career, he said. “Through my life, almost ten years, I’ll bring my life back to Bolt,” Brooks told Harvard magazine in December 2022.
“Steaking back and reassessing your career is a key part of finding fulfillment,” Sinek wrote in her podcast.
If you are considering whether to shake up your career, you should ask yourself 10 specific questions. These questions include, “Have you considered leaving the field most days in the past week?”, “Does your loved one say you should change your career?” and “What unique skills, talent and perspective will bring to new fields?”
Your answer helps to distinguish between the usual “occasional frustration” that anyone experiences at some point, and the patterns of misfortune and inconsistency that you need to deal with, Pon writes.
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