Do you ever wonder why majority of the smartest, wittiest people you ever know are the ones who usually do their careers dirty at times by making bad decisions and such? Here are five reasons smart professionals make bad career moves, loosely based on an article by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of Forbes.
1. Vague priorities. Even if it is indeed possible to achieve multiple things at the same time, one must take into consideration the fact that as humans, we can only do so much. So much up to the point that you can blur out your once clear perspective and scatter the messages that used to be clear to you. Make a list of your priorities and accord them to their level of urgency, as well as convenience for your part.
2. Effort and intention are two different things. May your intentions be stronger than the scent of your grandparents' perfume, it would mean nothing without the exertion of your best effort. No matter how clear your goals are, they would be lifeless without you doing the work.
3. And so are execution and intention. Actions speak louder than words, as the old saying goes. Yes, you may be the master of execution, but what if there's something actually off and you don't even know it yet? Or that your ways are not as effective as you think they are? Levine advises a role play with a coach or a mentor to make sure that you are competitively executing.
4. Blind spots aren't taken action upon. Blind spots are called as such because you are not able to see them on your own. And, with them not being addressed and taken certain actions upon, they could be a great deal of a problem to you. Repeating the same mistakes is a decision, so for you to avoid redundant problems, make sure to ask someone you trust, and someone who can be honest about your flaws, to help you identify your blind spots.
5. Trade-offs are inevitable. "If you are going after something you really don't care about, then it won't matter that you actually get it," Levine wrote. Ask yourself what you're actually willing to endure. There will be inevitable trade-off offers that can happen, and you must be willing to discuss it with all the people that could be impacted in the event that it happens.
