You are one of the lucky ones: You like your job!
The problem is, you like it so much youre really just not very ambitious.
And you worry that in the age of Workism, youll regret not trying harder to get ahead.
Is being satisfied a problem?
Dear Human Resource,
Im a lawyer at good-sized firm, and I love my job.
I am rewarded, challenged, engaged and interested.
However, I need help with career trajectory and the pressure to be ambitious.
Specifically, I dont feel a ton of ambition.
I like the work that I do and the lifestyle and balance that I feel in my current role.
(By way of background, Im in my mid 30s, married with two young kids.)
Im worried that Im stunting my career prospects by not pushing harder.
I really can see myself being very happy with what I do, long term.
Any wisdom or guidance you’ve got the option to provide will be graciously accepted.
Thank you so much!
Ambition is certainly crucial to achieving a standout career.
But maybe the issue isnt that you lack ambitionits that having a standout career just isnt your top priority.
Maybe other things are simply more important to you.
you’ve got the option to reject Workism and live to tell the tale!
On some level, in fact, everybody should probably think aboutbeing at least an occasional Workism heretic.
Stay on your game
To be clear, Im not telling you to blow off your job.
The difference is youre not obsessing about executing some grand long-term plan for total career domination.
You dont have to marinate in books and podcasts that float tactics and strategies for maximum productivity.
you’re free to just, you know,do your job.
In some work scenarios, your managers might expect you display a lot of ambition.
But its more likely that what they really want to be sure of is your engagement.
Theres no upside in flat-out announcing, Im just not that ambitious.
The pressure you feel to display ambition probably isnt coming from your boss.
We can all be Number One if we try!
In reality, this obviously impossible variation on theLake Wobegone effectis exactly what makes so many people miserable.
Its one reason thatburnout is such a popular topic lately.
But we cant all work harder than everyone else; we cant all be the best.
(Plenty ofliteralNBA starsend up unhappy.)
So sometimes were better off accepting that if we cant be great, itstotally fine to be good.
We should all do the best work we can, andplay the role were meant to play.
Its okay to be okay with being okay.
Remember that there are other things to be passionate about.
I can think of some.
I hope it’s possible for you to, too.
