The Career-Saving Effects of a Long-Term Outlook
Right now, I’m facing a crisis of motivation. I literally don’t see the point in writing and designing anymore, even if it has proven lucrative as a corporate and contract worker.
Right now, I literally don’t see the point in getting out of bed, getting ready for the day, and settling down to work. I’m feeling pretty selfish now, and all I want to do is bum around all day and do whatever I want to do, such as play all the newest video games and channel surf like a couch potato.
Yet as I write this, I’m remembering that what’s really important in our personal and professional lives is a long-term outlook. That’s because acting with the long-term in mind is what makes us keep sailing towards that golden X on the treasure map, no matter how rough nearby waters seem.
So now, I’m forcing myself to return to that productive groove. At its most basic level, my long-term outlook is telling me that I have commitments to uphold and clients to satisfy. By putting these off, I run the risk of making it harder to find quality projects in the future.
At the same time, my long-term outlook has a higher purpose. So long as I subscribe to it, I have a greater chance of actually accomplishing things, maximizing my skills and talent, and ultimately give my life a little bit more meaning. Few things give our existence more meaning than a sense of accomplishment, and it’s extremely satisfying to make it through those short-term temptations and work your way towards an eventual goal.
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Uncategorized
4 opinions for The Career-Saving Effects of a Long-Term Outlook
Karl Edwards
Dec 11, 2007 at 7:34 am
I have found that key for a long term outlook to work for you is that it be a positive and attractive vision of the future. Something that draws me forward. Something valuable enough, meaningful enough and desirable enough to pull me toward it… almost like a magnet.
Scolding myself for my laziness, short attention span, or bouts of discouragement has never done anything except reinforce negative internal messages that only sabotage my efforts.
Thanks for the post!
Rico
Dec 12, 2007 at 7:28 pm
And thanks for the insightful, anti-self-hating part of your comment. :)
Sean Hodge
Dec 12, 2007 at 7:54 pm
I’ve found recently that pursing my own projects have given me a boost of energy with my design and writing.
Doing endless client work can pull you down. It helps to have some of your own work and goals. Like this site.
Maximizing Our Natural Selfishness
Feb 5, 2008 at 3:49 am
[…] short, it takes a long-term outlook to use our selfishness to accomplish […]
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: