The call was similar in many respects to so many client introductory calls. A mid-level manager was looking for some help. However, as I made inquiries, the responses didn’t sound sincere.
Did he need help connecting with others, communicating for impact, or did he need to focus on building credibility within his organization. None of these really hit home with him.
After a few more minutes of probing, I simply asked him to tell me what was really going on. He then told me that he felt burned out, tired, and had lost motivation for what he was doing.
His career started fast and then plateaued a few years back. He wasn’t sure if further advancement was even in the cards for him in the future. He was performing well, had no obvious roadblocks to his career, but something was just not clicking.
He set annual goals, pushed hard to achieve them, and was likely too hard on himself at times. When pressed on it, he also said that he sacrificed a lot to please the folks that he reported to within the organization.
I have seen it before. I have lived it. He was not burned out, nor was he at the end of his career by any means. He simply needed a renewed purpose. He lost the “why” somewhere along the way. He needed a fresh perspective!
Have you ever been there? Whether it was a work career, a close relationship, an unfulfilled dream, or any number of other life events, have you been at that point that you just wanted to cash in the chips and walk away?
You put forth so much effort, but the results just seem to stay out of reach. You feel like that little hamster on the wheel day after day and to make things worse, you see highlight reels for other people on social media. You feel like you are falling farther behind.
Here’s a key question for you to consider:
Are you chasing the next “big thing” or creating a fulfilling life?
An authentic, fulfilling life is found in the routine. While there may be some mountaintop moments, fulfillment is found in the daily process of life. The habits we create are the key.
Here’s a process for you to consider as you seek to create a fulfilling life:
- Purpose: It’s the “why” that was missing with my client above. Find purpose and build from there.
- Identity: Clarify what you want to be known for.
- Intentionality: Build your life around purpose and identity – even the mundane things take on new meaning.
- Consistency: While it may sound boring, it is one of the most powerful actions we can take.
There is so much in life that we can’t control. We tell our kids when they are young that they can do anything, but that’s not always true (and we know it). We get older and feel ashamed to admit that some “things” may always be out of our reach.
We find ourselves fixated on something “out there” and miss what’s right in front of us. We find ourselves chasing when we need to focus on creating.
In John 10:10, Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
An abundant life is a purposeful life, a life rooted in relationships, a life with a clear identity, and a life of intentionality.
Don’t waste your life chasing. Let’s slow down and start creating a life worth living and find true fulfillment!
Doug equips leaders to make organizations better. He has two leadership books available on all online platforms. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build an authentic team, contact Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
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