Not got milk, redemption. The substance is different but the concept’s the same.
- Somewhere in Oprahtown (Photo credit: QUOI Media)
Do you have what you you need in your life to grow?
Unless you’re oblivious, a narcissist, or the uncommonly lucky, everyone has career regrets. There are jobs not offered, “just” promotions denied, and layoffs that should have been someone else’s, not yours (or mine).
The choice is to dwell with these setbacks, extolling the unfairness and hurt and stay anchored in the past, or use them to move forward and ignite the future.
The roster of impressive people with failures – and likelier regrets – is long Many of them accomplished far greater things after those setbacks.
Redemption? Maybe.
Each failure and regret provides the environment for greater success; redemption, as it were, from the earlier failings. Robert Kennedy’s comment – “Only those that dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly.“
Redemption is recovery, making up for stumbles; learnings applied into action from those regrets.
But here’s the secret; regrets and redemptions may be not be linear, and the route for work-related redemption may not even be in your career.
Redemption from a career opportunity unachieved can be gained in the warmth of child’s smile, the thanks of a neighbor helped, or the appreciation of a volunteer group on which you’ve served. The “can you cuddle me pop” when you help your child fall to sleep can takeaway layers of work regrets, putting things into a broader perspective.
The world is filled with “could haves,” “should haves,” “would haves.” Sometimes you just need to get over it.
All anyone can ask of you – yourself included – is that you do the best you can every day.
Regrets?
Sure.
But trying to do your best in not just your career, but the rest of your life, leads to other successes.
And if you take that path will it lead to redemption? Maybe.
Fewer regrets – and less need to feel redeemed? Guaranteed.
Life Back West is an occasional set of writings focused on ways people, teams and organizations can be both more effective (doing the right thing) and more efficient (doing the right thing well). More about executive, career and team / leadership coaching services can be found at the “About J. Mike Smith and Back West, Inc.” sidebar or the “Hire Me” tab above. You can also read an online interview with me at WhoHub, as well as participate in my learning community courtesy of KnowledgeCrush.