Does having the comfort of knowing that even if you fail you have something else to fall back on, prevent you from giving a chance that you have your all?
Does having multiple options and the luxury of choosing what you like take away the killer instinct?
Is it the options or the attitude that determine whether you look for excuses for your failures or look to learn from it?
I know most of you would instantaneously say in unison it’s the attitude. But I am interested in understanding the role of availability of options in shaping a person’s behavior and attitude.
A professional who knows he is and deserves much better than what he is getting at his current job doesn’t do anything about it and continues at the same job, cribbing about it every other day because he has the option of staying back in an environment which he is not happy with but has known for years and hence gives him a sense of security.
Another one who is a specialist for a particular tool wants to be an entrepreneur and try out new things but the option of receiving the assured pay packet at the end of the month stops him from realizing his dreams.
A student who got the best of education and has great potential wants to opt only for a specific type of job because he feels he is made for it, but he is not getting it for some reason. He doesn’t even bother to try any other avenue because he fears he might not find it interesting and may not do well.
All three cases above have the option of staying in their comfort zone even though they are unhappy but have a false sense of security.
But what do think would happen if they had no option, no choice? The first professional knew that the company he is working for has given him a month’s notice to leave. The second knew that the tool he is the master of, would be no longer used and he will not be in demand in the job market. The student knew he had no choice but to get a job to pay his bills. Would anything else matter?
Taking a leaf out of Seth Godin’s blog –
Once the water is deep enough that you must swim to stay afloat, does it really matter how deep the pool is or if you like butterfly or breaststroke?
Does having multiple options and the luxury of choosing what you like take away the killer instinct?
Is it the options or the attitude that determine whether you look for excuses for your failures or look to learn from it?
I know most of you would instantaneously say in unison it’s the attitude. But I am interested in understanding the role of availability of options in shaping a person’s behavior and attitude.
A professional who knows he is and deserves much better than what he is getting at his current job doesn’t do anything about it and continues at the same job, cribbing about it every other day because he has the option of staying back in an environment which he is not happy with but has known for years and hence gives him a sense of security.
Another one who is a specialist for a particular tool wants to be an entrepreneur and try out new things but the option of receiving the assured pay packet at the end of the month stops him from realizing his dreams.
A student who got the best of education and has great potential wants to opt only for a specific type of job because he feels he is made for it, but he is not getting it for some reason. He doesn’t even bother to try any other avenue because he fears he might not find it interesting and may not do well.
All three cases above have the option of staying in their comfort zone even though they are unhappy but have a false sense of security.
But what do think would happen if they had no option, no choice? The first professional knew that the company he is working for has given him a month’s notice to leave. The second knew that the tool he is the master of, would be no longer used and he will not be in demand in the job market. The student knew he had no choice but to get a job to pay his bills. Would anything else matter?
Taking a leaf out of Seth Godin’s blog –
Once the water is deep enough that you must swim to stay afloat, does it really matter how deep the pool is or if you like butterfly or breaststroke?
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