Last week I read (actually I listened to the audio on my I Pad) Lean In For Graduates by Sheryl Sandberg. I have seen mixed reviews about Lean In online, but I loved this book. What does this have to do with setting goals for Make it Happen Monday, you ask. Well, one of the things Sheryl talks about in the book is women leaving to soon. Meaning, women excluding themselves from opportunities because one day they plan to have kids and doubt they will be able to manage being a great mom and a great whatever the opportunity was that she turned down.
That part of the book really hit home with me. No, I am not pregnant. Nor do I have kids. However, I based my very first decision regarding my career on the fact that some day I wanted to be a mom. I had a good GPA, extra-curricular activities, leadership positions and a decent work history on my resume when I graduated Temple University back in 2002. Despite the fact that the economy was already going down I had several interviews with good companies. I had a job offer soon after graduating and also was welcomed to stay at the position I'd had working for the University. I turned down a 3rd interview at a well known company and declined another offer and accepted a job working for the Government.
Now I do not regret my decision. I think I made a good one. It actually paid me a bit more than the one I turned down. What I do regret is that the main reason I chose to work for the Government is because I wanted a good work/life balance because I knew one day I wanted to have kids. Fast forward 12 years later I still work for the Government (different position though) and I still do not have kids. The main deciding factor in my taking this career path has not been an actual factor in my life at all. I did not in any way consider my life in that moment when making my decision. I did not think about which job would put me in a position to meet other recent grads like myself. I did not think about which position would be more fun or interesting. I will give myself credit in that I did take the position with the highest starting salary. However, I did not consider the earning potential for the career path the other jobs might have put me on, compared to public service as a Government worker. I only considered I wanted to one day be a mom so I better pick a job that has traditional 9 - 5 type hours and job security.
If I could talk to my younger self I would advise her not to think so far ahead into the future when making decisions. It is good to think ahead, but current circumstances should carry a lot of weight. How you feel now, what would be a good choice for right now are really important if not more important than what might or might not happen 12 years from now.
So, as you think about the decisions you are making, the long term goals you are setting and the short term goals you may be jotting down to share for #MakeitHappenMonday make sure you are taking the appropriate things and time frames into consideration.
What are your goals for this week? Share them on the Chasing Joy FB page and on Twitter, Instagram, and Google Plus with the hashtag #MakeItHappenMonday!