Page 107 - Free Yourself From

90 It’s Not a Glass Ceiling, It’s a Sticky Floor

My experience is a great example of how easy it is to stay in your
comfort zone and how important it is to push yourself beyond it, at
least periodically.

Balancing What Exists with the Future

We sometimes get caught up in the moment and in the short run
make good choices but sometimes don’t consider the long-term per-
spective. Maybe you can’t have that dream of wanting to be partner
or EVP right now because of your need to spend more time with
your children or elderly parents. But what do children or taking care
of your elderly parents have to do with five years from now? You
don’t have to give up your whole career dream. We sometimes
become too pragmatic about what exists right now versus the possi-
bility of the future. It is hard when you feel torn, in conflict, or just
over the top with juggling so many balls. And it is good to set pri-
orities and act on them as they present themselves in life. But I sug-
gest to you that it does not have to be all or nothing. It could be that
you decide to shift to part time for a while and be the “best” three-
day person your organization has ever had.
At the very least, keep in mind that nothing stays the same. You
might not be able to see a time when you aren’t thrilled to be right
where you are now. But remember, your kids could go off to college
and with fewer personal demands on your personal life, you might
find you want more from your job again. Like Sally, your boss might
leave and that could change your work situation entirely. Your com-
pany could be acquired or go through a reorganization that changes,
shrinks, or eliminates your job. It’s always better to leap and choose
change than to be pushed and have change thrust upon you.
I learned from my Fairchild experience that complacency is often
a good way to cover up a fear of change. But once you take that first
leap of faith, you begin to develop a muscle that makes you less
intimidated by the unfamiliar. You don’t become less afraid. But still,