Page 22 - Free Yourself From

Know Yourself—Be Yourself 5

taking the job in Washington, D.C., as head of human resources for
the corporate headquarters of Fairchild Industries.
It was a darn good decision that would set me on the long-term
career path I really wanted for myself. I took the position knowing
it was a leap of faith to move to a new city in order to accept a job
for which I was not totally qualified. But the job at Fairchild had
everything I was looking for and I knew that whether or not it
worked out, at least I was taking it for the right reasons. When mak-
ing the decision on whether or not to move, I asked myself what
would be the worst thing that could happen and I realized that I had
nothing to lose and much to gain. The job that would provide the
right stretch and allow me to form a greater level of inner competence
and confidence down the road.
By going through that decision-making process to determine
my next move, I learned that knowing yourself first and then hav-
ing the focus, courage, and commitment to take action toward your
goals is the key to success, as well as to satisfaction and fulfillment.
However, let me emphasize that there is not always a linear path to
success, even when you know your goals and have your roadmap
charted out. This is why it’s so critical to be aware of the person you
are—your core values, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses. You need
that self-knowledge to navigate the twists, bumps, and detours you’ll
no doubt encounter along the way.

Does This Situation Sound Familiar?

Have you had points in your career where you felt perpetually
exhausted and burnt out, or where you knew your performance was
not at its peak because the fit wasn’t quite right, or where you were
handed that awful pink slip and felt at a loss about what to do next?
Maybe you’re there right now. Take comfort in knowing you are not
alone. Everyone hits a career cul-de-sac now and then.