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Quit Using Your Salary As An Excuse

21 October 2009

Making too much money doesn’t sound like a problem, right? Wrong! For many this is a big issue when it comes to considering a career change and it’s an excuse that’s often used to put off pursuing a far more rewarding career. The irony is that the cost of using this excuse can far out weigh your actual pay packet in the long run and the impact on your life can be quite detrimental...

Quit The Excuses

Imagine this: you’ve worked for 10-15 years maybe, built up a solid career, gained a wealth of experience and you’re financially recognised for all of this. You’re also unhappy in your job, stressed, bored or just sick and tired of doing the same thing every day and can’t the next 30 years being the same. That was my life before I set up Outshine and it could still be my life if I hadn’t stopped using money as my excuse to procrastinate.

Whilst making a comfortable salary can give you a certain lifestyle it can also be a noose around your head if you’re unhappy in your career because it provides a comfort zone that many are fearful of stepping out of. Moving away from ‘what you know’ and the security associated with that can be risky, and when you’ve got commitments such as a family or mortgage the perceived risk can be amplified.

However, one angle that many career-change-wannabe’s forget to consider is the cost to you, and your family, of NOT pursuing your ideal career or escaping the rut you’re in. Here are some potential downsides that you might be experiencing as a result of your current career:-

•Bad boss
•Stress and anxiety
•Working too many hours
•No work/life balance
•Little or no time to spend with family and friends
•Too much travel
•No time to exercise
•Unhealthy diet and lifestyle
•Ruined relationships i.e. partner, friends
•Boredom

This list could go forever! The point is that there are a LOT of potential downsides to staying in a job or career you’re unhappy with, so it’s important to make sure your perspective isn’t clouded purely by the salary you currently earn.

Obviously it’s important to take account of your financial commitments and it would be foolish of me to suggest that everyone can just drop what they’re doing and go out and grab their ideal career. However you also need to be brutally honest with yourself about whether you’re using your salary as an escape goat to stay in your comfort zone.

I know when I changed career I realised I didn’t need 5 new pairs of shoes a month and a ridiculously expensive handbag. I also didn’t need to eat out every weekend and I was more than happy to change my lifestyle in order to spend my time in a job I absolutely love. So what are your priorities? You spend more of your awake hours at work than any other activity so take a moment now and think about what your excuse is for not creating a career you love. If it’s money, there’s normally a way around it but you need to be honest with yourself about what you’re letting hold you back.

If you would like to find out more about how career coaching can help create a career you love book your free 30-minute coaching consultation now. Simply click here to schedule your appointment.

Got a question about time management? Email me now - fayehollands@outshineconsulting.com