“I did my job; what more do they want?”
Sharon
There are many excuses for doing just enough to get by, personally as well as professionally. Being a business owner and career coach, I’ve heard more than my share of excuses justifying complacent behavior over the years.
“I don’t get paid what I’m worth, so why give more than I get paid?”
Sharon
Tell the truth, how many out there have not worked their promised potential simply because you believed you deserved more?
NOT good enough defined?
Personally:
- Accepting defeat without putting up an honest attempt to overcome barriers
- Giving up after one attempt or let down… stopping never will get you beyond
- Allowing others to convince an attitude of complacency (guilty by association)
- Believing negative self-talk, living each day as just another day
- Convincing yourself you do not deserve better
- Being satisfied with who you are… here’s a hint, no matter who or what you are, there is ALWAYS room to advance
Professionally:
- Accepting an invisible status
- Performing at the lowest denominator (just doing enough)
- Lacking positive self-talk, affirmations, and/or visualizations
- Taking extra time at the coffee pot, texting, or strolling the Internet
- Not stepping up to the plate, taking charge, or being the go-to person
- Always having to be asked to perform a function or making careless mistakes
- Believing your worth far exceeds your production (self-delusion can be job threatening)
For those identified with the “good-enough-disorder,” don’t fret as there are ways to get unstuck. No doubt the first question one with this disorder would ask… “why isn’t good enough, good enough?”
Personally:
- The core of humanity and civilization is progression, creating a better life for you, your family, and the community; without personal and cultural evolution, humanity would have never advanced beyond the Stone Age, meaning life without Facebook would be a reality.
Professionally:
- Companies AND employees accepting complacency do not survive… period.
- Employers seek candidates to hire and promote who are not satisfied with status quo, desiring those with the aptitude to go boldly beyond grey.
- Complacent employees rarely earn promotions, pay increases, and are often downsizing victims.
What you can do NOW:
- Take a clear look at yourself, your goals, and your life. Determine if the person looking back in the mirror is the person you were meant to be AND you are happy with who you are and where you are. If the answer is yes, you may be carrying the highly contagious good-enough-disorder bug. If the answer is no, the first step has been crossed… off to a good start.
- Upon reading this article, take out a piece of paper and make a “reachable” commitment with action plan. In other words, on a personal and professional note, tell yourself a goal and then WRITE the goal (and action plan) on a piece of paper (the act of writing is an important step toward goal achievement). Clipping or drawing a picture also adds to eventual realization—be sure and post the picture wear you will see it EVERY morning as you begin the day.
- Establish a time-line and stick to it.
- VISUALIZATION: Imagine the new you or the desired product as if it has become a reality. Once your mind accepts this reality, achieving becomes more attainable.
- AFFIRMATION: Each evening and each morning make a pledge that required steps will happen. Upon the evening, if steps were not satisfied, evaluate how you will overcome challenges on the following day. That morning, engage in self-talk, determining the goal will become a reality.
- Association: Gather around peers, friends, family, etc. who challenge you to stand up to the goal and will not allow excuses to get in the way.
The good-enough-disorder has the capacity to stumble not only your achievements, but those around you as well (including family members). Ultimately, how you want to live your life is entirely up to you and if you decide complacency defines you, don’t blame the lack of promotions, employment, and satisfaction on anyone but yourself.
The final element purging the good-enough-disorder out of your system resides within the following:
Focus and
Single-Mindedness
With focus and single-mindedness, there is nothing which cannot be overcome. Remember there may be one peak atop the mountaintop, but there are MANY paths one can take to get there.
There are no excuses but the ones you convince yourself you believe! For the highly sensitive person, the above tips are exceedingly important. I know how easy it is to melt into the landscape (and wanting to melt into the landscape).
For the HSP, take small steps… NEVER stop stepping!
Seeking employment insight and career collateral, visit www.edu-cs.com or if you are seeking material designed for those transitioning out of prison, check out www.CareerBreakOut.com and consider the most powerful book that will change your life: “Walls, Bars, and Razor Wire… You Choose.”
Danny Huffman, MA, CEIP, CPRW, CPCC
[email protected]
321-972-8919
Education Career Services: www.edu-cs.com
Career Break Out: www.CareerBreakOut.com
