Comments on: Choose a career path that makes you scared of failure http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:31:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: “Who Am I?” « Penny Lane & Various Sorts http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-147305 “Who Am I?” « Penny Lane & Various Sorts Wed, 14 May 2008 03:16:57 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-147305 [...] her blog, “Choose a career path that makes you scared of failure ” I read this one paragraph over and over again trying to grasp it’s meaning within [...] [...] her blog, "Choose a career path that makes you scared of failure " I read this one paragraph over and over again trying to grasp it's meaning within [...]

]]> By: To Niche or not to niche: Top bloggers tell all | Jonathan Fields | Awake At The Wheel http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-126711 To Niche or not to niche: Top bloggers tell all | Jonathan Fields | Awake At The Wheel Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:16:29 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-126711 [...] more rewarding. Hedging one’s bets because one cannot commit to greatness is a mistake. Here’s a link to that (to my own, specialized blog, of course) . Know yourself. If you are so ignorant as to think that [...] [...] more rewarding. Hedging one's bets because one cannot commit to greatness is a mistake. Here's a link to that (to my own, specialized blog, of course) . Know yourself. If you are so ignorant as to think that [...]

]]> By: Quit Something Today. at Personal PR http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-117639 Quit Something Today. at Personal PR Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:00:44 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-117639 [...] Now, get on with the other things, and recognize the empowerment of the freedom you now have to pursue something you’re great at and that you don’t want to fail at. [...] [...] Now, get on with the other things, and recognize the empowerment of the freedom you now have to pursue something you're great at and that you don't want to fail at. [...]

]]> By: Brazen Careerist « Job & Career News http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-104969 Brazen Careerist « Job & Career News Fri, 27 Jul 2007 19:34:38 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-104969 [...] recent article, about choosing a career path that makes you afraid of failure, is really quite good.  Check it [...] [...] recent article, about choosing a career path that makes you afraid of failure, is really quite good.  Check it [...]

]]> By: Why I FAILED » Excellent Career Advice http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-104923 Why I FAILED » Excellent Career Advice Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:38:18 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-104923 [...] you figure out what to do is the focus of a Penelope Trunk post chock full of excellent career advice. Starting with “the best way to get flexible, [...] [...] you figure out what to do is the focus of a Penelope Trunk post chock full of excellent career advice. Starting with "the best way to get flexible, [...]

]]> By: Unconventional Thinking » Blog Archive » 50 Miles To Impossible http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-104810 Unconventional Thinking » Blog Archive » 50 Miles To Impossible Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:39:21 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-104810 [...] and the possible. This is where you can build a grand life. This is where you can develop an extraordinary career. This is where you can form a world-beater of a company. This is where you can be true to yourself [...] [...] and the possible. This is where you can build a grand life. This is where you can develop an extraordinary career. This is where you can form a world-beater of a company. This is where you can be true to yourself [...]

]]> By: Fran http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-104775 Fran Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:37:34 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-104775 Great suggestions. Failure is our way of learning new things, but sometimes it's better if we avoid failure just to be consistent with our output. We can't risk our job for failing too much. Some of the learning should have been done as a preparation. Great suggestions. Failure is our way of learning new things, but sometimes it's better if we avoid failure just to be consistent with our output. We can't risk our job for failing too much. Some of the learning should have been done as a preparation.

]]> By: d http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-104712 d Tue, 24 Jul 2007 09:39:07 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-104712 This post resonated with me, a late-thirties, mid-career professional. I made a pretty clear-eyed self-assessment my first year in college, and decided to focus in an area that would make best use of the gifts I have. Fast forward 20 years: It turns out that I am exceptionally talented at my chosen profession (partly thanks to aptitude, but partly thanks to hard work). While I'm not getting wealthy at it, I earn a reasonably comfortable living, and have accumulated a lot of life experiences I would never have had otherwise. I've also enjoyed a lot of freedom and flexiblity: casual dress, largely make my own hours, and so on. At the same time, I've gotten to the point where said chosen profession is boring me to tears. My dip, I suppose. Well, after six years in a very comfortable and secure (and stultifying) position, I just gave notice at my company to take an "onward/upward" leap toward a huge, new opportunity. The new job still leverages my core skills, but it's a move that "makes [me] scared of failure," in your words. It's worth noting, though, that this is really an exceptional opportunity. My "superstar" skill set is very specific, and I could go years without again finding a job like this new one...If I hadn't stumbled across this job, I'd still be doing exactly what I chose to do--exactly what I'm great at--and I'd be miserable, except for the life comforts my job hsa brought me. This tells me that going with your aptitudes may not always be the recipe for career joy. Love your work! d This post resonated with me, a late-thirties, mid-career professional.

I made a pretty clear-eyed self-assessment my first year in college, and decided to focus in an area that would make best use of the gifts I have. Fast forward 20 years: It turns out that I am exceptionally talented at my chosen profession (partly thanks to aptitude, but partly thanks to hard work). While I'm not getting wealthy at it, I earn a reasonably comfortable living, and have accumulated a lot of life experiences I would never have had otherwise. I've also enjoyed a lot of freedom and flexiblity: casual dress, largely make my own hours, and so on.

At the same time, I've gotten to the point where said chosen profession is boring me to tears. My dip, I suppose.

Well, after six years in a very comfortable and secure (and stultifying) position, I just gave notice at my company to take an "onward/upward" leap toward a huge, new opportunity. The new job still leverages my core skills, but it's a move that "makes [me] scared of failure," in your words.

It's worth noting, though, that this is really an exceptional opportunity. My "superstar" skill set is very specific, and I could go years without again finding a job like this new one…If I hadn't stumbled across this job, I'd still be doing exactly what I chose to do–exactly what I'm great at–and I'd be miserable, except for the life comforts my job hsa brought me. This tells me that going with your aptitudes may not always be the recipe for career joy.

Love your work!

d

]]> By: Alan http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-104706 Alan Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:49:56 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-104706 It's only appropriate for us to follow what is given to us. If we are good at singing, it's clear that being a singer or any profession about singing is meant for us. It's only appropriate for us to follow what is given to us. If we are good at singing, it's clear that being a singer or any profession about singing is meant for us.

]]> By: Quit Something Today. « Little Red Suit http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-104704 Quit Something Today. « Little Red Suit Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:05:16 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/07/22/choose-a-career-path-that-makes-you-scared-of-failure/#comment-104704 [...] Now, get on with the other things, and recognize the empowerment of the freedom you now have to pursue something you’re great at and that you don’t want to fail at. [...] [...] Now, get on with the other things, and recognize the empowerment of the freedom you now have to pursue something you're great at and that you don't want to fail at. [...]

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