Sometimes we are so shortsighted of what is in front of us that we just lose sight of the bigger picture in life. Here are a few scenarios that you may find yourself in that calls for you to set your vision and take calculated risk to leverage your situation.
Scenario 1
This is what happened in a case of a friend of mine. Last year, Sophia was approached by her ex-boss who left and joined a start-up company. The position is at the same level as what she is holding now for the last 6 years; the salary offered to her is only an increase of 5%. She felt comfortable and complacent in her position in her company, and she has great relationships that she has forged in the workplace. She decided not to take up the offer.
What she may have missed out
An excellent opportunity to be a pioneer of a new startup. Good startup companies usually grow leap and bounds after the initial struggling first 2 years. There is a higher chance that she could have been promoted to a team lead or supervisor when the team grow exponentially within the 2 years.
Scenario 2
Matthew is excited about the 4 months worth of salaried bonus that he is about to get at the end of the year. The bonus is usually dished out every year upon completion by each employee. He received an offer to join a much bigger firm that is listed under Fortune 500 in November. If he resigned now, he would miss out on the 4 months bonus, which is a lot of money. The offer although pretty tempting is in a similar position and salary than his current one, so he decided not to take up on the offer and stay where he is.
What he may have missed out
Being in a much bigger company, there are endless of challenges and opportunities that will present itself. Not to mention, the higher ceiling for you to climb, unrestricted by hierarchy. As tempting as it is just to take the bonus, it is worth it to think about your career growth and potentially a wider exposure, new networking circle. This might just be the step that you take to make you invaluable to your industry.
Scenario 3
Jacqueline is offered a position to work in a different culture, different language country at the opposite end of the world. She has no family within her current vicinity, and she has no commitment that ties her down but she fear the unknown, and she prefers to stay where she is hence she rejected her company’s offer, and someone else is chosen.
What she may have missed out
A great opportunity to explore outside her comfort zone and challenge herself both personally, socially and work wise. Sometimes, it is the unknown that makes us stronger, test our limits and even open up bigger opportunities out there for us.
The above 3 scenarios are very real and very common, a lot more common than you will think so. I have countless times been giving counsel on the above crossroads situations. Of course, there are factors to be taken into considerations before one takes the leap and that is why I called it calculated risk.
You need to take 3 big areas into calculations:
– What is your current situation (current company/role)
– What direction/goal do you want to achieve (in 5 – 10 years time)
– What potential/future you will gain/lost if you leap
Finally, when you come to a decision, ask yourself if you will regret the decision made today in 3 years time. There are no right or wrong decisions in choosing what you want for your career, however, choose wisely and with your eyes open so that you will not look back and think you should have taken another path instead.
Do you agree with me? If you are them, will you make the leap? Share your opinions down in the comments below.
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MiddleMe 
Whatever you decide you have to live with your decision. There is always the question, what if I had than that instead? I moved across an ocean when asked.
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Have no regrets…or at least try not to have regrets so you’ll have no reason to look back.
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Great post. You’ll always wonder about the ones you passed up.
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Thanks, dear!! I always try not to have any regrets in making my decisions.
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🙂 That would be ideal.
I tended the other way. I’d throw them over when I got bored and go looking for a new trade to learn.
I did try an office for a few years, programming. Couldn’t hack sitting in a box/animal in a cage (shudder). Life’s too short. After that I did landscaping for a while. That was much better.
No big regrets work wise.
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It doesn’t matter what you do because I believe there is always a master in every trade. Most importantly is that you enjoy what you do.
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Reblogged this on Lost Dudeist Astrology.
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site and commented:
By a wise lady named Kally.
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Excellent points. When people regret not having taken the other road, it’s usually because of short-sightedness at the time, choice of immediate advantages vs. mid/long-term ones. And often simply fear of moving beyond their comfort zone.
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Well said, Bea. It’s the fear that is the biggest obstacles that is stopping one in fulfilling their full potential.
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That is the story of many misspent lives. They simply could not see the forest for the trees.
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Love the ‘could not see the forest for the trees’! It can be a quote on its own! Thanks, Leland.
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Excellent post, thank you. we are enjoying your site and please don’t stop letting us see the world through your eyes.
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Thank you for the encouragement and support. It’s readers like you that push me forward to write more.
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You are most welcome.
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difficult choices – when I’m in these sorts of situations, I call up friends I admire & discuss with them.
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That is a very good way to make your choices. Often others see situations from different angles especially if we are too emotionally involved.
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which is why your blog is such a great service!
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Awww.. thanks for the huge compliment!! 😘
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Great post
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Thank you!!! 😉
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Agree with you when you mention there’s no right or wrong move for your career. It’s just that some decisions may put us a step back or make us stay in one place, and that can be frustrating if we have intentions to move up the career ladder or into a certain field. At work, if I’m offered an opportunity, I like to think: can I do it? How can I do it? What can I get out of it? What’s the worst that can happen? Usually that last question won’t turn out so bad and you realise you can solve your problems if they do arise and puts things into perspective, no matter how silly or farfetched they sound.
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I like to believe that if an opportunity presents itself, it is because I am capable of the role. I missed out a number of golden opportunities when I was starting out in my career until I met one of my mentors that advised me this “if an opportunity is offered to you by someone, take it because that someone is putting their fate in your talents and skills. The only way of not letting someone who puts their fate in you down, is to do your best and work your hardest.”
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