Don't fly too close to the sun
I expect you've heard the classic tale of Daedalus and his son Icarus?
In short, it's a story from Greek mythology about their attempted escape from the island of Crete, using wings made from wax and feathers.
In modern times, the main moral of the story we hear is 'don't fly too close to the sun'. E.g. don't fly too high and let over-confidence take over, or like Icarus the wax will melt, your wings will stop working and you'll plunge to your fate.
But this isn't actually the full story, it's just the part most people remember.
Daedalus actually shares two warnings with Icarus. He advises he fly neither too high, nor too low, so that the seas dampness doesn't clog the wings, nor the sun melt them. So the message is that BOTH hubris and complacency are risks to be managed.
My personal view is that complacency can be even more challenging issue than over-ambition, because people often don't realise they're suffering from complacency.
So how can we turn this insight to practical application this week? Consider these questions:
- how often do you 'check-in' and decide whether you like your current role?
- do you have a career plan? More specifically, do you know what your next role will be and when you want to achieve that by?
- when was the last time you felt excited by your current role?
- when was the last time you felt challenged (in a positive, constructive way) in your current role?
- how often do you complain about your job?
I've written these to give you an indication of whether you may be behaving complacently. Not to label or cause you offence, just to give you that prod to check-in and work out where you're at. The longer you've felt negatively about any of these questions, the more likely it is you should take action.
If you're flying too close to the sea, September is a good a time to make a plan for the rest of the year. Or even start thinking about 2019. What are the next steps you're taking in your career?
Hit reply and let me know what you're working on.
Wishing you all the best
Kat
P.S. We're looking for balance - don't fly too close to the sun, but don't drop too close to the sea either. Unsure whether you're feeling complacent? Answer the questions above and if they trigger you, prioritise planning your next career step.
