Let us take a moment to consider your problems and the things you want to achieve. You can never pursue the latter without addressing the former. Your problems will always sabotage you if you try to chase what you love before considering them. Therefore, let’s be deliberate and figure out your next move for your career.
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Make a list of your problems.
Just like a single-threaded CPU process, you mustn’t try to solve multiple problems at once. Sort them first, keeping your biggest problems at the top and milder problems at the bottom. -
Make a list of things you want to achieve in life.
Include the things you believe you could do but haven’t done yet, including even the seemingly impossible goals. However, do not add things that depend solely on external factors. The items you choose must have a clear path forward. For example: “I want to make a movie like Avatar” is a good goal, because you can work toward it. But “I want to buy a Range Rover” or “I want to have a million dollars in my account” is not, as there’s no clear path to achieving them. Include the skills you want to learn in this list as well.
Now you have two lists: your problems and your achievements.
To truly fix your career, discard the achievement list temporarily. These items are distractions that prevent you from facing your actual problems. Don’t try to fix your car while your head is burning. Intel’s CEO, Andrew Grove, wrote about his market success in Only the Paranoid Survive, emphasizing the importance of being paranoid—facing problems before adding new features. Similarly, Transforming Nokia illustrates how paranoid thinking helped Nokia address market challenges and losses.
Focus on your problems first. Apply Kaizen, think of alternative solutions, and take bold actions to resolve your issues before moving toward your dreams.
