We all begin our careers with some idea of what “success” looks like for us. Whether that’s a job in a particular industry or with a particular company or a C-suite role or the big salary and perks, we start with a vision of success. But that vision doesn’t remain static throughout our lives. As we grow and change, our definition of success changes, too.
Perhaps you’ve accomplished that original vision. Or you’ve been exposed to new possibilities your younger self was unaware of. Or your soul’s growth has left you misaligned with that original vision of success.
Whatever the reason, growing into your success is a continual process. How do you know when you’ve outgrown your success and need to start growing again? If you’re seeing the following signs over a sustained period of time (six months to a year), it may be time to have a sit-down chat with your soul about what you’re doing and where you want to go.
Your success is incremental instead of impactful. If you’re just making baby steps instead of big leaps forward, it’s time to grow.
You’re coasting versus accelerating. We all know when we’re coasting through a job and phoning it in. If you’ve been coasting for awhile, however, that’s a sign that you’re ready to be challenged again.
You’re feeling disengaged and unmotivated. When you’re engaged in your career and life, you have a voracious appetite for learning that is not confined to 9 to 5 business hours. If you’re not motivated to grow in your current role, it’s time for a change.
There’s a persistent restlessness in your life. In the same way that a low-grade fever is a sign of illness that’s not debilitating, persistent restlessness is a sign that something’s not right with your soul.
Your professional growth and advancement have stalled. There’s a reason why companies groom employees for advancement by moving them into new roles and assignments every 12 to 18 months. That’s a learning timeframe. You should see some kind of skill development, new work experience, or advancement every 12 to 18 months. And if you’re not the person being groomed by your employer, you need to take control and start choosing opportunities where you can groom yourself for growth.
You’re the queen of your tribe. Are you the leader of your network, the one other people come to for their professional growth? If so, it’s time to expand and evolve your network to include people who can help you.
The top of your checklist is done. Women people of color, and marginalized individuals tend to stay in roles longer than we should because we want to “super prove” ourselves. We cross every “t” twice and dot every “i” three times to show that we belong. Meanwhile, we miss out on opportunities and pay increases by staying in lesser roles. If you’ve already completed your top two to three goals for the year, you’ve proved yourself. It’s time to grow on out of there.
The joy is gone. Enough said!
If any of those signs sound familiar, here are some steps you can take to jumpstart your growth.
Set both career goals and soul goals annually. We all know that it’s important to set career goals annually. It’s just as important to set soul goals, too—and to align your career goals with them.
Check in quarterly. Don’t set it and forget it. Check in once a quarter and evaluate whether your career goals are still supporting your soul goals?
Measure for impact. Impact happens when you are operating from your passion, purpose, and strengths. Are you having an impact on a larger scale—or just making incremental progress?
Establish a stretch goal at the outset. Sometimes we don’t recognize when we’ve outgrown a job until it’s painfully obvious, so articulate your stretch goal at the beginning.
Upgrade your network. Start adding new people who can support your continued growth to your power pack.