Over the course of my career I found myself saying “because I want to” a few times. I often said it when explaining my decision to take a specific job, change a position, or step into a different field. For instance, when I finished my doctorate, some people thought I would automatically become a professor. I would respond, “maybe someday but that’s not what I want to do right now. I want to go to a manufacturing facility”.
Once, I got into a manufacturing facility (a papermill), I was asked “why are you here, shouldn’t you be in R&D since you have a Ph.D.” I would say, “I am here because I want to, I know how to do research”. Some people didn’t understand that, but it wasn’t for them to understand. The only person that needed to understand why I was there was me. I wanted to expand my skills and capacity, but in order to do that I had to do something outside of my knowledge area.
I bring this up to say sometimes the decisions you make about your career or career pathway may not match what others want or expect you to do. For some, the expectations and opinions of others may cause you to question or doubt the things you want to pursue. The most important thing is to know and understand your reason and purpose for doing it. If you are happy with the decision and it doesn’t stop you from taking care of your personal responsibilities, or cause harm to someone; then go for it.
Have you ever felt like nothing is wrong, but you aren’t completely content either? Have you ever looked at the people on the next level of where you are headed and thought…I don’t care to be in their positions? If yes, perhaps you may have to ask yourself is it time to experience something different.
What are you currently chasing? Are you doing it because you want to, you feel you have to, someone else expects you to, or because you aren’t sure what to do next? Make sure you know the answer to this question before you make another decision.