Don't have these Career Regrets

This is the final post I am writing for Women Working and I thought long and hard about what topic to tackle. I settled on a bittersweet one, a subject that I don't enjoy talking about or bringing up because it is wrapped in the undesirable word of regret. None of us want to have regrets as we grow older and look back at our lives, which our careers are a huge chunk of.

So the aim should not be to avoid taking chances or escaping risk. Our highest aim should be to avoid living a life that leads to regrets.

The beautiful spirit in us says that nothing should be a regret, that we need to look at our mistakes as lessons—I say yes to this. Having said that, you can still look back and admit to yourself that there were things you wish you had done better, and if you are doing it in the spirit of bringing awareness, clarity and better vision into your current life, then those are the best kinds of regrets. Those are the ones you uncover and learn from so that you make better, smarter and wiser decisions for yourself in the future.

In that spirit, I share my two personal regrets when I look back at my career.

First regret: I did not have enough confidence and faith in myself and I did not ask for help. I did not trust myself as a person worthy of making smart decisions or knowing what's right for me. I didn't believe in myself or see the incredible value that I would one day bring to the world. Regardless, not asking for help is the part I regret the most.
Second regret: I stayed too long in corporate roles that made me miserable. I had misplaced loyalty for the wrong reasons, and while loyalty itself is a positive trait, when you place it in the wrong situation, it can harm you. I did not know any better, and I felt that long-term loyalty would pay off even to the wrong organization. It doesn’t.

I’ve made peace with my regrets and learned invaluable lessons that have helped me build my 6-figure business and dream lifestyle—and one that I passionately teach my clients how to do for themselves. What about you? What have you learned from your regrets?

-Farnoosh Brock, Business and Career Coach, Prolific Living Inc.