uplIft: Jan 13, 2022

Perspective

Setting Priorities

“If we don’t define our life or career priorities, someone else will”.

All roads will lead you somewhere, if somewhere is where you want to go.

The first step towards achieving something is defining what you want. Seldom has anyone achieved anything without actively working towards it.

Defining priorities, like a compass, points you the right direction.”

PROFESSIONAL Conundrum

“To be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond”

Being a big fish in a small pond is akin with being more influential/ powerful vs. your small peer group. It offers greater autonomy & responsibility, opportunity to be the in centerfold, but the spectrum of opportunity and therefore growth could be limited.

Small fish in a big pond is akin with having lesser power/importance than your peers in a much larger group. It offers greater growth & learning opportunities, though it is harder to land them by virtue of being a small fish.

There is no silver bullet answer. It is an individualistic choice, which really depends on a careful consideration of the 4 factors.

a.     Life Stage –personal  responsibilities and professional priorities (importance vs. stability vs. role)

b.     Long Term Career Objective – generalist vs. specialist

c.     Risk Appetite – default preference for stability 

d.     Career Stage – beginner, mid-career professional or late stage professional

Our careers are a marathon, and typically to have a holistic experience it is important that we remain fluid to move across being a big fish in a small pond and a small fish in a big pond on different occasions. Most important is to be a part of a growing pond. If the organization you are a part of is stagnating then its better you move to a different pond (smaller or larger doesn’t matter).

Point to Ponder

When was the last time you listed your career priorities? What’s that single thing you want to accomplish in the next 2 years professionally?