Stuck in a rut? Learn to CRUSH it forever
Are you moving forward, or just in motion?
Do you feel like you’re sprinting hard… but in the wrong direction? You're not alone. High-achievers around the world are crushing their to-do list but quietly wondering if they’re climbing the wrong mountain.
Quitting your job isn’t the answer. Your path might start with one simple, protected hour. But before we get to that, we should dive into the origins of this feeling.
SEEKER: Last week, we talked about letting go of my need for validation. That’s been powerful. I’ve felt more focused on what I can contribute. But I also want to feel like I’m doing something proactive to move in the right direction…
SAGE: That’s understandable, and a wise move. Make the most of your current role, while also taking steps to change direction. It's a win-win for you. But tell me, why do you feel like you’re heading in the wrong direction?
SEEKER: Lately I end each day feeling like I’m going nowhere. Meetings, reports, slide decks. I grind through it all. I’m productive. I’m contributing, yes, and that feels good. But it’s not heading anywhere… like I’m treading water.
SAGE: Ah, you have mastered the daily work… your calendar, your meetings, your inbox. But what good is that when you don’t know which direction you’re racing in?
SEEKER: Exactly! I’m working hard... but am I working on the wrong things?
SAGE: Let’s explore that. How do you think you got here?
SEEKER: Things just unfolded this way. I followed opportunities. I said yes when people believed in me. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?
SAGE: This is common. You were doing what high achievers are trained to do, without stopping to ask if it was what you wanted.
SEEKER: This is common?
SAGE: Yes. You followed the opportunities others handed you. You worked hard, but without ever asking why. You pursued goals you accepted unconsciously, without examination. It felt right at the time, and you were making progress, but you didn’t question whose goals they were or where they led. And now? The work feels directionless…
SEEKER: That's scarily accurate.
SAGE: And it’s not just you. Like many insecure overachievers, you’ve oriented your work life around proving your worth rather than choosing your own path.
SEEKER: (feeling relieved) RIGHT!?
SAGE: You’ve chosen safety. Or people-pleasing. Or the illusion of being indispensable. Potentially you're orienting your work life toward avoiding inferiority, and proving your worth. But that’s not the same as working purposefully. This is where that feeling you’re describing might be coming from.
SEEKER: So... if my calendar is filled with back-to-back meetings, and I never get to the work I care about, that tells me something about what my real priorities have been?
SAGE: Exactly.
SEEKER: So what now? I throw everything away? I’ve worked hard. I’ve sacrificed. I have bills, responsibilities, a reputation. I can’t just quit.
SAGE: That’s not in question. Don’t fantasize about quitting. Your task now is to get your work more and more in line with the direction you want to head in.
SEEKER: How do I decide what direction to head in now?
SAGE: By remembering every “have to” is just fear in disguise. You fear disappointing others, losing status, starting over. So don’t. Start small. Start with a course correction. Not a step change. A series of course corrections will get you where you want to be.
SEEKER: How do I start?
SAGE: Here’s where you begin. This week, block one hour for the kind of work you wish filled your calendar. Do one hour next week as well. Then two. It’s non-negotiable. Everyone can find a single hour. Can you think of something you would do?
SEEKER: Yes, I’ve always enjoyed testing out my hunches about new initiatives we can run to start changing the way we operate. I have one now I’m excited about and I’ve always wanted to kick off a project to test out my theory.
SAGE: But you’ve been too busy delivering on the day-to-day?
SEEKER: Exactly. But this one is small. A simple hypothesis that’s easily tested. I can just do it myself without permission. I’m… excited.
SAGE: Perfect. Start there. Just start by gathering the data you need. Your project will snowball from there. It’ll grow as you find more time and you share the results of your work. Eventually you’ll hit on a project that delivers results and they’ll ask you to do another, and then another. That’s the beginning of building a career that’s yours.
SEEKER: It might take a few tries… a few course corrections…
SAGE: It certainly will. Don’t be discouraged. Most people approach work as if they are passengers on a train, heading toward a destination they didn’t choose. They forget they are the conductor. This is your first step to creating a career that’s truly yours.
SEEKER: I guess I sprint through the days, and ‘win’ most of them, but I can still lose the race if I’m on the wrong track. And it’s up to me to change it.
If this made you think of a friend or teammate, hit forward and pass it on. It only takes 10 seconds and it might be exactly what they need today.