You Want Despite Doing Nothing

You're sitting at home.

You want to do something, but you don't know what.  You want to go somewhere, but you're not sure where.

The car is outside waiting.  You're inside doing nothing but acknowledging your desire to do something. 

What do you do?

You must think about something that makes you happy.  How to narrow it down?  Look around you - take in outside information.

You have thought about shopping or eating something or maybe hanging out with a friend (though you're not sure what you and your friend would do), but they all sound good, you're not sure what.

It's later in the day - the day has passed while you sat here thinking about how you want to do something despite the fact that you are doing nothing.

The sun is nearly setting.  You think "I like sunsets."

There you go - you must go view the sunset.  It's something you like.  Where is a good vantage point?  The beach!  

Suddenly you have a plan.  You could have done anything - seen a movie, cleaned the house, watched TV - but you thought about what you like and accepted the outside world's influence and made a choice.

You get in your car and go.

As you drive, your friend calls you up.  She's not doing anything, but was thinking about going to see a movie.  You say "I'm going to watch the sunset at the beach."  "That sounds good," she says.  Because you have a plan, suddenly you are leading the way.

You detour your route to pick up your friend.  That wasn't part of the plan, but it enhances the end result, so it's a good thing.

As you guys are driving, she mentions how when she was younger she would eat yogurt with strawberries and brown sugar.  This sounds good, you've never had it before.

You detour your plan again to pick up, yogurt, brown sugar, and strawberries and a couple cups.  There's time and it enhances the end plan, so it is a good thing.

You arrive at the beach, sit down, eat your desert and enjoy a nice conversation while watching the sunset.  After the sunset you are near some shopping stores and you go shopping and find some great earrings on sale.   It is a wonderful evening.

All of this because you simply made a decision.  There were many possible decisions, but you chose one and it was enhanced naturally along the way.

Okay - so this story is not that impressive.  It sounds like something you might actualy do.

So, why is your career any different?

Think about the stuff you like - look at what the world around you has to offer - make a plan.  It will be enhanced along the way.  The final end result doesn't have to be predetermined, but you do need at least one goal.  Your goal doesn't have to be all inclusive of everything you like.  If you tried to do everything, you'd have just sat at home doing nothing but trying to decide which to chose.  You ended up doing four things you like - sunsets, being with your friend, shopping, and eating nice food.

Yes, it's a simple idea - yet... for some reason when it comes to careers vs. a night out - apparently hard to implement.

Look around you at what the world has to offer.  Think about the things you like.  Make a plan even if it means not choosing other things you like - it doesn't mean they won't happen later on.  Leave the House.  You'll never leave the house until you have somewhere to go.