Do You Want Greener Grass?
Last week I test drove a ne-used car (adios car payment) and was chatting with the salesman. I told him that I wish I had taken the sales roles I had in the past more seriously. He remarked "grass is greener right?"
Him not knowing my career history, and the fact that I was test driving a 5 year old Chevy Sonic, I assumed he might be thinking that this was me lamenting that I would have a better career if I worked in sales. But I now see sales as a super valuable skill that I thought was beneath me and my values when I was younger.
We talked a little more about our career paths. I told him about all the wild twists and turns mine has taken and him telling me that he started off with coding when he was younger but didn't stick with it, and how if he had, he'd be pretty high up by now (hello, grass being greener).
But that led me down a thought trail that I go down quite often... Is this "nugget of wisdom" useful here?
"The grass isn't always greener on the other side; it's greener where you water it." = Be content with what you have and make the best of it.
Let's break it down:
-Can the grass be greener on the other side? It could very well be.
-If you water your grass, will it get greener? It could depending on the types of grass we're comparing, where it's planted, the season we're in.
-Why isn't your current grass very green? Let's problem solve a bit here.
-Are you in the desert? Do you have access to water with which to moisten your grass? (That question made me giggle)
-How hard would it be to get to "the other side?" Is it a low fence or a driveway? Would it take a 7 hour flight or an act of God?
-Could you procure greener grass on the other side and maintain it easier than your current less-green grass?
-Sod?
What I think I'm getting at here is that there is a lot of advice, quotes, and phrases out there that give us inspiration, motivation, peace, and hope but could be keeping us stuck or tossing us up in the air.
For this particular phrase, as it relates to a career, here's my take: it ain't grass.
But if we're using this analogy... if you've been watering(investing in) your grass(current career) and it isn't getting any greener(more suitable), maybe you find some greener grass(a more suitable career).
If you've managed to find yourself in a career that doesn't align with your values, isn't fulfilling, treats you badly, doesn't pay enough, or there is simply something else you'd rather be doing, you can probably make a change(seek greener grass). You don't even have to leave your yard! You could farm veggies on some of it instead of having useless grass. What if you let nature take over and see what happens? Your HOA(financial advisor) might not react well to this though; not an endorsement. You’re gonna have to water(invest in) your grass(career) no matter what, but grass lawns in Phoenix, AZ aren’t supposed to exist! Get the right landscaping and you won’t be overburdened by your water bill and lawn maintenance.
If you'd like to talk about landscaping options(career change), grab a free coaching session with me!