You're torn between immediate job happiness and future career growth. How can you find the right balance?

Your current work and discipline are key to your future success. If you enjoy your job and are confident in your performance, trust that your future will be bright. Instead of worrying about the future, focus on the **PRESENT**. Everything else is just imagination. The most important thing is to keep your goals constant and unwavering. It's that simple.

En mi experiencia personal, considero que la clave para lograr este equilibrio radica en el autoconocimiento y la proactividad. Es fundamental comprender nuestras propias necesidades, valores y aspiraciones profesionales para tomar decisiones alineadas con nuestro crecimiento a largo plazo

In my experience I needed very distinct things from each job along the way as my career progressed. In the earlier years I was there to learn and build skills, then I was looking for an environment to practice and hone those skills and later I sought a position to mentor, demonstrate and teach those skills to others. Being in tune with your needs is important so that you don’t suffer from unmet expectations, frustration or burnout.

Assessing your needs and evaluating them sincerely that what you need from your job beyond paycheck will undoubtedly let you experience deserving growth and development in the career journey!

I’m learning that every part of your journey has a role. Sometimes you take a job for the experience, others times it’s for a paycheck. Understand your ‘why’ and put a time limit on how long you’ll stay before you go.

Set Short-Term and Long-Term Goals: - Define clear short-term goals that align with your immediate job happiness. - Establish long-term career goals and create a roadmap to reach them.

Assess Your Values and Priorities: - Identify what aspects of a job make you happy (e.g., work-life balance, company culture, job security). - Consider your long-term career goals and what steps are necessary to achieve them.

What I learned during the years and working with people is that awareness of your own priorities is a fundamental starting point to then move your next step. If you don’t know what matters to you, if you don’t know what’s important, or what gives you joy, how can you know which direction to take? How can you know how to move that next step, what gear you need for the journey, what people you want to travel with. Awareness is the core column of any balance and any path. And the more we’ll know about ourselves the more we’ll naturally find the best solutions and situations for us.

I beeline that continuous learning transforms every job into a platform for growth, ensuring you’re not just working but evolving. By embracing learning as a way to find joy in your current role while strategically positioning yourself for future success is key. By pursuing knowledge that excites you, you turn every task into a stepping stone, making even imperfect jobs meaningful. This proactive approach guarantees that each experience enriches your career, building a bridge from where you are to where you aspire to be. It’s important to remember it’s a marathon not a sprint - take small steps which compound over time.

I’ve found that learning a new skill, that is not necessarily very tied to your day to day, can give you a burst of energy and creativity. Right now, I’m learning the art of storytelling. How that looks: - I listen to podcasts on the topic (Colin Boyd’s Expert Edge is a great one) - I follow top LinkedIn storytellers - I implement what I learn with friends, family, my team

Happiness is the goal, right? Evaluate what makes you happy in your current job and what your long-term career goals are. Understanding your immediate needs and future aspirations can help you make informed decisions. And, set clear goals; both short-term and long-term goals. Short-term goals should focus on what brings you satisfaction and fulfillment in your current role, while long-term goals should align with your career growth aspirations

Spend time planning your exit through education. You'll never find the perfect job, but you can determine your future satisfaction. Level up your skills, seek new employment and find something that aligns with your worth and freedom. Side hustles seem appealing for some, but a small fraction actually replace their jobs with these "side" businesses. Taking time to learn financial skills and seek investment opportunities like small business acquisitions can give you an edge on reaching real and lasting freedom. Set your goals and start educating yourself. Set a budget of time each week and each day to learn. Set a financial budget for books and courses. Learn a little every day and the results will compound!

Sometimes, you might have to endure less enjoyable periods knowing they are part of a larger plan for career advancement. Keep your long-term goals in mind and recognize that short-term discomfort can lead to long-term benefits. This perspective can help you stay motivated and committed.

One thing I have found is that it can be hard to stop doing the things that come easy, the things we love doing and that bring instant satisfaction. These can also be the things that keep you from career growth if you’re not comfortable stepping outside your comfort zone in your current role or a new role. Take the risk and the balance will come. The happiness will follow in both professional and personal lives.

Your current happiness and career growth should be aligned. -List what you love about your current role. When looking for growth opportunities, make sure they include the items on your list. - Make sure you are networking with your ideal future colleagues. A great way to do this is by asking to collaborate on any of their current projects. Make sure that your current skill set will benefit their project but also look for projects that will help you develop a new skill set or add to your existing one. -Look for new ways to help your team. Get creative and try a new way to help your team grow. These are just a few ideas but instead of having to look for a new role, these steps will help you grow into one.

Regular re-evaulation of short-term goals can help with finding the balance between current job requirements and future career growth. There can always be an urgent deliverable that your boss wants to be done by the end of the month, and such events can derail our efforts about learning, getting certifications or seeking diversity in our work. With a regular (6 weeks to 2 month) check-in with our goals and objectives, we can remember why we "parked" a personal goal due to a sudden deadline, and re-start the pursuit of our goals with a fresher perspective.

Periodically reassess priorities and goals. As your career evolves, what makes you happy and what contributes to your growth may change. Stay adaptable and open to adjusting your course accordingly. Finding the right balance between job happiness and future career growth involves thoughtful consideration of your values, aspirations, and opportunities available to you. By integrating these aspects into your decision-making process, you can navigate your career journey more effectively.