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I know it’s a paradox, but if you were forced to choose – are you team chicken or team egg in the proverbial “which came first, the chicken or the egg”?
It’s of course a trick question, with no way to confirm the correct order. But when it comes to career management, the clients we serve often mix up their chickens and eggs – and these ones do in fact have a correct order.
Determining the right sequence of actions and mindsets can be challenging for those navigating careers. Sometimes it just adds extra bumps along the road, but other times, the misordering can stall or derail important progress and decisions.
Here are four common chicken and egg myths in career management, and tips for how you can help those you serve put them in the right order:
Myth: I need confidence in order to do the scary thing
Truth: Confidence comes from doing
“I need to work on my self-confidence so I can apply for bigger roles.” “If I were more confident, I’d start my own business.” “I would attend more networking events if I were more confident.”
Many clients believe that they need confidence to take the first step in their career. They wait, hoping confidence will magically appear.
But here’s the kicker: confidence isn’t a prerequisite; it’s a result.
Confidence is built through doing. Encourage your clients to take small actions, even if they feel uncertain. Each step they take builds their confidence incrementally, leading to more significant leaps over time. By reframing confidence as a byproduct of action, we help clients break the paralysis of inaction.
Myth: I need motivation to start making progress
Truth: Progress sparks motivation
“I don’t know why I’m not making progress, I just feel so unmotivated.” “I need to find some motivation to get the job I really want.”
Motivation is often seen as the spark needed to get going and see progress. In reality, motivation often follows progress. When clients start to see results, no matter how minor, it fuels their desire to continue. Encourage your clients to set small, achievable goals and celebrate their accomplishments. Using the 3-2-1 Approach is a great way to help them celebrate small successes.
This sense of progress will naturally boost their motivation, creating a positive feedback loop that propels them forward.
Myth: I need to know before I can move forward
Truth: Small steps bring clarity
“I need to know exactly what I’m looking for before I start applying.” “I need to map out all my steps before I can take the first one.”
Often, our clients believe that they must have a clear vision of their ultimate career goal before they can start taking any action. This mindset can lead to paralysis by analysis, where the fear of making the wrong move prevents any progress.
The reality is that clarity often comes with action. By taking small, incremental steps, you gain insights, experiences and feedback that gradually shape your understanding of your desired destination.
Releasing the need to have everything figured out before starting allows you to be more flexible and open to opportunities that you might not have considered initially. This approach not only reduces stress but also creates a more dynamic path toward career goals.
Myth: I need to be (almost) perfect before I can start
Truth: Starting imperfectly leads to excellence
“I need to perfect my skills before I apply for that job.” “I can’t start my own business until everything is perfectly planned.”
Clients often feel they need to be perfect, or close to it, before they can begin a new project, apply for a job or take on a new role. This mindset stalls progress and fosters a fear of failure.
The truth is that excellence is an evolving process, not a prerequisite.
Encourage your clients to start with what they have and improve along the way. Taking action, even imperfectly, leads to learning and growth. This approach helps them realize that excellence is achieved through continuous improvement and practice, not as a starting point.
It can be really hard for our clients to see the ‘feathers from the yolks’ – but that’s why we’re here: to challenge limiting beliefs and help reframe them into enabling ones.
And who knows – maybe you’ve even recognized your coop is in need of some reorganization too.
