What Should You Do when You’re Not Meeting Your Career Goals as Fast as You Want?

Not Meeting Writing Career Goals Carole Kirschner.jpgNot Meeting Writing Career Goals Carole Kirschner.jpg

Having big ambitions can be a great thing, but what do you do when you’ve been at it for a while and still feel nowhere near achieving your career goals? When you start to doubt your choice to follow your dream of being a writer, question your talent, or aren’t climbing the ladder as fast as you want to? 

Well, first off, it sucks. But all writers have moments when they feel like giving up. It’s normal and natural in a career that can feel pretty thankless and solitary a lot of the time. But just because it’s typical doesn’t mean it’s not painful.

When you feel like throwing in the towel on your artistic dreams, it can be helpful to take a look at where you are, the goals you’re going after, and if you’re still in love with writing.

Here are 5 ways to ‘mindfully’ re-evaluate your career, and get back on track when you’re feeling stuck:

1. Review Your Goals

It’s easy to hit burnout or feel like a ‘failure’ when you haven’t achieved the goals you originally set out to achieve. If this is you, take the time to review (and maybe tweak) your career goals. As humans we’re hopefully growing and changing all the time, so  sometimes our goals shift and that’s okay. Consider if the goal you originally set for yourself is something you still really want; or if your goal is so big it feels impossible. I’m all for shooting for the stars, but sometimes big goals can be discouraging if they feel too far away (smaller, achievable goals can help you feel successful along the way to the bigger prize). Reassessing your goals can help you figure out if you have unrealistic expectations, how you might need to approach them differently, and if they are goals you’re still interested in.

2. Get a Reality Check

Sometimes, to get where you want to go, you need to get really clear on where you’re currently at. Give yourself a ‘mindful’ reality-check on your life and circumstances: How are your daily choices affecting your career? Are you self-sabotaging yourself in any way? If you’re ruthlessly honest with yourself about your fears, doubts, hopes and dreams you can see how you may (or may not) be adding to your success. For example, your conscious goal might be to one day become a Showrunner or win an Oscar, but your subconscious belief might be that that goal is impossible. If you find a gap between your goals and your beliefs, try to find a way to show yourself that your dreams are possible (not necessarily easy, but possible). Look for examples of people who have been where you are and have made it (look at social media or peers who are a few steps ahead of you). Even the smallest nugget of possibility can be enough to get you unstuck.

3. Take a Break

When you’re doubting yourself and your dreams, sometimes the best thing you can do is take a break. Take a week off, or maybe even a month. If money and time allow, take a vacation; or reorganize your house and catch up on laundry; maybe use your writing time to journal, go for walks, or meditate. Whatever you do, give yourself permission to take your foot off the gas, it might be just what you need to get out of the slump you’re in. Sitting in front of your computer not writing (or not enjoying what you’re writing) can amplify the anxiety you’re having around your career. Shake things up! Put down the laptop, have some fun, go to a theme park or be in nature and gain some perspective.

4. Celebrate Past Success

It can be hard to remember how far you’ve come (especially if you’re in the middle of a career crisis), but if you’ve had success in the past, you can have success in the future. Past achievements are tangible evidence that you’re capable of greatness as a writer. Maybe you’ve got a nice email from an executive telling you how much they love your work, or a certificate from winning a writing competition. Even something as simple as looking at old scripts you’ve completed can remind you that you can do this (you’d be surprised how many people have never even finished one draft of a screenplay). I know writers who screenshot texts of encouragement, or emails with glowing feedback and save them on their phone or computer - that way if they’re ever feeling lost or discouraged, they have easy access to a wealth of encouragement.

5. Attitude Can be Everything

It’s not the challenges we’re faced with, it’s how we react to them that can drag us down or lift us closer to our goals. Rather than beating yourself up for ‘not being good or successful enough,’ practice a little self-compassion. It’s easy to fall into the belief that being hard on yourself will get you back on track, but it can actually end up just pushing you down even further. When you’re dealing with self-doubt and challenges, put self-criticism and judgment aside, and instead show yourself a little kindness. Being gentle with yourself goes a long way towards making progress. Try it.

What do you do to get back on track when you’re feeling discouraged? Let me know @CaroleKirsch!

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The “Rules” of Screenwriting: Are they Meant to be Followed or Broken?