Are You Clear on What You Want?

Jenni Burton
Jun 3, 2021
2 min read

Clarity = Power

Many years ago, I was having lunch with a friend where we were talking about life and work.

My friend asks me where I am thinking about going next in my career, and even summarizes back to me a few of the things I told her I was considering.

She smiles and asks me,

“So… what do you want?”

I’m feeling attacked.

Expression drops… color melts off my face… blank.

How dare she ask such a harsh, simple question, and even thoughtfully summarize the amazing array of random, career confetti ideas I had just thrown into the air at her?!

I had no idea what I wanted.

I was working hard, was always busy, and there never seemed to be a lack of projects on my plate. I was doing all the “right things.”

Yet, I wasn’t clear on where I was going… or more importantly where I wanted to go. I had a very reactive approach to work – trying on everyone else’s agenda, running around busy.

That’s a goal, right? Be really busy and then it will come to you?

I absolutely should have been prepared to answer this simple, yet important question. And more so, I should have been working toward it all along.

What I know now, and figured out shortly thereafter:

Clarity on what you want, allows you to work toward removing things that pull you down, while growing and flourishing in what lifts you up.

The alternative is to not get clear, *maybe* you have some wins that feel great in the moment, but if those victories are in areas that are not aligned with what you truly want, you could be left with trophies you don’t really care about anyway. Those great feelings won’t last.

Worse, you spend a good portion of your career reactive to what others expect of you, and never feel inspired, challenged, or fulfilled.

Deep down, it turns out I DID know what I wanted.

I scheduled a conversation with my boss a few weeks later. I got vulnerable and summoned all the courage I could. I focused on clearly, specifically, honestly, stating exactly what I wanted.

And making that decision and having that conversation with my boss started an incredibly fulfilling trajectory of my career over the following years.

While there were many ups and downs during that time, by far the hardest and most important part was getting really clear with myself on what I actually wanted.

The answer to this question has shifted for me over the years, but I always keep it top of mind to ensure I’m clear on what I really want.