Harvard Business Review contributor Daniel Gulati brought together 30 professionals between the ages of 28 and 58.
“What is your biggest regret in your career so far?”
Among them was the 39-year-old managing director of an investment bank, a failed self-employed entrepreneur, a photographer, a millionaire, an entrepreneur, and a Fortune 500 CEO.
The fun fact is that, whoever it was, my career regrets came down to these five things. If we knew these 5 regrets in advance, wouldn't we be able to prevent our regrets in advance?
1. I wish I hadn't taken on the job for the money.
These are the words of people who were high-payers but ended up choosing unsatisfying jobs. It has already been proven by many studies. Rewards are a “nice to have” factor, not a true motivator.
These people say they feel powerless throughout their lives. As one investment banker lamented, “I dream of quitting every day, but I have too many things to do.” Another high-priced consultant said, “I want to relieve some stress, but I don’t think I can do anything other than this.” The American joke about “golden handcuffs” was true.
Handcuffs made of gold are handcuffs after all.
2. You should have quit earlier
said to be almost identical. Those who actually quit and succeeded at it regretted "not quitting sooner." Dissatisfied with the company, 80% says he knows he has to quit, but refuses to quit. One sales executive said:
“I hardly ever had a decent time in my corporate life. Now I realize that I can never get back those years.”
3. My Business My Business… Talking but not actually doing it
recently ResearchAccording to , 70% of office workers dream of starting a business, but only 15% are actually willing to venture.
As one Fortune 500 CEO advised, “Don’t daydream at your desk without giving yourself a chance.”
4. Wasted time at school
It was regrettable that school was not a place to meet other people's standards, but did not help them achieve their dreams.
5. Not trusting your senses
To let go of "a life chance that will not come now or not"... You have to trust your intuition and be bold sometimes.
A few people commented on the “now or not chance in life”. In 2005, an investment banker was asked to lead a small team in fast-growing Latin America. The brave man who predicted a rise and accepted the offer was soon promoted to department head, and then to chief executive officer.
A recent psychological theory says: Although not logical, these moments of change must be taken with insight and used as opportunities. This is what makes a quantum jump and plays an important role in creating non-linear development.
Research shows that regret can be a powerful catalyst for change. As renowned psychologist Dr. Neil Rose recently put it, “regret, on average, is a helpful emotion.” It may even be inspirational.
Going to our future, may I be neglecting the elements of this regret now... Let's check.
1-Minute Recap - 5 things successful people regret the most
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