Looking closely

Pay attention to your enemies, for they are the first to discover your mistakes.

- Antisthenes -

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My professional life is demanding; I give a lot of myself physically, mentally and emotionally and no matter what I give it asks for takes more - its appetite is voracious.

I've operated under such conditions before, my professions have followed that common theme and I've been willing and able to give what's required, dig deep to find some more and offer that up as well; that's one of my strong points - the ability to do difficult things despite in doing so I sometimes give too much of myself to my own detriment.

Over the last little while I've been looking closely at my work scenario which isn't the easiest thing to do when enmeshed within it twelve to fifteen hours a day. I've applied one of my other valuable skills though, detachment, and see a clearer picture of each individual element and how they concatenate.

It's brought clarity.

I'm good at my job which may sound egotistical but it's a fact - my results and how I get them speak plainly and figures do not lie. It's a difficult job that deals with multiple government departments, state and federal, like the military, emergency services, law enforcement and so on plus many private companies and the complexity level is through the roof...as is my stress level. It's the last that has caused me to look closely at the situation, dissect it, with the hope of finding ways to better carry the load as one only has so much capacity.

I quoted Antisthenes above, one I've used directly to subordinates when appropriate; diligence, awareness, evaluation and understanding and the ability to look at things objectively (among other things) is what it's about and it works as well in a military sense as it does for business and personal life as well.

Remove the word 'enemies' and replace with 'competitors' and one has a legitimate line to use in a business or sporting environment; it works as well with a relationship using the word 'partner' I think.

I've focused that ethos inwardly by moving aside the job itself, detaching from it and looking closely at me within the job and what I have to give just to make it work asking myself some tough questions also: Is what I need to give simply too much, are the rewards worth the sacrifice, is there a better way to proceed, does the organisation deserve so much of me, how will that which I give ultimately affect me, how would I respond emotionally to giving less or too much - there's been many questions and some answers too. No real solutions or definitive paths forward have been decided upon however the process has has allowed me to make a few minor adjustments which, of course, is exactly what the process is designed to do.

It's often hard to focus on oneself and to apply the honesty required to do it and to make decisions on a way forward - In this situation we can be our own worst enemy simply by ploughing on without taking the time to evaluate.

It's not always easy to see or admit our own failings because sometimes it's exactly those that help us do what is required.

I mean failing to think of the risks of overextending oneself for one's job, failing to find time to live a little, be with family, engage with life and so on. Yes, I see that as a failing and it's one we often hide because we're busy driving forward looking for greater results at work - I know I do this sometimes and hate that I allow it, life's too short.

So then, I'm looking closely at many things and finding some faults and failings in respect of how I approach my professional role and how those things are affecting my life more generally. It's an untenable situation and one I think many people are in; it's called 'the grind' and most people are in it, or have been.

The good part in all of this is that better ways to proceed can be found if those mistakes and failings are identified; making the mistake of prioritising that which is not really the most important thing is a fixable mistake.

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I wonder what you folks think about this matter or if you're in a similar situation; if you are, or have any thoughts let me know in the comments, or not, it's your choice.