Planning for the Worst Case Scenario is Not Realistic

When we think about changing our career paths, it's natural to think about all the different ways things could go wrong.

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What if I hate my new job?

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What if I am not good at it?

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What if I waste time/money/etc.?

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These are all valid concerns. But it's important to accurately consider potential risks when making decisions about our careers. We want to balance our decisions out with considering the worst-case and most-likely scenario.

The worst-case scenario is the outcome that would have the greatest negative impact on your career. For example, the worst-case scenario for taking a new job might be that you hate it and end up unemployed and struggling to find another opportunity.

This kind of worst-case scenario is not likely when you take small steps towards your goals and it tends to just keep you stuck. So while it's important to consider the worst-case scenario, it's also important to remember that it's not the most likely outcome. In fact, only planning for the worst-case scenario can sometimes do more harm than good. It can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety, and even paralyze you from making a decision in the first place.

That's why it's often better to put more energy into planning for the most likely scenario, especially in the beginning when you are just starting to figure out a career transition. When you're thinking about taking a new job, for example, if you’ve done your due diligence the most likely scenario will probably be that it's a good fit for you and you're able to excel in your role.

While it's important to be aware of the potential risks, it's often better in career changes to first plan for the most likely scenario. This way, you can make decisions with confidence, and actually gain enough traction in gaining clarity on what you want to do.

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