Two Questions to Ask Yourself

Evaluating Autonomy and Growth: Two Critical Questions
In life, especially when navigating career and personal growth, it’s essential to ask two questions: What are you doing? and Why are you doing it? These questions, though simple, are key to understanding your direction, autonomy, and growth potential. Regularly reflecting on them can reveal whether your current path aligns with your long-term goals and whether you are in control of your life or driven by external forces.
The Importance of Asking “Why”
When you ask, “Why am I doing this?” it forces you to confront the reasons behind your actions. If your answer points to external forces-societal pressure, others' expectations, or feeling like you have no choice-it signals a potential lack of autonomy. Autonomy means making decisions based on your own values and goals, not external demands. Recognizing external influences helps you evaluate how much control you have over your life and whether you’re intentionally steering your path.
Understanding Hierarchies
Life, particularly in business and career, is filled with hierarchies-systems where people or entities are ranked. A critical question is whether you want to be at the top of the hierarchy you’re currently in. Many people get stuck in positions without realizing they are climbing the wrong ladder. If you don’t see yourself wanting to reach the top, you may be investing energy in something that doesn’t fulfill your goals. It’s important to reassess whether you’re in a hierarchy that aligns with your long-term ambitions.
Temporary Hierarchies and Long-Term Goals
Sometimes, being in a hierarchy temporarily is necessary to achieve a broader goal. Temporary roles can offer learning opportunities, skill development, or networking, but the key is knowing it's temporary. Staying too long in a hierarchy that doesn’t align with your future vision can become a dead-end instead of a stepping stone. Always keep your long-term plan in mind to avoid getting stuck in a situation that lacks growth potential.
The Danger of Staying Stuck
Growth is crucial. Are you in a situation where you’re advancing? Or are you standing still? Staying in a role or environment with no room for growth can hinder your potential and leave you unfulfilled. It's vital to be in an environment where you can climb, with new levels to aspire to. Growth keeps you moving forward, learning, and developing. Stagnation, on the other hand, holds you back. Always aim to be in a position that offers upward momentum.
Competing in the Right Hierarchies
Ensure that you’re competing in a hierarchy where you’d like to reach the top. This involves having clarity on your short- and long-term goals and aligning them with the structure in which you find yourself. If you’re working in a career path that doesn’t offer satisfaction or purpose, step back and assess whether this is truly the ladder you want to climb. If it’s not, reconsider your strategy and make changes that will lead to growth and fulfillment.
This applies to all aspects of life, not just careers. Whether it’s personal development, creative pursuits, or relationships, you should aim to succeed in areas that resonate with you deeply. Otherwise, you risk climbing to the top of a hierarchy that ultimately doesn’t matter to you.
Constant Reevaluation
The questions “What are you doing?” and “Why are you doing it?” are not one-time contemplations. These are questions you should revisit regularly, as the answers may change over time. As you grow and gain new experiences, your goals and direction will evolve. Regularly reevaluating your decisions, current path, and future aspirations ensures that you remain aligned with your purpose. Life isn’t static, and neither should your mindset be.
Conclusion
Evaluating your life’s direction requires deep, ongoing reflection. By regularly asking yourself what you’re doing and why you’re doing it, you can gain clarity on your level of autonomy, understand your place within hierarchies, and assess your growth potential. These insights will help you avoid getting stuck in roles or paths that don’t align with your long-term vision and keep you moving toward a future filled with purpose and growth.

[@ThreeFortySeven]

Very timely message Mike. Really appreciate it.