Underselling Yourself
I had my appraisal this week which went quite well; very well in fact!
Afterwards however, I questioned myself somewhat. I enjoy what I do and the job came up just in time last year as my previous company got into financial trouble and my job was going to have to be made redundant. It was also at the time when the global economic/financial crisis started to kick-off and so I needed to get something more sceure as a matter or urgency.
I have enjoyed what I am doing and it has also enabled me to develop a second string to my bow. From a career perspective I needed this and so the move has been a good one. The work is a type that means I can freelance/work part-time going forward and I will be able to mix it with other work such as consultancy.
Against that I feel I am underselling myself somewhat, something which I have done to a degree throughout my career as a result of having Asperger syndrome.
A key reason I suspect is because I like routine and stability and not having to endure change and upheaval. Once I get in a situation that is safe and not anxiety provoking I tend to be very settled in my ways and contented.
Against that, it has also meant that I haven't progressed as far as I should have done or reached the levels that I am capable of throughout my career. Many of my contemporaries have advanced significantly more than I have despite the fact that they are - I believe - no more or even less talented.
My current boss is significantly younger than me (nothing wrong with that) but I feel that I am selling myself short somewhat.
I have decided that I do need to push myself out more to avoid the feeling of underperforming or not achieving what I am capable of.
I don't think there is much
I don't think there is much point comparing ourselves to peers who don't have the disability that we do. If being in a safe but lower paid position is what it takes to allow us to even work at all, then it's fair enough to accept this and not feel guilty about under performing in any way.
If you truly want more challenges, that's fine but don't push yourself just out of feeling some kind of obligation. There is much to be said for stability and predictability.
Change might be thrust upon us and it is useful to have alternate skills in case the worst happens but again, it should be a personal choice as to how much training and retraining one does.
Interesting Work
I agree with all you say
However, the problem I have in my current role is that it is in an area that simply does not interest me sufficiently.
I enjoy lecturing and being in the lecture theatre, but its not what I wnat to do full-time. Entertainment is where my heart is and I am determined to get back into it as soon as possible.
I know that if I stay in something that doesn't stimulate/motivate me then, sooner or later, it is going to cause difficulties and I am going to get into trouble!
Wow, I didn't know this
I never knew you liked lecturing and being in the entertainment business. Learn something each day! It's a tough market to be in from what I hear. Good luck if you do decide to go into it again.