4 Reasons You Should Appreciate the Beginning of Your Career - The Muse

4 Reasons You Should Appreciate the Beginning of Your Career - The Muse4 Reasons You Should Appreciate the Beginning of Your CareerWe all want that promotion. We all dream of that corner schreibstube. And we all cant wait until the day when were at the top of the ladder- rather than hanging out on the bottom rungs.While theres nothing wrong with looking ahead, setting goals, and working toward something bigger and better, that doesnt mean you should completely lose focus on the things that are great about your career right now. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but those cheesy and clich Its about the journey, not the destination motivational posters in your sixth grade classroom were actually preaching some truth. While Ill never discourage you from chasing improvement and progress, Id love to inspire you to take a breath and pay attention to the things you love about your career at this very moment. Because, just ask any top executive- you might wind up with that sweet corne r office, but youre never going to get this time back. 1. You Have the Whole World Ahead of YouSure, there will be other exciting career transitions to look forward to- at least I certainly hope so. But, arguably, when youre just getting started is the most thrilling time. The world is your oyster, and you have your entire life and career ahead of you. Your options seem limitless, and- unlike the CEO- you have way more tomorrows than yesterdays. I legitimately squealed when I received my first paycheck from my very first full-time job. And, that feeling of pure exhilaration, optimism, and enthusiasm? Well, unfortunately, it doesnt come around too often. So, enjoy it while its here. 2. You Embrace Opportunities For Personal Growth and ExplorationTheres a certain point in your career when you find that youre not as into trying new things- you just know what youre good at, as well as what youre not so good at. And, while it sounds like that personal knowledge will help push you forward , I think the period of exploration is truly underrated.When youre beginning your career, youre essentially a sponge eager to soak up all of the knowledge and opportunities you can. And, while maintaining a similar outlook throughout the rest of your career is obviously advisable, its not always realistic. The longer youre out there in the working world, the more rigid and predictable your career path becomes. Simply put, you have less flexibility.So, treat this time period as your option to try new things and really explore all of the options that are out there for you. Because once you have twenty years of professional history in one area, switching things up becomes significantly harder. 3. You Are More Optimistic Than RealisticLets face it- theres a lot to be said for a heavy dose of optimism about your career. And, after a few years of dealing with stressful deadlines, demanding bosses, and office politics, that sense of positivity can naturally start to fade away. Sure, youll (hopefully) still enjoy your work. But, the little things will weigh on you more. However, when you still have your whole career ahead of you, everything has a certain shine to it. That overwhelmingly challenging assignment from your boss? Its a chance to prove your value That co-worker who wont stop talking to you? Well, you must be well-liked and trusted in your office That ridiculously tight deadline? Its a great motivator Yep, youre green, eager, and honestly, too blinded by your enthusiasm to realize that the person who actually deserves the promotion, isnt always the one who actually gets it. So, savor this sense of optimism for as long as you possibly can. Because the longer youre in the workforce, the harder it is to hold on to. 4. You Have Less Responsibility and StressYou may be anxious to climb the that ladder. But, have you ever stopped to think about what happens when you actually reach the top? Spoiler alert Theres a heck of a lot more stress and accountability on your plate. Youre not only responsible for your own performance, but youre also on the hook for the work of others and the success of the organization as a whole.If that sounds exciting to you, then more power to you You have something to look forward to. But, for now, enjoy your lower-stress spot at the bottom of the ladder. Youll have the view from the top eventually- and you might not always like what you see.Yes, having goals and striving for bigger and better things is great. But, do you know what else is great? Where you are in your career right now. So, dont be so focused on where youre going, that you forget to appreciate where you are. Trust me, it wont be long before youre looking back fondly on these times- from your seat in your corner office. Photo of mountain base courtesy of Shutterstock.