In project management, one of the most common practices is conducting a lessons learned review. After a project ends, we ask:
- What went well?
- What went poorly?
- What needs improvement?
And most importantly: Why?
This process helps companies improve their strategies, optimize workflow, and enhance satisfaction for both customers and employees. Most crucially, it helps prevent the same mistakes in future projects.
Today, let’s apply a similar method of reflection—this time, to our own careers.
Ask Yourself:
- Do I have any regrets about the career I’ve chosen?
- What specifically do I regret?
- What have I learned so far in my career, and how would I evaluate the journey? (Good, bad, difficult, awful, “What a cursed career!” … okay, I got carried away.)
- How much harder can I work to reach my goals? How much extra time or effort can I put in?
- What is the biggest obstacle standing between me and my goals? Why can’t I give the effort I wish I could?
This Only Works If You’re Honest
To truly benefit from this exercise, you have to sit down, think carefully, and be honest with yourself.
This isn’t about the minor annoyances or small solvable problems we all face.
What you’re really trying to figure out is:
Do I genuinely enjoy the work I do?
Whether the answer is yes or no, you need to understand the why behind it.
Knowing this helps you bring clarity to tough moments. When you’re feeling burned out or questioning your path, remembering your bigger picture—the reason you’re still here and the effort you’ve put in—can restore your perspective.
And if, after all this reflection, you come up empty-handed, then it may be time to start looking for something new.
When the Signs Are Clear
If you’re no longer aligned with your work, it starts to show—both to yourself and to those around you.
- Every morning begins to feel like torture.
- You struggle to focus.
- Your motivation drops, and people around you can sense it.
- It gets harder with each passing day.
- Most dangerously, your self-confidence begins to erode.
You start to feel like you’re not progressing, like you’ve lost touch with your goals, and you’re just standing still. Eventually, that fatigue turns into burnout, frustration, and apathy.
The Real Purpose Behind Self-Questioning
We ask ourselves these hard questions not to wallow in doubt or regret, but to recognize our situation before we hit rock bottom—and to sketch a more intentional path forward.
And when you do reflect, you’ll often realize:
All that pain, stress, and chaos wasn’t as deep as it felt.
The real problem was never assessing your situation properly.
You overthought everything.
And maybe… you just didn’t take a bold enough step.
Even “Pointless” Experiences Can Open Doors
Sometimes, what feels like a wasted experience can unexpectedly open new doors. So even if things don’t seem to be changing right now, focus on getting the most out of where you are.
Ask yourself:
- What can this role give me?
- What can I still learn from this situation?
If you’re in a good place, hold on to the reasons that are keeping you there. Focus on the positive aspects of your job and what brings you satisfaction.
Instead of burning yourself out chasing the perfect career, try embracing the good that’s already in front of you. When you become at peace with yourself and focus on your own journey—
Success will find you, whether you’re chasing it or not.
NOTE: To see the whole How to know yourself serial: How to know yourself – bahadirhancicek
How to know yourself, let’s start to journey – bahadirhancicek
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