Many people settle for “good enough,” thinking that a great career is out of reach or something that just happens to others.

But what if the real reason is hiding in plain sight?

It only takes a few mindset shifts to change everything—and it's likely the one you’re overlooking...

Takeaway:

After almost a decade working as a clinical staff in the US, I found myself standing at a crossroads in my career.

I had decent success, but deep down, I knew something was missing.

I had big dreams, but I kept telling myself…

“Now’s not the right time,” 

Or “Maybe I’m just not cut out for more.”

The truth? 

I was making excuses, hiding behind "good enough," and avoiding the discomfort of real growth.

One evening, my wife asked a question I wasn’t ready to hear:

“Are you truly passionate about what you're doing, or are you just interested enough to stay comfortable?”

That question hit me hard. I realized I wasn’t passionate—I was just interested. 

I was doing what I thought I should do, not what I wanted to do.

Worse yet, I was afraid.

Afraid of failing, of judgment, of risking what I already had.

Afraid to break the illusion of my carefully-crafted self-identity.

It was in that moment I decided to stop making excuses, lean into my true passions, and face my fears head-on.

This week, I’m diving into the 3 reasons people fail to achieve great careers and how to avoid falling into these traps.

Ready for the truth?

Today’s Ladder:

3 Reasons Why People Fail to Have a Great Career

Let’s dive into a topic many people shy away from: the stark reality of career success.

More importantly, let’s explore why so many of you are destined to fail at achieving a great career.

This isn’t about being pessimistic; it’s about being realistic and facing the uncomfortable truths that can either set you free or hold you back.

The myth of a good career

First, let’s clarify what I mean by a “good career.”

In today’s world, good careers are vanishing. You see, there are great jobs that fulfill your passions and aspirations, and then there are those soul-sucking positions that drain the life out of you.

Most people settle for the latter, hoping to find satisfaction within a framework that simply doesn’t allow it.

If you’re aiming for just a “good career,” you’re already setting yourself up for failure.

1. Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

Now, let’s get to the heart of the matter: excuses

You’ve heard it a million times: “Pursue your passion!” 

Yet many of you choose not to. Why?

Here are some common excuses:

• Luck: You think that having a great career is all about luck.

So, you wait for luck to come your way, believing that if it doesn’t, you’ll just settle.

• Genius/Smart: You convince yourself that only geniuses or smart people deserve to pursue their passions.

You think, “I’m not a genius, so why bother?”

• Normalcy: You feel that following your passion makes you “weird.”

You want to be a nice, normal person, and normal people don’t have passions.

• Hard work: You think that if you just work hard enough, you’ll eventually stumble into a great career.

By now, you know that hard work alone isn’t the answer.

These excuses are your creativity at work, but they’re also the chains that bind you to mediocrity.

You need to break free!

2. Passion vs. Interest

Let’s talk about passion.

Many of you may think you have interests, but those interests are not enough to fuel a great career.

Passion is the fire that drives you. It’s the thing that makes you leap out of bed in the morning, excited to tackle the day.

Are you really going to settle for “interesting”?

Imagine proposing to someone and saying, “You’re interesting.” 

How do you think that would go?

You need to dig deeper and explore various interests until you find the one that resonates with you—your passion!

3. Fear and Relationships

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room:

Fear. 

Many of you will find your passion but fail to act on it.

Why?

You hide behind the facade of valuing human relationships more than accomplishments.

You tell yourself, “I want to be a great friend, spouse, or parent.” 

But what does that really mean?

When your child expresses a dream, do you encourage them or do you focus on the risks?

So, why are retreating from your own?

If you’re not pursuing your own passions, how can you inspire them? 

Your fear of failure is a crutch you do not need.

Why are you leaning on it?

It’s time you drop it.

You can be a great friend, spouse, or parent while also pursuing your passion.

They are not mutually exclusive!

The power of “unless”

While reading this issue, you might have felt a sense of dread creeping in.

“What if I never find my passion?”

“What if I fail?”

These thoughts can be paralyzing.

But here’s the twist: there’s always that word “unless.” 

Unless you take action, unless you confront your fears, unless you choose to pursue your passion… 

You are destined for mediocrity.

Now, think about “if only” statements.

“If only I had pursued my dream.”

Those thoughts can haunt you. They can weigh heavily on your heart and mind.

To avoid that pain, you must take the steps.

One foot.

In front.

Of the other.

Career Bytes:

Curious career facts to feed your curiosity!

What’s the safest profession? Among the safest professions in the U.S., librarians rank the highest for their low-risk work environment.

If you’re curious why I want you to succeed twice as fast, here’s why.

To your success,

Dr. Lex ✍️

Let’s Connect!

If we aren’t already connected, come say hi on LinkedIn.

If you have a career topic in mind that you want me to write about, you can message me at [email protected]