Think you’re in the minority when you dread going to work on Monday morning? Think again. In fact, a recent study shows that nearly 84 percent of Americans are unhappy and restless at work, itching to find a new career for more money, more responsibilities, or mere satisfaction. And just a few months ago, I, too, was grouped into that statistic. In fact, I wouldn’t even call what I was feeling unhappiness or restlessness – I would call it downright disgust. Disgusted that I had worked my butt off to answer calls at the reception desk and remind my boss that he had a 2:30 conference call with someone who would later refer to me as the “nice girl who answers the phone.” Sure, every company needs an administrative professional, I thought, but that’s not me. In college, I was the girl who skipped class – but not to participate in homecoming festivities or get a head-start to the tailgate party. I spent my time networking with the Women in Business leaders, attending professional luncheons and talking to pretty much anyone that would give me 10 minutes of their time. So when I finally walked across the stage and headed out into the “real world,” I received a nice slap in the face when I landed a fancy position answering phones and making coffee. Let’s just say I started my job in July and was already looking in the wanted ads by mid-September. 

I spent two long years not only dreading my 9-5, but also making excuses – “everyone hates their job, I’m not a quitter,” or the infamous “quitting now will look bad on my resume.” What I didn’t realize was that my dissatisfaction wasn’t affecting just me – it was spreading to everyone and everything that surrounded me. People got sick of listening to my story, sitting on the other end of the line while I complained about how unfair the world was. I became cynical about the professional world and even started to resent anyone who actually enjoyed their career.  How had I become such a negative person? It’s only a job, I thought to myself. Why am I letting it affect everything around me? And that’s when it finally hit me. I wasn’t looking at this as a career, but merely a job. What’s the difference? The mindset of a job holder is focused on security and money while the mindset of a career person is focused on development and risk-taking. So instead of complaining about my job, why wasn’t I taking any risks to secure a real career?  Simply put, I was afraid.  

“Fear is a double-edged sword,” says Barbara Stoker, author of Positive Risk: How Smart Women Use Passion to Break Through Their Fears. “On the one side it keeps you safe, but it usually holds you back from doing those things that really matter.”

I was afraid to take a risk and open myself to new opportunities for the possibility of, once again, being disappointed with the outcome. So when I finally realized that making progress often involves taking risks, I not only had a new outlook on life, but I had a new found confidence in my ability to succeed. Aside from the uncertainty that comes with taking risks, there’s a certain satisfaction in knowing that you went for your dream, whether you achieve it or not. The regret of never trying can often be harder to live with than tying and failing.

How many of us can say that fear has limited us from achieving our fullest potential? We spend years exploring our options, talking with guidance counselors and taking specific steps to map out our future. And although this approach is a good way to find a career that suits us best, it’s not the only way.  Sometimes taking a risk is exactly what we need to do to figure out what we want – or don’t want. We might take a huge risk and fail…or just maybe, taking the biggest risk of our lives, can often lead us to opportunities we never knew existed.

So when I finally took a risk and left my position, I realized that life is really all about taking risks. Each and every day we all take risks that could great affect our future – moving to a new city, beginning a new relationship, or in my case, quitting a job to start a new business. Think about every great success story you’ve ever heard – nearly every one involves a little risk-taking.  

Brianne Bromberek is the owner of Studio 213, a full-service graphic design firm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She also works as a marketing coordinator at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Bayside, Wisconsin.  Before launching her business, Bromberek graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications and a Certificate in Women’s Studies.  She can be reached at bri@studio-213.com.