What scares you about knowing what you want?

What scares you about knowing?

For years I always had a terrible answer whenever a boss, HR, a peer or a networking connection asked me what my career aspirations were. 

I would always say things like:
"I just care about solving interesting problems and working with great people." 

Obviously this was too vague for anyone to really help me out  

While that was an honest answer - the real truth is that I didn't know what my true career aspirations were. I knew I wanted to keep climbing the corporate ladder, but I didn't even really know why I wanted to do that beyond my perception of higher status and more money. I didn't have a clear 'why'.

With lots of introspection and coaching I came to realize that I did actually know what I wanted to do and why - but I was terrified of first admitting it to myself and then saying it out loud.

I was afraid of knowing. 

If I knew what I wanted:
- what if it didn't work out? 
- what if I tried and failed? 
- what if other people judged me for what I wanted?

Not knowing kept me safe. If I didn't know what I wanted I couldn't actually fail. 
It also kept me playing small. 

To go after what I want I had to put myself out there (like posting on LinkedIn, creating an email list, etc ), I had to take a risk, I had to learn new skills. 

I talk to executives every day who have achieved success on paper but don't feel successful on the inside. Who don't know what they want - either in their current role or their next chapter. 

We have to first talk about how not knowing is benefiting them - and what scares them about knowing. 

So, what scares you about knowing? Answering that question is part of you learning to listen to the part of you that knows you are capable of playing bigger and going after what your heart desires.

How is not knowing benefiting you?