The Lasts

I was listening closely as two senior executives were discussing their career trajectories, when one said to the other, "This is my last job".  The other looked forward in a thoughtful stare into space and said, "This might be my last one too". The exchange could have been between two long term soldiers, or two veteran professional athletes, who were coming to grips with the influence of age and time over their livelihoods.  The thought that anything might be our "last" is not an easy one for us to fathom, in either business or life.  We always expect, "another" and that is the way that our culture and society has been conditioned.  

But, there is the other side of always looking for one more.  There can be a certainty and confidence in knowing that this is the last time of trying to relearn, or the last time having to build equity or confidence from others, or this is the last time that we have to prove anything to anyone else, other than ourselves.  

Being able to say, "This is the last" can also cement an identity and attitude.  I know that I now hold the last email address and the last cell phone number I will ever have.  So, likely do you.  But, we don't bemoan those do we?  How can we take that same feeling of stability with us into our business and professional careers?  

We don't have to always feel like we are chasing the next and can be content in the "lasts".

(To see my further faith-based application of this bolt of thinking you can go to:http://purposedworking.blogspot.com/2013/06/day-1162-lasts.html)