Guaranteed Uncertainty

Today’s Topics

• Stability Is Never Guaranteed 🦺

• It’s Never Enough 🎁

  7 Mins Read Time

Stability Is Never Guaranteed 🦺 
By Jo

I don’t say this enough, but it’s important—you have to invest in yourself.

We live in a competitive society. That doesn’t mean you personally have to be cutthroat or obsessed with winning. But you do need to be competitive enough for defensive purposes. Because no matter how solid things feel, nothing is ever guaranteed.

Here’s a scenario most people can relate to.

You’ve been at a job for years. You know the systems. You’ve built relationships. You’re steady. Then new management comes in and decides they want to “shake the tree.” People get moved. People get replaced. Some leave. Some stay. Others get blocked. New resources get added—but without structure, training, or clarity.

And suddenly, your work environment turns chaotic.

Too many chiefs, not enough Indians—or the complete opposite. No leadership. No direction. You’re doing the work, answering questions, onboarding people who are brand new, and filling gaps management doesn’t even realize exist. You don’t have the title. You don’t have the pay. But you have the responsibility.

Meanwhile, your workload has doubled. Your time is gone. Your energy is drained. And if we’re being honest—you were probably already overwhelmed before any of this even happened.

So how do you protect yourself in situations like that?

It always comes back to investing in yourself.

That might mean exploring new job opportunities. It might mean networking quietly. It might mean researching other roles—within your industry or outside of it. It might mean sharpening skills that make you less replaceable and more mobile.

Whatever it looks like, it’s your business. But it’s your responsibility.

Self-investment isn’t just about growth—it’s about leverage. It gives you options. It gives you breathing room. It gives you confidence when things around you start shifting in ways you can’t control.

Sometimes investing in yourself means taking more PTO than others—not because you’re lazy, but because mentally, you need it. Burnout is expensive, and no job is worth losing yourself over.

You need awareness. You need to understand your limits. You need to learn yourself.

Because if you’re not feeding yourself knowledge, curiosity, or something to look forward to, then your purpose starts to fade. And when purpose dies, everything else feels heavier.

Even if you’re in your dream job, this still applies. Dream jobs don’t eliminate challenges. They just introduce different ones. New dynamics. New pressure. New problems that still require growth, adaptation, and self-awareness.

Investing in yourself isn’t optional. It’s how you stay afloat. It’s how you stay ready. It’s how you make sure that no matter how the environment changes—you’re never stuck.

It’s Never Enough 🎁

By Marcus

You make them a three-course meal. They say, “Why not four courses and dessert?”

You spend your hard-earned money on a gift. They respond with, “I really wanted the top-tier one.”

You volunteer your time to help them with something important, but when you need support, your request suddenly becomes an inconvenience.

You make a sincere effort to improve in one area of a relationship, only to hear, “Well, you still don’t do…”

I could keep going, but if you’ve dealt with this kind of behavior, you already know how frustrating it can be. When people like this are in your life, it often turns into a miserable experience and a constant form of gaslighting that leaves you wondering if you are the problem.

This level of toxicity can weigh heavily on anyone. You may have been conditioned to believe you deserve it, but even the best people can find themselves around those who will never appreciate them for who they are.

The Scorekeepers

I like to think many of us help others without expecting anything in return. We’re not keeping a running tally like: “I helped you for 400 days, 2 hours, and 23 seconds. I also lent you $25.11 on a Tuesday back in 2018. And don’t forget that one time ten years ago when you needed me — I was there.”

You assume that’s just what friends, family, or partners do for one another, so you don’t track it.

Scorekeepers operate differently. They remember everything they’ve ever done for you while conveniently forgetting everything you’ve done for them. What you viewed as mutual support slowly turns into leverage.

In my experience, these are the people who will hold their “help” over your head indefinitely. You will always owe them something. And if you make a mistake, it becomes permanent. It’s never forgotten, never forgiven, and never released.

I don’t believe that’s a healthy dynamic. But maybe you’ve seen it differently. What do you think?

Moving the Goalposts

Alongside scorekeeping comes the moving goalpost. Every good-faith effort to improve is met with, “That’s nice, now do more.” Your best effort becomes not good enough almost instantly.

This isn’t growth. It’s manipulation. And over time, it can quietly erode confidence and self-worth in ways that are difficult to recover from.

If you’ve made it this far, here’s something worth remembering. Your value does not need to be validated by someone who refuses to appreciate it.

Why spend your life trying to please someone who has already decided it will never be enough? Letting people go can be hard, but it’s worth asking whether the alternative is any better.

There are people who will value you as you are. No gimmicks. No scorekeeping. No constantly shifting expectations.

You are good enough. And if you choose to become better, do it for yourself and for the people who treat you with respect.

🏆