In this time of economic trouble, many people are losing their jobs.  As they go out into a sometimes hostile marketplace looking for a new job, they find that there are few positions in their field.  The trap many of them fall into is saying, “I could do that.”  

What that means is, “I don’t really like that.  Under normal or ideal circumstances I wouldn’t do that.  But if push comes to shove, and it looks like it has, I could do that.”  The problem with that type of thinking is those people are not functioning in their “wheelhouse.”  That means they are working outside their talent base.

It’s also likely that those people will be unhappy in their work.  When you do something you love and something you’re good at, you’re much more likely to be successful.  When you do something you “could do,” you’re not.  You’re not as successful.  You’re not as energetic and you’re just plain not as happy.

If you’re changing jobs (whether by your choice or by the choice of someone else,) make sure you focus on getting a job in a field where you have a distinct talent and where you’ll be doing something you do well.  Avoid the “I could do that!” trap.  In the long term, you’ll be glad you did (and so will your employer.)