“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference.” — The Serenity Prayer
This timeless quote, often associated with recovery communities, has broad relevance in every corner of life—including your professional one.
In today’s job market, career paths are anything but linear. Layoffs, shifting industries, economic turbulence, and AI-driven changes can make it feel like your fate is entirely out of your hands. But the truth is, there’s still a great deal of power you hold—if you focus on the right things.
Let’s talk about how to master the controllables in your professional life, and how to free yourself from the stress and frustration of trying to control things that aren’t yours to own.
Why Focusing on What You Can Control Matters
In moments of career anxiety—waiting to hear back from a hiring manager, going through a reorganization at work, watching others get promoted—you can feel helpless.
But that’s where mindset becomes everything.
If you focus on what you can control, you stay engaged, empowered, and resilient. You can take meaningful action. You can learn. You can grow. You can pivot.
If you focus on what you can’t control, you start to spiral. You wait. You worry. You overthink. You compare. You freeze.
This isn’t just psychological—it’s practical. People who invest in their own growth, stay adaptable, and keep a sense of agency over their career consistently bounce back faster and go further than those who get stuck in victim mode.
So, let’s break it down: What can you control in your career? What can’t you? And how do you navigate the difference with wisdom?
Things You Can’t Control in Your Career
Let’s get these out of the way first.
You can’t control:
- Who’s hiring or how fast they move
- Whether someone replies to your outreach
- If a company lays people off
- The economy
- Your boss’s mood
- Internal politics
- What other candidates bring to the table
- Whether an employer ghosts you
- How many followers someone else has on LinkedIn
- If your dream job opens up next month or in five years
It’s important to name these—not so you feel discouraged, but so you stop wasting energy trying to manage them.
You can still influence outcomes. You can still prepare and adapt. But control? That’s different. And trying to control the uncontrollable only leads to disappointment and burnout.
Things You Can Control in Your Career
Now here’s the good news: There’s a lot you can control—and that’s where the magic happens.
Let’s explore the most important ones.\
1. Your Attitude
Attitude is a choice, not a personality trait. You decide how you show up, especially when things are uncertain.
Do you stay curious and open-minded? Or bitter and resistant?
Do you ask, “What can I learn from this?” Or “Why is this happening to me?”
Your attitude sets the tone for how others experience you—and how you experience your own career.
2. How You Respond to Setbacks
You can’t always prevent failure or disappointment, but you can decide how you bounce back.
Do you beat yourself up—or get back up?
Do you take rejection personally—or use it as redirection?
The people who thrive professionally are not the ones who avoid failure. They are the ones who refuse to stay down for long.
3. Your Work Ethic
No one can take away your effort, your persistence, or your commitment to excellence. You control:
- How well you prepare for interviews
- How much time you put into honing your skills
- How consistently you follow through
- How reliable and dependable you are
These aren’t flashy things. But they matter. And over time, they compound into a reputation—and that opens doors.
4. Your Personal Brand
Even if you’re not a content creator, you still have a personal brand. It is what people say about you when you are not in the room. You control:
- What you post or don’t post on social media
- What stories you tell in interviews
- What impression you leave in your emails
- How you introduce yourself at networking events
You don’t need to be everywhere or do everything. Just be intentional about what message you’re putting out—and whether it aligns with your goals.
5. Your Skill Development
The job market changes. Industries evolve. But you can always be learning. You control:
- What courses you take
- What books you read
- What new tools you try
- What certifications you pursue
- What mentors you seek out
No matter what field you’re in, skill-building is within your control. And it’s one of the smartest long-term investments you can make.
6. Your Networking Efforts
You can’t control whether someone replies to your message—but you can control whether you send it.
You can:
- Reach out to former colleagues
- Ask for informational interviews
- Attend meetups or industry events
- Join online communities
- Support others without expecting anything in return
Relationships are built on consistency and sincerity. If you keep showing up, you’ll create opportunities over time.
7. Your Job Search Process
You can’t control the outcome of a job search—but you can own the process. You control:
- How many tailored applications you send
- How prepared you are for interviews
- How you follow up
- How you track your progress
- How you manage your time and energy
Treat your job search like a project. Set goals. Celebrate small wins. Refine your approach. That’s how you regain a sense of agency.
The Mindset Shift: Control vs. Influence
It’s worth noting: Some things you can’t control—but you can influence.
You can’t control whether a hiring manager chooses you—but you can influence their perception through a well-written resume, a great interview, and thoughtful follow-up.
You can’t control the job market—but you can position yourself as a valuable, future-ready candidate by staying current.
This mindset shift—from control to influence—helps you stay proactive without becoming obsessive.
The Wisdom to Know the Difference
Here’s where the real emotional maturity comes in: Knowing where your control ends, and where surrender begins. That “wisdom to know the difference” part of the serenity prayer? It’s everything in professional life.
It looks like:
- Not blaming yourself for being laid off.
- Not obsessing over why a hiring manager didn’t call back.
- Not comparing your journey to someone else’s highlight reel on LinkedIn.
- Not waiting for perfect conditions to move forward.
Instead, it’s about trusting yourself. Trusting the process. And using your energy where it actually moves the needle.
Daily Habits to Focus on the Controllables
If you’re looking for ways to put this into practice, here are a few daily habits that help you stay centered:
- Start the day with intention. Ask: “What’s one thing I can control today that moves me forward?”
- Track what you did, not just what happened. Instead of focusing on results, focus on effort: “I applied to 3 jobs. I reached out to 2 people. I studied for 1 hour.”
- Journal about what’s in your control. When you feel anxious, write down: “What’s bothering me?” Then split it into “Controllable” and “Not controllable.”
- End the day with gratitude. Even during a hard stretch, gratitude brings you back to the present—and what is working.
- Celebrate tiny wins. Progress builds momentum. Don’t wait for big milestones to feel successful.
There will be moments when everything feels shaky. A layoff. A failed project. A long stretch without interviews. It’s normal to feel disoriented. But this is exactly when focusing on the controllables matters most.
Breathe. Reground. Take the next right action.
Remember: No one controls the entire game. But you do control how you play your position.
You’re Not Powerless
It’s easy to feel like you’re at the mercy of the market, your company, or the algorithm.
But the truth is, you have more power than you think.
You can keep showing up. Keep refining. Keep learning. Keep connecting. Keep going.
Focus on what’s yours to own—and let the rest go.
Because the people who thrive in their careers aren’t the ones with the smoothest paths. They’re the ones who master the controllables—and trust themselves with the rest.