We might be running to work, looking outside of the carriage of a commuter train, or getting dressed to confront our busy new day. It happens like this, as we repeat the new cycle of our daily routines, something feels different. Something makes us stop, zoom out and take perspective on our lives. Why are we doing what we do? Are we going to work today and make a difference? Am I doing the right thing or lost track already of my career objectives?

Planning for a career is more often than not, an intermittent act. We realise we need to care for our future only when something happens. When we talked to our boss about a promotion, or when applying for the better position we think we deserve. We take a break and take care of our beloved ones. We react to the moments of stasis and realise that we forgot our career, that our direction got lost. We get frustrated when this happens, and we feel like we are behind. We may aspire to have a different approach to our professional career, but who can I count on to keep me on track?

In this article, I invite you into a journey: the journey of your career. Like the act of travelling, walking the steps of your professional career brings the excitement of a new destination, requires preparation and forces you into the unknown of visiting new places. Allow me a moment of your time and let’s pretend this only once, to be preparing for an incredible new destination: your career.

Where shall we go?

You know you want to visit a place, but you have never been there before. You look on the internet for travel advice, ask friends, hear what travel experts say you should do. You want to make sure you spend your money right: visit every special place, eating local food and most importantly, fill-up your eyes with beautiful memories that will last forever.

When planning for your next career move, you think you know where you want to go: a more senior position, become a people manager, change your field of expertise completely. The reality is that you have no idea what you are looking for: because you haven’t been there yet. Get help from those who did it already, find a great mentor that will help you shed some light on their steps while walking the same path. You will quickly realise that as much as the destination, the way to get there, the people you’ll encounter, all of these aspects will make your career an unforgettable experience. It’s not all about going from point A to point B. Sometimes we may not even reach the destination. We initially wanted to, but stopped before and have taken different turns. You may not know the route, but please: don’t forget to enjoy the trip!

Fill up of good memories, of souvenirs

We dream about our journeys. We wish our explorations will last forever. But travelling is an act that draws power from its finite duration. Coming back to our daily routine is what makes it unique. We don’t want to forget, though. We take pictures, collect souvenirs, exchange phone numbers with new friends. Help our memory get a prop that is powerful enough to pivot us back into that journey, makes us relive that excitement.

Our career is not a lifetime ambition: is a collection of journeys. They start, they finish, they restart and fill up our good memories again. Next time you feel let down by not having a consistent career, remember that there is no single line there. Your career brings you to different journeys. It allows you to explore ways that you never thought you would be able to navigate before. Taking responsibilities you believed out of your league. Just don’t forget to fill up your bag with souvenirs: what will help you remember this journey? What will help you remember the learnings, the failures and celebrate your successes again?

Alone or together: it’s Your journey

Walking the silence of nature, listening to the flowing water as the sunrise warming up the brine of an Autumn morning. Let’s be honest: some trips are meant to be experienced alone. Sharing the excitement of a new destination, a special dinner or the embarrassment of not understanding that difficult foreign language: how priceless is looking in the eyes of someone close and explode in a loud laugh? Alone or together, every journey brings you something new, something more. But there is a prominent common trait here: for as altruists as we may be, we travel to satisfy our desires.

We live our professional careers similarly in different forms. You may be starting your own business; standing up for yourself in a harsh corporate environment where you and only you are the unusual, the anomaly. You may seek a career path as a solo traveller, and there is nothing wrong there. Your career is yours and only yours. It may have an impact and influence on thousands of lives around you, but don’t forget that you are the one on the driving seat. Nobody else will shape and design your career for you, so take your destinations, your dreams in your hands and jump out into the new places. Look for the unknown territories, the discomfort of not knowing what to do. Bring others with you, go alone and enjoy the quiet or loudness of success.

It is your choice, your responsibility, your pride and you are the only one entitled to have to say on where it should take you next.

Thank you

Thank you for reading my story. I hope you enjoyed the tips and leave your comments and suggestions to make this better. How do you plan your career journey?

Simone

Photo by averie woodard on Unsplash