I recently had an extraordinary experience seeing my son get married. We all move through different stages in our lives and our careers. Earlier this year, I lost my father, and now I celebrated this momentous joyful event. Each transition is a time to take a full pause and reflect. To me, it meant taking a break from work and social media (not a single post for 10 days) and going on a family road trip.
A road trip is a lot like a career journey. Both are not just about arriving at the destination but rather having ample opportunities to explore the turns along the way. Each road trip, and career journey, is unique. Every person has to define and build the experience based on their own objectives and preferences. And all journeys, regardless of the adventure and traveling companions chosen, come with a set of lessons learned along the way. Here are my top 5:
1. Planning and maps are important
Living authentically means leading your life on the path to fulfill your interests, needs, and wants. It can only happen when you take the driver seat using the power of choice over your decisions and actions. Planning allows you to maximize outcomes, to create the things you envision for yourself and avoid wasting precious time. When you make plans, you essentially declare your intentions rather than leaving things up to chance. The main purpose of planning and having a roadmap is to get clarity regarding the desired destination and to make educated decisions about future moves. It allows you to design your experience while leveraging your resources efficiently and wisely, especially during twists and turns along the path.
2. Embracing the unexpected is a gamechanger
The road is long. Delays, disruptions, and detours are inevitable. To make change work for you, be prepared to embrace the unexpected and seeing it as an opportunity to explore uncharted territory. Life and building a career are both an unfolding journey. Ignite your inner explorer and set out on your adventure with the mindset that things may not turn out exactly as you originally planned, but you will be alright, and much more, no matter what curveballs get thrown at you. Unexpected situations and unforeseen scenarios are par for the course. So, make your plans with fastidious care but remain flexible to deal with mishaps and sudden changes. Trust that everything is “figureoutable,” that one way or another, you will figure things out as you navigate your way throughout the journey.
3. Sharing the path with care is your responsibility
There are other travelers sharing the roads. When it comes down to it, being right might not always be the right thing to do. Goals, needs, styles, and preferences differ. Be gracious to all who cross your path. Your journey involves connecting with people and forming bonds with your travel companions. It is almost a guarantee that there will be major decisions you will have to make with other people who may not agree with you. Compromises will have to be made. Instead of being frustrated, learn to appreciate the beauty of a variety of perspectives and options. Harness your Zen to remain calm when things get heated. And never underestimate the power of a smile and a kind word. You can go a long way with a smile.
4. The best things happen unexpectedly
Of all the lessons I’ve learned in my travels, the most powerful one is to live in the moment. I am a meticulous planner. But often, the best experiences are those moments I didn’t plan for. No matter what part of any given journey I am most excited for at the get-go, the most unforgettable memories and formative experiences are those I didn’t see coming. Those are the stories I will be telling for years to come. Strive to find the balance between planning and flowing, paying attention to what is happening in the present moment, keeping an eye out for the potholes in the road as well as being open to new opportunities as they present themselves.
5. It’s really about the journey
It is the destination that will compel you to make a plan and head out on your road trip. Yet, through the endless days and hours spent driving and striving, you will find out that reaching your destination no longer seems that end all be all. Any destination is destined to become just a dot on the map leading to many more paths to follow in the future. Having a meaningful life and a rewarding career is all about the journey, the process of exploring and discovery, of learning and growing, of moving on to new adventures.
To sum things up, to have a successful road trip and a fulfilling career journey:
Get clarity about what you want & where you are going
Define your “happy”
Pause and reflect often
Stay curious and positive
Seize opportunities as they arise
Whether on the road, or in your career path, may your voyage of discovery be enjoyable and your journey a success.
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