Page 24 - Blue Valley_Issue 3_2022

LIFESTYLE

FIVE SIMPLE PRINCIPLES

TO ENHANCE YOUR CAREER

BY MICHELLE L RAYMOND

ne day, a young graduate asked her NOTHING IN LIFE IS CERTAIN THERE WILL ALWAYS BE
mentor, “What should I do with my life? Whether you decide to paddle upstream or steer OPPORTUNITIES
OThere are so many choices. How do I yourself downstream, there is no way of knowing Whichever route you take, you will face
pick the right one?” what you will encounter. crossroads and forks in the road. They will
require you to make decisions about what
Her mentor smiled and said, “Imagine your It is easy to confuse preparedness for certainty. you want and need. And depending on your
life and your career as a river. You can get into You may have the best survival training and the outlook, they will either be opportunities or
your canoe and paddle upstream towards your most hi-tech equipment. Heck, you may even be they will be challenges.
dreams and goals, towards whatever you deem outdoor adventurer Bear Grylls himself! But even
to be your idea of success and happiness. If you he cannot know for sure what life will throw at him. Either way, be open to them, invite them,
reach this place, this destination you have set consider them and then choose. Maybe some
your mind on, you may feel exhausted.” Similarly, you can have a sought-after qualification, will work out and others won’t. Some you will
certificates, letters of recommendation, a see, others you will pass by without noticing
“Or,” he continued, “you could go downstream, scholarship or years of experience that serve as a them. Some, you will embrace, some you will
with the flow, and steer yourself when you need platform from which to launch or relaunch your let go.
to.” career. Even with all these, there is no guarantee
of success or certainty, however well-intentioned Whichever way you navigate your life or career,
If you are evaluating or re-evaluating your life your goals. do it with integrity and compassion.
and career choices, consider these five simple
principles: Five-year plans are great, but think about your life LESS EGO, MORE CURIOSITY
five years ago. Would you have imagined your life There will be times when you will feel on
1. Nothing in life is certain. as it is now? top of the world, when the hard work starts
2. There will always be opportunities. paying off and you feel invincible. But it is
3. Less ego, more curiosity. There is no way of knowing what the future will during these times – when you are caught up
4. Honour those who helped you along the way. bring. Certainty is an illusion. It is born out of a in the excitement – that the ego needs to be
5. Enjoy the ride. need to control (the situation, others, etc.) and is a reined in. If it isn’t, arrogance, selfishness and
guise for insecurity. pride take over – followed by greed, obsession

22 • Issue 3 2022 • BLUE VALLEY NEWS