Page 26 - FWG_Issue 5_June_2022

Lifestyle

FIVE SIMPLE PRINCIPLES

TO ENHANCE YOUR CAREER

B Y MICHELLE L R A YMOND

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

Fourways Gardens • 24 • June 2022