Page 34 - Waterfall_Issue 6_2022

Waterfall Lifestyle
FIVE SIMPLE PRINCIPLES TO
ENHANCE YOUR CAREER
O ne day, a young graduate
asked her mentor, “What
should I do with my life?
There are so many choices.
How do I pick the right one?”
Her mentor smiled at her and said,
“Imagine your life and career as a
river. You can get into your canoe
and paddle upstream towards your
dreams and goals, towards whatever
you deem to be your idea of success
and happiness. If you reach this place,
this destination you have set your
mind on, you may feel exhausted.”
“Or,” he continued, “you could go
downstream, with the flow, and
steer yourself when you need to.”
If you are evaluating or re-evaluating
your life and career choices, consider
these five simple principles:
1. Nothing in life is certain.
2. There will always be opportunities.
3. Less ego, more curiosity.
4. Honour those who helped
you along the way.
5. Enjoy the ride.
32 Waterfall Issue 6 2022
By Michelle L Raymond
NOTHING IN LIFE IS CERTAIN to control (the situation, others,
etc.) and is a guise for insecurity.
Whether you decide to paddle
upstream or steer yourself
OPPORTUNITIES
downstream, there is no way of THERE WILL ALWAYS BE
knowing what you might encounter.
Whichever route you take, you will
It is easy to confuse preparedness face crossroads and forks in the
for certainty. You may have the best road. They will require you to make
survival training and the most hi-tech decisions about what you want and
equipment. Heck, you may even be Bear need. And depending on your outlook,
Grylls himself! But even he cannot know they will either be opportunities
for sure what life will throw at him. or they will be challenges.
In the same way, you can have a sought- Either way, be open to them, invite them,
after qualification, certificates, letters of consider them and then choose. Maybe
recommendation, a scholarship or years some will work out, whereas others
of experience that serve as a platform won’t. Some you will see, others you will
from which to launch or relaunch your pass by without noticing them. Some,
career. Even with all of that, there is no you will embrace, some you will let go.
guarantee of success or certainty, even
if you have well-intentioned goals. Whichever way you navigate
your life or career, do it with
Five-year plans are great, but think integrity and compassion.
about your life five years ago. Would you
have imagined your life as it is now? LESS EGO, MORE CURIOSITY
There will be times when you will feel on
There is no way of knowing what top of the world, where the hard work
the future will bring. Certainty is starts paying off, and you feel invincible.
an illusion. It is born out of a need But it is during these times – when you