Career and Life
Tested advice that may serve the reader
Applicable to a career
Do what makes sense at the time. As Steve Jobs said, you can only connect the dots looking back.
It is natural to consider long term implications of a specific role, assignment, training, or task. Yet, if you indulge in this stream of thought it can be counter productive. It can create anxiety and complicate decision making. Steve Jobs learned Calligraphy because it made sense for him at the time. He liked it. Years later, it helped him design computers and technology inspired and informed by art. He could only connect the dots looking back.
Who you work for is more important than what you do
People consider what line of work to pursue. What we see as less important, is who we work for. Yet, what is most helpful is to work for someone who elevates. Someone who sees value in you that you did not see in yourself.
Applicable to all aspects of life
“Act, but not for the fruit of action.” as noted in the Bhagawad Gita. Another version of the same advice is to be in the moment. Focus on what is right in front of you.
Often, people worry about the future or fret over the past. When people act, they focus on the benefit of their actions or the result. They get tied to the outcome of their actions. They do not embrace the moment and enjoy what is right in front of them. This leads to anxiety of success or failure. If success does come, it is fleeting. Because it is fleeting, the person feels the need to chase the next success.
A goal is important. Yet, once a goal is set, it is helpful to let it go. Do not let it consume you. Set the goal, then enjoy the moment. Enjoy the journey. One of Steve Job’s favorite maxims was, “The Journey is the Reward.” Enjoy the ride. When success comes, it’s a bonus. When failure comes, it is a fleeting moment.
Control what you can. In any situation, identify what you can control, then act.
We live in challenging times. A pandemic, civil unrest, economic hardship, to name a few. No matter the situation, you can take only a limited set of actions. The key is to identify those set of actions and act. Anything else is noise and counter productive.
How you do something is more important than what you do
No matter what we do, there is a joy in giving the moment your full attention. Attention is love. Love all that you do. If you do not love it, consider what is stopping you from loving it. If you need to find something else to do, then find it. But love what you do. Give it your full attention. That is more important than what you do.
We stand on the shoulders of giants. No matter our achievements, we stand on the achievements of those before us.
This is a way to practice humility and gratitude. Humility and gratitude allow us to embrace challenges and failure. Often, individuals are weary of challenging problems because they fear failure. If we understand that our efforts are a small part of a large whole, we may be more willing to embrace challenges.