The Visual8

Treasure maps have an “X” where the secret lies. A dotted line shows the path to the “X”.

You stand at the other end of that dotted line. Your heart fixed on capturing that secret.

The distance is known, but you have not walked this path before. Getting to where the rainbow ends remains a mystery.

Of course, we are not talking about pirates, treasures, or adventures on the high seas.

We are talking about your career.

That job line which forms the dashes on the map leads to your dream job.

Unfortunately, your expectations were improperly set growing up.

In the day time, you sat in front of an authority figure who taught you lessons. Your progress, grade to grade, was measured on passing exams. You moved from 4th to 5th, and so on.

This taught you that success was standardized and progress made by demonstrating competency. Do that and you move up.

You spent the after-hours defeating the enemies on the game console. Getting to the next level was guaranteed when the coins were collected and the monsters slain. You enjoyed climbing the ladder of fame, point by point.

This taught you actions were transactional. More the more you do, the farther you go.

But these expectations only lead to disappointment in the business world.

Many young professionals admit they feel confused that they are not moving upward, faster. They have the points. They demonstrated competency. But that is not how it works.

Nor is the progression linear or predictable.

Ask the gray-hairs this: “Did you imagine twenty years ago that you would be doing what you are doing now?”

The answer is consistently, “no.”

That’s because the doors that opened for them appeared beyond their imagination. They followed someone they trusted, not collected points.

They were invited to try something new not because they demonstrated competency for it. They were seen with potential.

You don’t have to look far to witness this phenomenon.

Dr. Peter Attia became a consultant helping the financial service industry AFTER he earned his MD because of his math skills. He returned to the medical profession with a practice on extending your health-span because of his math skills.

Mark Fox was the youngest chief engineer on the NASA Space Shuttle Program. He teaches business lessons based on the Theory of Inventive of Problem Solving (TRIZ). He founded a company called Resona Health, to apply resonance frequency for improving health.

Such a list could go on seasoned professional by seasoned professional.

5 ways to make the most of this.

Learn to experiment. This next job may be lateral or even lower in pay. Don’t associate this with moving backwards because your peers increase earnings. You are investing in your own diversity.

Open your aperture to all possibilities. Dig past the title of the role to really know what it is. Explore what this feels like? Does it exercise a muscle where you feel strong? Does it open the door to new kinds of relationships?

Feed your interests with reading. This is how you build the framework of understanding. You can use these models of understanding to purchase attention during the next job interview.

Learn from others. Not because their steps will become your steps. But because it shows what’s possible. Let those stories melt your assumptions.

Lastly, articulate your guiding principles. Build a habit to reflect on your experiences by writing them down. This act of self-charity creates clarity. These guiding principles help you navigate what opportunities to ignore as much as the ones to seize.

Do these things and the “X” will be underneath your feet before you know it. And another “X” will reveal itself to propel you further.