Words of Wisdom from the Taoists?
March 30, 2010“Life is like a stream. Go with the flow and you may be buffeted by its rocks, brought down by its whirlpools and caught up by its rapids. But, ultimately, when you reach the great sea you will have experienced everything life has to offer.
On the other hand, you may cling to its banks and always be safe. But you will never cry with all your tears and never laugh with all your laughter.”
According to Wikipedia, Taoism “refers to a variety of related philosophical and religious traditions that have influenced Eastern Asia for more than two millennia”.
The word Tao can be literally translated as “path” or “way” [of life]. So it shares its meaning with “career” if that word is taken back to its roots. However, whilst this homily is one of those interesting “comfort props” that seem to occur in many philosophies, I’m not sure just relying on “the flow” is the best plan as far as your career is concerned. My experience tells me it is a good idea to give some thought to where you would like to be in, say, three years time and to how you are going to get there.
Where I do agree with this though is that clinging to the banks is not a good idea. I’ve interviewed people who have indeed clung to the banks, or put another way, stayed in their comfort zone until something traumatic, like redundancy, have happened. They then try to convince people recruiters they have good experience gained over 20 years. Unfortunately, they do not. They have one year’s experience repeated 20 times. Even more unfortunately they then find the world has moved on, leaving them behind and because their skills are out of date and no longer wanted in the market place.
So, if you don’t want that to happen to you, at the very least you should put some shape around where you would like to be in a few years time. Then set out a plan to develop the skills and expertise you will need to get you there.
Posted by Dorothy Wilson. Posted In : Developing Your Career
So that you know who you are dealing with let me tell you a little more about myself.
A broad-based business career, which includes working for both small and large companies, a spell in the City of London as well as running my own business has given me a deep understanding of the inter-relationship between people and organisations.
The expertise I have developed in career development over the past couple of decades is under-pinned by a Diploma in Management from the Open University and an MA in HRM, with career development as the dissertation subject, from Nottingham Business School as well as a coaching qualification.
Wearing another hat, I have had a long connection with an international exchange programme and am very proud to have served as European President of the alumni association. My connection with this programme has given me some tremendous experiences. One of those was presiding over a meeting held on the side of an alp in Switzerland - one step back and I could well have tumbled down into William Tell's lake. Another was giving one of the key-note speeches at a conference in Manila.
Then there was being stuck on the side of a Swiss mountain, knee-deep in snow in the middle of a hailstorm not to mention being horrendously sea-sick on a trawler off the Swedish coast and being faced with a dinner of barbecued pig just after making to the shore. I also managed to beat a hasty retreat from some head-hunters in the Philippines.
However, after all that, I'm now back in the village where I grew up, working from my home office where I can look over the fields towards the Wolds - gentle rolling hills - that straggle the borders of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
And from there I hope to share some of my knowledge and experience with you - and to have the pleasure of getting to know some of you.
