Life is mysterious and magic, and we are always trying to find that shortcut, but there are none.
I am reading "how will you measure your life".
One of the chapter talks about deliberate planning and serendipity.
It is a topic that hits home.
The author says both of those approaches apply in different conditions.
They can be suitable for building a career and outside when applied right.
My experience is a tad different.
I have applied both of them together.
In fact, even when I am not watching deliberate short term planning & long term serendipity is the answer.
At times, you need to work on a specific swim lane, and keep your head down.
but in the larger scheme of things, that is a blip. One doesn't need to worry too much.
If you don't close yourself off, other opportunities will show up.
They may not look like how you thought.
Be deliberate on your swim lane, while keeping yourself open.
That is how life uncovers.
We build career and life over long periods.
Building with a deliberate mind and focusing on the end goal is a sure shot way to failure.
Here is my biggest argument.
The deliberate way of life assumes that you know what you want. and That it is right for you.
But, we are malleable. We are ever changing.
It may surprise you if you look back and see where you are today.
This is where you wanted to be.
This was the target, may be.
But today, it feels like you have further more miles to go.
That is how our mind is.
So, starting with end in mind, forcing yourself into a deliberate path is a recipe for disaster.
The best model in my mind is
Stay Open. Opportunities may not look like how you have envisioned. Entertain possibilities.
Spend more time in evaluating opportunities than ignoring.
Once you commit, put deliberate action in the short to medium term. Fail fast if you will, but put everything in it.
In my career this is how I have played out. and I have done well.
I am not CEO of a multi-billion dollar company, but this has served me well.
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