I’ve said a million times that I was not expecting or planning to be where I am now, but I ended up here because it was right. And what’s right for me wouldn’t be right for everyone else. People go to medical school to become doctors or law school to become lawyers. Some degrees lead directly to certain career fields, and that’s great! But that’s not the case for everyone. Artists don’t go to art school to become artists; they go to art school because they are artists. Their detour to school doesn’t make them any less of an artist, it just adds value to the work that they’ll do later. Sometimes, where you go (now) doesn’t change where you’re going (later). And I’m not just talking about taking time off to go back to school. Your detour could be a lower-level position, an internship, an apprenticeship, or anything else that you weren’t expecting to do.
If you feel like you keep hitting a brick wall on your path, stop wasting time and energy trying to break down the wall. Just go around it! Yes, it will make your journey a few steps longer, but you’ll find that you will eventually end up on the same path, continuing on your way. Sometimes you will have to answer phones and run errands before you’re the CEO. But ask yourself: Am I really trying to become a CEO, or am I just trying to avoid being the one to run the errands. Learning to let go of your need for instant gratification, and trying something different will save you a lot of time in the long run. But first:
- Be honest with yourself about what you want and how far you’re willing to go to get it.
- Be patient when it feels tedious.
- Think smarter, not harder.