Ladders, Paths and Mountains
"And she's buying a stairway to heaven.."
Remember when grown-ups ask, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" We had such beautiful dreams...astronauts, pilots, doctors, and other interesting choices.
As we age upward, our careers start with a question mark that fades away, ending in commas and a final full stop.
The ladder
Our careers are rigid ladders. Each rung is a promotion, a milestone, and a step closer to the highest rung. We're taught to climb them using a specific method: start at the bottom, climb up, manage a team, climb up and then manage teams of teams, climb up and then manage higher teams. The responsibilities broaden eventually, yet remain vague. No one knows what they're doing but are on the higher part of the ladder. Keep looking down to see how far up they're.
When we enter the ladder, we solve concrete, isolated problems, like our high school math exercises. We use our creativity to solve a specific set of instructions.
Creative minds are often hired to untangle well-defined puzzles.
As we climb, the role shifts. Problems become less defined, but desires—and expectations—grow more complex. We don't solve puzzles; we create the missing pieces, and as we go higher, we define more and more pieces.
While we do it all, it becomes key to keep the ladder stable. While many hold the base, fewer and fewer support the higher rungs further up. The ladder becomes a self-preserving system.
Let's say we don't want to be on the ladder. What do we do?
Paths
Since time began, the Dragon and the Phoenix have guarded over and guided the intertwining paths of life, maintaining the careful balance between the twin forces of choice and destiny. These two powerful beings share the noble task of overseeing the many roads that lead to divine wisdom.
From a board game called Tsuro 🐉🐦🔥
When we decide on a path, we often see how far we can see and make a choice. When multiple paths are presented, we make a judgement call, standing in a position like in Robert Frost's poem.
Unlike ladders, each path is unpredictable. There are some turns, junctions, circles, rugged paths, safer and unsafe roads, and everything in between. It's not a linear path. You don't know your destiny, but oh my, you enjoy the journey so much. You take your time to walk through the path.
The obstacles are expected, and you'll wander through them. The paths we chose are all about career discovery. There isn't a single predetermined trajectory. They evolve with time and provide a landscape of experiences and overall personality development.
The cautious would rather not walk the path.
The curious would instead not take the ladder.
How does one balance curiosity and caution in the professional world?
Mountains
How does one climb but take a path instead of the ladder? Mountains!
Let's enter my favourite part of the story.
With years of trekking behind me, it's all about highs and lows—rivers, valleys, wild animals, unforeseen issues, and many irritating moments. Be curious every step and cautious every other step.
The distance so far, and altitude so high doesn't account for anything. Your worth is measured by the beautiful trail you've left footprints upon.
The stairway to heaven isn't about reaching the top. It's the diversity of experiences one brings into one's workplace. If you crave multiple disciplines and are okay with not being at the top of the ladder, you can blend progress and stay creative all the way.
If you happen to be on the top, you look back and wonder, "Will I climb down all over again?" The answer is yes, as there are enough mountains to climb and paths to trek through.
Your career is not a ladder to be conquered but a path to be explored. And it isn't a straight path laid out by others; it's raw, untouched mountains.
Go climb them!
