The path to deciding what career you would pursue in the future usually starts in SS1 in most schools, where you are ferried off to Science/Technology, Commercial or the Arts depending on how well you performed in your Junior School Exams.
But how can you be so certain you are on the right path? Also, some of you are already determined in your hearts to be lawyers, engineers, doctors, and accountants; but how can you be so sure it’s the path for YOU?
Let’s consider some factors.
1. You Can’t Completely Figure Out the Future
Even young people who have a plan don’t really know what will happen, because life doesn’t always go according to plan, though a few people might do exactly what they set out to do.
So if you can’t figure out the future, what do you do? Don’t focus on the future. Focus on what you can do right now that will be good no matter what the future brings. Make stuff. Build stuff. Learn skills. Go on adventures. Make friends. These things will help in any future.
2. Learn to Be Good with Discomfort
Getting the best things in life are often hard, and if you shy away from difficulty and discomfort, you will miss out. You will live a life of safety.
If you get good at being accustomed to a little discomfort, you can do anything. How do you get good at this? Do things now that are uncomfortable and hard – on purpose. But start with small doses. Tackle that Maths problem even if you would rather not; speak and write correctly; learn a new word daily and use it in everyday speech. The list is endless.
When you find yourself avoiding discomfort, push yourself just a little bit more (within limits of reason and safety of course).
3. Choose a Career Based on Your Interests and Passion, Not Current Trends
The point here is not that you shouldn’t worry about what jobs are lucrative at the present moment, but your decision should be influenced more by who you are, and what you love than what’s going on around the job market.
4. Learn More about Your Mind
Most people don’t realise that fear controls them. Learn how your mind works, and you will be much better at all of this. This involves accurate self-knowledge – that is understanding your feelings and events as they happen, and interpreting them accurately.
For example: Did you fail that course because you don’t have a head for it, or because you didn’t grasp the principles well? You see how different both conclusions are? Also, the one you settle for will influence your opinion about the matter, and determine how you respond to it from then onward.
Find out what you love to do, why you love doing them, what aspects of it make you happy. Find out also what you are not really good at and why that is the case. Could it be improved upon, or will your time be best spent on other pursuits? Yes, it’s a lot of work, and that’s the reason so few undertake this all-important task.
5. Learn the Connection Between Work and Money
You have to make someone believe in you enough to hire you or buy your products/service, which means you have to figure out why you are worthy of someone believing in you. You have to become worthy. And you have to learn to communicate that to people so they will want to buy from or hire you.
Whether you are selling stuff or trying to get a job, you have to do this. And you get better with practice.
6. Start Now
Most people waste much time on things that don’t matter like TV, video games, social media, and reading the news. Not that you should be a bore, but you shouldn’t spend a large tranche of your time on these. But if you did a sketch every day, started writing a web app, or did a little more research on something that interests you, at the end of a year you will have something great.
Start small, and everyday if possible.
7. Be Ready for Opportunities
If you do all of the above, or at least most of it, you will be amazing. You will be way ahead of pretty much every other person. Also, opportunities will come your way if you have your eyes open. These opportunities might come along, and you have to be ready to seize them. Take risks — that’s one of the advantages of being young, and if none come along, create your own!
You may not know full well what the future holds for you, but if you live your life in such a way that you are always willing to leave your comfort zone, you can be sure that there WILL ALWAYS be a space for you in the world.
See More: What Would You Like To Be In Future? Use These 5 Steps To Find Out