Speaking to a UC Berkeley student going into his last year of college reminded me of Russell Crowe’s final moments before his showdown in Gladiator. Our Berkely gladiator was pre-med and thinking about applying to law school, or business school or maybe dental school. He was decisively indecisive. But one thing was clear, he was ready for the end of his life as he knew it. It was both impressive and sad. Life was about to get serious and he was preparing for it as if he was going into battle. My unsolicited advice to him was clear, never stop adventuring. Life’s adventures keep you young and they are like buying insurance for success and longevity in your career.
People often say that college was the best time of their lives. College is only four years, five if you stretch it. Is everything really downhill after you graduate? The stress of applying to graduate school or finding the “right job” especially in this economy can be very daunting, often making recent grads feel like their lives will surely end after graduation.
With people switching jobs every couple of years and changing careers every seven until the age of 70+, your working life will likely be very long. Adding a little or a lot of adventure along the way is a great way to remember why you’re working so hard to begin with and can actually improve your on-the-job performance.
Yes, we are talking about your two-week vacation to the Grand Canyon every year. But it also means taking micro adventures all along the way. Micro-adventures are about doing activities to connect with that spirit of adventure that people often put away along with the camping gear in between trips. They are essential to maintaining your sanity and can help you cultivate essential career skills.
One of the things that people often complain about after they’ve been working for a while is that they don’t have time to play the piano anymore or they wished they hadn’t stopped taking those martial arts classes. Even with the perfect job, it’s important to find balance. Doing the same thing everyday is hardly balanced. The stimulation from the different courses, types of people and physical activity that you are naturally a part of growing up and in college is part of the reason that life feels so carefree. Not having a real job and sponging off the parents is the other reason.
When entering the workforce, it’s important to hang onto that balance. Whether you’re taking voice lessons or people watching at a café on the weekends, keep your mind and body nimble by continuously stimulating your senses. This is a great way to remain stress free, which already has tons of benefits. But this type of balance is also very important in remaining flexible and having a fresh perspective. These are essential skills for rising through the ranks and creating opportunities.
The instincts that you cultivate in your micro-and big adventures will actually help you perform better in your career. If you don’t think preparing for a triathlon will improve your focus at work, think again. If you are shy and have a hard time giving presentations at your first job, try reading poetry at an open mike night. Your boss might be a welcome sight after crashing and burning in front of a room full of judgmental hipsters.
Balance is key to maintaining a long and prosperous career. Never stop bringing out the adventurer in you and you are almost guaranteed a rewarding and enriching life full of constant growth and learning. Not to mention fun and, oh yeah, lots of adventures. The other key is that there are no guarantees. Always remember to roll with the punches. That one took some adventuring to really learn.
voice lessons that also teaches proper breathing is the best, breathing and singing always go hand in hand *
Singing is a great way to improve inner harmony. Some of us are more blessed than others in this category but the breathing aspect is absolutely accurate. Thanks for sharing.