Charles Dickens once wrote some magical words it is the best of times the worst
words it is the best of times the worst
words it is the best of times the worst of times but possibly it was written for
of times but possibly it was written for
of times but possibly it was written for our times when we look around we’ll live
our times when we look around we’ll live
our times when we look around we’ll live in a world of complete contradictions as
in a world of complete contradictions as
in a world of complete contradictions as the glaciers and icebergs melt we are
the glaciers and icebergs melt we are
the glaciers and icebergs melt we are more water but less water to drink we
more water but less water to drink we
more water but less water to drink we have more development less equality we
have more development less equality we
have more development less equality we have more colleges less education we
have more colleges less education we
have more colleges less education we have more opportunities less careers we
have more opportunities less careers we
have more opportunities less careers we have more success less happiness and
have more success less happiness and
have more success less happiness and when I think about this as an HR
when I think about this as an HR
when I think about this as an HR practitioner now for many years meeting
practitioner now for many years meeting
practitioner now for many years meeting different genre of talent young old in
different genre of talent young old in
different genre of talent young old in different industries one of the things
different industries one of the things
different industries one of the things which has always perplexed me is this
which has always perplexed me is this
which has always perplexed me is this entire confusion about what’s a
entire confusion about what’s a
entire confusion about what’s a successful career people talk about
successful career people talk about
successful career people talk about success in careers I have rarely found
success in careers I have rarely found
success in careers I have rarely found people ask about happiness and careers
people ask about happiness and careers
people ask about happiness and careers and you’ve ever had the most successful
and you’ve ever had the most successful
and you’ve ever had the most successful career but if you were not happy was it
career but if you were not happy was it
career but if you were not happy was it worth it and given the context of the
worth it and given the context of the
worth it and given the context of the world today which is VUCA so volatile so
world today which is VUCA so volatile so
world today which is VUCA so volatile so uncertain traditional career planning is
uncertain traditional career planning is
uncertain traditional career planning is dead and therefore mighty ceases
dead and therefore mighty ceases
dead and therefore mighty ceases individuals today who are wanting to
individuals today who are wanting to
individuals today who are wanting to build careers must design their careers
build careers must design their careers
build careers must design their careers and what’s a career it’s not just a set
and what’s a career it’s not just a set
and what’s a career it’s not just a set of titles or your bank balance or your
of titles or your bank balance or your
of titles or your bank balance or your corporate affiliations it’s a lot about
corporate affiliations it’s a lot about
corporate affiliations it’s a lot about you careers today are more internal than
you careers today are more internal than
you careers today are more internal than external careers are about a mosaic of
external careers are about a mosaic of
external careers are about a mosaic of experiences it is about a set of
experiences it is about a set of
experiences it is about a set of experiences you go through which help
experiences you go through which help
experiences you go through which help you
you
you relevant today and also be relevant
relevant today and also be relevant
relevant today and also be relevant tomorrow to impact today and to impact
tomorrow to impact today and to impact
tomorrow to impact today and to impact tomorrow and therefore couriers are
tomorrow and therefore couriers are
tomorrow and therefore couriers are really about building yourself up
really about building yourself up
really about building yourself up through asset and series of experiences
through asset and series of experiences
through asset and series of experiences which tackle more of complexity and more
which tackle more of complexity and more
which tackle more of complexity and more of uncertainty this I think is very
of uncertainty this I think is very
of uncertainty this I think is very important for everyone to understand
important for everyone to understand
important for everyone to understand otherwise we will always remain a
otherwise we will always remain a
otherwise we will always remain a prisoner of a past education or a past
prisoner of a past education or a past
prisoner of a past education or a past experience none of which is going to be
experience none of which is going to be
experience none of which is going to be relevant in the world of tomorrow now if
relevant in the world of tomorrow now if
relevant in the world of tomorrow now if you want to design your career there are
you want to design your career there are
you want to design your career there are two concepts that I personally feel are
two concepts that I personally feel are
two concepts that I personally feel are very useful one is what I call the life
very useful one is what I call the life
very useful one is what I call the life space the other is what I call the work
space the other is what I call the work
space the other is what I call the work space life space is all about your
space life space is all about your
space life space is all about your deeply embedded life interests your
deeply embedded life interests your
deeply embedded life interests your passions your interests your hobbies
passions your interests your hobbies
passions your interests your hobbies where do you come alive where do you
where do you come alive where do you
where do you come alive where do you draw your module from and workspace is
draw your module from and workspace is
draw your module from and workspace is your operating operating context of
your operating operating context of
your operating operating context of where you actually deliver most of your
where you actually deliver most of your
where you actually deliver most of your time now it’s very interesting that the
time now it’s very interesting that the
time now it’s very interesting that the two spaces come together in very
two spaces come together in very
two spaces come together in very different ways for different people the
different ways for different people the
different ways for different people the idol is a perfect Venn diagram but we
idol is a perfect Venn diagram but we
idol is a perfect Venn diagram but we know life there is no perfect solution
know life there is no perfect solution
know life there is no perfect solution there is no perfect answer sometimes for
there is no perfect answer sometimes for
there is no perfect answer sometimes for example workaholics life happens to be a
example workaholics life happens to be a
example workaholics life happens to be a little dot in the life space you you
little dot in the life space you you
little dot in the life space you you seek and get your energy from your work
seek and get your energy from your work
seek and get your energy from your work you just need to be alive whereas for
you just need to be alive whereas for
you just need to be alive whereas for others you need to earn your bread and
others you need to earn your bread and
others you need to earn your bread and butter and therefore it’s a small dot
butter and therefore it’s a small dot
butter and therefore it’s a small dot but you draw your energy your identity
but you draw your energy your identity
but you draw your energy your identity your nourishment from life from things
your nourishment from life from things
your nourishment from life from things beyond work or it could be a combination
beyond work or it could be a combination
beyond work or it could be a combination thereof
thereof
thereof the reason I cite this is because life
the reason I cite this is because life
the reason I cite this is because life and careers often are trade-off
and careers often are trade-off
and careers often are trade-off decisions if not alignment decisions and
decisions if not alignment decisions and
decisions if not alignment decisions and the earth the sooner we are comfortable
the earth the sooner we are comfortable
the earth the sooner we are comfortable with this reality we can design a career
with this reality we can design a career
with this reality we can design a career choices more accurately both for success
choices more accurately both for success
choices more accurately both for success and for happiness so let’s move forward
and for happiness so let’s move forward
and for happiness so let’s move forward and understand how do you therefore
and understand how do you therefore
and understand how do you therefore build a career it’s like getting into a
build a career it’s like getting into a
build a career it’s like getting into a career gym you need to turn all your
career gym you need to turn all your
career gym you need to turn all your career muscles and you know one of the
career muscles and you know one of the
career muscles and you know one of the first things about building your self up
first things about building your self up
first things about building your self up is to get your fundamentals right I
is to get your fundamentals right I
is to get your fundamentals right I remember a time many years back as a
remember a time many years back as a
remember a time many years back as a teenager when I was learning horse
teenager when I was learning horse
teenager when I was learning horse riding
riding
riding I had a veteran police horseman as my
I had a veteran police horseman as my
I had a veteran police horseman as my instructor and unlike my brothers he got
instructor and unlike my brothers he got
instructor and unlike my brothers he got me the worst possible mount she was a
me the worst possible mount she was a
me the worst possible mount she was a beautiful chestnut mare but she had a
beautiful chestnut mare but she had a
beautiful chestnut mare but she had a mind of her own she would bolt away when
mind of her own she would bolt away when
mind of her own she would bolt away when she was expected to walk she would stand
she was expected to walk she would stand
she was expected to walk she would stand on a hind legs when there was no
on a hind legs when there was no
on a hind legs when there was no provocation she would jump hedges when
provocation she would jump hedges when
provocation she would jump hedges when there was no instruction imagine in
there was no instruction imagine in
there was no instruction imagine in those circumstances I asked my
those circumstances I asked my
those circumstances I asked my instructor
instructor
instructor why is the world so unfair with me why
why is the world so unfair with me why
why is the world so unfair with me why can’t I also have an easier hostile ride
can’t I also have an easier hostile ride
can’t I also have an easier hostile ride on and I remember his words so clearly
on and I remember his words so clearly
on and I remember his words so clearly if you get your fundamentals right and
if you get your fundamentals right and
if you get your fundamentals right and gripped the horse right with your knees
gripped the horse right with your knees
gripped the horse right with your knees irrespective of the prop called the
irrespective of the prop called the
irrespective of the prop called the stirrup which actually adds no value
stirrup which actually adds no value
stirrup which actually adds no value we aren’t comfort you will always be
we aren’t comfort you will always be
we aren’t comfort you will always be able to ride any horse anywhere anytime
able to ride any horse anywhere anytime
able to ride any horse anywhere anytime today I remember those words because
today I remember those words because
today I remember those words because that’s exactly true for careers if we
that’s exactly true for careers if we
that’s exactly true for careers if we can get our fundamentals right it
can get our fundamentals right it
can get our fundamentals right it doesn’t matter where you are in which
doesn’t matter where you are in which
doesn’t matter where you are in which situation no horse or no situation can
situation no horse or no situation can
situation no horse or no situation can get you off its back it’s equally
get you off its back it’s equally
get you off its back it’s equally important for us to remember that when
important for us to remember that when
important for us to remember that when you’re in this stage of building muscles
you’re in this stage of building muscles
you’re in this stage of building muscles we must stop pause reflect which are the
we must stop pause reflect which are the
we must stop pause reflect which are the muscles we’ve not really used which are
muscles we’ve not really used which are
muscles we’ve not really used which are the ones being over exercised is their
the ones being over exercised is their
the ones being over exercised is their balance and we normally never stop and
balance and we normally never stop and
balance and we normally never stop and introspect but this is part of jimang
introspect but this is part of jimang
introspect but this is part of jimang this is part of getting ready and
this is part of getting ready and
this is part of getting ready and sometimes it is good to exercise things
sometimes it is good to exercise things
sometimes it is good to exercise things that you’ve never really used get out of
that you’ve never really used get out of
that you’ve never really used get out of your comfort zone
your comfort zone
your comfort zone do things which you’ve never done before
do things which you’ve never done before
do things which you’ve never done before and if I go back to my little riding
and if I go back to my little riding
and if I go back to my little riding story every part of the body ached who
story every part of the body ached who
story every part of the body ached who when I was learning how to ride at least
when I was learning how to ride at least
when I was learning how to ride at least for the initial days same happens with
for the initial days same happens with
for the initial days same happens with couriers when you’re learning a new
couriers when you’re learning a new
couriers when you’re learning a new skill when you’re getting out of your
skill when you’re getting out of your
skill when you’re getting out of your comfort zone doing something that you’ve
comfort zone doing something that you’ve
comfort zone doing something that you’ve never done before it pains you want to
never done before it pains you want to
never done before it pains you want to regress but that is where couriers need
regress but that is where couriers need
regress but that is where couriers need to nasa t they need resilience they need
to nasa t they need resilience they need
to nasa t they need resilience they need perseverance and you get that right
perseverance and you get that right
perseverance and you get that right couriers are bound to happen I also want
couriers are bound to happen I also want
couriers are bound to happen I also want to talk about this entire thing about
to talk about this entire thing about
to talk about this entire thing about couriers couriers are not a solo sport
couriers couriers are not a solo sport
couriers couriers are not a solo sport you might be the best at your trade but
you might be the best at your trade but
you might be the best at your trade but it doesn’t guarantee that you will have
it doesn’t guarantee that you will have
it doesn’t guarantee that you will have a courier which will last you a lifetime
a courier which will last you a lifetime
a courier which will last you a lifetime couriers is about taking help help from
couriers is about taking help help from
couriers is about taking help help from friends from teachers instructors
friends from teachers instructors
friends from teachers instructors managers bosses peers team members
managers bosses peers team members
managers bosses peers team members friends family people who supplement you
friends family people who supplement you
friends family people who supplement you in areas that are you’re not naturally
in areas that are you’re not naturally
in areas that are you’re not naturally strong in and also you helping others
strong in and also you helping others
strong in and also you helping others become more when you help people become
become more when you help people become
become more when you help people become more your career is more insured and in
more your career is more insured and in
more your career is more insured and in today’s world your reputation precedes
today’s world your reputation precedes
today’s world your reputation precedes you may and if you are in that situation
you may and if you are in that situation
you may and if you are in that situation but a positive reputation has preceded a
but a positive reputation has preceded a
but a positive reputation has preceded a resume there will be more takers for you
resume there will be more takers for you
resume there will be more takers for you then you would otherwise be typically be
then you would otherwise be typically be
then you would otherwise be typically be placed for so I think it’s very
placed for so I think it’s very
placed for so I think it’s very important to widen and deepen your
important to widen and deepen your
important to widen and deepen your network even as you build your career
network even as you build your career
network even as you build your career because taking help and giving help is a
because taking help and giving help is a
because taking help and giving help is a sign of great careerists and this is a
sign of great careerists and this is a
sign of great careerists and this is a very important career design principle
very important career design principle
very important career design principle very briefly I want to also talk about
very briefly I want to also talk about
very briefly I want to also talk about accidents that happen in careers some
accidents that happen in careers some
accidents that happen in careers some are happy accidents moments of
are happy accidents moments of
are happy accidents moments of serendipity fortuitous events you got to
serendipity fortuitous events you got to
serendipity fortuitous events you got to meet the right people you happen to be
meet the right people you happen to be
meet the right people you happen to be the right person the right role these
the right person the right role these
the right person the right role these things do happen
things do happen
things do happen there the prescription is easy grabbed
there the prescription is easy grabbed
there the prescription is easy grabbed the opportunity with both hands you’re a
the opportunity with both hands you’re a
the opportunity with both hands you’re a lucky person if you don’t seize the
lucky person if you don’t seize the
lucky person if you don’t seize the moment you have only yourself to blame
moment you have only yourself to blame
moment you have only yourself to blame but at the same time in the VUCA world
but at the same time in the VUCA world
but at the same time in the VUCA world in which we stay I have seen far too
in which we stay I have seen far too
in which we stay I have seen far too many career derailments for me to ignore
many career derailments for me to ignore
many career derailments for me to ignore the fact that accidents happen and they
the fact that accidents happen and they
the fact that accidents happen and they happen when you are cruising along they
happen when you are cruising along they
happen when you are cruising along they happen suddenly because we have not
happen suddenly because we have not
happen suddenly because we have not realised or asked ourselves are some of
realised or asked ourselves are some of
realised or asked ourselves are some of the skillsets getting a little jagged is
the skillsets getting a little jagged is
the skillsets getting a little jagged is some behavior getting toxic is something
some behavior getting toxic is something
some behavior getting toxic is something else which has worked so well possibly
else which has worked so well possibly
else which has worked so well possibly drying up and if we don’t take such
drying up and if we don’t take such
drying up and if we don’t take such preventative actions accidents do happen
preventative actions accidents do happen
preventative actions accidents do happen and then accidents happen along the
and then accidents happen along the
and then accidents happen along the curve along the bend so I think it’s
curve along the bend so I think it’s
curve along the bend so I think it’s very important for us to periodically
very important for us to periodically
very important for us to periodically make sure that we look at our little
make sure that we look at our little
make sure that we look at our little pieces of our career architecture to
pieces of our career architecture to
pieces of our career architecture to make sure they are relevant and you
make sure they are relevant and you
make sure they are relevant and you remember one of the biggest reasons why
remember one of the biggest reasons why
remember one of the biggest reasons why accidents happen is when people become
accidents happen is when people become
accidents happen is when people become cynical they become eternal critters no
cynical they become eternal critters no
cynical they become eternal critters no one hires a creeper no one wants to keep
one hires a creeper no one wants to keep
one hires a creeper no one wants to keep a crib ax if you’re a manager no one
a crib ax if you’re a manager no one
a crib ax if you’re a manager no one wants to work with a not so sunny
wants to work with a not so sunny
wants to work with a not so sunny manager and this sound very simple but
manager and this sound very simple but
manager and this sound very simple but couriers are not always as logical they
couriers are not always as logical they
couriers are not always as logical they are not always as obvious as we think
are not always as obvious as we think
are not always as obvious as we think because most derailments happen for
because most derailments happen for
because most derailments happen for these reasons so it’s very important for
these reasons so it’s very important for
these reasons so it’s very important for us to remember that like a good safety
us to remember that like a good safety
us to remember that like a good safety principle an accident prevented is
principle an accident prevented is
principle an accident prevented is better than an accident treated so
better than an accident treated so
better than an accident treated so career derailments happen
career derailments happen
career derailments happen you can definitely recover maybe you’ll
you can definitely recover maybe you’ll
you can definitely recover maybe you’ll be laid up for some time you will need
be laid up for some time you will need
be laid up for some time you will need to rewire yourself but if you can
to rewire yourself but if you can
to rewire yourself but if you can prevent an accident by reinventing
prevent an accident by reinventing
prevent an accident by reinventing yourself appropriately at different
yourself appropriately at different
yourself appropriately at different points in time
points in time
points in time that’s a smarter you as I come towards
that’s a smarter you as I come towards
that’s a smarter you as I come towards the close let me remind ourselves not
the close let me remind ourselves not
the close let me remind ourselves not all of us are equally blessed to have
all of us are equally blessed to have
all of us are equally blessed to have the same boxes of paint with which we
the same boxes of paint with which we
the same boxes of paint with which we can paint our careers some have more
can paint our careers some have more
can paint our careers some have more variety some may have only a black and
variety some may have only a black and
variety some may have only a black and white box
white box
white box but remember the best sketches sometimes
but remember the best sketches sometimes
but remember the best sketches sometimes are black-and-white sketches provided we
are black-and-white sketches provided we
are black-and-white sketches provided we know how to use the colors right
know how to use the colors right
know how to use the colors right similarly when you have a range of
similarly when you have a range of
similarly when you have a range of colors what combination of colors really
colors what combination of colors really
colors what combination of colors really helps you paint your picture because our
helps you paint your picture because our
helps you paint your picture because our careers finally are owned by us we have
careers finally are owned by us we have
careers finally are owned by us we have no alibis which as you would to blame
no alibis which as you would to blame
no alibis which as you would to blame everyone from our parents to teachers to
everyone from our parents to teachers to
everyone from our parents to teachers to organizations and managers
organizations and managers
organizations and managers the reality is career painting is our
the reality is career painting is our
the reality is career painting is our intellectual property and therefore my
intellectual property and therefore my
intellectual property and therefore my appeal to everyone who’s wanted to build
appeal to everyone who’s wanted to build
appeal to everyone who’s wanted to build careers and relevant couriers is use
careers and relevant couriers is use
careers and relevant couriers is use your paint well do it
your paint well do it
your paint well do it innovatively do it creatively do it in
innovatively do it creatively do it in
innovatively do it creatively do it in the manner that represents you because
the manner that represents you because
the manner that represents you because ultimately it’s about you it is it must
ultimately it’s about you it is it must
ultimately it’s about you it is it must represent the soul of you it must be
represent the soul of you it must be
represent the soul of you it must be something that actually builds you up
something that actually builds you up
something that actually builds you up one of the reasons of trying to be a
one of the reasons of trying to be a
one of the reasons of trying to be a different painter and trying to clone
different painter and trying to clone
different painter and trying to clone your career on the lines of someone else
your career on the lines of someone else
your career on the lines of someone else is dangerous it is dangerous for the
is dangerous it is dangerous for the
is dangerous it is dangerous for the simple reason that these efforts
simple reason that these efforts
simple reason that these efforts somewhere average you whereas if you
somewhere average you whereas if you
somewhere average you whereas if you focus on creating something which is you
focus on creating something which is you
focus on creating something which is you leveraging the opportunities that is you
leveraging the opportunities that is you
leveraging the opportunities that is you the unique signature strengths that you
the unique signature strengths that you
the unique signature strengths that you have being conscious of what you are not
have being conscious of what you are not
have being conscious of what you are not you will paint a picture which will
you will paint a picture which will
you will paint a picture which will multiply you which will maximize you and
multiply you which will maximize you and
multiply you which will maximize you and when you maximize yourself and you are
when you maximize yourself and you are
when you maximize yourself and you are in sync with your true self with your
in sync with your true self with your
in sync with your true self with your true not with your true purpose I think
true not with your true purpose I think
true not with your true purpose I think that’s the time irrespective of what
that’s the time irrespective of what
that’s the time irrespective of what series of roles and assignments you did
series of roles and assignments you did
series of roles and assignments you did the experiences you repudiated there are
the experiences you repudiated there are
the experiences you repudiated there are newer ones that you acquired you would
newer ones that you acquired you would
newer ones that you acquired you would have finally painted a picture that
have finally painted a picture that
have finally painted a picture that would be you
would be you
would be you and this to me is fulfillment of a good
and this to me is fulfillment of a good
and this to me is fulfillment of a good career design where you’ve designed your
career design where you’ve designed your
career design where you’ve designed your career not only to be authentic and in
career not only to be authentic and in
career not only to be authentic and in the process be successful and most
the process be successful and most
the process be successful and most important
important
important be a happy one so thank you very much
be a happy one so thank you very much
be a happy one so thank you very much and wish everyone a great career in
and wish everyone a great career in
and wish everyone a great career in their lives
”
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