Dreams Change

When I was in fourth grade, I'd often go to school in a Harvard sweatshirt. I wanted to be a lawyer then. That was just before a friend decided she wanted to be a mortician and I got on board with that plan. Twenty years later, I mapped out my entire career from my late twenties to retirement, by year. It included degrees and promotions I would earn, companies I would work for, and a host of skills I would build over time. During a recent meeting with a young mentee, we talked about careers and life. (She had a drawing of her own, much like mine.) I shared how my life had played out thus far... how my very detailed plans had failed to capture things like: getting divorced, getting laid off, or being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. But how it also failed to capture: finding the courage to start my own company, building an expertise in subject areas I (surprisingly) love, and even becoming her mentor. As you build or revise your development plan, and as you help others with theirs, be sure to leave room for life. Because plans may change, but one truth remains: we'll never realize our true purpose if we don't make room for our dreams to evolve with us over time. Be wise: don't commit to one position or one plan; commit to learning and growth. All good things start there.