Who gets it right on the first try?
How many people do you know that aren’t happy doing what they’re doing?
They work for 1-3 years. They’re just happy to have a job after school and to finally get a paycheque.
They work for 2-3 more. They don’t love it, but it’s still early. Switching professions is a big decision, so it’s best to be sure.
So they work 3 more. Now they know they don’t like it but they’re pot committed and too afraid to switch.
Why do we expect to get it right on the first try? Especially considering we usually choose our career when we’re barely 20 years old.
In How Will You Measure Your Life, Clayton Christensen says “93% of all companies that ultimately become successful had to abandon their original strategy - because the original plan proved not to be viable.”
I would argue that people are no different - most of us get it wrong on our first try too.
Should you try again?
When are you truly pot-committed?
I think it ultimately depends on what type of life you want. Do you want the stability of your established career? The fulfillment you’ll get from pursuing your vocation? Maybe both?
For those of you who crave a more fulfilling life, I would argue that it’s never too late. Airplanes often take off in the wrong direction. So what? It’s a successful flight as long as they get to their destination. If you don’t like what you’re doing, you can keep flying your plane, or you can course-correct now.
Take-aways from the 93%
There are a few more things we can learn from the 93% of companies that need to pivot to become successful. Christensen continues:
Successful companies don’t succeed because they have the right strategy at the beginning; but rather, because they have money left over after the original strategy fails, so that they can pivot and try another approach.
There are two takeaways:
Stay lean until you figure out a way to profit, and then scale up.
Since most strategies fail, get started trying to find a winning strategy long before you need it.
What Does That Mean For You?
1. Stay Lean
If you’re just graduating university, try to resist lifestyle inflation until you’ve found a career you actually want to stay in (and maybe resist a little longer).
If you’re established but not loving what you do, try to postpone big financial decisions (e.g. upgrading your house or car) until you’re happy with your career.
2. Get Started
If you think you want to be doing something different, get started learning what those things might be. Try wildly different things and iterate. It may take you a while to find something that fulfills you, and it may take you a while longer to get good at it.
Start before you’re burnt out and need a change.
After all:
If you need shade, when is the best time to plant a tree?
15 years ago.
When is the next best time?
Now.