Something seemed very wrong with the way Id been taught to think about my career progression.
Like so many of us, Id heard professional journeys described as climbing a ladder or following a path.
But as I moved forward in my work as a journalist, I wasnt moving in a straight line.
The field I was pursuing, called audience engagement, was relatively new.
How was I supposed to know which path to take when it was still under construction?
I also didnt see the ultimate goal of my career as reaching the top of the food chain.
I have no desire to be a CEO.
Its diversity of thought and experience that drives creativity and innovation.
Finding your flow
A secret I only fully realized recently: I am not a robot.
Some days I have more energy than others, or Im better able to think of the big picture.
And my work history also has periods of great change and some slower spells.
Instead, Ive come to accept that everything happens in its own time.
As long as Im learning, Im moving toward my ultimate goal, or ocean.
For me, its not about climbing to the top.
We can each define our own destinations.
Once we do, it becomes clearer which choices will help us reach that ocean.
This also helps with career changes.
It feels like a step back.
A rivers curves and changes in direction are all part of the journey.
What came before informs what flows after.
This takes some of the pressure off job-hunting decisions, too.
Not only is it ok to shift directions, its expected.
Im rejecting the career ladder metaphor in favor of the career river.
Heres why:
1.
The ultimate goal of the career ladder is: reach the top.
After all, theres no Grand Canyon without the Colorado River.
A career ladder that falls is broken.
A river becomes a waterfall, and then keeps flowing.
Cooperation, not competition
Im not the lone wolf journalist you see in movies.
I wasnt interested in winning Pulitzers or breaking the big investigative story solo.
In fact, I only became a reporter so I could one day be an editor.
What I was most interested in was working with others to make our entire newspaper better.
Today, I work on collaborative projects among many newsrooms to create more meaningful and impactful journalism.
Working with others is central to what I do and what I care about.
Every time rivers join together, they become stronger.
My career is richer not weaker for having others contribute their expertise.
Ready, set, flow
The stories we tell ourselves matter.
Id rather live in a professional world of rivers, where we all can go with the flow together.
This article by Bridget Thoreson was originally published on theZapier blogand is republished here with permission.
you could read the original articlehere.
Story byBridget Thoreson
Bridget is a journalist and consultant specializing in collaborations and audience engagement.
She has supported 113 news organizations on developing strategies to better reach and serve their audiences.
