#LifeHack: Career Path vs Life Path - S1E1
We've been preoccupied with worrying about our career paths, but there's a higher-level path that should be our primary concern before thinking about our careers.
My Journey
At the very beginning of my career, my main goal was simply to find a job where I could code and get paid well. I love coding, and I didn't think much about my career path beyond that. After finishing my thesis, my only concern was landing my first coding job.
Fortunately, I met someone from a leading tech education platform who informed me about an opportunity to join their talent pool. I prepared for the interview and eventually got my first job at an e-grocery startup called Sayurbox.
Sayurbox provided everything I needed at that time. I got paid to code, which I loved. For a while, I stopped worrying about my career path. However, after three years, I realized I was stuck and hadn't given much thought to my future career.
I began to consider my career path more seriously, but I was so busy enjoying my work at Sayurbox that I got lost in the ups and downs of the job. The environment was comfortable and enjoyable, but eventually, I felt stuck and my growth stagnated. Sayurbox had become my comfort zone.
The only thing that pushed me out of one phase and into another was the realization that I had been in my comfort zone for too long. I moved from one comfort zone to another, seeking new challenges, learning new things, and meeting amazing people.
After some intense self-reflection, I decided to leave Sayurbox and join a new company. The new job was exciting, with new problems to solve, new friends to meet, and bigger responsibilities. However, moving from my five-year comfort zone wasn't easy. I experienced another life crisis, which was expected, as crises often push my brain to work better than when I'm in a comfort zone.
While focusing on my new professional job, I never stopped thinking about my career path. I read more books, learned new things, and discussed career paths with many friends.
Career Path vs. Life Path
For several months, I have been running a weekly free class for people interested in competitive programming, with the help of my friend Ricky. Every two weeks, we give our students a break from competitive programming by holding sharing sessions, sometimes inviting guests from various backgrounds.
Recently, I invited my friend Fahrein to give our students a perspective on the world of NGOs. Unexpectedly, we spent most of the time discussing career paths and life paths. Fahrein shared his experience of a crisis he faced at 18, which led him to therapy for the next few years. Until one day day, in one of his therapy session, His therapist asked him, "What is your life goal?" Fahrein replied, "I want to retire at 30 with a certain amount of money." The therapist followed up with, "After you get that money, then what?" Fahrein couldn't answer.
He started thinking about the question given by his therapist. And finally he realized that solely focusing on his career path made him very stressed and discontent. From that time, he decided to let his life path drive.
What Kind of Life Do You Want?
Sometimes, we're too focused on our retirement plans and career paths that we forget to ask the higher-level question: "What do you want in your life?" Our answers might include:
I want to become a Software Engineer.
I want to become a Startup Founder.
I want to become a CEO.
I want to retire at 30.
I want to have a certain amount of money.
These are “Career Path” kind of questions. They are concrete and achievable, and maybe you will achieved anytime soon, but they might leave you feeling empty once you achieve them. Many people regret sacrificing so much to achieve these goals, realizing too late that this isn't what they truly wanted in life.
Let the Life Path Drive!
Career paths often drive our lives, but they can lead to dissatisfaction even after achieving our goals. Your career dictates where you live, the food you eat, and the people you leave behind. It consumes much of your time, often without you realizing it, until you understand that this isn't what you want from life.
When you let your life path drive, you take control. If you want to stay close to your family, you can reject a job that forces you to move away. If you want to help others improve their quality of life, you can leave a job that requires unethical practices.
My Life Path
Personally, my life path is to help people improve their quality of life. Realizing this made me see that I had spent too much time on my career and forgotten my life purpose. I then decided to realign my career with my life path. I started:
A non-profit organization that helps people in various aspects.
A free competitive programming class under my NGO.
Writing more blog posts to help readers.
Learning more about philosophy, religions, and history to better understand humanity.
Shifting my career towards a leadership role to have a greater impact.
Focusing on my life path has given me the power to drive my career path to align with it. This approach is fulfilling, and I feel more content than when I was solely pursuing a career path.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it's crucial to balance your career path with your life path. By aligning your career with your life goals, you can achieve true fulfillment and happiness. As the famous quote by Steve Jobs goes,
"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do." — Steve Jobs
Let your life path drive your career, and you will find a more meaningful and satisfying journey.
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