Early Career Advice: Focus on New Experiences
I've begun an exciting journey with Pavilion (formerly Revenue Collective), diving into their CRO, Chief Revenue Officer, School. This program isn't just about crunching numbers or forecasting strategies; it's a deep dive into the essence of revenue generation and team building. Interestingly, it's an article assigned as pre-work that's sparking the most conversations among us.
cdixon | Climbing the wrong hill
The article "Climbing the Wrong Hill" uses a computer science analogy as a thought experiment for thinking about your career. It describes how individuals often stay in careers they don't enjoy due to short-term gains, likening this to a hill-climbing algorithm that gets stuck on a smaller hill rather than reaching the highest peak. The author suggests that early in your career, it's beneficial to explore various paths, akin to adding randomness in the algorithm, to find the most fulfilling career trajectory, even if it means starting from the bottom in a new field.
Exploring new experiences early in your career is how you find your true passion and skillset. During this phase, you have the flexibility to try different roles, industries, and geographic locations. This exploration can lead to unexpected opportunities and a better understanding of what you enjoy and excel at. It's also a time to build a diverse skill set and network, which can be invaluable later in your career. While it might feel risky, the early years of your career are the best time to take calculated risks and discover your optimal career path.
Reflecting on my own start as an engineer, I realize that, while I ultimately chose a different path, the skills and resilience I developed were invaluable. Those early experiences in problem-solving, research, and data analysis equipped me to tackle complex challenges. They taught me perseverance and, most importantly, helped me understand that engineering wasn't my true calling.
Planning for success is vital, but sometimes, it's the unexpected detours that lead us to our most fulfilling destinations.
