“So a career model that celebrated stepping on others or pushing them aside to reach my goals never felt right to me. Working with others is central to what I do and what I care about. No river is truly alone: it’s fed by many tributaries along the way and contributes to other rivers in turn. Every time rivers join together, they become stronger.”
This quote comes from Bridget Thoreson in her article, “Busting the career ladder myth.” She claims that rather than a career ladder, it’s a career river with ebbs and flows. The end is not the ceiling, it’s the ocean, a thriving ecosystem supported by many parts.
The quote above resonates with me because I, too, enjoy working with others. I won’t lie and say I don’t value my own, personal successes that I work alone to achieve. However, I really do love collaborating, hearing the input of others and being inspired by their work. It helps me become better. Just like Thoreson says, when rivers, or people, join, they become stronger.
Thoreson also mentions embracing variety in your career. I have always known that this is what I will have to do. The beauty of journalism, public relations, marketing and advertising is that you can work in practically any field. Further, you can work in a small department, at an agency, in non-profits, for a school, in the medical field, etc., etc., etc. The options are practically endless. Though this is beautiful, it’s daunting. I have no idea where I want to be working. I wish someone could just tell me: “this is what you will love, do this.” But that’s not the reality of life. Instead, I will have to try, try and try again until I find a field, subject of work and work environment that I like. Thoreson says, “We need to give ourselves the freedom to explore what matters to us instead of locking ourselves to one inflexible path.” To hear this, makes me feel good. The easy way will not come to me, I will have to find what I like through time and trial.
Although my goal is to succeed and be better every day than I am the day before, I want to make an impact. I can’t be solely focused on myself. I want to bring benefits to an entire ecosystem. This has always been my goal, even before I decided public relations was the career for me. I like Thoreson’s method because it makes uncertainty feel ok. It preaches that instead of climbing only up, you can go around, over or through. At this point in my life when I am on the verge of a career, but the path is so ambiguous, this helps ease my mind. It’s a more peaceful way of thinking about life and I think we can all always use a little more peace.
Ruthie's Writings. 