Picking the right road

This post from Seth Godin inspired me (my emphasis added):

Four roads

You might be stuck because you pick the wrong fork on a looping road. You keep getting better at the route you cover, but it doesn’t go anywhere, you just keep doing it over and over. Nine years of experience is very different from one year of experience, nine times.

You might be impatient or unable to stick to your decision to take this particular road, and thus you’re always starting on a new road. Since the new road is always strange to you, you rarely get any better at getting where you’re going.

You might be on the wrong road. Sure, you get better at navigating your way, you can walk faster, you feel more comfortable–but this road is never going to lead much of anywhere.

And, if you’re lucky, you might be on the right road, and getting better as you go.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this sort of thing recently, and it fits nicely with my new driver status.

To extend the analogy, I’ve experienced lots of different roads over the last 10 years. Often I’ve switched because I’ve been tempted away; moving from a country lane to a bustling motorway.

The changes that have been the most valuable are the ones that I’ve taken without a clear view of what the next road will look like; prompted by a real feeling that the potholes or curious direction of the current one make it the wrong place to be.

I think a road is a good analogy for how many jobs feel. Good ones should have a clear starting point and, if not an end point, then a collection of exciting landmarks or interesting places to stop by and refresh yourself.

I am looking forward to getting rolling on a new road soon. Taking the time out to pick the right one has been the best decision.