Forget The Plan: Look For The Open Doors

“Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing, that we see too late the one that is open.” - Alexander Graham Bell

Within the world of unscripted improvised theatre and storytelling, you often hit a brick wall or 'block' in the storyline - usually because another improviser blocks the path you thought you were taking a scene.  But that block actually creates an opportunity to take on another storyline - a fresh route that you only see because of the brick wall that's now in front of you.

But in order to see the opportunity, you've got to stop focussing on the block in front of you and start looking around for new openings and opportunities. When you do that you create amazing scenes and innovative stories that audiences love.

The same applies to you and your career.

Regardless of the challenges and brick walls within your market, your firm and your job, there will always be other doors and routes open to you - even if they are exit routes to a completely new challenge or major change in lifestyle.

So stop staring at the closed doors and blocks created by the recession and stop lamenting at lost opportunities. Instead start looking around to find the open doors and routes that are available to you. They may not have been part of your 'plan', but if you start improvising instead of planning, the economic downturn could turn out to be the catalyst you needed to transform your career and lifestyle in the way you've always wanted.

By Sital Ruparelia

Comments

[Melissa]

So true. You can't completely chart your path in life -- sometimes you just have to take what comes and work with it.

I talked about similar idea in a recent post:

http://rodneysjobquest.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/redefining-success/

Not being flexible with what happens in life ends up making this life transition more stressful. Yes, it's unfortunate when someone has to experience that loss (the death of expectations are always hard), but, really, you can't go back. You can only move forward.

[Keith DeLong]

Very poetic, thanks. Inflexibility is a huge obstacle to career growth. As employees and humans in general, we become rigid in our expectations and myopic in our planning. Out time on the clock and time off the clock can become fun and creative again when we begin consciously to open ourselves to new and unexpected paths that will allow us to move forward. The best day for me is one that leads to unexpected new opportunities!