The Life Graph

Unlike Break Even Analysis where you get to see a 45 degree line, most of the graphs including stock market indices, inflation rate of a country and other analysis on economy often have chaotic up and down curves. This is applicable to life as well. In your career and personal life you get to see various upward and downward curves. How should you handle such twists and turns in your life? Often, a life without twist and turns is considered to be monotonous and boring too. One hand let’s welcome these twists and turns that make our life exciting, and on the other hand, let’s also learn the way to keep ourselves sailing through these waves.

People often get used to a climatic condition, working environment or a certain way of life. After living in such static environments of years together, such people find it difficult to change to a new environment. The solution is – be versatile, be dynamic and fit into any environment.

A job change often results in entering into a new environment. Some privileges gained, some privileges lost. Some benefits gained and some benefits lost. There are companies that would give lesser salary packages, but stack it up with medical insurance, furnished accommodation and round-trips per annum. There are companies who would give one consolidated package and ask you to handle the rest on your own. There are companies that would give a higher package and benefits. But what is the barometer to make decisions here?

Draw an X-Y graph with X axis with your Age and Y axis the various stages of your career. Locate exactly where you stand. Understand the immediately available next level up and know exactly what the level below is. Analyze the average years it takes for you to cross every level. Understand exactly how long it will take you to reach the level next. Score yourselves with what you exactly look for in a job and your expectations from the management. Score your delivery as well. This will tell you whether you have lost or gained privileges. A simple mathematics of adding up dinars may not be the right approach.

If you understand where you are and know why you are there, there is no reason to crib or scold yourselves. In summary, no two conditions are same. The only fact that is constant in two different environments is you. You have to adapt to different conditions and enjoy the new environment and new challenges.

Remember, if you know exactly what to do and you are going to do the same for the years to come your life becomes monotonous. Be versatile, be dynamic and be happy always.

-Mohan