WHAT DOES YOUR 30,000 FT. VIEW LOOK LIKE?
Do you take time to reflect on your career goals and objectives occasionally? Like you, perhaps, it’s not something I consciously do on a regular basis. Perhaps we all should.
The term “30,000-foot view” popped into my head during a recent trip to see family, and I began comparing the literal 30,000 ft. view to the coined phrase so often used to reflect on various professional goals and objectives. These are the analogies scratched into my mental notebook.
TAKE-OFF
We usually experience great anticipation during take-off, even though the landscape around us becomes unclear. We sit back as momentum builds and wait for that comforting feeling when lift-off finally occurs. My publishing career took off in college with part-time gigs at two Iowa newspapers, the Ames Daily Tribune and Tri-County Times in Slater. I truly took flight professionally when I landed a job at the Harlan Newspapers in 1983, selling advertising for the Tribune, News-Advertiser, PennySaver and Rocket.
ASCENT
The ascent is where we learn a great deal about life in the working world, and have likely experienced a bit of turbulence along the way. It is during this time that we make mistakes, learn from them, and then make some more. I was fortunate to have tremendous on-the-job mentors, regular training through association conferences, and lessons from the school of hard knocks. Although we continue to learn throughout our careers, we acquired a great deal of knowledge about our jobs, people and ourselves during the ascent.
CRUISING ALTITUDE
Life takes on more order and structure when cruising altitude is reached after years of experience. This is when we are able to loosen the seatbelt and “move about the cabin” without fear of falling. When I reached “cruising altitude”, goals and objectives were realized in my professional and personal life, including a steady income, a house without wheels and a beautiful family. Don’t confuse the word “cruising” with “resting”. We must continue to stretch ourselves and take on new challenges with gusto. While we become more comfortable in our roles, we will occasionally need to return to our seats, buckle up and work through a few bumps.
PREPARE FOR LANDING
While still cruising (and experiencing bumps along the way), we may begin to prepare for our professional landing. Depending upon your age, health and devotion to the profession, you may be cleared for landing soon, or you may be in a holding pattern for a few years. Until that time, continue to appreciate the challenges and opportunities that come your way in the publishing industry, and enjoy the camaraderie of your co-workers and MFCP Association members.
The next time you fly, take a look at your career and life from 30,000 ft. above the ground. I’ll bet it will appear much clearer and less hectic from there.
Mike
The term “30,000-foot view” popped into my head during a recent trip to see family, and I began comparing the literal 30,000 ft. view to the coined phrase so often used to reflect on various professional goals and objectives. These are the analogies scratched into my mental notebook.
TAKE-OFF
We usually experience great anticipation during take-off, even though the landscape around us becomes unclear. We sit back as momentum builds and wait for that comforting feeling when lift-off finally occurs. My publishing career took off in college with part-time gigs at two Iowa newspapers, the Ames Daily Tribune and Tri-County Times in Slater. I truly took flight professionally when I landed a job at the Harlan Newspapers in 1983, selling advertising for the Tribune, News-Advertiser, PennySaver and Rocket.
ASCENT
The ascent is where we learn a great deal about life in the working world, and have likely experienced a bit of turbulence along the way. It is during this time that we make mistakes, learn from them, and then make some more. I was fortunate to have tremendous on-the-job mentors, regular training through association conferences, and lessons from the school of hard knocks. Although we continue to learn throughout our careers, we acquired a great deal of knowledge about our jobs, people and ourselves during the ascent.
CRUISING ALTITUDE
Life takes on more order and structure when cruising altitude is reached after years of experience. This is when we are able to loosen the seatbelt and “move about the cabin” without fear of falling. When I reached “cruising altitude”, goals and objectives were realized in my professional and personal life, including a steady income, a house without wheels and a beautiful family. Don’t confuse the word “cruising” with “resting”. We must continue to stretch ourselves and take on new challenges with gusto. While we become more comfortable in our roles, we will occasionally need to return to our seats, buckle up and work through a few bumps.
PREPARE FOR LANDING
While still cruising (and experiencing bumps along the way), we may begin to prepare for our professional landing. Depending upon your age, health and devotion to the profession, you may be cleared for landing soon, or you may be in a holding pattern for a few years. Until that time, continue to appreciate the challenges and opportunities that come your way in the publishing industry, and enjoy the camaraderie of your co-workers and MFCP Association members.
The next time you fly, take a look at your career and life from 30,000 ft. above the ground. I’ll bet it will appear much clearer and less hectic from there.
Mike