Draw your own map

As the semester comes to a close and I’m getting ever so closer to entering the workforce, the Draw Your Own Map pattern stuck out to me most. Especially since there is much unknown coming soon, and as I start my career, I am sure that I’ll encounter many situations that I would not expect or be familiar with.

Essentially, the Draw Your Own Map pattern deals with your goals and how you achieve them. Although it might be straightforward and easy to say, I want to be at XXX company in X years, or try to save YYY after Y years, it is much harder to break down the smaller short term goals, and that is what the Draw Your Own Map pattern deals with.

As important as it is to have long term goals, without the smaller steps along the way, you might find yourself lost as you pursue your dreams. Not only that, but these small steps allow you to formulate or cement your long term goals too! For example, if you find that as you work on your short term goals, you might realize that your goals in the long term actually aren’t where you want to be. It’ll allow you to pivot if you need to, and if you find that things are perfectly fine, then all the more reason to keep on striving for what you need to do!

Another important part of the pattern is that your map is connected with many other things in your life. A solid map will allow you to connect with “Kindred Spirits” or it’ll give you more “Sustainable motivations.” It’s all interconnected! A solid map will be your road map to course your journey, and though you can never plan for everything. After all, a map with some directions is better than none at all!

And finally, though I realize the importance of a map, if anyone is like me, I think it is also okay to NOT have a map. At least, right away. A map should be made soon, hopefully the earlier the better, but things are always unknown. It’s very easy to just say hey, do this, or do that, but in actuality, it is a bit more difficult. Especially when it comes to something as important as the course of your career or even your life. Instead, it’s okay to make a smaller map. Whether it be a map charting your next 100 steps, or a map for your next three, the point is to just draw a map!