Career Advise 101: Youth & Career

Following many encounters with young people from different backgrounds such as country, cultures, and personalities, profession, I have observed that there is always a synergy that binds the team together or breaks it apart if not monitored and planned for effectively in a learning, family, community or work setting. For example, during an exchange program if you were to bring youths together from almost the same or different backgrounds who have ambitions, interests, personalities, concerns, and influence, there is a big chance there’s going to be Competition, Comparison and Complaints coming from different quarters.

This is not only confined to the school setting but also in professional life, family, community level and amongst other important sphere of our lives. This is why I want to share this article specifically with the youth who are just about to enter into different careers after school life, and it may also be useful to any reader who is working or otherwise .

At any one time in our lives we have either participated in the following 3c’s (Complained, Competed & Compared) that either hindered our success and personal growth, or caused a delay to take action;

1. Competition: You have taken part in an unhealthy competition at school, family, work, relationships Etc. 
2. Compared: Someone’s qualities don’t match yours and you need to be more appreciated or paid more etc. 
3. Complained: Things were not done in the right way, without your knowledge, or you are being under-paid etc.

It’s normal for people to have experienced these common C’s syndromes in their lifetime. My advice would be if we must compete in any environment, let us make it healthy while we support different view points to everything that we do. If you are to compare yourself to other people look at them as role models and an inspirational link .

You can’t be like someone; you need to accept that you are a unique person with the drive to succeed too. So learn more and listen to your colleagues then decide the direction you want to take. You can emulate what other people do, but try and do more of personal discovery to connect ‘yourself with yourself’ Lastly, if you have to complain always use the right channels established at the company, school or organization. Your biggest down fall will be when you go public with something that you could have just spoken privately with someone to get an immediate answer and save yourself from the embarrassment.

Always start with the end in mind ask yourself what if?... Here is something you can read further on http://www.mindtools.com The Ladder of Inference Source (http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_91.htm)

Avoiding "jumping to conclusions" Understanding The Theory:
The Ladder of Inference describes the thinking process that we go through, usually without realizing it, to get from a fact to a decision or action. The thinking stages can be seen as rungs on a ladder and are shown in Figure

1. Starting at the bottom of the ladder, we have reality and facts. From there, we: 
2. Experience these selectively based on our beliefs and prior experience. 
3. Interpret what they mean. • Apply our existing assumptions, sometimes without considering them. 
4. Draw conclusions based on the interpreted facts and our assumptions. 
5. Develop beliefs based on these conclusions. 
6. Take action that seems "right" because they are based on what we believe. Extract from where you can find more on the ladder of inference http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_91.htm