Hablo, Diana Ruth G.

Rating:
MAT-English May 3, 2019

VUCA: Steering Wheel Towards Success

In Homer’s epic “The Odyssey”, the goddess Athena once told Odysseus, “It is not about the
destination; it is about the journey.” I read this when I was still in college and this line has been instilled
in me since then. The journey towards success is full of struggles and these hindrances will hone us to be
the person we are always supposed to be. It is up to us on how to deal with the problems we are facing
and what to make with the talents and abilities bestowed upon us.
Life is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. I learned this the hard way. Despite having a
clear plan for my future, things do not always happen the way I want them to be. Things do not always
go as I have planned. People change faster than the blink of an eye. Friends become foes while foes
become friends. Situations arise when I least expect them. Decisions are getting harder and harder to
make. All of these create a domino effect on my life. My perspectives in life are constantly changing.
My priorities in life are slowly making sense. And my faith in Him is stronger than ever.
Being an only child, I was used to having my parents being always there to help me and protect
me. Fortunately, I am not one of those who are too sheltered, too pampered, and too afraid to look at the
truth right to its face. I know that my parents will not always be there for me and there is no one else
whom I should depend on other than myself. Years ago, when I was at my lowest for not being able to
achieve something I had always dreamt of and for being betrayed by someone whom I trusted so much, I
made a pact with myself to never feel that way again. Since then, I have always strived for excellence
and I try to never settle for mediocrity. Knowing that some things may not happen the way I want them
to be, I make it a point to always have Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D. I always apply this thinking
in almost every aspect of my life, even in my relationships. Since life is full of surprises, why not
prepare for the unexpected?
It is also said that a good leader is a good follower and a good listener. In life, many mistakes
had to be made and many lessons needed to be learned. I cannot learn them all by myself so I have to
listen to others’ pieces of advice and stories of success and even failures.
Life’s uncertainties are what makes life exciting and something to be cherished. We are living
our life knowing that we may be taking our last breath, talking to someone for the last time, or making a
decision which may drastically change our life. We are all well-aware of this and yet we still persevere
in life. We must all use these life’s volatility, uncertainties, complexities, and ambiguity as stepping-
stones to get to where we want our future selves to be. We must make the best out of every bad
circumstance and remind ourselves that everything happens for a reason. God will never give us a
problem that we cannot overcome. They are just there to test our faith in ourselves and in Him.
Just like what William Ernest Henley wrote in his Invictus, “I am the master of my fate, I am the
captain of my soul.” I have full control over my life and it is up to me to lead myself to a better future. I
must never let disappointments and setbacks hinder me from reaching my goals in life. When things
don’t happen the way I want them to be, I have no one to blame but myself. A good leader does not
blame others for his own misfortunes.