The Mountain Far Away that makes you Smile.

Jomon Jose ( XOH23036)

A backpacker once asked an old man pointing his finger to a mountain far away, how many
days would I need to reach that mountain?

The old man with a sweet smile looked at him and said, “A lifetime”

Our quest for a meaningful career is a reasonable desire but it is never this journey that the
backpacker was willing to undertake. It consists of these two aspects
- Clarity: Do you know what you love and why? how do you find it? Are you ok if you don’t
find it?
- Choice: What steps do I take to reach that mountain? Is this the only way?

Clarity:
Let me start with a fact, all the work that you will ever do is not going to be exhilarating. Those
compliance checks, those progress updates, and those emails could sometimes bore you and
might sap the energy out of you. We have to consider the work life like a carpet with many
intertwined threads, each one of them is essential to complete the fabric. This carpet signifies
the expanse of our professional lives. Among the hundreds of threads that crisscross this carpet
there is a Red Thread that you love the most. These activities are those in which you almost
lose yourself while doing it. Marcus Buckingham in his book Love+Work talks about finding the
Red Thread in your work life.

The secret to that Red thread lies not far away in the stars but in your today. If you desire to find
out, look closely at your day and ask yourself these 3 questions.
Out of all the activities that I do:
1. Which one do I look forward to most often?
2. Which one do I get so engrossed in doing that time just flies past? ( or called the State of
Flow)
3. Which energizes me rather than drains me?

These questions help us understand those tasks and activities that alter our brain chemistry, it
releases elevated levels of certain neurotransmitters like oxytocin, and norepinephrine. These
elevated levels help you feel more safe more secure and more open for ideas. This has a higher
chance of directing you towards what you love. Marcus mentions that your brain on Love is the
smartest. So take a week to observe yourself. You could also very easily write down on a sheet
of paper the activities that you Love, and the activities that you Loath on a day to day basis.
Review at the end of the week. It will give you a clearer picture. If you are interested here is also
a free assessment on the Love+Work Website that gives you a comprehensive report of your
strengths.

Choices:
I had clarity on what I wanted but I often wondered if I would ever find a job that would support
me as well as help me do what I love. Here are some steps I felt helped me find that job:
- Contribution Concerned: Worry incessantly about your contributions on a day-to-day
basis. Careers are built on years of persistence and striving for excellence. It is built
daily. Ask yourself, how am I contributing? Am I giving my best? What else can I do to
help?
- Opportunity Observant: Successful careers are a result of opportunities people said
‘Yes’ to, some of which may not come with the fanciest titles. It could be that tough
assignment, that remote location, or that small help you provided. They help you learn,
gain deeper understanding, and open bigger and more unexpected doors. Before you
say a ‘No’, think twice.
- Relationship Builder: The relationships you build are worth more than what you see
today. It could be that cold call you make, or that coffee chat you had with the founder.
Those strong relationships will one day guide you to your mountain or come along with
you on the journey or make you see a greater mountain. So hold them well and nurture
the relationships by contributing to them.