Career Advice: Not For The Faint-Hearted
It’s always a humbling moment when someone seeks your advice, especially when it comes to something as significant as choosing a career path.
Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking to Talha, the son of a friend from work, who asked for my thoughts on whether he should pursue college right away. His questions were sincere, and the weight of the decision was clear in his eyes.
As we talked about his options, I could see the confusion in his face. Should he follow the traditional path and enroll in college, or should he explore other avenues that might lead to a more non-conventional but equally successful career?
This is a common dilemma that many young people face today. The world has changed so much; we have countless choices, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by them.
I shared a piece of advice that has always helped me when I’ve faced crossroads in my own life: "Don’t fall into the trap of mnemonic desire."
It’s something I’ve realized over the years, and it’s a concept worth explaining, especially to a young person just starting their journey. Mnemonic desire is the tendency to follow a path simply because it’s expected, familiar, popular, or driven by the fear of missing out on what appears to be guaranteed success.
For Talha, the pressure to go to college might be strong. It’s what’s expected of him, after all, that's the traditional route many take. But what I urged him to consider was whether his true passion and drive align with the conventional college experience?
I told him that a degree doesn’t define success. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the more you learn or the more prestigious your school is, the better your future will be. But that kind of thinking isn’t always the answer.
I told him about a friend of mine who skipped college altogether and built a thriving business from the ground up. Success, I explained, isn’t a one-size-fits-all model.
I encouraged Talha to ask himself: What excites you? What would you do if there were no expectations or limits? These are questions that might not have straightforward answers, but they are the beginning of discovering a true calling!
I told him that taking time to explore, whether through internships, work experiences, or simply traveling, could give him valuable insights into what truly sparks his interest.
So, Talha, if you’re reading this, just remember that the world is full of possibilities.
Take your time, follow your heart, and don't let mnemonic desire lead you down a road that isn’t truly yours.
Make decisions from a place of understanding what you want to build in life, not from a place of following what everyone else is doing.
Looks like you owe me lunch, big time!