Three Lives

In terms of our careers, there are three paths we can take. Each path intertwines with our the nonprofessional aspects of our journey, inevitably shaping our lives holistically.

The first is the middle road, a life of work-life balance. A good salary, a satisfyingly rewarding job, ample time with family. It's the de facto road, a life of family, stability, friends, comfort, and a little bit of boredom. It's a pleasant ride, not only for its physical and mental properties, but also for its congruence with society at large. Look all around us, and we see everyone living the same sort of lives as ourselves. There is no self-doubt that creeps in at the end of the day, whispering, "you're making a big mistake...".

The second is the road of the wild, the path less traveled. It's the path of the risk taker, the take-no-prisoners, full steam ahead style of career. It's the life of the entrepreneur, the corporate conqueror, the ones who defy the odds. It's a story of achievement, success, money, power, fame. It's a story of failure, depression, rejection, insecurity, isolation. Imbalance reigns supreme in such a life, with nearly every last drop of mindshare going into one's professional aspirations. It is, typically, a rather unhealthy state of being. It's a life of a roller-coaster, but designed by a first time amateur architect. We may find glory; we may crash and burn.

The last is the road of the hermit. It is again a dichotomous road, one of the enlightened as well as the vagrants. It's the road of those who ignore roads. Faced with the road well traveled and the road less traveled, we turn 90 degrees and start walking into the grassland. It is a life of independence, of insecurity, of freedom, of misunderstandings, of philosophy, and of immense self doubt. It is by no means a path for the faint of heart. It's the path that requires, no demands by far the greatest self conviction of the three. It is the path that none have trekked before. There are no guides, no maps. There is nothing to lean on but your mind, your will, and your heart.

Which life is best? Which life is right?

Such questions are, by nature, dangerous. One person's right choice, is another's demise. It is only our own upbringing, our unique situation, and our singular understanding of ourselves that make the choice appropriate.

The proper question to ask is, What are we fit for, and what do we want?