Have you ever stressed over a bad mark, missed an assignment due date, or made a decision you later regretted? If you’re a high school student (or even if you’re not), chances are you’ve experienced moments like these. It’s natural to feel worried or upset when things don’t go as planned, especially when it comes to your future career. But here’s a secret that successful people know: tough times don’t last, but tough people do. Here’s why it’s important to stay focused on the big picture, both in your career and personal life.
That’s where the idea of ‘zooming out’ can help
Imagine you’re looking at a map on your phone. When you’re zoomed in, every turn and obstacle is big right? But when you zoom out, you start to see the bigger picture – the entire route, the destination, and all the different ways you could get there. The same thing applies in your career journey.
When you’re in the middle of what seems like a crisis, like you’ve just failed an exam or something, it can feel like the whole world is crashing down. But if you take a step back and think about it in the perspective of a long life that’s ahead of you, you’ll realise that while this might not feel great right now, this moment is actually just a tiny blip.
Why the small stuff doesn’t matter as much as you think
Your career is a marathon, not a sprint.
Think about the most successful people you know or admire.
Did they get to where they are without any setbacks? (Probably not). Careers are long, winding roads with plenty of ups and downs. Every adult has made mistakes, and even some of the most successful people on the planet still make mistakes. Lots of them. What matters most is knowing where you’re headed and what you want, not the individual failures or stumbles along the way – that’s the big picture.
Mistakes are simply learning opportunities
Every ‘stuff-up’ is just another chance to learn and grow.
In fact, many innovations and breakthroughs come from (lots of) mistakes or unexpected turns. Remember that old guy who invented the electric lightbulb, Thomas Edison? He’s reported to have said “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” I don’t know about you, but I would have long given up before 10,000 attempts! But he didn’t let failure stop him, because he had a burning desire (literally) to achieve something.
What has failure taught you? And how can you apply that to your future?
Flexibility is a superpower
The ability to adapt and pivot when things don’t go as planned is super valuable in today’s world of work. By not getting too hung up on small setbacks, you develop resilience and flexibility – skills that will serve you well throughout your entire career.
4 things to help you keep the big picture in mind
All of this stuff is easy to say, but harder to put into practice – so here are some tips that might come in handy.
What will this matter in 100 years’ time?
When something goes wrong, even really wrong, ask yourself: “What will this matter in a hundred years’ time?”. More often than not the answer is not a whole lot! This simple question is so fantastic because it can help you to quickly regain perspective, sometime in even the worst of situations. Sure, the thing/failure/upset/mistake might feel awful now, but even in 5 years’ time, it’s likely you won’t even remember it.
Focus on your core values and long-term goals
Instead of obsessing over something, keep focused on what truly matters to you. What are your core values? What do you want to achieve? Let these answers help to guide your decisions and reactions.
Embrace the power of “yet”
When you face a setback, add the word “yet” to your thoughts.
“I haven’t mastered this skill…yet.”
“I haven’t achieved my goal…yet.”
It’s such a simple trick, but it can shift your mindset from negative to positive in seconds.
Seek perspective from others
Talk to parents, teachers, or mentors about their career journeys. You’ll likely find that their paths weren’t always smooth, and hearing about how they navigated challenges can be incredibly reassuring and inspiring.
Real-life examples of ‘small stuff’ that didn’t matter
Everyone knows the author of the multi-billion-dollar Harry Potter book and movie series. But did you know J.K. Rowling was rejected by 12 different publishers before Harry potter was accepted? Imagine if she had given up after the first few rejections.
Steve Jobs was famously fired from Apple Computer by the company’s board members (the company he literally co-founded). He later returned when things were going bad and then led Apple to become one of the most valuable companies in the world.
Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first TV job as an anchor because they said she was “unfit for television”. Ridiculous, right? She went on to become one of the most influential media personalities in the world – and still is today, more than 10 years after ending her globally famous talk show.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes
Imagine a world where these amazing people had given up after their setbacks. So whatever you do or whatever happens, just keep your eye on the big picture – remember where you’re headed instead of being bogged down in what’s happening right now.
Give yourself the freedom to explore, learn, and grow. And more importantly, allow yourself to take risks and make mistakes – you’ll ultimately find your own way to success.
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