Guiding principle 5: The journey is the reward

Today we are talking about the fifth guiding principle: the goal is important, but the way to get there is what should take center stage.

This is the 6th and final part of the series: 5 guiding principles for engineers to achieve success and fulfillment in their profession.

Contents: Introduction | 1. framework | 2. good work | 3. lead | 4. agile | 5th way

Guiding principle 5: The journey is the reward

Why?

Without wanting to get philosophical: Only the present is real. We can do things in the hope that this will result in a desired future. But we cannot be certain. Of course, it is important to have goals (see guiding principle 1). But we should not rely on it happening. Therefore, the present moment should have our full attention.

What good is it to look forward to retirement if you die of a heart attack on your last day at work?

This wisdom has Master Oogway very nicely formulated in Kung Fu Panda:

How?

Everyone must find his or her own answer here. The guiding principles presented here should merely be an inspiration, also, or precisely because they concern more than just the profession. They work for me, but perhaps you need other guiding principles. Finding them is part of your journey.

What?

And that brings us back to the beginning. We want to be successful and fulfilled at work (and in life). With these guiding principles, you may be able to answer the following questions that will lead you further along your path in life:

Are you successful? Compare yourself with the perfect "you", not with others. Find out what success means to you personally and then work towards it.

Are you fulfilled? Listen to yourself and find out if something is wrong and what it is. And then work on it.

The goal is not to be successful and fulfilled at the end of the journey, but to be successful and fulfilled while we are on the journey.

Good luck on your journey!

I hope that this little series has been useful to you and wish you all the best on your career path!