There’s a dramatic principle called Chekhov’s gun, it states that details in a story should only be included if they meaningfully impact the narrative. The idea is to encourage writers to include relevant details and avoid getting lost in things that contribute to the final conclusion. Interestingly it’s a principle that we can apply to our professional journeys too.

You’ve probably heard it said in many other expressions, such as “You are what you eat” or “You’re the sum of your experiences”. It’s only logical that it would apply to your professional life as well as your waistline.

Diet/exercise plans usually start with a clearly defined end goal, something like “I want to lose 8kg in 6 months”. That goal setting is an important part of the process, it allows you to work backwards & figure out what’s needed to hit your target. Take a minute to think about where you want to be professionally in 10 years.

What skills do you need to acquire to fill those shoes? Scour the LinkedIN profiles of people with that title and make a few notes on their history, and the common keywords that stand out. Those are the skills you’ll likely need to acquire, and potentially the gateway roles you’ll need to gain experience in.

Is what you’re doing today contributing to that end goal? Is it helping you acquire the skills you need? Or providing crucial parts of the narrative that will impact the final chapter? Are you taking a course to make that change happen? Look in the mirror and honestly ask yourself “What are you doing to move towards that end goal?” and if you don’t like the answer, try asking “What are you going to do about it?”