How to deal with uncertainty in career choices

It’s the undetermined nature of markets, industries and companies that make some career seekers wonder about the wisdom behind career planning. A lot of people just go with the flow and deal with things as and when they pop-up. The problem with that is the lack of anticipation and preparation, which reduces our options when confronted with sudden reality.
What we need to understand is that it’s the uncertainty factor that makes it possible to chart our own course. It’s because it’s undetermined that we have the possibility to influence and orient. We can redirect, cope, adapt or innovate (create an opportunity) when we have a plan. That is a purpose, possible scenarios and pathways.
The career planning we are advocating is not about trying to conform reality to our plan; it’s rather navigating in the real world with the end in mind; to make conscious choices in light of our life purpose and learning experiences.
It’s wonderful to be able to live a care free life, at some instances we can just cruise and let ourselves be carried and held by the flow. This is the case when we ride on a good wave or a favorable trend, but soon we need to think about the next wave that will carry us through; or we’ll find ourselves on the shore, or fallen from the wave and having to start all over again.
This brings the issue of risk analysis. Again making your career moves when things are fine for you is the best option because your social/professional desirability is high. Waiting till after the facts is simply too late. There is a risk for moving, a price for moving but equally a risk and a price for staying.
We do not advocate change for change sake or as a flight technique to escape from whatever is bothering us . We are rather talking about knowing when to move-on in life, knowing what’s good for us. Choosing he opportune moment is one of the keys to success.
Realizing it’s the opportune moment for you is an art and a science. Realizing it’s the right time for you is possible when you know your life purpose and career aims, it acts like a filter that enables you to recognize whether an opportunity will bring you closer to your purpose and whether the proposed journey will enable you to learn and grow i.e.: build your capacity to take bigger jobs and higher responsibilities.
So it’s not the face value of the opportunity it’s the experience that it will enable you to have. You want to choose the kind of assignments that will broaden and build your potential, that will prepare you further. You are looking for assignments that will stretch you just a little bit. You are seeking the projects that will enable you to express parts of you that have not been solicited so far but are longing to play. You know that it’s the experience you need at this time of your life, whether you succeed or fail you will come out a better person.