Magdalena Mot   on Wednesday 04/01/2015 at 11:24 PM

Agree. My career too was the result of a long sequence of unexpected events. It was an inspiration to meet Dr. Krumboltz at the CDC Conference in Vancouver in 2012. Well said, John, as you always do!

Kelley O'Hara   on Wednesday 04/01/2015 at 11:27 PM

I love this continually refreshing view of courageously moving forward toward an ultimate goal (or not ) keeping open for serendipity along the way- Thank you John for your generosity of spirit.

Jan Newby   on Thursday 04/02/2015 at 09:44 AM

I absolutely agree. I am intrigued by continual growth, exploration, and discovery. At the early age of 4 I began playing piano, by age 7 I was featured on the local news. Certainly my parent's were determined my destiny would be to attend Juilliard School of Music to become an accomplished concert pianist. My thought on the other hand I simply deemed my piano as "a dear friend" and just enjoyed meeting with my friend daily to make sweet melodies together. Later I discovered that if I could just put a smile on someone's face through the calming of music, they were happy, and I was pleased. Hence, going into the business of helping people became my desired destiny. I love what I do... a private music instructor on the weekends, and license professional counselor during the week. I am fulfilling my ideal purpose in life, I never left my first love, I simply added to it. I learned the true meaning of balance: enjoyment of personal work / life, and determination to help others evolve and successfully transition into a desired preferred purposed future.

Eileen Mahoney   on Thursday 04/02/2015 at 12:04 PM

The suggestion that we encourage action that will be helpful to others is brilliant. Cllients in transition can be mired in fear and uncertainty. This is a particularly difficult place from which to reach out to strangers with requests for information. Encouraging clients to find ways to be helpful is a way to build confidence and subtly shift perspective. It is easier to believe people would be willing to help you if you are living a willingness to help others. Thank you for adding this element to your theory of happenstance.

Leigh G. Mundhenk   on Monday 04/06/2015 at 04:18 PM

John, thank you for sharing your perspectives. I completely agree that career development is a fluid and multifaceted process, and very much based on the influence of experience. We are very much looking forward to having you be our keynote at the Maine Career Development Association annual conference on June 19.

Tammy White   on Monday 04/06/2015 at 05:05 PM

Thank you for sharing from your own experiences. I agree that we learn by doing and sometimes we happen upon something we love so much, we can't imagine "not" doing it. Your article is refreshing and motivating.

Paul Timmins   on Sunday 04/19/2015 at 11:57 AM

Thanks for your passion, John! And I can't help but note: The Chicago Cubs have not won a World Series since the day you changed your career plans.

Jim Peacock   on Friday 05/29/2015 at 10:00 AM

Thanks John for raising this important perspective again.
I think the world of work has changed so much from the days that careers were linear and you started in a job and stayed there until the "gold watch".

Today, change is all around us and it is skills & passions that people should embrace as well as viewing themselves as 'free agents' in the economy.

If you believe this to be true, then you WILL change jobs and you WILL be open to those unplanned events that spark curiosity and excitement in our lives.