Dear Daughter,
I know that you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself right now. Dad and I have always encouraged you to study and do good in school, but we have never put the kind of pressure on you the way you put pressure on yourself. Please remember to be a little bit nicer. Treat yourself like you would treat your best friend, and make sure that the deadlines you set for yourself are setting you up for success and progress, and not for extra stress.. You also have to remember that the plan and road you’ve laid out for your career might not end up the way you envisioned, but that no matter what, you will still reach your goal. Your end goal and your career choice might even change as you go through your education and work experience. That is the beauty in life. We have so many possibilities.
It’s the same with project management. I tell my project managers that if they expect to go from A to Z, project kick-off to launch in a straight line without any detours or bumps in the road, they will be disappointed. Instead prepare yourself and set the expectation that there will be many detours, but that is the fun part. How boring would it be if everything was just laid out for you in an easy way. It might sound like a dream not to have any obstacles or frustrating events that make you have to change your plans, but they are there for a reason. They are learning opportunities. See every event as a chance to redirect and re-evaluate your plan and goals. They are there to give you an opportunity to see new and better approaches and opportunities.
It will be the same when you start working. You will run into snags while working on assignments and projects, but don’t get frustrated, and don’t give up. Those obstacles are there to help you grow, and to make you see new opportunities and angles. Train yourself to always stop and reflect when something doesn’t go the way you planned. It is so easy to become negative and frustrated with the situation, so you need to set triggers that will help you step back and look for the opportunities instead of getting wrapped up in the moment. This is also going to teach you how to become strategic in your approach, which is the key to success.
Life seldom takes us on the road we’ve planned. I could never in a million years imagined that I would end up in another country when I was growing up in Sweden. That I would move away from my parents and siblings and start a life in the United States. But I ended up doing exactly what I had planned for my career - a career in project and business management, with a drive and passion for entrepreneurship. And the most important thing, I was blessed with the family I had always dreamed of.
So, Elsa, set your plan, buckle your seatbelt and prepare yourself for an exciting and adventurous journey! Who knows where you will end up?! All I know is that wherever it is, it will be amazing!
Love,
Mamma
PS. I wonder if you will end up in NCY as you’ve planned.
