Career counselors, career coaches and career guidebooks often give the impression that career change happens in a straight line. But in fact career change typically happens in a zig zag: you move in one direction and then another and eventually realize you’ve landed in the right place.
Career change can also take a lesson from chaos theory. I recently discovered that scientists used chaos theory to help a Japanese spacecraft land on the moon. The craft was low in fuel but the Japanese wanted to claim a moon landing. Scientists calculated a fuel-efficient trajectory that would take the craft to the moon by way of…the sun! What appeared to be a giant detour made the trip possible.
Careers sometimes work the same way. Here’s a story of an MBA (from University of Texas at Austin) who achieved his dream career via a detour to the Peace Corps. Click here to learn more.