At the beginning of 2010, I decided to take a sabbatical in order to focus on life goals that seemed to be slipping out of my reach. I commenced this new chapter of my life by traveling for a few months through South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Tibet.
Near the beginning of my trip I visited Burma. I had spent a fair amount of time in Southeast Asia before, but I had never been to Burma. My first afternoon in Rangoon I visited a marvelous gilded pagoda called Shwedagon Paya, the country’s holiest site.
I arrived mid-afternoon and stayed until well after nightfall. Near the west gate, I found a spot next to a young monk and sat for a few hours waiting for sunset. Sitting there I realized it was the first time my mind had been still in what seemed like a lifetime. I didn’t have to worry about emails, conference calls, meetings, or work projects. The Blackberry didn’t work in Burma and I left my laptop at home. I was completely disconnected. My mind was quiet. It was nice, almost cathartic.
Sitting at the base of this surreal structure, I reflected on my experience working for an investment bank during an unprecedented global financial crisis. Fortunately, I had weathered the storm unscathed, but knew too many people that had not. I thought about all the phone calls and emails I received from alumni, friends, and friend’s of friends that were now in a state of career and life transition. As I recalled the advice I gave during those chats most of it wasn’t original. I was just passing on advice that mentors had given me.
I thought about one of those mentors while watching the last rays of the setting sun reflect off the gold that covers Shwedagon Paya. This particular mentor, a highly respected managing director at my former firm, once told me, “You know, there are lots of paths up the mountain.” Alone in my thoughts that day in Burma, his words echoed in my mind and by the time I left Shwedagon Paya that evening, I had decided to create Paths Up the Mountain (“PUTM”).
Dipping my toes in law, management consulting, non-profits, and finance has helped me gain insights into career and life transitions. Those experiences have also allowed me to foster relationships with multiple mentors. PUTM is intended to socialize lessons learned from mentors and personal experiences (both mine and others) in order to help readers navigate transitions climbing their own career and life mountains.
We all face multiple transitions in life. During those times, I hope PUTM serves as a resource that not only provides the information but hopefully some of the inspiration for you to lead the life you aspire to live.
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