![]() ![]() What can you do to avoid getting trapped-and to escape if you do? Getting caught in quicksand can be fatal, with victims dying mostly from dehydration, hypothermia or heat exhaustion. Credit: Ralf Schulze from Koblenz, Germany ![]() With determination, adaptability, and a keen sense of self-awareness, you can not only wade through the quicksand but also set foot on uncharted territories, ripe with opportunities.This sign says “Take care! Quicksand” on the beach of Texel Island in the Netherlands. But within that stifling sensation lies a goldmine of growth opportunities. In conclusion, almost everyone, at some stage, grapples with the feeling of being stuck. Your achievements are your passport to growth and new opportunities. Understand how to position yourself and your projects in the best light. It's essential to be your own biggest advocate. My journey from coding to project management and then diving deep into the intricacies of business underscores the importance of adaptability. Make your successes known, leverage the halo effect to your advantage, but also be aware of its potential pitfalls. Visibility is crucial in any professional landscape. Be proactive in building a strong personal brand and in nurturing significant professional relationships. But in the end, the reins of your career are in your hands. Managers come and go, each leaving their own imprint. Reflecting on my journey, I’ve distilled some invaluable lessons: But, as history had taught me, I leaned on my resilience, my relationships, and my unwavering drive to excel. Despite countless successes and recoveries, the weight of that one blemish, in his perspective, seemed to eclipse all other achievements. When portfolios merged and I found myself under the watch of my former manager, the shadows of a single past setback loomed large in his eyes. However, the path wasn't without its thorns. Such was my reputation that even in the vast maze of corporate hierarchy, senior leadership would bypass layers to seek my insights, underscoring the trust and credibility I had cultivated. My influence grew exponentially, not just because of my ability to execute tasks, but because I understood the bigger picture and the intricate cogs that kept the machine running. These abilities allowed me to bridge gaps, foresee challenges, and lead teams toward cohesive and impactful outcomes. Understanding the technical intricacies, predicting business needs, and connecting with individuals at every echelon became my forte. My success wasn't rooted in the title inked on my business card it was built upon a foundation of profound business acumen. Despite being labeled a 'Scrum Master', my reach and responsibilities echoed those of a portfolio manager. Navigating the waters of a complex professional landscape taught me the intricacies of influence. One significant project delay, which I managed to rectify in a commendably short time, became an undeserved albatross around my neck in his eyes. The boundaries of our respective roles are often blurred, leading to confusion, overlapping responsibilities, and inevitable blame games. Then came a phase where I was led by a manager whose priorities seemed skewed toward his own career growth. But those roles, with all their ups and downs, were where I truly found my calling. The responsibility, although exciting, was accompanied by its fair share of challenges-especially when it came to managing stakeholder expectations and communications. The ascent to project management wasn’t a smooth ride. However, the unpredictable nature of the industry pulled me back into the domain of coding, a world that I had outgrown, leaving me feeling trapped and directionless. So, when an opportunity arose to step into a leadership role, supervising a project, I grabbed it with both hands. I've always seen myself more as a conductor, leading a symphony, rather than just one of the instrumentalists. After spending over five years in my engineering school mastering the nuances of coding, I found myself yearning for change. I began my career deeply immersed in the world of software development. But through those times, I've unearthed pearls of wisdom that have shaped my trajectory. The sensation can range from mild discomfort to a paralyzing fear. Every professional, at some point, encounters that sinking feeling of being stuck, akin to being trapped in quicksand. ![]()
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