Tradition and Changing Careers: A Reflection

Two years ago, I took a picture of my mom’s cherry jam cooking in the sun and shared thoughts about patience, hard work, and how careers are changing. This year, I took the same picture and thought about what’s different and what’s the same.

For the original post, visit: Volkan Yorulmaz: Mom’s Sun-cooked Sour Cherry Jam vs. Career

My mom’s cherry jam is almost perfect again, showing the lasting value of tradition and patience. Like before, it needs more sun and time. The process is the same: bring it in at night to keep it dry, and let the sun do its job. It reminds us that some things are worth the wait and the work.

But our work lives keep changing fast. The straight, predictable careers we were told to follow are becoming outdated. Technology and industry changes have sped up in the last two years.

While making jam still needs time, work, and a few ingredients, building a career doesn’t. In a world where industries change overnight and jobs quickly become outdated, being able to adapt and keep learning is very important. As someone recognized as a top learner, I can attest to the value of lifelong learning.

Being recognized as the top learner in Finance Fundamental means a lot for me!

Looking at my mom’s unchanged jam recipe and the ever-changing recipe for career success, I see the need to balance tradition with innovation. We should value the patience and hard work of old practices, but also be ready for new opportunities and learning.

Here’s to the sweet success of both good jam and a good career, each needing their own mix of time, work, and adaptability. A well-managed career path involves an individual development plan and regular performance review meetings with your supervisor to reach your career objectives. So, if you haven't done yet, it is time to create/update your individual development plan and have a performance review meeting.

Career development is like making cherry jam under the sun. It’s a slow and steady process, where each ray of knowledge ripens your skills, just as the sun ripens the cherries. Over time, these skills are collected and condensed into a sweet jam of expertise, ready to spread on the bread of opportunities.