Going from university to the working world can be a scary transition. New faces, new rules. It’s like going from a mock-up trial to the real deal; from dress rehearsal to opening night.

At university I was always scared the lecturer wouldn’t like my presentation and I would get a bad mark. In the real world, there are no bad marks… just lost deals. Which cost the company money. Which could cost you your job. Which is definitely not a good thing. Especially when you have to worry about things like rent and food and petrol!

Real life
These little comparisons happen throughout life. It’s sort of like when you cook a meal at home for your parents and one day when you cook a meal for your husband and kids. There is an audience – that talks! Criticism is never easy to take. But I think the hardest critic of ourselves is us. In today’s times, with the increasing pressure to be the soccer mum, have perfect children, perfect houses and perfect jobs, we lose sight of the real issues, such as relationships and living a full, but balanced life.

It’s not about enrolling the kids in every class available and running around each day trying to get them there on time. Instead it’s about spending quality time and maybe actually watching your daughter’s dance class you pay R400 a month for.

Focus
Instead of doing ten things, rather focus on two or three and give it your all. Find things that YOU are passionate about and don’t worry about what other people are doing. It’s good to push yourself, but not so far that you fall over the edge.

We hear it all the time. But the time is now to change the way we live. The way we think. So that when our children grow up they will be able to become successful individuals without the silent pressure to ‘have it all.’ There is so much drama going on in the outside world, that what children see and feel in their home is what will help them deal with all the commotion out there.

Spend your time wisely
Nobody knows all the answers to living a successful life, but you have the power to control how you feel and how you spend your time. Choose wisely, because it is limited. To make it count, be engaged in what you do and conscious of what you choose to focus your time on.

The next time you feel as if you are losing sight of what’s important, take a step back and remember that there’s more to life than accumulating things and being a busy body!

About the author: Harsha Gordhan is a market researcher currently residing in Johannesburg. She is an aspiring writer and hopes to one day become rich and famous doing what she loves.

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Comments (2)

• |2010-05-20 10:18:25 salma
  Thanks for this article - very relevant.
  
  On your point of focus: it's definitely about quality, than quantity of things to get involved in...
  
  Simple affirmations, but we tend to always need to hear it from time to time :) thanks for my daily dosage of affirmations that i need today!
  Reply

• |2010-05-21 09:05:07 F.P
  Very well-said!
  
  If only it were as easy to implement. Look forward to reading more of your work :)
  Reply

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