Going With the Flow in a Changing Work World

By Mary Ann Faremouth, CPC

Have you ever watched a river and really stopped to think about how it moves?

It doesn’t always go in a straight line. Sometimes it moves quickly, sometimes it slows down, and sometimes it has to go around a large rock or some other obstacle in its way. But somehow, it keeps going.

That got me thinking about how much a river can teach us about life.

We all make plans. We think we know where our career is going, where our personal life is going, and what the future is going to look like. Then, all of a sudden, something happens that we weren’t expecting. Maybe we lose our job. Maybe our company changes direction or leadership. Maybe we decide we don’t like what we’re doing anymore at all and need a complete change of scenery. Or maybe life just throws us one of those curveballs that nobody saw coming.

I have talked with so many people lately who feel like they are caught in the current of change. And honestly, I understand why. The world of work is changing so quickly that sometimes it can be hard to keep up. Technology is changing how we do our jobs, there are talent shortages, tariffs and economic uncertainty. And what worked for us yesterday may not work quite the same way today.

But here is what I think we can learn from a river:

Maybe we don’t have to fight every current.

Maybe we need to learn how to go with the flow.

Now, I don’t mean that we should just sit back and let life happen to us. That’s not what I am saying at all. A river keeps moving. It just doesn’t always move in the exact direction or at the exact speed we might expect.

So what can a river teach us about handling change in our personal and professional lives?

1. A River Pays Attention to What Is Around It

A river doesn’t just move through the world without noticing what is in its way. The land, the rocks, the weather and everything around it all affect where that river goes. I think we can learn something from that.

When we are dealing with change, sometimes we get so focused on the problem right in front of us that we forget to look around. What resources do you have available to you? Who do you know who might be able to help? What skills have you picked up over the years that could be useful in a different situation? Have you talked with a trusted mentor, friend, counselor or colleague about what you are going through? Sometimes we have more resources than we realize.

I have always believed that it is important to ask questions and do a little investigating before deciding that we have run out of options. You might be surprised by what you find when you take a step back and look around.

2. A River Doesn’t Let a Rock Stop It

As a river makes its way forward, it will inevitably encounter rocks and other obstacles along the way. Some are little. Some are pretty big. And the river doesn’t stop and say, “Well, I guess that’s it!” It finds a way around. Sometimes it goes to the left. Sometimes it goes to the right. Sometimes it goes over the rock, and over a long period of time, it may even change the rock itself.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could do that when something gets in our way?

If you are unhappy in your job, what could you change? If your career plans have taken an unexpected turn, what other options might be available? If something you really wanted didn’t work out, is there another way to reach the same goal? We don’t always have control over the obstacles that come into our lives. But we do have some control over how we respond to them.

Sometimes we have to stop looking at the rock and start looking for a way around it.

3. A River Doesn’t Always Move Fast

This is one of my favorite things about a river. Sometimes it is moving along quickly, and sometimes it is barely moving at all, peaceful and tranquil. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t going anywhere.

I think we forget this sometimes. We live in a world where everybody seems to want everything immediately. We want the new job right away. We want the answer right away. We want to know that the decision we made was the right one right away.

But life doesn’t always work that way.

Have you been taking steps toward the changes you want to make? Are you making that phone call, sending that e-mail, updating that resume or having that conversation you’ve been putting off? And at the same time, are you giving yourself a little grace?

Progress doesn’t always have to be a giant leap. Sometimes it is one little step at a time.

There is no one right way to make a career change or deal with a personal transition. You may move quickly for a while and then need to slow down. That’s okay. The important thing is that you keep moving.

4. A River Works With What It Has

A river doesn’t sit around waiting for the perfect conditions. It works with the landscape that is there. I think we can learn a lot from that too.

Sometimes we spend so much time thinking about what we wish were different that we don’t pay attention to what we already have. What skills do you already have? What experiences have you gained over the years? Who is in your network? What have you learned from the challenges you’ve already been through? And sometimes, maybe you just need to get away for a little while.

I have always found that getting away from our normal surroundings can help us think differently. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate vacation. Sometimes a day trip, a walk somewhere new or even just getting outside can help us clear our heads.

When we step away from the everyday routine, we can sometimes come back with a whole new perspective. That new perspective can make all the difference.

We are all going to have rocks in the river.

Some will be small, and some will feel enormous. There will be times when the current is moving quickly, and there will be other times when it feels like nothing is happening at all.

But that doesn’t mean we are stuck. We may just need to find a new way forward.

As we continue to navigate this new work world and all of the changes that come with it, I hope we can remember the lesson of the river. Stay open to what is happening around you. Find another way when you meet an obstacle. Don’t be discouraged when progress feels slow. And make the most of the resources and opportunities you already have.

Sometimes we don’t need to know exactly where the river is going to take us.

We just need to keep moving.

And who knows? That unexpected bend in the river might just take us somewhere wonderful that we never would have found if we had stayed on the old path.

Mary Ann’s award-winning first book Revolutionary Recruiting has been listed by Book Authority as Number #1 Best 100 Recruiting Books; #1 Best Seller, Non-Fiction, Amazon (2019); Top 20 Recruiting books, Recruitics; Readers’ Choice finalist (2019), Houston Literary Awards; Best Non-Fiction (2018), Best Cover (2019), and Best Self-Help (2018), Authors Marketing Guild. This was followed by “Revolutionary Reinvention”, a workbook for job seekers giving advice on how to rediscover your skills and passions and reinvent your career. Her most recent book is “Revolutionary Results” , a collection of life lessons about relationships, integrity and contributing to the world.