I recently had the honor of interviewing one of the Under-Secretary-Generals of the United Nations for a book project titled, “Women in Power at the United Nations”. When asked about her approach to her career and what advice she would offer to driven young women, the Under-Secretary-General said "learn to surf on the waves of possibility”.

Coming from a woman who has achieved such success, in a position of power that entrusts her with making choices that affect people around the world everyday, this advice really resonated with me.
She was not in the least bit competitive when it came to her career. It wasn’t about “winning” or getting to the next rung on the ladder. And though her position of authority might suggest otherwise, she never had firm career goals that she absolutely HAD to achieve. Rather, she learned to be open to the possibilities that life presented to her and followed her instincts, feelings and passions in order to decide which way she should “surf” next.

After all, it’s impossible to completely plan your career without knowing exactly what the future holds. Knowing that we can’t see the future, we must instead trust our instincts, feelings and passions in order to make the most appropriate decision – the one that feels right – right now. If it doesn’t work out exactly as you’d hoped, know that there will always be more opportunities down the road. What feels right for you right now?