Are You Still Trying to grow in Your Career and Life like how you try to beat traffic? Move to the “carpool lane”
Have you ever noticed a common sight during your daily commute? It’s a scenario that unfolds right before your eyes as you navigate the bustling roads. You’ll invariably encounter those drivers who are constantly striving to outmaneuver the traffic. They’ll deftly slide past one or two cars on the left, gaining a few hundred feet of advantage. But soon enough, that lane slows down, and they find themselves stuck in the midst of the traffic jam.
Their response? They’ll attempt to overtake a few cars from the right, gaining a bit more ground, maybe close to a thousand feet. Things seem promising, but then the inevitable happens. The traffic on that lane slows down as well. Frustrated, they make a move to the left lane, only to discover it’s just as sluggish. Eventually, they have no choice but to cruise with the flow of traffic for a while.
And then, just when you thought they couldn’t possibly make any more lane changes, they spot an opening on the right and dart through, cutting across two lanes and passing a few more cars. But, alas, the traffic catches up with them once again.
It’s exhausting just to watch these drivers, let alone be one of them. You can’t help but wonder about the toll this constant lane-hopping takes on those drivers. It’s a relentless cycle of crossing over one car at a time, over and over, with no significant gains to show for their efforts.
In my daily 35-mile commute, I used to be one of these drivers. I admit, I played the same game in my early years. But I’ve since wisened up. These persistent lane-changers are not just newcomers; some experienced drivers still engage in this fruitless pursuit.
Attempting to drive at a higher speed than the traffic rarely works during daily commutes. On long drives spanning 200 miles or more, speeding may have some merit, but it’s not the same as trying to outrun the rush-hour traffic. Some drivers prefer to maintain a constant speed, perhaps 9–10 miles above the speed limit, and use cruise control or self-driving features to pass slower vehicles on the left. Over a lengthy journey, say 500 miles plus, this strategy does save hours. However, within a shorter distance of 60–70 miles, the time saved is marginal, maybe 5–10 minutes at most.
Yet, during extended road trips, you may still encounter those speed demons who effortlessly zip past, continuing their left-lane/right-lane dance. They disappear into the distance, leaving others in their dust. But then, inevitably, some of them get caught by the police, transforming the journey into a costly ticket zone.
Now, you might wonder why I’m sharing this story about commuting and speeding on the highway. It’s because these scenarios parallel many experiences in life. There are individuals who frequently jump from one idea to another, change jobs every year, relocate from one place to another, and hop from one codebase to another. They believe they’re always ready for the next level, shifting blame onto their teams, managers, or companies. They may accumulate some position here, some money there, and some knowledge here and there, only to find themselves stuck once again, at a new level, with a different team, at a different company.
Certainly, there’s value in changing roles and jobs, but these changes must be deliberate and thoroughly considered. Hasty changes won’t get you where you want to be. You may experience a fleeting sense of momentum, but you’ll likely end up stuck in a different place, with another team and another manager.
If you’re exceptionally talented and truly belong in the fast lane, all the best to you. But for most of us mortals, learning new skills and improving our fundamental human skills takes time. When we grow frustrated, place blame on others, change everything and expect a different outcome, it often boils down to our own choices.
Change can be valuable if you genuinely feel stuck in your current role, but make sure it’s a thoughtful change. Embrace a new team, new colleagues, and a fresh perspective, but remember that the need for self-improvement doesn’t change.
In my daily commute, I found a solution that made a difference: carpooling. I initially teamed up with a carpool partner, and later we formed a vanpool with a few more people. This deliberate choice placed me in a faster lane, figuratively speaking. It required effort to find compatible individuals living in my area with similar commuting needs and schedules. We still have occasional schedule adjustments, but overall, it works out over three-fourths of the time.
Now, instead of enduring a 60-minute commute, I spend 45–50 minutes on the road, and it’s predictably consistent. No more need for constantly changing lanes. It was a bit of effort to get this group together, and some effort compromising here and there weekly, but well worth it. This solution may last for a few years, and while people change jobs and schedules shift, it’s still a reliable and time-saving strategy.
The same principle applies to our professional careers. Find the right team, and the right manager, and assess if they’re helping you grow. It’s not just about levels and money; it’s about your skills, personal development, leadership abilities, critical thinking, and knowledge.
Evaluate whether you’re becoming a better professional and leader, gaining trust, and asking better questions. If the answer is yes, stick around for a while, be in the carpool lane, and only make the change when it’s truly beneficial.
So, don’t be the driver who constantly tries to beat the traffic. You’ll waste energy, become frustrated, and ultimately slow down your progress. Be smarter — move to the carpool lane. There are no shortcuts on the journey of self-improvement. Seek the right support, make temporary compromises for long-term gains, and then take the leap. Repeat this process and continue to grow.
I wish someone had shared these insights with me earlier in my career, but I learned these lessons rather late. Thankfully, there were significant people who guided me. Now, I share this with you, hoping you’ll benefit from it. I genuinely wish you success, and I hope you’ll travel faster and farther than I did. Best of luck on your journey!
Until next time, Cheers,
Amit
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