G.K. Chesterton famously said that “An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.” And though it is only one of many witty and profound things that he wrote, this one idea probably best encapsulates his whole career. In this series, we have considered some of the many factors that contribute to building a successful and long-lasting career.

When people seek guidance hoping to make some progress toward their life and career goals, the first question they are often asked is “what would you like to achieve?” This question is met with all the same answers.

There is something romantic about the idea of the lone wolf who sets off on the journey alone. Something deep within themselves compels them, and so they pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, finding a way to survive and thrive in typically harsh environments and challenging circumstances.

The ‘tyranny of now’ can even take control over people who are taking positive steps towards making something constructive. They might push past their indecision and begin to make progress. But the moment they encounter real obstacles or significant setbacks, they either plateau or, even worse, simply stop trying. But this is not how it has to be. There is a third way that, if we take it, can yield powerful results. This third way is finding a growth mindset.

In this blog series, we will turn towards the subject of career longevity. While many of our readers are working on developing the necessary skills to build a career for themselves, they still wonder whether they have what it takes to make something that will last. This series is offered in the hope that you will be able to make a solid foundation for a long-lasting career. And to begin, we look first at the subject of responsibility.