CHARLES DARWIN’S CAREER CHOICE, AND HOW TO BUILD A THRIVING STATE

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The development of a state is contingent on the success and failure of the comprising individuals; and the most positive impact of such individual to the state is one that apparently delivers the best. So, what defines the best?...

Born in 1809, Charles Darwin – dubbed ‘father of evolutionary biology’ – is one of the most hallowed scientists in the history of man. Still, his choice of a career is all but riveting. His father who wanted him to toll the family lane by becoming a medical doctor was irked by Charles’s interest in becoming a naturalist. Young Charles was touted for his teeming interest in natural history, nature and collecting. In his Autobiography he wrote ‘the passion for collecting, which leads a man to be a systematic naturalist, a virtuoso or a miser, was very strong in me, and was clearly innate’. This statement opines a man who knows his strength, and equally brave enough to follow his passion. In stark contrast – when he was in medical school, he found the lectures boring and surgeries upsetting. Later in life he was ‘destined’ to discover the theory of evolution and natural selection.

In addition to Charles Darwin’s seminal discoveries that revolutionized science, in my opinion – his life has divulged the key to build a thriving environment: the best we can do for our society is to engage in activities – passable on the path of the law – that brings out our very best.

What are my strengths? Where lies my passion? What are weaknesses? How do I perform? These are questions that should reverb in our minds, and ‘roll in our brain’ before we make decisions on what to do in life. Logic then opine that we should build on strengths – not weaknesses – and follow our passion. However, extant environmental conditions might be unsteady, the economic clime – deserting. More often than not, this usually lead people to make decisions that drives a mediocre career, and on the extreme side – lead to an umbrageous debacle.

Peter Drucker stated in his classic book – Managing oneself:  ‘Knowing where one belongs can transform an ordinary person – hardworking and competent but otherwise mediocre – into an outstanding performer.