The old predictable career path is a relic of earlier times. Modern knowledge-based work has lesto do with a specific skill or a professional qualification than with general talents that can transfer across jobs and industries. This new model raises plenty of questions: how should you plan your career and achieve long-term goals when the likelihood is that you will go through multiple micro-careers along the way? What is the best way to manage the transition between jobs? How can you be ative in shaping your career path when the next step is not yet even visible?

A common thread is for people who have had highly successful jobs to leave them to follow what they love. In many cases a few years of high income in a corporate role enables people to take a risk and fund their dream.

Follow what you love, what challenges and excites you. People tend to succeed at what they are passionate about.

Be honest. When starting in a new role, be honest about what you don't know. Ask for help, listen and learn. Expect others to respect the skills you have and to understand your limitations.

Be flexible. Modern careers are hard to map out with any certainty. Expect to have multiplediverse careers over the course of a working life.

Be strategic. Take opportunities when they arrive as long as they fit with a general direction of where you want your career to head.

From BRW, Dec 8-14, 2005, pgs.90-92.