My own career path could be seen as being rather slow, since I first started writing with a view to earning money some sixteen years ago.

It's been a bumpy ride, and I've never yet been able to be self-sufficient and survive only on my writer's earnings. But I wouldn't have changed that path for anything. For one thing it's the one I was meant to follow, however long it might be.

And for another, even though it has turned out to be a very long road towards my goal, I have learned so much and experienced so many nice surprises along the way (like free tickets to see a sketch of mine being filmed for a British TV sketch show, being offered a job by a local graphic designer my partner's mum recommended me to, having an ebook proposal accepted by an online publisher, and many more little surprises and unexpected cheques too numerous to count over the span of years).

I think that's the key to happily travelling a long and slow path. You can find pleasure in the little things. Working life isn't just about big raises and big job titles. Sometimes we are so obsessed with running after the big things we rush straight past the small enjoyments that are littered all along the road. Before we know it we look back and realise what we've missed.

Who sees more on the journey towards their goal - the tortoise or the hare? And ultimately, who wins?

Learn more about this author, Allison Whitehead.
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