Driving in the snow is a lot like navigating your career... what learned on my Christmas vacation

I was lucky to get to spend a week in Chicagoland with my parents, three sisters, and their families over the Christmas holiday. What I had not counted on was a wicked snowstorm followed immediately by subzero air temps and 50 mile-per-hour winds. For someone who’s been intentionally avoiding winter for almost a decade, it was an unwelcomed reminder of why I moved south.

The one thing I was excited about was driving in the snow. To be clear, the family and I followed all safety precautions during the storm and while the road crews were doing their best to make things safe. Having lived in the snow belt, we have great respect for how quickly snow can go from fun to deadly. But we inevitably needed to drive a local half mile here or mile there to see each other. And those times were Fun – capital F.

Admittedly, there were some new variables at play. For instance, the sport tires that give my ride such a killer vibe in Atlanta are not as cool in 6 inches of snow and ice. Who knew? But the all-wheel drive was a moderately effective mitigation.

Many of same rules for snow driving apply to those of us navigating a career change

As I gave myself a crash course refresher on snow driving, it struck me that many of same rules for snow driving apply to those of us navigating a career change. So, I share with you what I learned on my Christmas vacation in the snowy North.

Help nervous or new drivers by sharing just a few key things to know.

This was the first winter our best friends’ son had his drivers’ license and his first real snow driving. I would have assumed, since he grew up in the frozen North, that he’d be as comfortable and excited about snow driving as I was. But He. Was. Terrified. He had to drive to work that night, perhaps 4 or 5 suburban blocks, and he eventually got the front wheels of his Nissan stuck in the snow drift at the front of his parking spot. Some friendly neighbors had to help dig him out, and I suspect he’s been homebound awaiting the Great Melt ever since.

After having a private laugh at his rookie mistake, we got to talking.

There’s really only one basic thing you need to understand when you drive a front-wheel drive car in the snow – do not get the front tires stuck. That’s it.

You can wedge the back end of the car three feet in the air as long as the front wheels can still get traction. This is a smart kid, so it’s clear that no one told him this.

It made me think. How many stressful situations have you gone into for work where you wish someone had given you that one piece of advice? That one thing that might have changed your entire approach? So whether it’s snowy driving or a tough work scenario, share those ‘one key things’ with your younger or less experienced peers whether they ask for not. It’s as simple as saying, ‘You may already know this, but I want to make sure you have all the info you need to be successful and…’

If you feel yourself losing control, take your foot off the accelerator but don't brake.

This one came back to me really fast as my cute little Q3 was sliding against my will towards a brutalist 6-inch curb that would surely destroy my tires upon impact. Your instinct it to hit the brake to stop the slide, but that's more likely to push you further out of control than help you regain it. By taking your foot off the accelerator and essentially taking no action for a moment, you’re doing two important things: first, you’re allowing the wheels to naturally slow to a speed where there’s a chance for traction – traction being critical to driving and all. And second, you’re giving your mind a minute to take stock of the situation.?How bad is it really? Is my rim just going to get scuffed or am I about to slide off a bridge? If it’s really bad (the bridge), what options do I have available to me?

The same thing goes with your career. There may come a time when it feels like things are happening to you. Perhaps your company goes through multiple acquisitions. Or maybe you’re one of the tens of thousands of tech workers unexpectedly cut from the payrolls right before the holidays.?It might seem like a good idea to take some big action immediately. I’m going to encourage you to take tour foot off the gas for just a minute, though, to stop and take stock. Did you really like that role? Might you qualify for a role you’d like better? If so, what would that take? Only one you've take no action should you decide what action to take.

Stay focused on where you want to go.

Here’s some great snow driving advice from Big O Tires: “It’s a good idea to keep your eyes looking through the turn toward where you want to go. Don’t be tempted to stare at obstacles or roadsides that you want to avoid. Just look toward the straight away, and keep the steering wheel pointed steadily in that direction.”

Why? Keeping your eyes pointed in the direction you want to go unconsciously steers you in that direction. If you've ever found yourself drifting towards a roadside oddity that caught your eye – be it a huge flock of migrating cranes at sunrise, hilarious billboard, or accident – you’ve already experienced this phenomenon. Don’t stare at the 6-inch curb you might hit. Instead, look confidently towards the turn you're going to successfully maneuver. You want all your mental energy on the good stuff.

Your career is much the same. We all find ourselves asking, ‘how do I avoid working for that kind of company / leader again?’ And look, you SHOULD take some time to figure out what you don't want.?

Knowing what you don't want might be more important than defining what you do want.?But… once you complete the exercise, move on.

Keep your eyes pointed to what you do want.?Keep talking about what you do want.?Otherwise, there’s zero chance of it happening. You will crash into the curb.

It's important to understand where the edges of your skills are.

I’d love to tell you that my dad imparted all this great wisdom upon me and my sisters growing up.?But it was more that there was wisdom to draw from his somewhat nontraditional approach to parenting. My Dad is the reason I love snow driving. Every year when we got a good snow, he’d load us all in the car and find an empty parking lot. There, he would push the limits of his 72 pickup (which had no seat belts to our total joy) by doing tricks in the snow like donuts in reverse and what is probably called a ‘Tokyo drift’ in modern times. There was very little risk to this insanity – there was no one and nothing to hit and my dad knew the capabilities of his truck.

I learned that this sort of safe experimentation is the only thing that prepares you for that one critical moment.?If you know how to safely exit a drift you intentionally entered, you’re much more likely to safely exit the unexpected one later.

So, that lesson in mind, I took my ride to an open lot at the start of my visit to get a feel for what this car with these tires felt like under these conditions.?And, boy, did I have fun! But I also had a much safer week for it.

You have to do the same in your life and career.?If you always stay within the guidelines, rules, and expectations, you’ll never know the depth of your knowledge and skills. You have to find safe ways to experiment.?There are all sorts of interesting ideas out there. Want to become a social marketing guru? Maybe you can volunteer to help promote animal adoptions at your local shelter as a low risk way to learn what works and what doesn't.?I recently read about a young lawyer who was laid off who started doing free legal projects for friends and family.?I believe she even successfully secured her father a patent.

So, when you have the opportunity to do metaphorical donuts in a snow-covered parking g lot, do them.?You’ll be better for it.

From the author: Though I make light of the snowstorms, high winds, and freezing conditions many of my fellow citizens experienced this week, I want to extend my sincere condolences to those who’ve lost loved ones and send warm thoughts to those still struggling to recover. May 2023 start better than 2022 ended. Much love.

Cheryl Wilson Griffin is an ultra-generalist with more than 20 years of experience solving complex problems through people, process, and technology. Cheryl took an early interest in computers around the age of 9 when she taught herself the BASIC programming language on a Coleco Adam computer. Naturally curious and a lifelong learner, she specializes in leveraging her broad strategy, product, technical, and leadership skills to bring forward new companies, departments, and capabilities. Cheryl is currently exploring new opportunities in 2023 and looks forward to hearing from you via LinkedIn.?