30/01/2025
I felt quite stuck in life and my career in my mid-twenties. The past few years have taught me, though, that success is really a subjective thing. I think you need to figure out what “success” means for you personally – and that often involves a bit of trial and error. I have learnt to be cautious not to take myself too seriously or to just walk down the path that I think I ought to be on. I have also learnt that it is good to acknowledge that what is important to me will naturally change over time and that a lot of things will not work out at first.
Setting up Palsa & Pulk and The E-Waste Column has taught me that when things go wrong (which they inevitably will when doing anything new!), having a purpose in what I am doing and being patient keeps me grounded. It has also taught me to give myself the space to allow for changes and setbacks and to actively create room to continue growing and developing. Fundamentally, I think whatever it is that you build in life will only really feel meaningful or “successful”, if you enjoy building it and believe in what you are building.
Moral: Patience and purpose are more than half of the journey—and more often than not, we fail our way to success. (Christine Nikander, 29, Finland)
