Once I was visiting a family friend. This Person was working in the IT industry, spent good time abroad, and now back in India for almost two years. When we meet someone who had been abroad for Job, Line of questioning changes. I did not find him very enthusiastic though. He must be getting these types of questions from many.
So I asked him what he is up to now. He said that he is trying to leave the job as soon as possible since he feels like stuck up and unable to make progress. But afraid to leave job security, money and travelling. He seems not to be able to decide on the next course of action.
I saw the same pattern with another friend of mine, He is working in one organization for 14 years, with lesser promotions and opportunities. He started as a sales executive and now a manager of the department. He became manager after 7 years spending in that organization. You meet him and he always tells me how he hates his job and will leave very soon. Many of his colleagues now working as VP or GM position in sales. And he believes that he won’t want to move out of his comfort zone.
My observations on this pattern took me to the word “The Plateau”. It is the plateau of Life. It can be personal and professional both. It is the point where you need to decide firmly about your course of actions.
Let us focus on the professional aspect of The Plateau
How to identify you reached the plateau?

Growth Stage
You start a business or a new career the growth level will be faster up to certain months or years due to maybe clear goals, designed path and enthusiasm, etc. You start with a big bang. Your ideas flow smooth and you learn new things which you love and appreciate.
You are overwhelmed with your performance. You learn from others. The thought may be of not winning but surely it is to stick around settled in your business and career. You may miss your family hours, personal hours but you are motivated.
On Y-axis you may find it pretty steep and It can be two way. So simultaneously you need to be careful.
Understanding Stage
You start understanding the nuances of business or your job position. Now you know how to deal with a particular person or a client. You know what they want and predict their needs fairly. You manage your growth by understanding variations in the market or any other situations.
You choose your move and you choose your circle. You roughly know how to play your card. You observe your losses and learn from them.
On the Y-axis this period may be smaller but important cause it’s a period where you grow at a steady pace but doing lesser mistakes. Probably you already have chalked out your moves for future to win desired outcomes.
Sustenance Stage
You have done a fair job so far. The business or the job even during certain crucial periods you can take care. And this stage is all about sustenance. Your observation is stopped and you are now concentrating more on your work or your business.
You take some family time out if you can. Your growth and income are stably settled and you are comfortable with the same.
On the Y-axis this is maybe the longest period of your career. If you revisit my friend’s case study; it was almost seven years, not considering his initial Growth and Understanding Stage.
The Plateau
Here comes the most interesting point. Yes; it is a realization point. You realize that something is not right. You are too much settled, others moving ahead. You lost promotion, your junior shifts to other organization, earning better position and so the perks. Your CA tells you, your business is good but income flow is very much the same since last 5 years.
And here you are willing things will be better but don’t find direction. You change or diversify methodically and you may hit the growth stage starting from that point. You don’t change or diversify, you may well be earning the same but your growth is stopped.
On the Y-axis chances of growth are infinite and same for degrowth. It is you who have to decide and take action on the same.
So can you avoid these four stages? The answer is no. I suggest instead,
- Be well planned and also well prepared for transitions from one stage to another.
- You should be able to identify which stage you are in. If you don’t know how to do so, seek help from experts.
- The third stage you should be very careful cause it’s the last one taking you to either infinite opportunities to grow or infinite situations to degrow.
- Good planning on paper also needs better execution. You are not expert so hire one.
- Diversification is a good option but it is not always your guts. It is also a systematic approach to your futuristic plateau, preparing for next plateau.
Remember you can influence The Plateau. If you can not do it alone, let us do it together.