On having benchmarks

Benchmark: A point of reference for a measurement (Wikipedia)

The more time I spend working in marketing, the more time I spend thinking about benchmarks in everyday life. I know this may sound strange at first, and may not apply to all aspects of life, but give it some thought. For things like jobs/employers, teams, friends, lifestyles, relationships - there should be enough points of reference out there to pick from. And if not, then set new benchmarks :-) What do you think, am I making any sense? Life is about making choices, so it would help to have some benchmarks in order to make the right choices for yourself...

P.S. Other recent (random) applications:

Friend: "That guy's really cute". Carissa: "That depends on your benchmark"

Carissa: "I think the job interview went rather well.....but I don't know the recruiter's benchmark"

P.P.S. Is my mind getting corrupted?

Life is what happens while you're making plans...

As Sheryl Crow sings wisely in ther song Diamond Road (from the alumb C'mon C'mon) :

"Don't miss the diamonds along the way
Every road has led us here today
Life is what happens while you're making plans
All that you need is right here in your hands"

Why am I using this quote? Because once again I have witnessed that you can make plans in life, be it a one, five or even a ten year plan, but in the end, nothing turns out quite the way you've planned. And you know what? It's great. For months I've been thinking about changing my blog description under my profile pic, but actually, most things are still the same. My life is full of unpredictability, and it strangely feels good, because I'm so used to it. It's funny, isn't it? The stability of unstability. I am quite sure it's not going to be so much fun in say six months when my temporary contract will end once again, but this new job position is a true blessing! It wasn't planned, not even the job position I had before, but I wouldn't want it any other way right now. It "happened" while I was making plans. So, I guess the lesson for me is: It's nice to have a direction, but most likely, your detailed ten-year plan is a waste of time and can even close doors for you. I am not saying that you shouldn't plan anything in life (if you know me very well, you know that I am not just a day-dreamer who lives in the present, but tend to overplan things myself, and take the issue of "thinking in avance" a tad bit too seriously. Or isn't thinking of writing your will at 26 when you are perfectly healthy a bit exaggerated?), but that overfocusing and clutching to your plan could make you blind to opportunities and wonderful moments along the way. Diamonds on the road in my life? AIESEC and friends, my relationship, my current job and industry I'm working in, the city I'm living in. Nothing went according to plan, but everything is perfect right now.

So here's to going through life with your eves wide open and chances are high that it's going to be a diamond road :-)