We live in a world where many things can be obtained almost instantly with just a few clicks – ordering Christmas presents, listening to a new music album the day it’s released, satisfying late-night cravings with food delivery, or booking a flight to escape the dreary Dutch winter. These conveniences bring immediate satisfaction, often without much effort.

In this world of instant gratification, there’s one thing we can’t fast-track: building a fulfilling career. Careers aren’t delivered overnight; they require time, patience, perseverance, and resilience. Often, the hard work we invest in our professional growth doesn’t yield immediate results – it can take years, even decades, before we see the full impact of our efforts.

When I was a teenager, I didn’t have a clear vision of a dream job or career path. The only thing I knew was that I loved helping people and was fascinated by how the brain works. For a while, I considered studying psychology, but concerns about job prospects steered me in a different direction. Instead, I chose pharmacy – a field that aligned with my talents for helping others and my interest in applied sciences, while also offering strong career opportunities.

That choice set me on a path I could never have fully imagined. By the time I finished my pharmacy studies, I was drawn to research and decided to pursue a PhD. Today, I’m an Assistant Professor at VU Amsterdam. Still, that desire to help people remained a central thread in my life. I always knew it would come back into focus, though I didn’t know how, when, or in what form.

Fast-forward twenty years. This month, I officially became one of the PhD candidate advisors at VU Amsterdam. Together with a colleague, I will meet with every PhD student in our department at key stages of their journey. Our goal? Provide support and guidance to improve their overall well-being and success. It feels like everything has come full circle – my passion for helping others is now an integral part of my academic career.

Looking back, it’s clear that this outcome didn’t happen by chance. It took time, hard work, and a willingness to create and seize opportunities. That’s why, if you’re at a low point in your career – whether you’re struggling in your PhD or unsure about your first post-PhD job – remember this: progress takes time. In the meantime, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Focus on small wins: break up your long-term goal into smaller, achievable milestones, and celebrate these victories. They’ll keep you motivated and reinforce your progress. For me, every new subscriber to my newsletter or every request to deliver a workshop feels like a significant win, bringing me closer to my goals.
• Trust the process: growth and success often stem from consistent, incremental efforts rather than sudden breakthroughs. Even when success isn’t immediately visible, remember that you’re steadily working toward your objectives.
• Stay inspired: surround yourself with people, stories, and environments that fuel your passion and remind you why you started. Personally, I find it incredibly inspiring to connect with individuals who boldly pursue unconventional career paths.
• Keep learning: use waiting periods as opportunities to acquire new skills or deepen your expertise. This proactive approach keeps you prepared. For instance, I completed a coaching and counseling training to strengthen these skills and ensure I was ready when the right opportunity came along.
• Practice self-reflection: regularly reflect on how far you’ve come. Recognizing your progress can be reassuring during slower phases. I use journaling as a tool to track my development over time, offering a clear perspective on my journey.
• Share your dreams: let others know about your professional aspirations, even if they’re still evolving. For example, I’ve started positioning myself more as an educator and coach than a researcher, aligning with the direction I want my career to take.

Building a career aligned with your passion is a journey that demands patience, perseverance, and faith in the process. It may not unfold as quickly or predictably as you’d like, but the steps you take today shape the opportunities of tomorrow. Professional goals take time to materialize, but when they do, the result is deeply rewarding. Stay patient, keep learning, and don’t lose sight of your goals. Over time, the pieces will fall into place, often in ways more fulfilling than you could have imagined.