Yesterday, I had the chance to listen to a talk by Stein W. Wallace, an alumni from the University of Bergen (UiB), and it was incredibly insightful. As someone who’s had an impressive career, he shared thoughts that were both relatable and motivating. What really stuck with me was his emphasis on uncertainty in building a career. He reminded us that no matter how much we try to plan things, life has a way of throwing curveballs—and that’s okay.

One key takeaway was how important it is to stay curious. According to Wallace, curiosity is what keeps the doors open. When you’re open to new opportunities, new ideas, and even unexpected changes, that’s when real growth happens. He encouraged us to never shy away from uncertainty but to embrace it, because the best things often come from the paths we never thought we’d take, drawing from his own career and life experiences.

Wallace also touched on the balance between our actions and our thoughts. He emphasized that we often prepare for potential risks, investing time and resources into safeguarding our futures. However, this can lead to a dilemma: while we might make prudent choices to mitigate risk, we can’t predict whether those preparations will ultimately be necessary. This illustrates the challenge of navigating uncertainty—how to weigh the potential for loss against the possibility that our worries might never materialize.

It was refreshing to hear someone with his experience say that success isn’t about following a set blueprint, dictated by anyone else, but about exploring, learning, and being willing to step through new doors when they open. He even mentioned how this idea ties back to his books, which delve into these themes of uncertainty, decision-making, and adapting in both personal and professional contexts.