‘Careers are like carpets. We weave them with many different colours and shapes throughout our lives. Which means we never start from scratch; we start from what we’ve already woven.’ Andrew Bramley.
If you visit my offices in Durbanville, South Africa, it’s hard to miss the handwoven Shiraz carpet in the entrance area, with its bold images and jewel colours. And it’s not merely decorative. In all my years of consulting, I’ve not found anything that explains careers better than this special carpet.
Warriors and Life
In the middle are four large Persian warriors, each with a sword sticking into the gut of the other. Since Persia (modern-day Iran) has a long history of war, images of war are often woven into their carpets. And perhaps that’s the right place to start. In the world of careers and business, it’s not enough to be passionate; we also have to be brave. Our carpet invites us all to become warriors, to sharpen our weapons of choice, and to have the courage to take bold action in good and challenging times.
But our carpet is not only about war. By far, the largest area is filled with images of life: birds, flowers, and deer. It’s a reminder that life is the first consideration, then how our work fits into it. Our careers are only a part of our lives, not the purpose of them.
People and Imperfection
Shiraz carpets are woven by a family, which explains why not all the images are identical, why some of the borders are more expertly woven than others, and how the edges are not absolutely straight. A family might start with a design in mind, but the patterns only emerge as they weave it. But that’s the beauty and nature of a handmade carpet. Carpets made in factories have perfect designs and straight edges, but they are easy to replicate, cheap to buy and have very little value thereafter.
Energy and Dreams
Handwoven carpets carry the energy of the people who weave them. That might include the prayer of a grandmother for a child or a young person’s dream for their future. The night we brought our carpet home, my son Sam lit candles all around the room, and we had a picnic around it, enjoying its warm and inviting energy. It has shared its energy in conversations with corporate groups, in auditoriums, and in desperate times, draped over my desk.
Carpets and Stories
I believe careers are like carpets. We have been weaving them since we were young without perhaps realising it. Every border and image is woven from knowledge we have gained, skills we have mastered, and life lessons we have learned. This means that no matter where we are on our life and work journey, we never start from scratch; we start from what we’ve already woven. Our story has also been woven along with many people in our lives; none of us do life alone. We, too, radiate an energy of our own and of those who have been part of our journey; how could we not?
Designs and Difficult Times
Some of the medallions on our Shiraz carpet are narrower than others, reflecting perhaps difficult times in our lives. Yet they, too, have a purpose, teaching us new lessons and often preparing us for the next part of our journey. You will also notice that the orange in our carpet is a lighter shade on one end. That’s not because it’s been lying in the sun. A family might create a colour dye that runs out as winter sets in. They would then travel further south towards the ancient city of Shiraz, where it’s warmer, and look for pomegranates in the mountains, which they will grind to create a similar colour. There are times in our lives that are colourful and vibrant and times when we, too, may need to head for the hills to find new energy and inspiration.
Energy and Timing
Careers like handwoven carpets take time and effort. And even with the best plans, some patterns and shapes only emerge as we weave them. We will no doubt face wars, often with ourselves, sometimes with other people, and sometimes with the world, as we fight for something we believe in. There is no need for a personal crisis because we haven’t changed the world by 28, 38, or 68. Every story has its own timing.
Carpets and The Future
My Shiraz carpet is a reminder that we don’t have to be perfect to make a difference. We don’t have to know it all to get started, and we don’t have to see every part of the plan before we start weaving. We can give up demanding the path ahead be predictable; instead stay open to new designs and opportunities that present themselves along the way. As we consider new opportunities, to not focus only on the present, but to ask how this will help create a future we envisage. It helps us consider, even in a less-than-ideal role, what we are learning and how we are growing. I think it also invites us to look back and see how far we’ve come.
One Day at a Time
A handmade carpet is unique, just as we all are. We don’t have to look like anyone else – or be like anyone else. It invites us to celebrate our differentness, to use whatever we have, to do whatever we can, and to make the world a better place in our unique way. None of us can change what we’ve woven so far, but we can decide how we want to weave our carpet from hereon.
The good news is we don’t have to do it all at once, just one stitch at a time. It may take years, or even decades, but that time will pass anyway. It seems to me we may as well be weaving a life that matters to us.
©Andrew Bramley 2024, All Rights Reserved