Pathfinders are those who live for a purpose higher than themselves. They are entrepreneurial and have a growth mindset. They seek lifelong learning to understand the challenges our society is facing and get the knowledge to solve problems and create abundance.
Let’s face it, we are constantly surrounded by various forms of media that dictate and influence our thoughts and opinions in a way that renders us to question our very own beliefs; it is so easy to get lost in someone else’s narrative. Our ability to make sense of the world, to think without biases, to comprehend limitlessly- is hindered. Not to forget that our society today places unrealistic expectations that take a toll on our capacity to deliver; we are unable to make mistakes, which results in lack luster, safe choices, that results in an unchanged status quo.
Is it possible to go beyond this stagnancy?
The term “pathfinder” - may elicit a very nonchalant response. It is, after all just a combination of the two terms that mean exactly that; The one who finds a path. Eloquently termed, it can be the one who “explores untraversed regions to mark out new routes”.
So, what does it really mean to be a pathfinder? Does it encompass a meaning deeper than just the literal ‘exploration of untraversed regions’?
Of course, it does. Being a pathfinder resonates with a person who finds a new way of doing things and paves a ‘figurative’ way to create abundance through knowledge and innovation. A person who solves problems and challenges using sheer creativity and a new way of achieving things. An entrepreneurial mindset, is an imperative to accomplish this. Although now a buzz term and commonly mistaken for snazzy business techniques, it is really a mindset, one that pathfinders must wholeheartedly embrace. With an entrepreneurial mindset, your goal isn’t to seek fame; it is to live for a purpose bigger than yourself. For instance, Marie Curie could’ve monetized her inventions and discoveries, instead, she chose to share it with the scientific community to foster understanding, growth and further research in the field.
By empathizing, with the problems and placing yourself in a particular challenge, you are best able to serve the needs of the community, take Elon Musk as an example, a revolutionary tech entrepreneur who rescued children by creating a child sized submarine at his company. For pathfinders with an entrepreneurial mindset, the learning happens every minute of the day; when you focus on others and the problems around you, the world is your classroom.
Globally, we are facing massive challenges in the form of economic turmoil, collapsing ecosystems and demarginalization that entail exclusion of communities. These challenges, among many other require our utmost attention and focus.
Of course, you don’t become a pathfinder overnight. You work hard, even if it means you have to do it 1,000 times, just like Edison. A growth outlook is essential here, making mistakes shouldn’t be frowned upon, instead it should actually be encouraged. It helps us assess how we’ve been doing so far and facilitates our efforts towards the more effective solution. Anybody can sculpt a new path, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the path that leads to greater good. A pathfinder does it better, leaving the world in an improved state and providing people with a legacy to fashion and create their OWN PATH.
By Hira Siraj
Thank you for your interest, for further information on the UAEU Expo 2020 Hub, please contact us via email or come and visit us at the UAEU Science & Innovation Park.