The phrase “Be water” is most famously associated with Bruce Lee, the martial artist, movie star and philosopher. He shared this idea during an interview in 1971, where he explained the concept of adaptability and flexibility. His full quote is:

“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless—like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

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Bruce Lee was influenced by Taoism. Taoism, particularly through its foundational text, the Tao Te Ching by Laozi, heavily emphasizes the concept of “being like water” and “going with the flow.” This philosophy emphasizes being adaptable, flexible, and able to adjust to different circumstances, much like water takes the shape of whatever contains it.

The parallel I’d like to draw between our careers and being like water comes from a recent conversation I had with a senior recruiter at SAP. One of the most challenging part of his job was to explain to job seekers (especially young applicants within the same organization) why they weren’t picked to interview for a position that was 2 or 3 pay-grades higher than their current role. Getting an interview in this circumstance is rare, and the chances of getting the job is even slimmer. His advice for job seekers is to have the right expectations and get to know the process. This advice is basic but essential, and isn’t unique to SAP but applies to almost all seeking to progress upwards in any organization.

Every organization has a flow – a rhythm, cycle or way of doing things. It has established processes, schedules and systems to regulate hiring, assess skills, provide training, manage performance, distribute pay, promotions and raises, and plan for leadership succession. By knowing what the rhythm is and adapting your expectations and actions to fit this flow, you will not only be more successful but also encounter greater satisfaction with your career trajectory.

If you’ve ever done the opposite and tried to go against the established process within a company, you’ll know it is like swimming against a river’s current. The likely outcome is greater fatigue and missing your target destination. Job seekers and employees who expect and push for changes off-cycle to the company’s flow often end up exhausted and frustrated with the results. Sure, it’s possible for an intern to become CEO in the same organization, but the chances are miniscule and I usually advise a more pragmatic and achievable goal for my clients that involves manageable and realistic steps towards the aspirational goal.

Be Content Without Being Complacent

While “going with the flow” inherently requires trust and patience with the system we’re in, there is also a large dose of appreciation and contentment we must learn to adopt within ourselves. The pull-through benefit of adopting this approach is the reduction of stress and pressure we feel from unrealistic expectations (whether created by ourselves or by others) and better management of our scarcity mindset.

Being content with our current condition does not mean being stagnant in pursuing our personal aspirations and career growth. To move from a ‘scarcity mindset’ to an ‘abundance mindset,’ we must proactively manage our thoughts while intentionally managing our behaviours.

Here are 3 ways to remain content without being complacent:

1. Continuous learning – One of the first things to learn is the timing and schedule of relevant systems your organization or the organization you’re interested in working for. The goal is to understand how processes such as hiring, promotions, transfers and succession planning work in the organization. I would advocate spending time adapting your approach to the organizational flow, rather than trying to find back-doors, exceptions and ways to game the system.
2. Build your network and relationships – The best way I can recommend to learn about a company’s flow is from your network. This means building new connections, reconnect with those you’ve loss touch with, and maintaining your existing relationships. Even though career networking sites (like Glassdoor and LinkedIn) are available, speaking directly to your network of friends and acquaintances is the fastest and most trusted way to learn about a company’s flow. Stay curious and ask lots of questions, and you might find you’re actually pretty good at it.
3. Find help – Whether it’s a coach or a mentor, you can fast-track your efforts when you have a trusted advisor close by to support and sanity-check your plan. A good coach or mentor will not let you forget your strengths and accomplishments, and will encourage you to apply those experiences to achieve your short term and long term goals. They will also help you take stock of your achievements and put expectations into perspective. Ask for help to develop a strategy and tactics to use the company’s flow to get you across faster, safely and on-track to reach your career destination.

Embracing the philosophy of “being like water” in your career means adapting to your organization’s flow, understanding its processes, and aligning your expectations with its rhythm. By doing so, you’ll not only increase your chances of success but also find greater satisfaction in your career journey. Remember, being content doesn’t mean being complacent. Continuous learning, building your network, and seeking help from mentors or coaches are proactive ways to maintain an abundance mindset and propel your career forward. So, be water, my friend, and let your career flow.