Follow a marked path... and beyond

If you look closely, almost all of us have followed well-trodden paths. Whatever the field, following a path is certainly proof of continuity, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't think about creating gaps that lead to different perspectives. Is it always this easy? Is creating new paths within everyone's reach?

Create, dig...

Literally and figuratively, digging requires decision-making, reflection and intrinsic abilities such as resilience. To bring about a new direction, creativity, research and hard work are imperative. It is this ability to create our own paths at the end of the great road that testifies to our uniqueness.

At a certain point along the way, many people tend to stop with no prospect of projection, especially at a time when they are expected to make their own way. This tendency is recurrent in the academic world. Some universities have even complained of an upsurge in plagiarism. In fact, the people concerned have consistently spent their time following the paths blazed by their predecessors. Is this any wonder?

In 2018, at the FSEG (Faculty of Economics and Management) of the University of Yaoundé II, 17 theses were rejected out of 20 submitted. After analysis by anti-plagiarism software, the rate turned out to be over 15%, the generally accepted margin. This margin rightly reveals that nothing can be done ex-nihilo, hence the need to draw inspiration from past investigations. On the other hand, it's essential to show autonomy and originality, to position oneself, to create and to blaze new trails, producing work that is at least 85% original. In other, more serious cases, some students simply copy dozens of pages and paste them into "their work."

The bachelor's degree cycle and, to some extent, the master's degree cycle are more or less signposted paths that show the general perspective and application of what has been learned. At doctoral level, on the other hand, students need to be able to blaze new trails, which is why they are responsible for presenting new perspectives at the end of their research.

In the mining sector, even when a company invests in a region of the world in search of precious metals after geological studies, the discovery of the vein is always the work of an individual or group who knows exactly how to position themselves and where to dig. It takes more than willpower to achieve this.

"Everyone creates their own path. Dare to be bold, surround yourself and believe in your ideas", as Imane Moest, PhD in biology, reminds us in an interview.

You can't get rich by staying employed

Applying for a job in a company is generally proof of adherence to the path laid out by its owner. In the course of our professional missions, the company's routine (between the quest for visibility and positioning) becomes part of us.

However, to remain there without thinking about personal entrepreneurship is to admit to a certain immobility. At some point along the way, we feel the need for renewal and change. These are indicators of the need to gain new professional experience and the need to undertake new ventures. As we invest ourselves in our profession, new paths and directions open up to us, but we need to know how to respond favorably to them. Knowing how to listen to oneself and make up one's mind is crucial to positioning oneself.

The fact remains that, to ride a new wave, you need audacity. How many people are capable of resigning from a company to set up on their own? The fear of missing out is often a source of demotivation. What's more, many people like the stability and comfort of their professional situation. However, there are those who are ready to take on a challenge, depending on the context.

A famous anecdote about the origin of Lamborghini sports cars teaches us something about this. In fact, it was because Enzo Ferrari rejected Ferrucio Lamborghini's criticism and suggestions for improvements to the Ferrari sports cars, that he decided to take up the challenge of producing better sports cars. It was Lamborghini's decision to take up this challenge that led to the exploration of other paths and perspectives in the automotive sphere, and one impressive model after another has seen the light of day from the 1960s to the present day.

More path-makers: more perspectives

Ideas come to mind at one time or another. Very often, they're just flashes of inspiration; how we consider them can make all the difference. To achieve concrete realizations, everything usually starts with an idea that often comes out of nowhere. In this vein, being above the fray is necessary to be able to create a path, to implement a new idea.

The world wasn't built in a week. It's a long process through the ages. The image of the road is a perfect illustration of this reality. We started out with dirt roads and then moved on to asphalt roads. Then, in response to the dizzying increase in road traffic, the era of freeways with interchanges took over. Other ideas followed, bringing new directions and so on.

Illustration: image generated by AI Meta

Sources

Listen, decide and let go - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArEAKz3dFqw

"Everyone creates their own path. Dare to be bold, surround yourself and believe in your ideas."
https://www.radar-rp.ch/chacun%C2%B7e-cree-son-propre-chemin-osez-laudace-entourez-vous-et-croyez-en-vos-idees/

Cameroon! Plagiarism case shakes the University of Yaoundé II
https:// afrique.le360.ma/autres-pays/societe/2018/04/17/20510-cameroun-une-affaire-de-plagiat-ebranle-luniversite-de-yaounde-ii-20510/

Cameroon: Here's how 17 cases of plagiarism were detected in 20 doctoral theses at the University of Yaoundé II.
https://actucameroun.com/2018/04/12/cameroun-voici-comment-17-cas-de-plagiat-ont-ete-detectes-sur-20-theses-de-doctorat-a-luniversite-de-yaounde-ii-soa/

Lamborghini: the history of a brand ready to defy all odds
https://actucameroun.com/2018/04/12/cameroun-voici-comment-17-cas-de-plagiat-ont-ete-detectes-sur-20-theses-de-doctorat-a-luniversite-de-yaounde-ii-soa/