Career: How Do You Know What You Want?

IN BRIEF: How often are we worried about our professional lives and choice of work or business? Too often, isn’t it. In this section, we look at the types of people based upon how they choose their professions. Also, how to plan your early work days to understand what profession you love.

“You have done extremely well in Science! Why don’t you pursue it in your PUC and take up a career in medical or engineering?” this was a question often asked by many after my 10th results were announced. My answer was simple “I am not interested in it”.

“You have topped Accountancy, you should pursue Chartered Accountancy” was a statement made by many after my 12th results were announced. And my answer was simple “I am not interested in it”.

I have learnt throughout the years that society often confuses aptitude to be the same as passion or interest.Liking what you do and being good in what you do are two different things which should never be confused. I might be good at Mathematics, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I like it.

The inability of differentiating these two concepts often leaves people confused as to what they should pursue in the future.I would like to categorise them as “The Ambitious But Confused Type” of people.

Here Are The Categories Of People Based On Fixing And Chasing Goals

The Ambitious Type – These are the people who know exactly what their goals are. They have developed their areas of interests and thoroughly researched upon them from a young age. They are diligently working towards achieving their goals.

The Fulfilling Parents’ Dreams Type – They are the ones who don’t know what exactly they want, but they are acting upon fulfilling their parents’ dreams. They can also belong to that category of people who find their individual goals insignificant as compared to that of their parents’. A smile on the face of their parents on seeing their goals being fulfilled by their child, is the top most priority of this type of person.

The Live For The Present Type – These are the people who don’t want to think about the future, but want to enjoy and live every moment of their life to the fullest. The type of people who literally believe in “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”. Every moment, experience and situation is celebrated by them. They are talented, enthusiastic and like going with the flow.

The Ambitious But Confused Type – These are the people who know, they want to make it big in life, but don’t know, what that “goal” is. People who have a lot of potential, who know they can reach another level, if they know what they want to pursue. It’s quite interesting to know that these categories of people are often the most multi-faceted. They are talented in multiple fields and that is what confuses them the most. A talented person need not be interested in that particular field. Is it necessary for a person, to only follow that path, in which he knows he can eventually excel in? Or should he follow that path which he is truly passionate about excelling in, through his hard work and dedication?

The question is should you pursue a career you like or pursue a career you are good at? This is left upon you. So how do you know what exactly you want?

My experience of belonging to this category has made me realise, that in order to understand what I truly want and like, I should experience what I don’t want or don’t like. This technique is quite helpful to the “confused type of people who want to narrow down their immense platter of options.

Here Is What You Can Do

Let me give an example. When you go to an ice cream parlour, you see variety of ice creams which confuse you. You know that you want “Chocolate flavour”. But there are so many varieties in Chocolate flavour. How do you know if you want Belgium Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Mississippi, Mint Chocolate or Carmello Chocolate? Simple, you try them out. Once you know what you don’t like, you can discard that particular alternative. This way, you can narrow it down till you reach the one flavour that suits your taste buds.

Similarly, a tip for the “ambitious but confused type of people”, work hard in every field, every subject you are currently pursuing even if you don’t like it. If you try learning different subjects, interning in different places you can understand your tastes better. You now know if you don’t like a monotonous desk job, you can pursue a creative field.

If you feel you are not fit for a corporate job, you can involve yourself in a startup. There are variety of options ahead of you, if you don’t know how to recognise the right one, try experiencing the wrong ones. Trust me, it will reduce your inhibitions and bring more clarity in the way you perceive things.

And, yes while you experiment and dip your legs in unknown waters, expect yourself to commit in-numerous mistakes. But it’s alright,an arrow can be shot only by pulling it backward.So when life, is dragging is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it will launch you into something great.For all those who are crying over failed relationships, don’t worry there is still hope for you. Now that you know what quality you don’t want in your partner, you can search for someone with the qualities you know you want in him or her.

Life gives us so many choices if we don’t know what we want, might as well experience and realise what we don’t want. After all electrons do travel from negative to a positive terminal inside the battery. So for all my intelligent, ambitious, multi-faceted and fellow confused friends, channelize your negative options in order to reach your positive goals just like the electron.