Lions don't learn to pull carts..

Lions don't learn to pull carts... Because they aren't supposed to pull carts.. 

However we usually take too long to realise this and sometimes we don't even realise... 

Interestingly, it was one security guard named Guruprasad at Taj Coromandel in Chennai who met Sachin Tendulkar in Hotel corridor for an autograph and pointed out a specific mistake Sachin was making on the ground resulting in his lost batting form against guests Australia back in 2001, when rest of the team was performing excellent. Guruprasad was diehard fan of cricket and Sachin and he used to watch each and every stroke of Sachin repeatedly . 

No commentator, No coach, No colleague could point out what Guruprasad could ...that Sachin was using an ill fitting Armguard ( elbow guard) which was affecting the swing of his bat . This was a shocking realization. The correction of the Armguard fitting led to Sachin gaining his form again.

Sachin corrected his mistake, but was Guruprasad in the right profession as a security guard ...? well, I leave that for you to decide.

Misplaced careers, however  justified they may sound or cute they may look, but they often land you in a soup. Society is full of such blunders.

You see Builders as Doctors, Doctors as Actors, Actors are working in Banks and Bankers are running Salons .. I am sure you know many such examples around you.

Is it bad to land up in a career that is not perfect for you..? Well, it depends on what you have and how you deal with it along with external factors impacting your choice and continuation. 

Usually people correct their mistakes later by changing professions and once they achieve success they are okay about the mistake done initially. But there are millions who keep dragging in their first choice and lead a miserable life.

Is it advisable to take up a career journey that is not suitable to you? Of course not .. if you want to reach the pinnacle of success, wealth creation and happiness all at a time then certainly you need to be in a career that you are made for - the one which you enjoy the most while delivering the effectiveness.

And we  have a long list of people who have proved this.. People who changed their career track the moment they realized they were on the wrong one and those happen to be one of the best decisions they made to correct their earlier mistake.

Some examples being ( read name - educational Qualification (earlier profession) and current / success profession

Anil Kumble- Engineer - Cricket

Mr Rowan Atkinson - Engineer- Mr. Bean

J K Rowling: Secretary to Businessman - Author of Harry Potter series

Cindy Crawford - Chem Engg dropout - International Model

Soha Ali Khan - An investment banker - Masters in International Relations from London School of economics - Actor

Sonu Sood: Engineer - Actor

Shankar Mahadevan: Software Engineer - Ex-employee Oracle - Singer Music Composer

The list is quite long. 

One may feel , there is nothing wrong  to  change a career path .. many of you who are reading this blog might have their name added in above list as a matter of fact. Truly your's  blogger himself is an Agricultural Engineer who did job in Financial product sales for 20 years before eventually hanging his boots as an employee to start his  journey of passion as a  career coach. 

While there is nothing wrong that appears to the eye, but if there  is a choice and there is a reason as well, then why not take professional education / training in the field of your interest / passion in the first place ? 

A recent study by a research group  states that over 60% IITians choose a career that is not related to their educational faculty. 

Now that's a  BIG concern seeing that, the government spends  about 3 lakh per student per year in any given IIT in India. So after  spending 12 Lakh on a student to make him a Techie / Engineer he goes out to become a management personnel or does a job in a field which he isn't educated / trained  in. No wonder we haven't been able to make any significant inroads in the field of innovations in technology as a  nation. 

Secondly from a student's perspective,  remember FARHAN in 3 idiots ? he says, He wont be able to become a good engineer because he doesn't enjoy engineering .. He wont be happy .. you may recall actual dialogue. 

Would you want to add your  child's name to this list or would you prefer him to choose the right track in the first instance?

Usually the most suitable career choice ( not necessarily one which you like initially) and happiness, both go hand in hand in the long run. Hence it makes more sense to take education in the relevant field itself . But then how do we know what is most suitable career field for us since it may not be the one which we are liking in that tender age of 15-17 years ?

Its better to get a scientific assessment of your personality done that will help you identify your specific personality orientation, various factors of your personality that shape your response to various career fields, your talents that can be the key driving factors of your vocational choice , of course your interest areas and your emotional quotient as well. Based on the above, the journey to identify your calling in life will be easier and exciting as well. 

I feel its necessary to caution here about the trend of doing what you like.. well, this is bit slippery. There is difference between what you like / are interested in / or desire  and what you CAN DO well. 

There are many people who take up a path they like without thinking much about suitability only to realize few months or a year or 2 down the line that they have made mistake and they are no more interested in that path. So Competency has to support your interest . a competent and interested person can create wonders  in his life. 

Now a days many parents say "we don't want to force our child , let him do what he wants to do.. he will eventually figure out what he wants to do.  My personal experience says, while this approach sounds liberal and good, the flip side is the teenager himself is not able to figure out his Right path  or he comes under pressure of taking RIGHT decision to keep parent's trust when he himself is not clear.

 Apart from social stigma or pressure, taking a longer route to identify your calling might look adventurous or fancy and sometimes few things may lure you into a false sense of excitement , but be aware, your time on the planet is limited, better make most of it.

Because,  the world would love to see an excellent Actor with education in acting as well or a Musician who has lived music right from the moment he started listening to music.

Remember no profession is better or lesser its more about the right fitment leading to optimum performance.

Make sure you don't make the LION in YOU play the role of a bullock out of ignorance . Its too big a mistake sometimes to correct.

Wishing you great success.

Avinaash Deshmukh 

Career Coach 

avinashdeshmukh@brainsmaart.com

9657600076

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