Many years ago, when I was a 5-year-old, my biggest aspiration was to become a bus driver, because I thought buses were cool back then. As I moved into primary school, I realized that I want to say something answer cooler to impress my teachers. So I started saying that I want to become an astronaut. Fast forward into high school, the then President of our great country, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam held my arm and asked me what do I want to become in my life? This time my answer was- a doctor. 

I never became a bus driver, although I came close to driving a few. I never became an astronaut or certainly, didn't became a doctor. After studying history to ace UPSC exams, and pursuing masters in International Relations to become a diplomat, I became a journalist in the end. 

However, now when I look back, if I had figured out earlier that my perfect career path is journalism, then I could have taken many efforts to become a better one than what I am today. So, here is how you can figure out the best career path very early in your life. 

Understand your limitations 

With hard work and the right guidance, you can become anyone you want to be in life- well almost anyone. One of the most important things that needed to be addressed is the centuries-old nature vs nurture argument. 

According to Saul McLeod of the University of Manchester , nature is what we think of as pre-wiring and is influenced by genetic inheritance and other biological factors. Nurture is generally taken as the influence of external factors after conception e.g. the product of exposure, experience and learning on an individual. 

Both of these factors play a key role in shaping your future especially your career. Hence you must understand your limitations based on these factors. For example, if you are 5 feet 4 inches tall and you want to become an opening fast bowler for Indian national cricket team, then think that again. You certainly fall short of becoming a fast bowler because of your height. But if you are very much passionate about then you can find a workaround to overcome your shortcomings by working hard to become a batsman or a spin bowler. This is exactly what happened in the life of great Sachin Tendulkar. So, before you jumping in and choosing your career, understand your limitations as a result of nature and nurture. 

Find what you are passionate about 

'Follow your passion' is the most used statement when it comes career advice. It is always best if you can make a good livelihood by following something that you are really passionate about. Are you passionate about coding? Then become a programmer or a software engineer. Are you passionate about telling stories? The become a journalist. It is as simple. 

However, there are cases where following your passion can be counterproductive. It has been pointed out that once you add a monetary reward to the equation, you won't be able to experience the same joy as before. Instead, a best alternative question to ask yourself is, what gets you out of bed in the morning? 

If you didn't need money, what would you do in life? 

I am not discounting the importance money. However, imagine a hypothetical scenario in which you have enough money to meet all of your living requirements, then how will you spend your days? Will you live in a wooden cabin in a forest and write a literary masterpiece? Or found a start-up that will revolutionize the way we live our daily life? 

Explore 

If you already have some vague idea on the career you want to follow, then the best thing to do is explore it. If you want to become an accountant, then meet and interact with people who are successful in that job. Ask them questions, understand how their day to day work life looks like, and most importantly do a short internship in the particular field. Importantly, this shouldn't stop you from exploring other professions and areas you are interested in. 

What do you want to be remembered for in life? 

For some people leaving a legacy is the most important thing in life. And if you are someone who feels the same way, then ask yourself how can you make a mark by pursuing the particular career. In fact, there is a famous exercise used by career coaches, in which you have to write down what you want to be written on your tombstone. Write down what your tombstone want to say, it will give more in forming career goals. 

Understand that life is a journey 

So, you finally figured out the career you want to follow and landed the dream job, but that is not the end. It should be treated as a stepping stone to bigger things. Most of the icons in history started their career in a completely different profession than what we now remember them for. 

Albert Einstein started his professional life as a clerk in a patent office. Richard Branson started his entrepreneurship by selling records in the High Street, London. And most importantly, Mahatma Gandhi was a barrister in South Africa before he guided India to independence. So don't be afraid to follow your calling and reinvent yourself at right times.

Share This Post