Unconventional careers
15 02 2008
Every time I watch animal planet and other non-soap channels, I see guys who go diving into the oceans in search of ships or some rare fish! This is their career. Well, my question to you is, can a kid in India confidently dream of diving into deep seas in search of decayed ships rather than taking up the IIT entrance test or CA foundation course!
For example – Siddharth Narayanan, the Karan Singhania of Rang De Basanti has completed his MBA from S.P Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai. He was in fact, declared the “CNBC MANAGER OF THE YEAR” in 1999.
In spite of that, this guy chose film making to a career in corporate world! He actually quit his job to join Mani Ratnam as an assistant director for the movie Kannathil Muthamittal (Tamil movie) for a meager salary of Rs.3, 000!
In one of his interviews he said – “Cinema has always been my life. In fact, after class-10, I went up to my dad and said, enough of studies, Appa (Dad). Let me do something in cinema. But my father was smart enough to get me educated this far. So, MBA or not, I am in the industry I dreamed of being in.”
Reality is – Not many of us would want to choose movies or similar careers unless we have something concrete in place nor would we quit a job that actually won you great accolades like, CNBC manager of the year! It’s all about how badly do you want it? Hence, i guess there is only one Shah Rukh Khan/Tom Cruise but over a lac computer engineers. After all, at the end of the day, everybody wants to play safe!
This blog is continuation of my previous post, “Do you know what you want in life?” Not many of us would dare to become what we dream! I’m not being pessimist, but the reality is, being unconventional is taking risk, risking the biggest things of our lives, career and money!
I’m facing it myself! In a juxtaposition of choosing the corporate world to my passion ! Well, I don’t know. I would love to follow my heart than follow my mind which keeps reminding me of money & career…But…
It all boils down to your risk taking appetite and your love for your passion… what say… isnt it true… ???
no doubts Gaurav.. it all depends on your risk taking ability and how badly do u want it…
mmm… Work… why can’t we just live…
“To be nobody but yourself in a world doing its best to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle any human can ever fight and never stop fighting”. E.E. Cummings (Poet)
I firmly believe that life is not a static thing and it is in process of being created 24/7. Everyone of us are creators of our life experience and the more courage we have to be ourselves the greater chance we have of living an authentic and meaningful life. By living that authentic life, we attract to us what is meant for us, and being true to ourselves will connect us to the resources and opportunities that will help us fulfill our true potential. There are many ways and possibilities for that to unfold. As we lean to trust ourselves and our own gifts and talents, we begin to grow more confident in who we are. Being that said, one such way and opportunity is an immersion experience called VocationVacations. Web site: http://www.vocationvacations.com
If you are in transition and or looking for a new way of living and would like to try your hand at a career of your dreams, welcome to VocationVacations. This is where you can literally TEST DRIVE YOUR DREAM JOB….. sort of like a “Mini” immersion, where there is no risk of losing your current job, your next mortgage payment etc
If you are really serious about living in abundance of happiness, and being healthier, and integrating a more creative and interesting lifestyle, I recommend a VocationVacation. Check it out. The only true test of an authentic life is does it bring joy? if it does, life becomes it own reward.
Life & Career Coach Will WIebe
What is your real passion Veenu?? From what I know about you ( from your blogs ofcourse), you are one day going to follow your heart over your mind. You seem like a passionate and a restless person; All creative people are like that..
You will yourself figure out -in due course of time- that how you are going to follow your heart using your mind..if you know what I mean..Good luck with your dreams dear
“can a kid in India confidently dream of diving into deep seas in search of decayed ships rather than taking up the IIT entrance test or CA foundation course!”
Let me put it to you this way:
Son is in 8th std in school: Parents - “you need to study really hard and get in to IIT, go to USA… it is all for your own good!!” (repeated about 5 times a day for about 5 years)
To a relative, 8 years later: Parents - You know… we spent all our life in making sure our son had everything. His every wish made come true… he wanted to study in IIT, we sent him to every single coaching class in the city! He wanted to go to USA, so regardless of our financial problems, we sent him!!”
The above stuff is all speaking in general. I have had something similar happen to me too!
So do I think an Indian kid can confidently dream? Dream, yes. Do… may be, but mostly… not a chance!!
Hi Vaishno..
One who has a healthy financial family background has more options and less pressure than the one who is the only one looked upon as potential bread earner ,who can relieve the family from decades of penury.
The lower middleclass has only one tool for improving their conditions.i.e White collar Job.
So there are social,economical factors governing the trend.
Also.. It all depends on how badly you need to go for a career of your choice.Most of the ppl give up on their aspirations bcos of family and economic pressure.
Vaishno, very interesting thought. Very few people actually have it in them to pursue their love and not care about anything else. I think the pressure of parents and society also plays a very big role. Plus, like Nitin says, the economic condition of the fmaily also poses a further restriction.
Sathish @ What does your comment mean? Just live for the heck of living wthout any excitiment,fun and passion?
Lallopallo @ Thanks a lot lallopallo.Art & Creativity is what is want to do!I love to do that in any form, any time…But, establishing one self in a vast field like art is very difficult especially when you know there is no guarantee of future!
Ashwin @ So true Ashwin! IF the same message of IIT, or USA is being hammered in a kid’s head right from his childhood,the kid is basically not left with much of a choice in life!
I wonder if this culture would change! There is some change but its very slow. Initally, when i wanted to take up B.Com there were people mocking at me & asking why not engineering? It’s ‘Afterall’ B.Com! These days, professions other than ‘engineering’ & ‘doctors’ are also beign respected…
But… the argument continues!
Nitin & Ruhi @ True. But let me give you few examples.
Rajnikanth, the south super star was a bus conductor before he got a break in movies.
Azharuddin was an officer in SBI, still had the guts to give up a bank job (which is considered as one of the most stable jobs in India)and think of Cricket.
Jawagal Srikanth and Kumble too are engineers by profession but gave up their career for their love for Cricket.
So, what say? It all boils down to how badly you want something irrespective of the family background, economic and financial situation. If one really wants to do something they want, they will work their way out through all this…
(By the way, Nitin i could not enter your blog for quite sometime, it was showing error on page, alls well?)
Hiii Vaishno..
Ya i was missing you on my blog.No problem. Am still scribbling on same page..
“there is only one Shah Rukh Khan/Tom Cruise but over a lac computer engineers”
This statement can also read as
“there is only one bill gates/steve jobs but over a lac chota mota actors”
what do you have to say to that?
Hey Neha, sweety, you got me wrong! I’m not asking why is India(or any place) not producing as many SRK’s as computer engineers. My point is there are very few who have the ability to follow their passion and take risk.
Same applies to Bill Gates/ Steve Jobs too. Inspite of Steve Jobs’s background (I think he was doing something like calligraphy , he had the ability to build Apple and think BIG! He was not scared of chasing his dreams…
It’s not about movies/show biz.. its all about do you have the courage to pursue what you want and not go by society and stuff….
Nitin @ Check ur coomments, i’m back
vaishno,
very true, at the first place no one would want to take that kind of risk, even if somebody wants to take it, parents wouldn’t let them as job isn’t lucrative in and around our country.
To live for yourself is toughest in India. Living has no predefined prescription; it starts within and ends within. But this is easily said than done. Only a fortunate few end up doing what they like. To live for oneself has become the toughest thing to do…Nice thought..i m also sailing in the same boat as u…
Well… meant.. no work…
meethi @ Your are right..but…
Karthik @ Thats a pretty philosophical way of putting your prespective.. agreed sir!
Sathish @ ?
Why not live double lives? Something like - have your current job, and also concentrate and devote time for some passion of urs. Even Winston Churchill survived his job because of his passions - which kept him busy and relaxed all the while he was fighting Hitler!. Some of his passions which he was able to give time (Inspite of his busy schedule as head of state, England) was writing books, painting (He learnt how to paint after 30!).
After all, we are in much less demanding jobs. Dont you think it is possible to concentrate both on ur job and some serious hobby?
Destination Infinity.
You have hit the right chord with “at the end of the day everybody wants to play safe”.