Step right up to the greatest show you are yet to witness in your lifetime! And the greatest part about it? You are not just a spectator. You get to be the participant. Know your lines well and play your character on point and your spotlight will only shine brighter. Miss your cue and slip on your toes and the stage curtains may close earlier than you've hoped. Except that we are not talking exactly about stage theatrics nor layers of make-up on the tip of your nose. But it is as crazy and as unpredictable as a circus itself. The corporate ladder is your circus tent and tomorrow's deadline is your premiere night. Welcome to the career circus!
Regardless of where you are in your career trajectory — fresh graduate with high hopes and vague dreams or family man with wife and kids — there is no denying the inevitable role you portray in this circus that fill our tables and determine our futures. You simply cannot bail on this reality and live on the enclaves of your own imaginings. Even Paris Hilton has to work. And there's got to be more to life than watching others fulfil their roles while you simply standby as they go work on reaching their dreams. In this day and age, you simply cannot be just a spectator. You have to live up to your character.
The roles offered to you are as vast as the Pacific. One of the gifts of modern society is the opportunity granted for each individual to be whoever they want to be. The choices can be categorized as either of the following: one, corporate worker en route to managerial position (and your own office, hooray!); two, freelance professional and work on a project basis in your own terms and conditions; or three, budding entrepreneur with a business idea that works and the motivation that grinds. Choose your role and play it well!
The problem with this plethora of choices is the confusion that accompanies the decision-making process. This is normal, and everyone at some point have examined the career path they ought to take. Everyone has, at one point or another, pondered which role brings most success and wealth.
While it is admirable to set goals on a particular reward such as financial comfort or material wealth, it is more important to be able to do an inventory of your skills and strengths that determine the ultimate role you will have to play. Check on what you are good at, audit your qualifications and examine your passion and interests. Self-knowledge is a powerful tool that will separate you from those hot-blooded eager beavers who think that there is one sure way to success. The truth is, there is none. An entrepreneur's business acumen that made his business profitable is not the same as a CEO's initiative that made the business organization efficient and effective. Your qualities that define you will also define the kind of role that you will play.
After your thorough self-examination, balance your passion with what is practicable. Meet that point where your interests intersect with what is the most advantageous and most promising. For instance you may find that you may have the entrepreneurial spirit but you lack the time to focus on a business nor the capital to put up one. In such a case, find employment first and learn from this training ground before venturing on your own.
Lastly, take the plunge! Do not be afraid to fail and discover that a particular field may not be for you. Take as many career shifts as you can. There is absolutely no deadline for your dreams and aspirations. Even the most successful in their fields shift careers after a period of time. You constantly evolve and so do your skills and interests. It may be time to move on to better opportunities or to try a hand at freelance work. The cards are in your hands. Use them well. Sometimes, the risk that you take is delaying your passion for what is the most practical as of the moment. But the good news is, both are not mutually exclusive. And you can be practical and passionate at the same time.
Indeed, you career is a circus ride. May it be as thrilling and as adventurous as you wanted it to be. There are sharp curves, ragged twists and unexpected turns. But don't let the ride stop. Push through! You may find that these twists and turns are the most enjoyable. Enjoy the journey and the destination will hold wonders beyond your imaginings. Welcome to the career circus!
