Will exploring a wide range of career opportunities improve one's odds of success?

In support of a "yes" answer, here are 6 ways in which exploring different career opportunities may pay off:

One, life will be more interesting, if you experiment with different career opportunities.

Two, you will learn new things. No two careers are the same.

Three, with each change in career, you will meet new people, people different from the kinds of people you’ve met before.

Four, when you are new to a career, there will be no room for boredom or complacency.

Five, your second, third, fourth, or nth career, may be the one you are most successful at.

Six, your second, third, fourth, or nth career, may be your most satisfying career. 

Satisfaction is a legitimate form of success.

Ultimately, each of us decides what success means to us. 

Satisfaction may be what success means to you.

In support of a "no" answer, here are 6 ways in which pursuing different career opportunities may not pay off...

One, all the hard work you put into studying something, or learning something, and the experience you gain in one career will be lost, unless you apply what you have learned and experienced in that career, in your next career, or careers.

Two, when you are new to a career, you will have newbie status.  Not only may the money be entry level, but you will go from being an old-timer in your previous career, to being a nobody in your new career, until you are able to prove yourself, and reach established status.

Three, you may lose any benefits that vest, or that you become eligible for, only when you have completed a certain number of years in a job. - benefits such as longer vacations, stock options, sabbaticals, etc.

Four, you may lose the freedom, flexibility, and autonomy, that come with being in one job and career.

Five, if you are in one career, you will in time, become an authority on topics and subjects related to that career, a satisfaction in itself. You will lose this when you change careers.

Six, and this is important to state, perseverance is the key to long-term success in a career. You will lose this key, if you keep changing careers.

Minoo Jha

· Oct 6

What role does perseverance play in achieving long-term success?

Perseverance is a key, perhaps the key to long-term success. Those who persevere will achieve more in any sphere (area) of life, than those who don’t. Firstly, they are keen on using their talents, putting their abilities to work, or pursuing their interests. So they are likely to start using their talents, abilities, and interests, early in life. Initially, it may be in a non-professional, hobby setting. At this stage, they do the activity, for the sheer joy of being able to do it. Creation is involved. And they enjoy seeing the results of their creations, as well as experimenting with new ideas. This is a soft beginning. A little later, their talents and creations will be discovered, or they will themselves spot an opportunity, to pursue their interests further, either through getting a job, or through a business idea. This is when their plans and ideas solidify. At this stage, many people’s ambitions come to rest. But the persevering person never rests. They could be happy with the fact, that they are earning money from something they like to do, and are good at doing, and they are gaining knowledge and experience, while practicing what they are good at. But for the persevering person, that’s not enough. Their goal is to become better at what they do, to create and do more, to establish a name for themselves, to use their talents, abilities, and experience, beyond what is required just to support themselves. They are in it to find out how far they can take their talents and skills. They are in it, not just for the immediate future, but for the future they cannot see. The long haul. Regardless of challenges, rejections, disappointments, slow times, and competitive blows, they plan to keep the momentum going. Not resting in high moments, or grieving in low moments. When thrown to the mat, instead of thinking, “it’s all over for me”, they pick themselves up, and keep going. The persevering person may be a short-run pessimist, but they are always a long-run optimist. They never fail to hope for better times. It helps them persist. It helps them expand the number of things they can do, as well as expand the variety of things, they can do. They are also able to branch out, and extend. While the non-persevering person, jumps from tree to different tree, allowing too little time to achieve significant success in any area, the persevering person hones and refines what they do, smartly extending what they do, when the opportunity arises. They don’t make the deadly mistake of losing focus, losing interest, losing traction in the area they have dedicated their lives to. Over time, this makes the core of their knowledge, skills, and insights, strong. It also makes them agile. Quick thinkers and quick doers. Persevering people are success attractors. Over time, they achieve remarkable success. Looking at their success, the non-persevering person will say, “how lucky they are - they got into the right field, everything clicked for them.” They assume the persevering person’s success was due to advantages, resources, support, and connections, that they were lucky to have. But it’s neither a true assumption, nor a fair assumption. The persevering person’s success may have nothing to do with being handed a golden key at birth, or being lucky with resources, connections, and the support to succeed. Their success may be entirely self-made. In fact, the persevering person’s success is significantly due to their persistence and perseverance. They never gave up. They kept going. They were willing to try, and try again. They stretched themselves to meet new opportunities, not letting complacency make them lose their grip. Long after others stopped, or hopped onto a different tree, the persevering person kept at what they were doing, kept the momentum going. It’s how they got to where they are today. And it describes the long-term success of most of the successful people I know. If you ask any of these successful people the question, “what role does perseverance have to play in the success you’ve achieved, and continue to achieve?”, this is the answer you can expect from them…. “EVERYTHING!”

I have presented 6 ways in which, a  wide range of career opportunities may benefit you, and 6 ways in which they may not.

For most of us, this may be just a point of curiosity, because the default option (maybe, even the best option) is to stick with one career.

If there are circumstances in which, you don't have a choice, but to switch, even though you loved your career, you will see some of the negative aspects I have listed come to play - such as being a nobody, stripped of the respect and authority you previously enjoyed, and for many, far less income too.

Immigrants often don't have a choice, but to switch.

Some are doctors, some are professors, some are just copywriting hacks like myself.

I was forced to make a radical career switch, after I immigrated to America, and was unable to get a copywriting job.

Minoo Jha

· 4y

If you had a chance to do over, which profession would you choose?

Yes, both of them. This piece explains… Quick - What do Ronald Reagan and I have in common? We both have had second careers. Being a Hollywood actor, and serving as president of the United States – those were Ronald Reagan’s 2 careers. Being an advertising copywriter, and then a commissions analyst – these were my 2 careers. I am not sure what inspired Ronald Reagan’s career change. I know what inspired mine. It was moving to America. I moved to America in an existential crisis. There was no planning involved. Further, I came to America with a toddler in tow, and money to last me 3 months. By hook or by crook, I had to find a job before the money ran out. I spotted just one or two openings for copywriting jobs. Copywriting had been my career in India, a career in which I had been successful. So I applied. I got a response to one of my applications. Off to San Francisco, I went for the interview. But I did not get the job. Maybe looking in AdWeek would have been better. But I did not know how to drive. And I had an 11 month old child to contend with. So I decided to bite the bullet and get an Admin Assistant job. First, I went to Goodwill Institute of Career Development. There I learned the rudiments of the Microsoft Office suite of applications – Word, Excel, Access and Powerpoint. Just before my 3 months of money ran out, I got my first admin assistant temp job. Phew! 2 more admin assistant temp jobs followed, before I was to get my first permanent admin assistant job. I became an Admin Assistant to a Sales Manager at Palm Inc, the company that made the Palm Pilot. Palm was where my Commission Analyst career was born. Here's how it happened... After a few months of working at Palm, my boss wondered aloud at one of our one on ones, whether I might be better suited to a more challenging job. I asked him, “Like what?” He said Palm had tons of openings. I should look at them. Maybe there was something that would catch my eye. I asked him, “Can you think of what might be suitable for me?” “Yes,” he said, “Laura, over there is looking for a Commissions Analyst to join her Commission Accounting team. Go talk to her.” Commissions Accounting - what’s that? I wondered. Like in the story of my first career, where my boyfriend knew what copywriters did, but I didn’t, my boss knew what Commission Analysts did, but I didn’t. Anyway, I went to Laura. I didn’t even know if I was saying it right. “I have come to see you about the Commission Analyst job. Andy told me you had an opening,” I said. “What’s your background,” she asked me? “I used to be an Advertising Copywriter in India, and I’ve been working for Andy as his Admin Assistant these past few months.” She was incredulous. “You don’t have the skills,” she said. I was incredulous too, when I found out what the job involved. It was all numbers. I would have to calculate sales commissions, which was a numbers job, the whole day. I had no experience with numbers. I didn’t believe I had a talent for numbers. And to tell you the truth, I wasn’t interested in numbers. How could I, a words person, obsessed, besotted, in love with words, do an “all numbers” job like Commissions Accounting? The suggestion from my boss I go to Laura, appeared kind, but misplaced. But my boss didn’t let go of the idea. I think he was keen to get me off his back. Either that, or possibly, he just wanted me to be fruitfully occupied at work. I had a lot of idle time on my hands, and he could see it was wearying me. “Minoo, go back to Laura. Tell her you have free time. Tell her you will help her out, until she hires someone.” So I went back to Laura. She felt bad to turn me away. After all, what harm was there in letting me help her till she hired somebody? “Ok,” she said, “maybe you can help me with a few things. Let’s get started tomorrow.” And that’s how it began. My foray into Commissions Accounting. Laura started giving me work to do. And teaching me at the same time. The work involved a lot of Excel. Actually, advanced Excel. I only knew the rudiments of Excel. I just followed her instructions. Frankly, I was scared to death. But the fact I was just “helping till she found someone” took the pressure off. I must have done alright. Because after a short while, she said, “Minoo, I need to convert you from Andy’s assistant to a Commissions Analyst under me.” The paperwork was processed. Soon my business card read Minoo Jha, Commissions Analyst, Palm Inc. Laura informed me she would be going out on maternity leave soon after. When I heard her say that, I started panicking. “Laura, how am I going to manage? I don’t understand any of the formulas.” “Laura, if any of the formulas break, I won’t know how to fix them.” “Laura, if a new hire comes on board, what will I do – I don’t know how to set up their statement?” She put all these fears to rest. “Don’t worry, Minoo, trust me you can do this.” “Just copy the formulas from the existing sheets on to new sheets for new hires.” “And if you break a formula, just look at one of the other spreadsheets and copy the formula over from there.” “Trust me - you can do this.” Those were the magic words. Laura went out on maternity leave. I found myself in the position of having to handle the commissions function at Palm entirely on my own. The challenge both terrified and inspired me. I knew the answer was to become really good at Excel. So I did a Google search for ‘best books to learn Excel” and read reviews. I decided there were 5 good books, each of which had different things to offer. I got my boss to let me expense them. The books arrived. Every night after Tanita went to sleep, I would crack them open. Soon, with the help of my 5 books, I mastered Excel. And this once “words only” person stopped being terrified of doing a numbers job. Laura never returned from maternity leave. I handled the commissions function at Palm on my own for the next 5 years. All the way until I moved to greener pastures. I am still doing Commissions Accounting today. Except I now do it as a Freelance Consultant. So now you know the story behind my second career as well. Not as exciting as Ronald Reagan’s second career. But you can see there were many cliff-hanging moments for me, along the way. P.S. Aren’t managers amazing? Laura took me on just because I had fire in my belly. She saw I just needed a little confidence and a little grooming and I would be on my way. She set me up for success. I am so grateful to her till today.

Tears and frustration gave way to cheerful acceptance, and a focus on the positives. 

I wouldn't  have been able to compare myself to President Reagan, if not for that change.

Actually, I got more than one blog post out of the switch.

Careers are a way to find out about ourselves.

While our background, history, personality and talents, may land us the perfect first career, we may find out that we can do things which are completely opposite of that.

Career changes, in that respect, expand our horizons.

Life events will also play a part.

Marriage, having children, a family illness, aging parents, can each, in its time, change what we want from a career.

We can try to ignore those realities, but they will intrude into our thoughts, and demand our attention.

Just as the kind of work that is good for someone else, may not be good for us, what is good for us at one time, may not be ideal for us at another.

My concluding advice therefore, is to make regular evaluations of what you are currently doing.

Does it make sense, based on your background, history, personality, talents, and circumstances?

Make an assessment, and if you think something needs to change, then put on your thinking hat.

What can you do that might work?

It may not be an all or nothing.

Can you tinker with what you are doing currently?

What small or modest adjustment can make a difference?

Hopefully, I have got you thinking, and this is just the impetus you need to make a change.

Minoo Jha

· 5y

If you know several successful people, what is something that they all have in common?

They all understand that success is personal… All of us are unique. One size doesn't fit all. Not only do we have different geographical backgrounds, we come from different families and cultures. Our genetic and environmental make up is different. What each one of us was exposed to as children, was different. We have had different kinds of schooling. We've been raised in different kinds of families and homes. We've been part of different communities and cultures. Because we spent our childhoods doing different things, and facing different circumstances, we grew up learning different lessons. We grew up absorbing different values. Naturally, the options we think we have are different. The things we are willing to do are different. The things we are able to do are different. We have different fears and concerns. We have different interests and drives. We have different goals and priorities. Quite naturally, the challenges we feel we are up to taking on, will also be different. For all these reasons, it's important for each of us to develop a personal definition of success. This definition should be valid for you, and you alone. I had a rough childhood, where I rarely got a good night's sleep, because my dad had a drinking problem and would be up all night creating scenes. So part of my definition of success is a good night's sleep. Your unique background, your unique education, your unique experiences and experiments, your unique circumstances, and of course your unique dreams and talents, should all figure in crafting your definition of success. Is it that you were the only one to blaze a trail in your family? Is it that you got through your teenage and early adult years without messing up your life? Is it that you have been able to go with the flow, and make a living taking on different challenges? Is it that whatever you touch, you have always made your investment of time, money, and energy pay off? Is it that you have been able to achieve some things that are important to you, such as work flexibility, or work-life balance, or good health? Is it that you have been able to live simply? Is it that you have been able to go from strength to strength in your field? Is it that you have never let a disabling illness or condition stop you from doing the things you want to do? Is it that you have reinvented yourself through different jobs? Is it that, no matter the life blows, you have never lost your faith in God or humankind, or yourself? Is it that you have made some tough sacrifices you never thought you would make? It is that you are a good friend, a good parent, a good child, or a good brother or sister? Is it that you have never let failures and setbacks keep you down? Is it that you have been steadily able to command more and more respect as a person? Success to you may be succeeding in a field where you are a minority. Success to you may be knowing you have conquered some fears or weaknesses to become a better, or stronger person. Success to you may be dealing with a tough situation, without going to pieces, or losing your compassion. You don't have to let other people's definitions of success determine your life. You know who you are. You know what you have been able to do. Most important of all, you know what still remains to be done. Here’s someone who has his own unique definition of success:

Are there any circumstances where it is acceptable not to follow through on tasks or commitments, you have said yes to?

Here are some circumstances where it may be acceptable...

• You agreed to the task or commitment under coercion.
• You agreed to the task or commitment, without thinking things through.
• The task or commitment involves a commitment of money (or money and time) from your side, that you have changed your mind about, and have decided you do not want to make.
• A gut feeling surfaces, that the task or commitment, is not the right thing to do, or not right for you.
• You have learned new information, which rules against doing the task or commitment. 
• Something has arisen - such as a health issue, or a personal crisis, which is a legitimate reason for you not to follow through:

In all of the above circumstances, it is important to let the person or people you are letting down, know.

Better still, do not commit.

Better to say you can't make a commitment, then to make a commitment, and back out.

Because think about it...

Saying yes, and then backing out, can cause an inconvenience.

It can cause financial loss.

It can cause physical difficulty.

It can cause the person to scramble to make alternate plans, to fill the spot you have created.

This is, of course, besides making them feel disappointed, making them feel let down.

So, whatever you do, do not make backing out of commitments a habit. 

You don't want to develop the reputation of being a flake.

You don't want to develop the reputation of being an opportunist. 

An opportunist says yes, but keeps their options open.

If something better comes along, they casually back out of the commitment, often giving a lame excuse about why they had to back out.

Much better to RSVP no, even if it means losing your place, and the opportunity to change that.

It's no secret...

Relationships and friendships are strengthened, when those in the relationship or friendship keep their word, and keep their commitments.

When you shake hands on something, make your handshake firm.