How does one feel when, during an attempt to settle on a new found career, things hit a roadblock. The plunge is already taken with no looking back. But here, it is a new experience, the experience of being caught unawares and cornered inside a boxing ring with no idea as to how to box. This is exactly when even thinking out of the box lets one down. But yes, there’s light at the end of the tunnel and good news will follow if one is committed to and trusts one’s passion. Passion to undergo the grind, take the punches, take the blows and kicks but still ready and willing to get up and walk.

Ofcourse, these alone are never going to help. First and foremost, there should be the desire to leave behind what is already left. This means looking ahead and marching forward. To begin with, the myth that novices don’t succeed needs to be swept aside. Many tend to forget that they have already been there and done tremendous things in their life in their earlier career and had come out in flying colours. The best way is to begin with the acceptance that though there is desire coupled with the drive, there is a long way to go, a path quite tricky and uphill to cover and there is an urgent need to break free from the limitations, irrespective of their numbers or size.

Many have found themselves in such situations since long. For those who had landed themselves up in such a situation, especially in the last couple of years, would have felt the impact more due to the global shutdown since the onset of the prevailing pandemic. This shutdown or lockdown came with terrible consequences. Loss of employment, absence of employment opportunities, global transportation coming to a grinding halt, increased and unforeseen expenditure in every household, loss of near and dear ones, economic activity coming to a grinding halt resulting in many either undergoing severe stress or going into irrevocable depression.

For someone like me and many others on the same boat as I, I would only say “Tread only where you fear the most”. This means, taking on the unknown, taking on one’s uncertainities head on, trusting your instinct, abilities and self-confidence. Yes, these will do wonders if only, one is a ready and good learner. Let us take the example of someone deciding to shift careers or give up something to pursue one’s passion or dream. At the outset, it is scary. It is demoralizing and shattering. Generally, one will shudder to even think of it. But as told herinabove, if you are committed, willing and keen and bent on making a difference and seeing the best of you through your own eyes, this is the time and the opportunity. A chance to learn, meaning, you either learn lots and lots of new things or learn from the mistakes of the past.  A blessing in disguise to start from the scratch on a clean slate, afresh.

It is obvious one may fall short of necessary core strengths, may come from a background of different career interests. But it is one’s career values that make all the difference and act as the green signal in the life defining moment or change. Yes, one may also lack certain skill sets absolutely necessary. This is where learning helps. A quick spree of upskilling, acquiring new qualifications, earning related ETR, ie., Earn The Right. To do anything, one needs to first earn the right to be recognized, ie., earning the credentials. Again, it is not necessarily acquiring new skill sets, but it can also be enhancing existing skills and abilities to stand up to the rigours and challenges. These will ensure success in a systematic and confident way. It is like, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Take the plunge – You either succeed or don’t. If you don’t, you are still at the existing place.

Most important of all is if one needs to make a mark in an unknown territory, one should be ready to seize every opportunity. Rather, see every challenge as an opportunity, every failure as yet another step towards success. While the fear and uncertainity tend to pull one down, the passion keeps the fire glowing. My own experience has shown me there is light at the end of the tunnel. All the challenges, rejections, unkempt promises, alien conditions, peer pressure can be put aside if one is with a clear vision. The last couple of years, especially have thrown up immense opportunities in the midst of turmoil, in the midst of economic lockdown and breakdown, in the midst of the new norms. The world hid behind the computer screens whilst we were confined to homes in front of the computer screens. Time was no longer a constraint and every learning platform was there, free, on a platter. Hopefully when the new tomorrow begins, we will be ready. The new you will be ready to stand up and be counted. The new world will need us. Each one of us will provide a new opportunity to tomorrow’s world.

On one side prevailed this situation with only despair and darkness around. Yes, this situation was never expected, was unseen in the last century and has turned out the reason for extreme gloom. But this isn’t going to stay forever. There is always the other side to any story or situation in our lives. When there is darkness, there is light, when there is sadness, there is joy and this can go on and on. In the same vein, there will be sunshine back in our lives one day, very soon. That will be the time when flowers will start blooming again, there will be joy and excitement around and fresh air will flow again freely in our lives.

Everyone can walk on a path strewn with roses, but it is the path with no mercy that teaches us life and success. In case you haven’t, try treading where you fear the most. The success is pure nectar…!

Author(s)

  • Venkat Balantrapu

    Transformational Coach, Insurance Consultant & Trainer, International Career Counsellor & Career Coach, NLP Practitioner & Master Practitioner, Columnist, Motivational Speaker, Singer, and Founder-CEO

    Weave Career (India & Kenya).

    Venkat Balantrapu has held senior management positions in the general insurance industry for over 33 years (14 years in India and almost 20 years in Africa including Kenya, Mauritius, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi and Uganda). He is an ex-banker and has worked in the private sector as well for 5 years. He is currently the Founder & CEO, WEAVE, (India & Kenya) and a Member – Advisory Board, Paavana Insurance Brokers Limited, India and also represents Service Quality Institute, USA, conducting their customer service excellence certification programs globally. He is a member, Madras Management Association, delivering corporate programs on their behalf. He is an empanelled trainer for Kenyan Institute of Bankers, Nairobi, Kenya. Has prepared training modules for TATA AIG, India and HDFC ERGO General Insurance in India and delivers training programs for them. He is an MBA., B.Com, FLMI, AIII, ARA, and ACS.