8 things to remember when deciding a Career

If you’re at that stage of your life where you’re either in school or college or just finished it, and have no idea what to do next then you’re probably feeling what another billion people are. Choosing what you want to do with your life is one of, if not the hardest decision we have to make as human beings.

Of course, when you were a kid, you might have had a goal but most often those dreams tend to become lackluster or unrealistic. So, what do you do then? Wait for divine intervention? Seek wisdom from the Tibetan mountains? While not impossible, these options certainly seem improbable. To get around this crisis, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

1. Knowing what you’re good at

Most people tend to underestimate the importance of knowing one’s true strength. You might be good at arts while mathematics just isn’t the team you play for. Try your best to find out what skills you have and don’t hesitate to polish those skills. Its often very easy to be dissuaded from doing what you’re good at because people might tell you that it will get you nowhere. But in todays world there is no telling or a clear graphical representation of what can be achieved and what cannot. So knowing what you are good at is the first important step towards your prospective career.

2. Don’t be afraid to take risks

Taking risks is what separates us from the highly successful. Don’t be afraid to try your hand at something most people would be afraid to do. Whether it’s starting new business venture or a start-up company, there is always a chance that you might become the next Bill Gates or Elon Musk. Many of the successful Silicon Valley millionaires are university drop outs who weren’t afraid of taking the road less travelled.

3. Accepting failures

You will never be an expert in everything. No matter how hard you try.         In fact, failing is the best teacher you could ask for. Always keep an open mind and let every experience teach you something you didn’t previously know. You might have tried your hand at web designing but found out that it wasn’t your cup of tea the hard way. That is completely ok. Accept it. Learn from it. And move on. One of the biggest mistakes one could make is not making enough mistakes.

4. Passion

Being passionate about what you do can be deciding factor of how successful you are. Your passion should never fade out even after 10 years of doing what you want to. As long as a fire still burns within you, and you wake up every day with the knowledge that you love what you do and have a true to achieve what you had set out to do, nothing could shake you or let you down.

5. Never quit 

Whether you are a Ph.D. student or a freelance photographer, giving up should not be on your to-do list. You never know when you could be one step away from success. You should take a break once in awhile to ensure you don’t overexert yourself and end up in a pile on the floor. As already mentioned, let your experiences guide you and your passion push you forward.

6. Have side jobs

It’s always smart to keep a little piggy bank to support you while you’re studying or pursuing other careers. A few extra bucks never hurt anyone.

7. Understand the limits of the education system

While college can help you decide what you want to pursue, in most cases due to every student’s individuality and the demands of the twenty-first century, the education you gain in college can become redundant unless you put in a lot of effort yourself and self-study. This helps you gain an incomparable amount of knowledge and versatility. Find a trusted source and sign up for online classes. Try following a strict schedule and always keep one step ahead.

8. Finding like-minded people 

This can be extremely important for people looking for inspiration and possibly business partners. Surround yourself with people who are as inclined to achieve their goals as you are. Always seek help from those more experienced in the field that you chose and constantly keep refining your knowledge and skillset.

Keeping all these points in mind, it is extremely essential to understand that you should always choose a career that interests you and not because society expects it from you.