Mastering the road less-travelled

Breaking away

Venturing down an untried career path is never easy. But with enough grit and determination, the impossible can be made possible, writes Meera Vijayann

When Shwetambari Shetty decided to quit her corporate job and decided to jump headlong into the world of fitness, her parents were far from pleased. But today, smiling ear-to-ear, the young Zumba trainer has no regrets.

“I come from a family of businessmen, bankers, engineers and doctors, so there is always going to be an expectation for me to join similar fields,” she said. “But my first love has always been dance even though I have never had a chance to learn it professionally. The turning point of my career was when I quit my job and moved to a health club. Of course, working at a health club was not half as easy as banking. But there was great learning and that's where I got to do my Zumba Fitness Training.”

With a surge of 'out-of-the-box' thinking being encouraged and a windfall in creative career options, it's not uncommon to see young people taking a detour from the straight and narrow road these  days. Certification courses run by animation agencies are almost always full of students, and a new crop of artistically-minded and creative young graduates seem to toy with new ideas for careers. Little wonder then that careers in the field of advertising, media, design, fitness, health, beauty and photography are witnessing a sea change with a steady inflow of talent from across borders. The good news? Opportunities are endless when you open your mind to the possibility of learning new skills.

Breaking past boundaries

For many young graduates today, choosing a career different from their stream of study is a difficult choice. Social pressure and the need to race ahead are often major obstacles in decision-making. However, Robin Wyatt, a renowned humanitarian photographer (www.robinwyatt.org), and Rana Atheya, Founder of Dogspot.in (www.dogspot.in), have shown that alternative careers can work and be lucrative, provided there is enough passion and enthusiasm to sustain the dream.

Wyatt explained that he had found himself at the crossroads of his career, after completing a Phd in social research, when he made the decision to take his life on a radical tangent. “It was during a Vipassana retreat that it first dawned on me that there were certain things that I was passionate about in life: people and travel,” he said and decided to invest in camera equipment and explore his potential.

Today, Wyatt has made a mark as a visual peacemaker and photographer by working not only with some of the world's top organisations, but by also mentoring budding young photographers. His new e-mentoring service has managed to attract the country’s best talent and his extensive travel experience, and in-depth knowledge of social development has complemented his talent in photography.

'I had no idea until two years ago that this is what I wanted to do,” Wyatt confessed. “I spent a long time wondering what I wanted in life because I couldn't see what I was good at and be passionate about. I had no intention if becoming an academic, but I have always been interested in development and have travelled widely particularly in South Asia. These interests made things click and made my want to explore my potential.”

Wyatt and others who have made radical shifts in their career all agree that the trick is to identify your skills and combine it with what you are passionate about. Rana Atheya, who launched the popular website Dogspot.in spoke honestly of his choice to shift careers. “I'm an engineer by profession with a B Tech and an MBA and I worked in the IT industry for several years. But I am also an animal lover, and grew up loving dogs. My website, Dogspot.in, was borne out of my will to combine my professional know-how and my passion,” he said.

For both young graduates and mid-career professionals, this seems to be the key in making the right choice when deciding to set foot on a career path that is new to them.
Confronting challenges

Of course, taking that first step towards what appears to be a near insurmountable challenge, needs strong resolve. Thoughts of financial doom, emotional setbacks, lack of resources, and more importantly, the extraordinary amount of time and investment needed to start a viable new career, run swiftly through the mind.

With good research on the chosen alternative career, however, most people find it relatively easy to make the shift.

“There were certainly challenges,” Rana said. “For me, the biggest problem was that the industry was not organised. Years ago, it was just difficult to start an e-portal because the eco-system was not ready. We had to put in a lot of time and money to start one. Now, the challenges are different.” Yet, these have not come in the way of his decision. Changing attitudes and behaviour, he believes, have complemented the pet industry which is still in a nascent stage. Dogspot.in is now the premier one-stop portal for dog lovers and owners.

In the case of photography, a sector that is fast becoming overcrowded and competitive, Wyatt explained that constant innovation is required to stay on top. “I needed to show organisations that I have something that no on else has. There were tens and thousands of other photographers out there who were trying to get a break just like I was. So I fell back on my research background, and began to reach out to people to show them the value of working with me,” he said.

Today, he added, there is a higher awareness among students and professionals so there is a pressing need to find a niche.

Making the Right Choice

Those looking to shift careers must always be ready to identify spaces which they could exploit using their strongest skills.

Combining skills with vision is the secret to unlocking a career path that has not been defined. With enough perseverance, a thorough professional is bound to set new standards in an unconventional career. When asked what she enjoys most about her new career as a Zumba trainer, Shwetambari beamed and replied: “To love what I do and make money as well!”

Her schedule, which can be seen at shwetambarishetty.zumba.com, speaks volumes about her success. Now that is the attitude of those who have the courage to turn their dreams into reality.