Passion or Profession

Is it Passion or Profession? Am I happy with what I am doing to earn my daily bread and do I want to do it all my life or is it only to get my salary at the end of the month or do I have any other aspirations which I need to pursue later in my life? Is what I am doing today leading me to that aspiration which not only satisfies my inner side but also pays me to live and enjoy my life? Is what I am doing today, helping in giving something back to the society that I am part of?

Career and aspirations, most of the time, do not go hand in hand. They could be 2 parallel tracks, which never meet, leaving many with unmet and un fulfilled wishes. Indians, at large, look at career only as a means of livelihood and not an integral part which we would love to do. Majority of the times, most of us are pushed into jobs which become a must do only to earn money. I feel its like a sex worker, who goes thru the motions only for money and does not get engaged emotionally with the job. In this case it should not be, but majority of the people who work are very similar in approach. A mention on the same lines has been published in The New Indian Express, quoted by Sampath Shetty of Teamlease Services. He expresses that Job Sculpting (I liked the word..) is the art of matching people to jobs that allow their deeply embedded life interests to be expressed. He is of the opinion that HR Managers or Bosses who hire the employees, should help bring out these deeply embedded life interests from its dormant state to a more active one. But how many have the time or the inclination to do it? Would their employees innate talent be of any use to the company's business? Would there be any connection to the talent / aspiration that an employee has to the business that the company is into? Can there be a match at all or is it just wishful thinking?

I feel there is a huge potential in identifying talents which match the requirement of the business and not just match the cv to the job description. Not many have the time, money or patience to go this way for want of short term deliverables and neglect the long term association. Then there is the crib of attrition at all levels. According to me, there are 3 phases in anyone's career - first phase, second phase and third phase.

First Phase - is where we are entering into the work life. Do not have much options, the only goal is to land a job and start earning.

Second phase - where we are a little sure about what we want (atleast in terms of money and role). We would be looking at growth opportunities internally or externally to reach the top position. We would aspire for money, comforts, prestige, status, etc in this phase.

Third phase - is the phase where you have done it all, seen it all and would like to pursue what interests you, rather than what you have in hand. Pursue your life interests, become a little spirutial, get into the consultative mode, etc.

Is there a possibility of identifying the talent in the second phase and match with the company's requirements. Dont know as of now, but I foresee a huge opportunity and potential.

Until next time, purse your passion...