Everyone talks about how important it is to find what you “love” and not be sucked in by the prestige and fame, but you know what?
All that noise - and money! - isn’t easy to shut out.
I struggled with it for a long time myself.
When I quit BlackRock, everyone around me told me that with my background and experience, I should start a VC-backed startup.
So I listened.
I joined an accelerator and went on serial co-founder “dates” because of the mounting pressure to build a startup that would be ready for Pitch Day.
Of the many “dates” I went on, one particular co-founder stood out and he happened to be working on a vitamin business!
We agreed to partner up but soon, I was confronted with a horrible truth: I didn’t care about vitamins.
I didn’t even eat any!
All I was doing was chasing after prestige and listening to what people say.
Did I even need to start a company that attracted VC money?
The “successes” of those billion-dollar startups don’t necessarily triumph over many other successful solopreneurs.
So I decided to quit the accelerator.
I realised that it was time to do what I really loved - to be a career coach that helps other high-flying corporate figures find their dream jobs.
Because purpose is everything.
If you love what you do, you will find the energy and drive to give it your all.
These past 3 years have been very tough but they have also been some of the best years of my life.
So if you feel stuck and are scared to make a move, here is my advice to you:
1️⃣ Start talking to people you know who are doing things you’re interested in
2️⃣ Stalk everyone!
LinkedIn is a great platform to learn how a person has built their career and gotten to where they are today.
3️⃣ Run a side project
It doesn’t matter how small or silly it might sound.
Just start something that is your own and taps into your personal interests.
Personally, I ran a fashion blog while at BlackRock. It never gained any traction but that blog ended up being the perfect case study for me to use during my interview with a fashion startup - which I ended up working at!
4️⃣ Ask for help
Ask your friends and colleagues for help, whether it’s with introductions or helping you to prepare for an exam.
If you’re looking for help in figuring out what and how to find your dream career, then you can approach a career coach!
Sometimes, all you need is an independent third person to help you figure out the path to take. 😉
PS: Feel free to DM me “HELP”.
I’ve helped clients from KPMG, BCG, P&G and Google find their perfect-for-you career and would love to help you too.
