In October 2009, Michelle Luscombe, a corporate communications manager had an epiphany which set her on a new direction in her career. Today she is much happier, connected to work that draws from her inner passions.
It happened when she started singing again in a local choir after a gap of several years. With some time on her hands one day, she started singing for fun and discovered that “age or something” had given her voice a “new edge” that she liked. Following that moment, Michelle launched herself as a solo singer while also setting up a small PR agency. It was for her a transformation. (Her story is published on the website, www.careershifters.org).
Ken Robinson, the Liverpool-born expert on education, innovation and creativity would not be surprised by this story. One of his recent books, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Can Change Everything (Penguin, 2009) sets out his criticisms of the modern education system and the need for people to rediscover or in many cases, discover their true natural talents.
In his first famous TED talk (watched by more than eight million people), Robinson tells the story of a mother who took her daughter to see a psychiatrist. She was concerned because her daughter was very agitated and disruptive at school. The psychiatrist studied the girl during the session and suddenly asked the girl to wait in his office while he and her mother went outside to talk. As they left, he put on some music. Then he asked the child’s mother to look through the window. She was amazed to see her daughter dancing energetically and with passion around the room. The girl later went on to become a highly successful ballet dancer and choreographer. The girl was lucky in the sense she had found what she loved doing.
But, according to Robinson, it is never too late to look for the work that would connect best with your passions.
In Forbes magazine recently Naila Blades, a business coach said there was no reason to shy away from making major career changes: “The biggest limiting belief I see coming into play when someone is attempting to make a dramatic career change is the belief that they are stuck in their current career simply because that is what they’ve always done. It takes a mindset shift to realize that your job title is only a tiny piece of the unique experiences that make you You.”
And it does not matter if you are older, according to Mark Babbitt, CEO, YouTern: “The biggest myth around career transition is that only the young learn. A person’s chronological age, and for that matter, experience, is NOT a barrier to learning and growing.”
In his second TED talk, Ken Robinson said we are facing a second “climate crisis” – this one being about the poor use of ourselves, human resources.
Education is too linear, our views too conformist, and we are too obsessed by the goal of going to college. He tells the story of someone who knew from childhood he wanted to be a fireman. His teacher berated him in front of the class. He was too smart to take such a limiting route; he should go to college. But he stayed with his passion and became a fireman, and recently saved the lives of his former teacher and the teacher’s wife in a car wreck scene. “The teacher does not think he was wrong anymore,” quips Robinson.
The point he makes resonates with millions of people around the world. He says very often people go through their lives doing work they are not interested in – where “five minutes feels like an hour”. These folk “endure work and wait for the weekend”.
MBAs are usually highly motivated but on completion face many career choices. But if that energy and drive and passion wilt because they are engaged in work they don’t enjoy, then a career change is something to consider. But first, it’d be a good idea to at least watch Robinson’s TED talk to get some new inspiration. Go to: http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
It happened when she started singing again in a local choir after a gap of several years. With some time on her hands one day, she started singing for fun and discovered that “age or something” had given her voice a “new edge” that she liked. Following that moment, Michelle launched herself as a solo singer while also setting up a small PR agency. It was for her a transformation. (Her story is published on the website, www.careershifters.org).
Ken Robinson, the Liverpool-born expert on education, innovation and creativity would not be surprised by this story. One of his recent books, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Can Change Everything (Penguin, 2009) sets out his criticisms of the modern education system and the need for people to rediscover or in many cases, discover their true natural talents.
In his first famous TED talk (watched by more than eight million people), Robinson tells the story of a mother who took her daughter to see a psychiatrist. She was concerned because her daughter was very agitated and disruptive at school. The psychiatrist studied the girl during the session and suddenly asked the girl to wait in his office while he and her mother went outside to talk. As they left, he put on some music. Then he asked the child’s mother to look through the window. She was amazed to see her daughter dancing energetically and with passion around the room. The girl later went on to become a highly successful ballet dancer and choreographer. The girl was lucky in the sense she had found what she loved doing.
But, according to Robinson, it is never too late to look for the work that would connect best with your passions.
In Forbes magazine recently Naila Blades, a business coach said there was no reason to shy away from making major career changes: “The biggest limiting belief I see coming into play when someone is attempting to make a dramatic career change is the belief that they are stuck in their current career simply because that is what they’ve always done. It takes a mindset shift to realize that your job title is only a tiny piece of the unique experiences that make you You.”
And it does not matter if you are older, according to Mark Babbitt, CEO, YouTern: “The biggest myth around career transition is that only the young learn. A person’s chronological age, and for that matter, experience, is NOT a barrier to learning and growing.”
In his second TED talk, Ken Robinson said we are facing a second “climate crisis” – this one being about the poor use of ourselves, human resources.
Education is too linear, our views too conformist, and we are too obsessed by the goal of going to college. He tells the story of someone who knew from childhood he wanted to be a fireman. His teacher berated him in front of the class. He was too smart to take such a limiting route; he should go to college. But he stayed with his passion and became a fireman, and recently saved the lives of his former teacher and the teacher’s wife in a car wreck scene. “The teacher does not think he was wrong anymore,” quips Robinson.
The point he makes resonates with millions of people around the world. He says very often people go through their lives doing work they are not interested in – where “five minutes feels like an hour”. These folk “endure work and wait for the weekend”.
MBAs are usually highly motivated but on completion face many career choices. But if that energy and drive and passion wilt because they are engaged in work they don’t enjoy, then a career change is something to consider. But first, it’d be a good idea to at least watch Robinson’s TED talk to get some new inspiration. Go to: http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
