How to run my career like a Ferrari

HOW TO RUN MY CAREER LIKE A Ferrari – FROM 0 TO 100 MILES AN HOUR, IN ZERO SECONDS ?

With passage of time, a hectic life, and lightning fast changes where technology changes (and at times , KILLS) careers, one need to be on a watch out of how to manage one's career. Gone are the days, when the career used to be a 35 years affair. Today,  in many cases, the career are turned on their heads upside down, by the time a person reaches 35.

So then, what should one do ? If you are on crossroads, where you feel the career is not going anywhere, or is monotonous (FEEL NAHIN AA RAHI HAI BHAI), what are some of the insights one should get, both from within, and from external world that can help you shape it better? Having interacted with a large number of successful, and equally not so successful candidates, I think there are some indications, that I have tried to capture in this short write up. This , I must admit is the the first Article for me in the career Section, but definitely, a humble beginning.

The things I think, one should look out for are as under :-

1. WHAT ARE THE JOB EXPECTATIONS – YOUR OWN EXPECTATIONS MATTER BUT THE RESULTS ARE DEPENDENT ON THE EXPECTATION OF YOUR BOSS – ARE YOU THE RIGHT FIT ?

Many times, we do not realize if we are made for a particular job or not.. May be I am good at compliance work, may be I am good at numbers, or may be I am good at liasioning, or the best one, I can read, interpret and devise structures that facilitate business move more efficiently.. But is this what my job requires for me.. There is no point carving a sculpture using a Drilling machine..the output would be horrendous.. so ask yourself, are you the RIGHT FIT FOR THE JOB YOU ARE IN ?

2. IS YOUR MARRIAGE RIGHT ?

To some extent , a job is a marriage of two mutually consenting adults, who promise to stay with each other for the rest of the lives.. for the company, the candidate is a lifelong hire, and for the candidate, it’s the dream company, where he wants to spend the rest of his life…  Neither the company wants to hire a resource with the intention of firing him soon, nor the employee joins a company, while he is continuing to look out for another job..

But things do change once the reality kicks in..at the end of the day, its not a computer programme that works according to a defined algorithm… what you need to assess is are you at the wrong place.. If you are, better move out..in the long run its better for you, and even better for the company that hired you.. While there may be resistance on your exit, after a point in time, no one would have hard feelings against you, once you left..

3. Observe the successful one’s – They must be doing something right that you might have missed - knowingly or unknowingly

Giving up due to failure is easy, trying to be successful is not an easy course to stay on. If you feel you can do it, just that the times are turbulent, try and see within the organization or outside, who are the successful ones ? They must be doing something right (even if you think that’s not right from your point of view). Think over it , whether you can do these things or not.. If yes, go for it, if not, think if moving out might be a better idea.. End of the day, if you  yourself think that you cant do what is required to be successful, you are definitely not going to be successful..

4. Speak out for yourself – You are not in  A LOVE RELATIONSHIP WHERE OTHERS COULD FEEL THROUGH YOUR VIBES WHAT YOU FEEL GOOD OR BAD ABOUT

Many a times, one keeps on thinking a lot about what is wrong with him , or what his expectations are .. But they never communicate this to the right person, the BOSS, about what they want..they go round and round with colleagues on coffee TABLES, as if they were a celebrity on Coffee with “CHARAN”, at their homes with family members, who get more worried than the person himself, and with themselves for most of the time.. But ask yourself, DOES ALL THIS REALLY MATTERS.. I may agree that the fear always remains, what would the BOSS THINK.. WHAT IF HE SAYS NO AND SO ON..these are natural fears that come to one.. and nothing wrong about it.. But my dear friend, if the one who can do things right, himself does not hear from you, I can assure you, he would not get the love vibes that would make him to come and resolve your problems..

5. WHATS THE AVERAGE SCORE

Are you doing better than what average people are doing in your organisation ? Or are you almost equal ? If you think you are average, than find out why someone should do something, so that you stand out.. If you can reason it out you can convince others too… else I think, you are only fooling yourself.. Most often than not, you would not get better, simply because some other non deserving candidate got better than what they deserved..

6. KRISHNA SAID NA TU KUCH LAAYA THA NA KUCH LE JAAYEGA – COMPANY MEIN APPOINTMENT LETTER LE KAR AAYA THA, OR RELIEVING LETTER LE KAR JAAYEGA

PhirKischeezkiMohMaaya ? 99% of employee fall in this category as only 1% employee work in a single organisation the whole of their life… So if you think, by your leaving your organization will suffer, your subordinates will suffer, you are living in a fool’s paradise.. Lets admit, business and organizations are bigger than individuals, most of the time.. Their ability to carry on and adapt, hire more people and grow on the success path are far easier.. For you, taking the path that takes you to your destiny is the only choice…

7. Speak to your superiors, and may be past Managers – Even if they don’t tell you anything, you don’t stand to loose out.

Many a time, people we work with already know and would be happy to provide a piece of genuine advise. They do not speak out for the fear of spoiling the relationship, as the receiver of feedback may not take it in positive stance.. But this thing is worth an effort.. Who can be better guide than the person who has a responsibility for overseeing you and your work from 9:30 am to 6 :00 pm (I agree the timing seems funny)..this timeframe is more than the time, you are observed by your better half in most of the cases.. But even if they don’t speak out its, ok…

8. AND IF NOTHING WORKS OUT, LOOK OUTSIDE FOR GREENER PASTURES..

There are no chances that the grass may actually turn out to be greener on the other side, instead it may be yellow, or brown or black, but unless you go there, you would never know… so why not give it a try…

9. AND YOU KNOW WHAT , KOSHISH KARNE WAALO KI KABHI HAAR NAHI HOTI

If you ever feel down, the attached poem from childhood, from Mr. Harivansh Rai Bacchhan would inspire you. My life took a big turn when I read out this to my daughter for her class test.. I am sure, it would impact you too..

Lehron se darkar nauka paar nahi hoti
Koshish karne waalon ki haar nahi hoti
Nanhi cheenti jab daana lekar chalti hai
chadhti deewaron par sau baar fisalti hai
Mann kavi shwas rahon mein saahas bharta hai
chadhkar girna, girkar chadhna naakharta hai
Akhir uski mehnat bekar nahi hoti
koshish karne waalon ki haar nahi hoti…

Dubkiyan sindhu mein gotakhor lagaata hai
jajakar khaali haath lautaata hai
Miltena sahaj hi moti paani mein
badta doogna utsaah issi hairaani mein

Mutthi uski khaali har baar nahi hoti
Koshish karne waalon ki haar nahi hoti…
Asafalta ek chunauti hai sweekar karo
kya kami rehgayi dekho aur sudhaar karo
Jab taknasafal ho neend chain kityago tum
sangharshonkamaidaanchhodh mat bhago tum
Kuch kiye bina he jai jaikaar nahi hoti
Koshish karne waalon ki haar nahi hoti

In my next Article, I would narrate the story , that may give you confidence, that so long as you believe yourself, success would come to YOU…

Arinjay Kumar Jain, is a Chartered Accountant, who is fond of teaching and guiding young students for their careers.  An all India CA Final Rank Holder of November 2001, he worked with leading International and M&A Tax specialist firms, last being as a Director in KPMG M&A Tax. He is now enjoying his life as an entrepreneur and can be reached at arinjay2009@gmail.com.