computerarts.co.uk: Here's a must-see site for digital arts enthusiasts, with updates on current trends and a lot of helpful tutorials.
2009 marks the 10th year of my early retirement from the company that employed me for 17 years, to embark on a different career path.
As I look back to the last ten years, there were several important lessons that I learned on this new journey.
First, once you've set your eyes to travel on a different path, there's NO MORE LOOKING BACK. You have to burn all your bridges behind. A career shift is a major life-changing decision and calls for a very strong resolve. It's either you go back - or continue. Mind you, a career shift is not for the faint of heart.
Second, in order to succeed one must be willing to learn new things and BE TEACHABLE. It's no joke to put in countless hours to learn some new technology, and master them in so very limited time. I went through a period when I was jobless and I used the vacant times I had to learn some new software which, I thought, would prepare me for the job I wanted when the opportunities come.
Third, I've learned that POSITION DOESN'T MATTER. You don't get respected because you are the president of a company. Your subordinates may show some semblance of respect when you are with them, but talk of nasty things about you once you've turned your back to them. Respect is earned, and the best way to earn it is to invest in treating people with respect - whatever his position in life is.
Fourth, to enjoy one's job, A STRONG PASSION TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING should be the primary motivation. A good pay can't give you total fulfillment. When we make money as our yardstick for job fulfillment, we might end up jumping from one job to another. Money will never ever satisfy but will only leave us wanting for more.
Fifth, a job is your CALLING. If you look at it that way, you will find greater meaning in every little thing that you do. Jobs are meant to give us purpose, not just money to buy our daily bread. It's all about a change in perspective. We don't work in order to live. That's too selfish. We work because we contribute to the well-being of the world we live in and the entire humanity.
