There are other reasons that might prompt a job change. And those who wish a change should give it a good thought. Is it worth it? This article asks you to question yourself -
Do you have the skills, interests and personality to do well in your “dream job”? Do you know the entry-level requirements and training available to get them? Are you willing and financially able to go back to school or get that training? Are you comfortable with starting at the bottom of a different profession? Does the marketplace need what you want to do? Have you talked to people about the job, and do you understand it? And do family members support changes in their lives and the family budget that might come with a job change?
Andre Agassi was sent for his training to the famous Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy in Florida at the age of 13. The training was so intense that he had to drop out of school. It is said that with the possible exception of boxers, tennis players have less formal schooling than any other pro athletes and this leaves them with very few options. This probably also left Agassi with no choice than to do his best.
There will be Monday morning blues! But I guess if you are those who sometimes feels that you should have a better 'more satisfying job' -do be on the lookout .....and meanwhile think of Andre Agassi - you could be a winner too, no matter what you do.
Agassi picture - davidicke.com
Interesting post about Agassi. It is kinda giving out mixed signals. Do a job even if you don't like it because you may be too good at doing the job!
ReplyDeleteHave I confused you? :p
Blame the mixed signals and my response to Monday blues. he he
Radha, you hit the nail on the head with this one. It is tough to stay in a job you hate but sometimes you don't have an option.
ReplyDeleteI remember how much I enjoyed my job as a journalist. But a few years down the line it started to get monotonous and mundane and this was at a stage when I was interviewing Bollywood actors, directors, music composers and singers! I moved to another magazine hoping to break the spell only to realize it was not the job but my personal life that was bringing me down!
Oh yes. I guess one must think of probably having a Steffi Graf as a life-partner as well !
ReplyDeleteNow, i am getting back to work !
;)
Nona - Monday morning blues add to your sense of humour? :-)
ReplyDeleteJaya - It is in our interest where we realise the options we have and choose accordingly. Everything falls in place. For that matter - motherhood is not an easy job either- but we need to look ahead.
Kavi - you forgot Brooke Shields!
Interesting post. I think any job would get boring after some time, unless it is creative. Then, even creative jobs have their bad moments.
ReplyDeleteIn a recent visit to a school when Dr. Abdul Kalam asked the students how many of them wanted to be engineers a few hands went up. When he asked how many wanted to to be doctors a few more hands went up. Finally when he asked how many wanted to be involved in the Mars mission, all hands went up. But the fact remains that very few young graduates are taking up a career with ISRO. When you are a ten year old you can afford to follow your dream. By the time you are ready to leave school reality sets in. More eighteen year olds in India prefer to be accountants than to be space scientists.
ReplyDeleteNice one, Radha! I too read the review about the Agassi book! Though he didn't like tennis, as you said he got Brooke Shiels and now Steffi too!
ReplyDeleteWhether he liked the game/profession or not, he was good at it!
I am an Agassi fan!
Very well written and interesting. One can do well in his job even if he hates only if he is exceptionally good in it.
ReplyDeleteLot of people are looking for job change as marked is supposedly opened up. But most of us end up even after job change "I hate my job".
I like this since it doesn't let me sit comfortably on either side of the story, mainly Andre's example.
ReplyDeleteAre we not trying to read our idea of success in his story, while he possibly sees it differently.He hates the means, we are enamoured with the end gains. Are we seeing this in the right perspective at all? Are we not overrating such a success?
3Idiots tries to fight exactly this isn't it. Excellence at the cost of personal satisfaction, can that ever be a winning deal? Andre seems to have worked very hard for our dreams, not his.
After reading this post, I have to read Andre Agassi's book!
ReplyDeleteIt's true, we don't always have an option. When even a high profile person like Agassi had to stay in a profession he did not like, the rest of us shouldn't feel too bad, I guess!
For someone who mastered the game so well I wonder if he'd felt this way in the middle of his career.
ReplyDeleteChances are, in hindsight, after putting up weary legs he must have felt the load of it all.
Nice one. You are right that tennis players have less formal schooling than any other pro athlete in USA. Andre Agassi is an American. It is a well known fact that to turn professional in the 3 popular sports in USA (Football, Baseball, and Basketball) you have to have 4 years of college education.
ReplyDeleteIn essence, flourish where you are planted. Earning a livelihood is not the same as "having a life" but it is a part of life. I think it's a blessing when one can truthfully say that they are living their calling; sadly that is not true for the vast majority. One must find fulfillment in other areas, and allow the job to be a means and a method of supporting those activities as well as exemplifying one's character. So I think today, grins. A friend pointed out to me that all honest work is honorable, from the chambermaid to the philosopher.
ReplyDeleteThis incident tells us that its not necessary to like your job to be succesful but to be excellent in your job.
ReplyDeletethe best line...you could be a winner too, no matter what you do.
lotus leaf, Rajesh - very true. Anything termed a job does have it's frustrating moments.
ReplyDeleteVenkatasubramaniam - All of us have our dream jobs - but very few live that dream - reality is very different.
Sandhya - I was/am a Agassi fan too and also Steffi.
Deepak - maybe not if the term applies , but kind of a catch-22 situation?
Manju - sometimes we do not have an option, but even if we do , one should weigh the pros and cons and be practical
Anil - his father put him under intense pressure. He does not want to do it for his kids. And we all feel that Agassi-Graff kids would have great in-house coaches!
SG - Education helps them make better choices or even opt out when the pressure gets too much
Katy - it is important to earn an honest living
Samvedna - Very true
Well put. I think the 'grass is always greener' and we don't always have the skill set to move on anyway. I am one of those that believe in education, education, education....and I find that shocking to know that these athletes have to give up their schooling at an early age. Perhaps it is why they all end up commentators on sports shows...or promoting orange juice on TV!!!
ReplyDeleteTrish - I am with you . Education is extremely important.
ReplyDeleteOh! He hated the game! I am surprised! Interesting points brought up Radha. I liked LVS's comment, so true with today's generations.
ReplyDeleteVery true.
ReplyDeleteI have been working for 37 years, and still fail to understand these so called Monday blues.
The day you don't like to go to work, you can be sure you are in the wrong line.
I liked the cartoon..even Santa needs to pep himself up sometimes :-) And your write-up too Radha. You've brought together the interesting revelations in Agassi's life and I suppose everyone else's.
ReplyDeleteHow many people have the conviction and passion of Devi Shetty or Abdul Kalam? Otherwise, its mostly making the best of whatever job life offers us. Not going after what we like with a passion. Accountants will make the money. Space scientists may.