What did you want to be when you were little? What do you want to be now? Most people whilst growing up had dreams of what they wanted to pursue as a career. Some dreamed of being successful musicians, doctors, lawyers or even owning that hugely successful website.
It is important to note that there is a difference between getting into a career and succeeding in it. There is a not-so-thin line dividing profession and passion. Below are some popular career choices and a closer look at the work that goes into excelling in them.
Journalism
Journalism appears to be an easy career path. Many people venture into it feeling it is an easy way out but when they finally manage to enter, they realize that it is a totally different ball game. There is an incredible amount of competition present in the journalism field. Journalism goes beyond knowing how to read and write good English; one must have the nose for smelling out the good stories, who to get it from and how to get it. This is what separates the good from the average. The stress of having to meet monthly and weekly deadlines can also be overwhelming for those who do not have the passion for the field. For those who want to enter into investigative journalism, you might have to hide your identity for years. For those who love journalism, however, it is an exciting and fulfilling career path.
Medicine
The role of a doctor is considered one of the most important in any society. The presence of medical practitioners to aid in the inevitable event of sickness and ill health is a must. The role is so critical and sensitive that the competence of those who are licensed to practice it must be without question. The process in becoming a doctor is so grueling that for many, it is passion that keeps them going. Another thing; doctors are not allowed to make mistakes because people’s lives are at risk. For those who are able to go through the demanding training required in becoming a fully certified doctor, the sense of achievement and fulfillment is priceless. When asked, many of them would not give it up for anything.
Professional football
Don’t we all just long to be the next Michael Essien, Wayne Rooney or Lionel Messi? The mouthwatering salaries of footballers which can go as high as £8.8 million per year only serve to fuel the dreams of many Ghanaians who wish to follow in the footsteps of their heroes. However, football is not as rosy as it seems. There is the risk of getting a serious injury, which could put you off the field for months, even years. Another thing to watch out for is the numerous up and coming footballers who are waiting to take your place. Footballers also have a rigorous training schedule to ensure that they are in top form.
Having a website
With over 180 million websites in operation in virtually every field, the competition is extremely keen and one would need to do a lot of work to stand out. No matter which field you decide to go into, there are likely to be tens, or maybe hundreds of competitors. Of course, there is the option of promoting your website or blog, but with advertising fees going as high as $600,000 for sites like Yahoo!, advertising your website could be a major strain on one’s pocket. Of course, once you manage to put up a successful website or blog, you could join the likes of Huffington Post, Techcrunch, and Mashable, all of which make over $14,000 per day.
This is not to crush anyone’s dreams, but rather to present the reality to those wishing to venture into certain careers. With most of these options, the stressful and demanding nature will effectively weed out those who are not cut out or truly have the passion for those jobs. Whatever your passion is, go after it with everything you have. Once it is something you really want to do, giving up should not be an option. Try to offer something very few others can; this will help you stand out. And remember, success is not final, failure is not final, it is the courage to continue that counts.
All the best in your chosen career!
