Diversity - Make the most of it

This is such a widely blogged and hash tagged topic and I am already wondering where I will go with this one. But let me clarify at the onset that this blog does not refer to Ethnicity, Race or Gender in the Workplace. Surprised? Well, my view of diversity stems from a different root. It exemplifies variety in any form and I would like to put forward my take on it from a Career angle. Lately, it has become a norm of sorts to refer to terms like cross-skilling, lateral learning, verticals and what not (still not good at these Jargons and “What Not” isn’t a form of learning yet:)). There are different schools of thought and my personal experience tells me it makes sense to diversify.

I have the highest regard for colleagues who are highly skilled, Masters of the trade and experts in their core areas. All I am trying to say is “Being a Jack isn’t so bad either”.

Being restless is different from being inquisitive and opening up to new technologies or Solutions. There are people who change careers and domains out of sheer boredom. And then, there are individuals who would like to explore possibilities, to move with the trend and to discover themselves if they are capable enough to gain experience in emerging solutions. Regardless of the intent to move on, the one trait that is common in both is being fearless and open-minded. To move out of one’s comfort zone and to be able to try different things is worth lauding. This holds good for a change in hair style or the way you dress too. Any noticeable deviation from routine is a difficult task to achieve and it takes guts to do that.

Consulting Organizations tend to encourage people to think out of the box and to gain expertise in multiple areas. Though the driving factor behind this may be Easy Placement with Clients, it works out well for the Consultant too. But a lot depends on the individual in making this happen and using it as a driving force. I have seen colleagues fall apart trying to keep up with the pace of ever-changing technologies. As one gets comfortable, the time comes to move on again. This can cause quite an upheaval and can be pretty tormenting if one is not up for it.

There are different kinds of Career Paths. Limiting it to Development and Consulting for this blog post, I strongly believe choosing the right track makes all the difference in the world. I, in no way, intend to say that a Development Colleague cannot diversify. They surely can and I am fortunate enough to have colleagues, peers and friends who have proven themselves time and again and have been extremely successful in multiple fields (Not limited to their core area of expertise). I only want to stress on the fact that if you chose to become a Consultant, be prepared to broaden your horizons:). In this line of business, sticking to just one core area may not actually work to your advantage. If you are getting too comfortable in your shoes, that is a danger sign lurking right there. Look around you, Change is the only constant. Look at the diligence with which one updates their profile photo in Facebook:). How can a Consultant say “I only know this but Hey, I am very good at it!”? You may be the best out there, but the solution you are so proudly bragging about might become obsolete and so will you! There is no way one can be proficient at everything. But there are no limitations to how much you can learn and adapt. You should pick up enough to be able to independently deliver a solution.

As I said in my first blog, being in the Consulting world for close to 13 years taught me a lot and I am gratified with what I could do, in all modesty. At the beginning of my Career, it was the Organizational direction that compelled me to shift gear and learn new solutions. But as I ventured deep, I became more self-aware of what was trending and felt the need to pursue newer and niche domains. I have to admit that I received tremendous support from my Organization and Management. I looked out for opportunities, got them and I made the most of them. It was no cake walk though. In fact, there were times when I thought I was not up for those challenges; that I didn’t have what it takes to succeed in that Line of Business. I failed, got depressed, lost focus, but did spring back with a stronger resolution, and this time around, it all worked out just fine. I put in long hours, learnt from my mistakes and most importantly, did not look for excuses. Persistence always pays off at the end.

However, it is normal to go through phases of introspection and complete lack of confidence! And it is quite okay if you are not good at something you tried your hands at. Don’t give up till you have worked hard enough and are absolutely sure you aren’t fitting the bill. And if that is indeed the case, be ready to let go of that and explore newer areas. It is not as straight forward as it sounds and lack of clarity and insight will make matters worse. Be bold and follow your instinct; you will always know deep down, how capable you are and what your boundaries are. Don’t be flustered if you couldn’t excel in a certain field/domain. It may turn out to be a blessing in disguise if you continue to pursue other areas and end up being an Expert there.
Always be prepared to learn, struggle, toil and success will follow. I am tempted to quote a song by Celine Dion here. Tweaked it a little to fit the context:)

When you want it the Most, there's no Easy way out
When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt
Don't give up on your faith
“ Success” comes to those who believe
And that's the way it is!
So don't surrender 'cause you can win

The Song Says It all, Doesn’t it?