Taking a new path

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/05/2023 (1024 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The month of May is when university and college students often start their first professional job after graduation. Today, I want to back up a bit and talk about making a decision to continue with schooling that would lead to a chosen career in the first place. Frankly, this is no easy task and can cause considerable emotional turmoil. After all, it is one of the most important life decisions an individual will ever make.

You may not know this, but most people choose their career by default. They follow in their parents’ footsteps, they follow a dream job they’ve had since childhood, they choose a career that was outlined on a personality test, and/or follow their friends into the same profession. Rarely do I encounter individuals who sit down and really think about what skills they already have, what their passion is and how these elements tie into various career paths, before they embark on a university or college journey.

So let me introduce you to a young man, Andrew Mahon, who did exactly that. Two days before stepping onto the university campus to begin the prerequisites for a degree in architecture, Andrew stopped short and realized that he didn’t have any of the enthusiasm he felt he should have. There was no sense of passion. There was just a feeling of blah! As you can imagine, Andrew quickly experienced an emotional shock and downright fear about what to do.

When speaking to his mother about this new dilemma, she gently reminded him that as a child, he had always been creative. In fact, his form of play was drawing, sketching, and doodling. His after-school activities included private art classes which he continued for many years. Then, he started using a camera that had been given to him as a gift.

On his parents’ advice, Andrew then took time to reflect on what he enjoyed doing and once again he realized that art, creativity and his camera had become a big part of his life. In fact, he realized that by the time he reached Grade 12, he was actually bringing the camera with him wherever he went. He even took photos of various high school and sporting events. However, Andrew didn’t just take photos, he realized that he loved using his creativity to edit photos and help give them different perspectives. He then put the photos on Instagram and asked for feedback.

It didn’t take too long before Andrew realized that compared to the idea of being an architect, his excitement came from photography and the possibility of a career in that field. He felt a really deep emotional sense of passion, and so he knew that he had to leave the idea of architecture behind and explore a career in professional photography. He quickly cancelled his university enrolment and went on to complete the diploma program at Willis College, formerly known as Prairieview School of Photography.

Since graduation, Andrew has started his own business and has become known for a broad range of work in the area of professional hockey, product photography and corporate work. Interestingly enough, even architecture has come back into Andrew’s life again as he is now hired to photograph buildings for architectural firms and real estate agents.

In my view, Andrew is an excellent example of the importance of taking time to reflect on what you really want to do with your life. To my way of thinking, reflection is such an important step to choosing a career. When I work with clients helping them to find a career path and/or change their career path, I often ask them to reflect back to the earliest time they knew they were especially happy. Often the very basic skills they used during this early time of their life are the ones that can be built upon to create a successful career.

My own career is a good example. For instance, my teachers always reported that I talked too much. Well, throughout my consulting career, I got paid for speaking! My mother always used to ask why I was bringing sad friends’ home. I was helping and today clients pay for this help. Finally, my last boss found me quite challenging because I was always trying to improve things that in his mind didn’t need fixing. Well, I can confidently say that throughout my consulting career, I have used exactly all of these skills — communication, helping and fixing. That’s why I know that self-reflection works.

I also asked Andrew what other skills or personal traits have made him successful at such a young age and what advice he would give to other young people. He suggested that it is important to have an open mind and to take risks because you never know where an opportunity will take you. New opportunities could help build new skills and introduce you to new relationships. His motto has been to “Fake it till you make it.” In other words, have confidence in yourself, say yes to an opportunity and figure it out later.

Andrew also commented on the importance of quality relationships, treating everyone with respect, and always doing your best at whatever you do. Goal setting and monitoring progress is also something that Andrew feels has contributed to his success. He takes time to celebrate every win and then shares his success with friends and family. Andrew told me that today, he is literally in his glory. He would never have thought that what he loved to do, and his creative bent could lead to such a rewarding career. He feels blessed.

I met Andrew through a friend, and I can say that in meeting him, I found the excitement about his photography career to be truly inspirational. Today, in addition to his photography, he is now being asked to speak to different groups about his career journey, and about photography as an art. Finally, I confirm that Andrew is a good example of the importance of identifying your skills so that no matter what career you choose, you are doing what you are really good at and what you like to do.

Congratulations Andrew, for following your dreams and creating Andrew Mahon Photography.

Barbara J. Bowes, FCPHR, B.Ed, M.Ed, CCP is a human resource professional, author, radio personality, speaker, executive coach and workshop leader. She can be reached at barb@bowesleadership.com.