Image credit: facebook.com/BomanIrani/
“If there is passion in your heart and fire in your belly then there is no one who can stop you from moving forward” – Boman Irani
As a person, Boman Irani has performed a wide variety of roles in life, each one with honesty and passion. From waiting tables, working at the family shop, photography, performing in theatre to finally creating a name in Bollywood, Boman Irani has done it all.
Ask him how he switched to his dream job of acting and his answer is through passion. It is this passion that made him overcome the fear of failure and switch to the world of acting at the age of 41.
Often we reach a stage in life when we really start to question our purpose and want to live true to our beliefs and dreams – do things that we really want, instead of living a mechanical life.
We can take a leaf out of Boman’s life and see what inspired him to take that leap of faith and switch careers and find success.
Networking is everything
Boman landed his first break as an actor through networking. He was introduced to the theatre thespian Alyque Padamsee who gave him a start in a TV commercial. He kept on working in various hit plays and was finally spotted by some big names of the silver screen.
Similarly, maintaining a healthy network, with a diverse set of people, or those in your field of interest is important for any change in career. You should never miss a chance to network with like-minded people. Before a change, you can reach out and talk to them, and weigh your pros and cons.
Adapt
Though he came late into the industry, Boman adapted to the different roles he was offered. This simple skill made him popular as a versatile actor, unafraid to take chances.
It is important to be flexible and open to whatever the new field might bring you. You might have to upskill, relook at your current skill set and see how you can best leverage it. No matter how distant your dream profession may be from your current role, you can always put your experience to good use.
Embrace your diversity
Reemphasizing the point made above, not only did Boman Irani gain new experience by working varied jobs, but he utilized that experience when he entered acting. This diversity helped him make it big in the industry.
You too should use every experience you have had in the past to your advantage. Embrace your diversity and believe that even though you may opt for a change, your experience would still come in handy.
Shadow to learn
Before entering Bollywood, Boman worked in theater and learned the tricks of the trade. You too should gain some experience in the field you want to move into.
You can achieve this by shadowing someone you look up to. This will help you understand the field better.
The need for change in the career can sprout from anything. It could be out of the boredom of the 9-5 routine, financial instability, exhaustion or simply the work culture you do not identify with. In the end, all this will help you identify what you really value.
Boman Irani also had to deal with family obligations and other constraints, but, nothing could take away his dream to act. Passion takes you a long way, ensures you stay determined and enthusiastic. It also helps you stick to the philosophy “I don’t want to to keep anything unfulfilled in my life, so I will try.”
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