Does an offbeat career excite you? You're not alone! More people today are choosing to work in an uncommon area they're passionate about. Whether it's writing food recipes for couples or taking pets out for a walk or raising funds for a cause, people want to do something they love. Gone are the days when people took up a 9 to 5 job just to meet financial obligations. Today, it's all about doing something that they love because that's more satisfying and sustainable, even if it's going to pay a lot less. More people world over are willing to trade financial security for happiness and peace at work.
A good part about working in uncommon fields of expertise is the location independence you get.
You're no longer tied down to a desk or a specific geographic location, rather you can travel where you want and work from there. For example, let's say you love to write. You don't necessarily have to work from your office or home, but you can write from anywhere. This location independence has been possible because of advancements made in technology such as the Internet and mobile networks.
Regardless of where you are, you can have access to your documents, connect with your clients and colleagues and do just about anything else. In this sense, location dependence can give you greater flexibility than ever before. You can choose when and how you want to work, take breaks between projects, spend time with your family and do so much more.
While the above benefits sound great, the fundamental roadblock is to identify what you want to do. The career that you choose for yourself should not only be based on your passion, but it should also match your personality traits. For example, a person with outstanding people skills will get bored working with a computer all day long, even if she loves it. Though this career maybe rewarding for a few months or years, it's not really a long term solution unless she's willing to change her personality traits to meet her job. Thus, choosing the right career is important, and this should be based on your personality as well as your interest.
This process of identifying the right career is often the result of a process called introspection principle. According this principle, self-reflection is the key to finding a job you love, and it also extends to making important decisions in life. Applying this principle will ensure that you'll go behind what is best for you instead of making half-hearted decisions.
Much of the above discussion has been backed by scientific research as well. During the early years of research, it was proved that more we are rewarded, the more fired up we are to work. Almost a decade later, Harry Harlow, a professor at UW Madison found that when he gave more rewards to monkeys, they were slower at solving a puzzle. Three more decades later, the Self-Determination Theory was formulated. Under this theory, people work best when they do what they love.
So, there's no second thought when it comes to pursuing the field you're passionate about. However, for lasting success, remember to base this choice after much self-introspection.