Issue No. 99

Usually, in movies and popular narratives, we see people achieving success by doing one thing their entire lives. Mark Zuckerberg is celebrated as the creator of Facebook, and many assume that’s all he ever worked on. But before Facebook became a global empire, Zuckerberg dabbled in numerous projects that never took off. Before that, he was simply a curious student with big ideas but no guarantees of success. Similarly, Taylor Swift is now synonymous with chart-topping hits, yet few know she started modeling and acting as a child, wrote a novel at 14, and explored various creative outlets before finding her voice in country music.

Meghan Markle, known globally for her role as a royal, wasn’t always in the spotlight. She worked as an actress on shows like Suits, moonlighted as a calligrapher designing wedding invitations, and even scooped frozen yogurt during her early days in Hollywood. Then there’s Ken Jeong, beloved for his comedic roles in films like The Hangover and TV series like Community. What many don’t realize is that he was once a licensed medical doctor who practiced internal medicine before taking the leap into entertainment.

What about those who were once famous for doing one specific thing and moved on to another? Jack Gleeson, best known for his chilling portrayal of Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones, stepped away from acting entirely after the show ended. Instead, he pursued his passion for theater, co-founding a theater company where he could explore his love for performance on his own terms. Or take Vera Wang, who began her career as a figure skater and later worked as a fashion editor for Vogue before transitioning into designing wedding gowns—a move that would eventually make her a household name.

These examples challenge the myth perpetuated by society: that each of us must find "our one true calling" and stick with it forever. The truth is far more dynamic. On average, people change careers—not just jobs—two to three times over their lifetimes. Some make even more dramatic shifts, transitioning between fields that seem worlds apart. A teacher becomes a tech entrepreneur; a nurse turns into a novelist; a lawyer finds fulfillment as a pastry chef. Life evolves, and so do we.

Why does this misconception persist? Much of it comes from how success is portrayed in media. Movies and biographies often reduce complex journeys into tidy narratives, focusing only on the moments that align with someone's eventual triumph. We see Zuckerberg as the tech genius behind Facebook, not the young programmer whose previous projects failed. We think of Taylor Swift as a musician without realizing she spent years experimenting with other forms of creativity. These oversimplifications create unrealistic expectations, making us believe we’re supposed to pick one lane and stay in it indefinitely.

Each phase offers opportunities to grow, learn, and redefine ourselves. Some transitions happen out of necessity, others out of curiosity or desire for reinvention. There’s beauty in this fluidity. It means you’re allowed to evolve, to shed old identities, and to embrace new ones.

Consider the broader implications of living multiple lives within one lifetime. For some, it might mean starting a family later in life after building a career. For others, it could involve returning to school in their forties to pursue a long-held dream or leaving a stable job to chase a risky but rewarding venture. Whatever form these changes take, they remind us that growth doesn’t stop at any particular age or stage. You can be both a student and a teacher, both a creator and a caretaker, both an artist and an analyst—all within the span of your life.

So, if you’ve ever felt pressured to choose just one path, let go of that expectation. Your journey will likely include detours, pivots, and transformations—and that’s okay. In fact, it’s more than okay—it’s inevitable. Our interests are not often concentrated on one thing. Take myself as an example. I am “considerably” good at painting, drawing, photography, filmmaking, writing, and business. You wouldn’t guess that my major in college was Chemical Engineering. I’m still interested in the Chemical Engineering industry just not in the hard engineering departments but more on the business side that leads to executive positions later on. I was able to combine my seemingly unrelated experiences into a new path. This path is continuously getting updated. It’s not set in stone because I know that growth isn’t linear—it’s iterative. Every skill I’ve picked up, every detour I’ve taken, has added a new layer to how I think, create, and lead. I used to think I had to follow a traditional route to be successful. But over time, I realized the real magic happens when you give yourself permission to evolve. When you stop asking, "What should I be?" and start asking, "What can I become with everything I already am?" That shift changes everything.

Until next week,