Life has a funny way of surprising us and taking unexpected turns along its course and similar has been the case with my career choices. While every kid around my age grew up wishing to be a doctor or an astronaut, my childhood dream was to run my own departmental store chain simply because I liked them. I have always had an urge to improve things and help others in the process and ultimately that led to my career in the tech space. As a teenager I wanted to go into the military but post college, I decided that for me a career in technology was better.

I have always been left dumbfounded whenever the question comes up as to who has left a lasting impression on me and the path I took. But the deal is, there’s not just one person. Often, we fixate about how a particular person changed the course of our life, but we fail to acknowledge how every little interaction makes it mark. From a disgruntled customer to the milkman, from the co-worker who greets you daily with a smiling face, from the team member who never loses his calm to the stranger you struck up a conversation with while on a plane, every person leaves their mark. The key is to proceed with an open mind, and you’d be amazed at how you carry takeaways from all the people you have come across in life.

If I had to give one advice from my personal experience, I’d say it’s always okay to change your mind and your goals. While as a society we fixate on stability, I feel trial and error is a key element to find your own way. We shouldn’t resist change but rather welcome it, and that’s the key to achieving success and being content with your life. From the adoption of technology to trying to find your true calling, it’s always okay to take your time and figure out what you want and any change that comes along the way, be open to embrace it.