Confused Kid to Business Whiz: How a Young Entrepreneur Found Her Passion

We all remember the dreaded question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Teachers give aptitude tests, parents have plans for their kids and it seems everyone else has their futures figured out. For a few people, that whole thing works. But for many of us, discovering meaningful work takes patience, a willingness to question the paths we’re on and the courage to pursue our dreams after realizing them. Having meandered my way from confused student to entrepreneurial success, I know firsthand. From student to startupr When I entered college, my future seemed sealed: I’d study engineering in college, then find a job in the field post-graduation. It’s what I thought my dad wanted for me, and I wanted to make him proud. During the summer between my sophomore and junior years, however, I discovered my passion for dance -- specifically Kuchipudi, a classical Indian dance. As fall rolled around, I had a sinking realization: The last thing I wanted was to return to engineering where I felt my passion would go to die. The following year was a hectic, indecisive ride as I struggled with my realization. I longed to dance, so I came up with a plan -- I’d invest my efforts into securing a yearlong engineering internship near the dance studio. And I got it! However, as the next summer arrived and dance was over, I couldn’t muster motivation to secure another internship. Fortunately, my lack of enthusiasm for engineering led me to something wonderful -- my father suggested I start my own business. Flash forward to 2002, and I’m struggling to care about school while building my company. Instead of studying, I was compiling my friends’ resumes and marketing their skills to government agencies. We had just two employees, but we were already working with the IRS and Department of Justice. After graduation, I found work as an engineer. But it didn’t fulfill me, and come 2004, I quit and started working for myself. The decision was far from easy, but I’ve never looked back. Finding your pathr When I was young, I believed career paths weren’t malleable. I felt doomed to be something I hated because of the path I’d started upon. So if you’re not satisfied with your role, then take it from me -- it’s never too late to course-correct and do something you love. Learn from your present situation. Even if you’re not doing what you want at the moment, it will undoubtedly prove useful in unexpected ways as you strive for the future you want. My engineering background proved to be great business experience. It taught me how to view problems holistically, think logically and recognize the domino effect each decision might produce. Engineering isn’t my passion, but I never regret the skills it taught me. Recognize hidden opportunities. Some say opportunities don’t just show up; you have to make your own. I don’t believe that’s true -- opportunities always exist. It’s up to you to see them and shape them. When starting my business, I recognized my college friends had all the skill sets my business would require. Instead of longing for a new life after college, I leveraged my relationships and found my first employees. Keep your eyes open to the hidden opportunities for impact right under your nose. Work hard, even if you’re hoping for a different future. Oil tycoo John Rockefeller once said, “I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance.” Read about any big success story, from Rockefeller to contemporary entrepreneurs, and you’ll see a trend -- if you focus on excellence in the present, opportunities for growth and expansion will arrive. My dedication to engineering school actually prepared me to run a multimillion-dollar company and change the world. Now I’m working to bring opportunities to inner-city kids and provide coaching to entrepreneurial women. If you’re in a situation you’re not thrilled about, then take my advice: Strive to learn, keep your eyes open, and be excellent in whatever you’re doing right now. That’s what I didn’t know when I was 19.