Isn’t it fascinating that we can simultaneously learn and develop multiple skills? And isn’t it amazing that we no longer have to wait for a degree to pursue work or start our own small business? When we are determined to achieve our goals at a young age, we open ourselves up to endless possibilities. We can accomplish the goals and objectives we have set for ourselves whenever we desire.

The possibilities are endless, since nothing is impossible. Yes, we will need guidance and mentors for making good decisions. But we can all do it. Isn’t it?

So friends, when we make plans, we consider not only the possible opportunities but also the risks involved in it. It is important to recognise that life consists of different stages that encompass struggles and challenges. Many of us experience a fear of failure when we are faced with these obstacles. However, it is important to remember that these minor setbacks should not stop us from trying. Individuals who encounter failure, rejection and various difficulties often end up being successful. In short, relentless pursuit of our goals is a key factor in achieving success.

When considering our potential, it is important to recognise that there are no limits or obstacles to learning and exploring new things. However, there are several factors to consider. For instance, we must take into account our abilities, talents, interests and skill set. However, it is also likely that circumstances can either support or hinder our opportunities and block our way. At this time, we must start by assessing our strengths, such as our interests and talents; then work towards enhancing these qualities and acquiring new skills. By doing so, we can move forward and strive for personal growth and achievement.

We can start our journey of personal growth and development whenever we want, all we need are three essential elements: a clear sense of purpose, a growth mind-set and courage. Because just a single wise decision has the power to completely transform our lives.

Moreover, it is important to realise that there are endless opportunities lying around us, but we may not be fully aware of those. It is only through clear vision and understanding of the situation we can unlock those possibilities and see a clear way towards our destination.

There are endless possibilities for creating our own beautiful world. The first step is always difficult, once we have taken that, the rest of the journey becomes easy. It is important to determine what we enjoy doing, perform a SWOT analysis which is (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) and conduct thorough market research, select the prospective field and industry for work, use our skills with experience, obtain the required training and education in the career of our choice and be optimistic when choosing our career path.

Let me tell you a story about a boy who was a jack of all trades, as he possessed an impressive range of skills and excelled in everything he pursued. All his remarkable achievements were the result of his dedication to learning, unwavering determination and consistent hard work.

The boy’s name was Ahsan and he was 14 years old when he first started on his journey of self-development. Ahsan possessed good writing skill. So he decided to write an article and sent it to a local publication, where, fortunately it was published and he earned his first income through it. This boosted his confidence and he started doing freelance writing projects for various other publications.

Soon, Ahsan found interest in web development and started spending extra time in his school’s lab to explore and learn. Since he was keen to learn, his school teacher guided him and Ahsan started learning from tutorial videos from YouTube.

By the time Ahsan enrolled in university, he had already established his own successful YouTube channel and gained a significant following as a vlogger. This became a crucial moment in Ahsan’s life, as he utilised his acquired skills to support his university education through freelancing. This unique approach meant that upon completing his studies, Ahsan would not only possess a degree, but also a wealth of practical experience and a diverse range of skills to enhance his resume.

To reach such an amazing stage, Ahsan had sacrificed a lot; he slept very little and worked very hard. He didn’t waste his time in fruitless activities or hanging out with friends who would have held him back for various reasons.

Like every human being, Ahsan also faced a lot of hardships in his journey to reach a successful point, but his belief in endless possibilities made him find his way in even the most difficult of situations. He never gave up. He suffered, he struggled and he survived.

Ahsan figured that if he learned how to do things just enough so that he could mix and match them to create something bigger, that would be better than mastering just one thing and hoping someone would pay him for that.

Among Ahsan’s range of skills, his most valuable assets lie in his mastery of soft skills such as effective communication, networking abilities, problem-solving, resilience under pressure and the ability to soothe others. Ahsan dedicated himself to refining his personality and these skills played a crucial role in his personal and professional growth.

Today Ahsan is a 21-year-old student who is an entrepreneur, a writer, a web developer, a graphic designer, a mentor and a marketer — truly a jack of all trades. What he has achieved was beyond his imagination and expectations when he started. He just knew that he had to learn and he doesn’t have to stop anywhere. With time and experience, he got more clarity about what path he needed to take.

Just like Ahsan, we too can take action at the right time. We don’t have to wait until our mid-20s or until we have a degree and are searching for employment to start building our skills and gaining practical work experience.

The time to begin is now!

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 24th, 2023