At nearly every project I work on, someone will inquire as to how I came to be a moderator. Some wonder how I made the seemingly enormous leap from engineering to creativity and qualitative research consulting. I adore peoples’ curiosity!
Sometimes the party asking is visioning new possibilities for their future. I always include in my answer the one key to how I traveled this path: the support and encouragement of others.
We are all being called to lend a hand along the way–whether it is basic necessities for victims of natural disasters or mentoring and advice for colleagues and co-workers. I propelled forward toward my passion for qualitative research because other moderators and marketing research colleagues encouraged me by sharing their stories and being incredibly open and honest about the benefits and challenges they had experienced.
It has been said that those who teach, learn. Sharing information and knowledge with others solidifies and deepens what we already know. Mentoring and training offer classic cases of karma, of giving and receiving in return.
These days, so many people are pursuing alternate career paths. I encourage you to consider mentoring or sharing ideas in support of those around you. It will surely energize you in whatever direction you are moving forward.