Generally, there are two attitudes in people who are career minded.

(This post promises to be like a management guru talk , but then who cares, read ,if you are bored)

1.The somwehat traditional people chose "stability" as one of the chief feature of their careers.Defensive approach, naturally.These people tend to settle down

2.The somewhat adventurous people chose "mobility" as one of the chief feature of their careers.These people tend to move on

The traditional approach was especially pronounced in our Indian society. Ever since the caste system, where the jobs became hereditary, we have, kind of, adhered to the conventional approach. Even as late as the 80-s in India, we had families of lawyers and doctors and engineers. The grandfather lawyer wanted the grandson to be a lawyer.The betel-nut grandfather wanted his grandson to grow betel nuts and looks after the several acres of land he had.Although, there were mobility minded people, family rules and culture had such an effect that the son's career was already decided (most of the times) the moment he was born.

However there was a paradigm shift in the late 80s.

-Probably people learnt that change in job may actually make life more interesting.

-Stagnation & Meaninglessness irritated the hell out of people. Especially people in the cities, whose life, I guess is more complicated than a simple (yet very hard working) life in the village.

Why did it happen in the late 80s. I guess, thats when India started to grow rapidly, than in the 70s or early 80s.

NOW, In India, "mobility mentality" exists NOT ONLY in the white collar jobs, but also blue collar jobs.Blue collar workers are also very mobility minded. I talked yesterday to an auto driver, who was a bhel puri boy before and before that, he worked as an electrician apprentice fixing serial lights for house warming ceremonies.I asked him what prompted him to change the profession. He said "jana change kelthaare, adikke" and that he was motivated by more money which he was sure he couldnt have by sticking to one kind of profession.

In white collar jobs, Software Engineers & Managers are expecially mobility minded because of the various options available.

I guess, the very "mobility" based mentality started with the birth of the United States of America.I guess , it didnt exist even in the "old world " of the Europe, Asia.


Music: Iron Maiden - Brave New World.