What Career Should I choose

I recently spoke at an event and someone came up to me and said that they are confuse about what to choose as a career. I want to be a psychiatrist and an artist. As humans we are very complex individuals, we have different passions. We were taught to limit ourselves to only choosIng “ONE”. One place to live, One career. Focus on one thing. But this goes against our human nature to CREATE and CHANGE. The most successful people pivot. In this blog post, I will dive in how to choose your career and when to pivot.

What Career Should I choose

What are you passionate about?

Before, I published my first book, “Us: A Story of Struggles, Heartbreak and Victories”. I was working in a retail store and part time as a counselor. I have one hobby that I enjoy, which is writing. I would write short stories or poems and perform them at different open mics. We all deserve to do the things that set our souls on fire. I have a friend, let's call her, “CC”, she is very passionate about mental health and singing. While at work, one day I heard her singing and I encouraged her to share her amazing voice that Jesus Christ gave her with the world. I exhorted her not to be like the person with the one talent who buried it and lost it. She firmly stated that she is not hiding her light (gifts), she is using it to bless others in her own way. I believe she perfectly summed it up, you do not have to use your gift for the masses or monetize it,  but use it to bless the people around you.  The point is your gifts are what you love to do even if you are not being compensated, if you are going to choose a career pick one that you are passionate about that it sets your soul on fire. I personally believe that your passionate is a hack for your success. For example, J. k Rowling, Harry Potter manuscript was rejected 15 times, but she did not give up. It's nearly impossible to give up on something you feel intensely passionate about because you will always be pulled towards it like magnet and iron.

Reflection:

What activity do you enjoy doing without being rewarded?

2) What do you do better than most people?

In 2017, I started a clothing line called, Latty Fashion. In, all honesty, I started the line because I though that it would be cool to have a clothing line, overtime the brand evolved into something more meaningful such as: to be inclusive and serve women of different sizes and shapes, even the brand name changed too. I wanted to add more revenue, so I added a fashion styling service. I got some success from that venture, but it did not turn into a huge success because fashion was not my natural skill set. I had to learn a lot about the fashion industry. Anyway, I dissolute the brand and pivoted into writing and mindset coaching because I am naturally good at those things. The Bible is very wise because it says that a man gift shall make room for him" (Proverbs 18:16). When you utilize your gifts you will thrive, it will put you before influential people. For example, Lebron James is a great basketball player because he does it better than most people. But, James is not a painter like Pablo Picasso, yes James could practice to become a painter and maybe gain some success from it, but he would not have attain the level of success he has now as a painter. The point I am making is do what you are great at compare to most people. But remember talent without hardwork is nothing, someone with zero talent will always beat someone with talent who does not daily improve it.

3) What industry can you disrupt? If you are not great at anything compared to your peers or predecessor, but you have witty ideas to disrupt a field, do it,  Whether you choose to work for someone else or to become an entrepreneur, disrupting a field with new inventions or filling a gap is highly rewarded. Why?Because people like inventions that are better and make their life easier. For example, in 1888 William Gray invented the payphone, which change the way people communicate. People go from mailing letters to calling the person they wish to speak with. Then in 1994 - 2007, smart phone was invented and "perfected", now everyone can have access to a cell phone, which makes our life easier from finding out information, to entertainment to checking in with our family and friend via texting or calling without waiting in a line outside.

Reflection:

What industry can you disrupt or filled a gap? Is it the technology industry? The movie industry? The coaching industry? The healthcare industry?

My first job after leaving college was a cashier at a retail store. I enjoy talking to people, getting to know people and serving people. I utilized my customer service skills and pivoted part time into the Mental Health field, then gradually pivot full time in counseling. In 2025, I pivot again into as a mindset coach.  The most successful people pivot. For example, Amazon started out as a book store, then it pivot into a brand that provides entrepreneurs or non entrepreneurs the space to sell their products, such as movies, technology, books etc. Another great example is: Netflix, it started out selling mail in DVDs, then it pivot into streaming online movies and now they create their own movies/television shows . The point is do NOT put yourself in a box and close it unless you risk becoming like Blockbuster, who refused to adapt to the change in technology and demand of the market, which led it to bankruptcy. The point is you should EXPLORE and follow your DREAMS and change as life naturally changes too. We are not called to be stagnant and stuck, we are called to grow and adapt...

When should you pivot in your career? This decision is personal, but I believe that when the market and demand in the market changes, it might be an indication that you should pivot.

In my opinion, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is to put yourself in a box. It is self limiting and can cause people to have difficulty in adapting to you when you pursue a new venture. For example, I would identify myself as an author. When I started speaking someone said, “I know you as an author”. Now I consider myself a creator, being an author is a sub category. This allows me to pivot easily , not be stagnant and people to easily adapt to my new ventures. The point, I am  making is when you are choosing a career avoid labeling yourself as your career, such as: " I am a nurse", instead say: I am a compassionate person who enjoys making people feel better. Instead of saying, "I am an athlete", say "I am a person who is mentally tough and enjoys a challenge. The author of "Atomic Habits", James Clear says when choosing an identity be flexible. Why? Because your identity works with the changing circumstance rather than against them". If you choose to pivot in your career you are not tie to a limited identity.

My advice to the person who was confused about whether to be a psychiatrist or an artist is to do both, combine both, use art as a tool to help your patient heals. We live in a society where we are told to choose ONE over the other, but that's limiting. If she chooses to focus on one career path now, she can always pivot in the near or far future. But, whatever career path she chose, I told her to ensure it sets her soul on fire, to reiterate this means to be passionate about her career.

What do your friends, professors, or family think you should do?

I had a professor who told me to be an author. She said, "Latoya, you have a lot of great ideas, you should write". At this time, I was set to be a doctor, my major was biology. This was my life biggest dreams because I did not know about entrepreneurship, that I would write books and sell or be a speaker. Why? Because growing up the only career that were discussed both at home and in school were (doctors, lawyers, nurse, engineer, professors...no one said anything about entrepreneurship. In 2020 I wrote my first book, "US: A Story of Struggles, Heartbreak and Victories" because of that professor who told me I should be an author. Although, I attempted to write a book when I was 10 I did not think about telling stories as a career. My professor saw something in me that I did not see in myself and she knew something that I did not. Sometimes we got to listen to the people closest to us and consider their career advise. My point is if you are confuse about what to choose seek the input of the people closest to you. 1) What do you see me excelling in as a career? What do you think are my skills?

The point I want you to take from this is: change is the only thing that is constant, so be prepared to pivot in your career, do not put yourself in a box, the most successful businesses or people pivot. And that is totally normal!