I was a school teacher when circumstances changed in my personal life, and I had to bear the responsibility of my family. Looking for opportunities to increase my income, I assessed my skills and started thinking out of the box. Technical writing was a growing field, and I enrolled for a three-month course to learn the basics. My first taste of exam and interview after 15 years!! I was competing with young, talented, intelligent, and enthusiastic people. I was overjoyed to see my name among the top three.

On the first day of class, the lecturer said, “Technology is an acquired skill.” That settled my apprehension about my lack of knowledge of computers. Learning began. By this time, I had 20 years of working experience behind me and was on the other side of 40. I was experienced in writing and editing school magazines, had worked in teams, and followed deadlines. Have you ever heard of a school delaying their annual report card day? Well, that’s the kind of deadline I’ve known with the added responsibility of publishing the magazine to be distributed along with the report card.

Armed with the knowledge of the workings of printing a book I took a leap of faith, quit my school job, and joined as an intern in Technowrites. My life changed and I evolved.

A paradigm shift took place in understanding, learning, and collaborating. Technical writing is a specialized form of communication that accurately communicates complex information to customers, in a simple manner. To the amusement of others and my delight, I learned to use computers and publishing tools with considerable effort. Using different features of Word excited me. I was fascinated by the ease with which the tools helped to organize information. Using the internet for reference was a bonus. Soon, I handled independent projects of writing online help and analytical guides. In a few months, I lead a project on the client site, collaborating with top management and peers. I found myself surrounded by professionals and absorbed everything around me. I met stalwarts in the field during seminars and workshops. The stalwarts emphasized the importance of writing skills. I knew I could sail through the storm.

To expand my horizons, I joined a product company. I wrote installation guides, configuration guides, and online help for various products. Soon, I created and represented the documentation team to the top management. Coordinating and collaborating with development teams, quality assurance teams, and writers across the globe made the world seem so closely knit. I wanted to grow and face more challenges.

I left Pune and joined a company in Hyderabad. Out of my comfort zone, I was thrown into a new environment, working on a dynamically changing new product. Learning began once more. My documents were released with the software. Customers provided constructive and positive feedback. I received cash rewards besides certificates and brownie points. I was thrilled. Once again, I earned my name and fame.

Twenty years after taking a bold decision to shift careers, here are a few tips before I sign off:

• Believe in yourself. Learn everything to support your work and to make you a better person.
• Maintain a positive attitude and have a solution-oriented approach.
• The only yardstick for measurement is yourself. Every year, check your growth graph.
• Take your leap of faith.
• Learn, Unlearn, Relearn, and Refresh your knowledge.
• Ask for help whenever required, there is always someone ready to help. Select a mentor.
• Be flexible/adaptable, and embrace change.
• Get out of your comfort zone when you feel stuck. Explore and enjoy the process.