Don't Label Yourself Too Early
One of the most important things in life is to keep exploring your interests, abilities, and ambitions. Many people spend their lives searching for something that truly excites them, and when they find it, life often becomes more meaningful and enjoyable. It can lead to valuable experiences, lifelong friendships, and opportunities to contribute to society.
A fulfilling life often emerges when three things overlap: what you enjoy, what you are good at, and what other people need. When your passions and abilities can be used to help others, your work becomes more than just a way to earn a living — it becomes a source of purpose. Because of this, continuously exploring new interests and possibilities is one of the most valuable things a person can do.
The Danger of Early Labels
To discover what truly suits you, it is important to try new things without preconceptions. However, many educational systems encourage students to define themselves at a very young age. In Japan, for example, students are often expected to choose between the humanities and the sciences. While specialization has many benefits and helps people develop expertise, it should not become a lifelong identity.
The problem arises when people begin to believe that the path they chose as teenagers determines what they can or cannot do for the rest of their lives. Someone who studies literature may later discover a passion for computer science. A scientist may become fascinated by philosophy, economics, or entrepreneurship. Human interests evolve over time, and our choices should be allowed to evolve as well.
Paths That Took Time
History provides many examples of people who found success only after exploring different paths. Ray Kroc became the driving force behind McDonald's in his fifties. Colonel Sanders built his famous business later in life after many setbacks. Even today, it is common to see people working in artificial intelligence, technology, or entrepreneurship despite having studied completely different subjects at university.
This flexibility is becoming even more important in the age of AI. Technological progress is changing industries at an unprecedented pace. Skills that are highly valuable today may become less valuable tomorrow, while entirely new opportunities continue to emerge. In such an environment, adaptability is often more important than any single area of expertise.
Expertise as a Tool, Not an Identity
This does not mean that expertise is unimportant. Deep knowledge and specialization remain valuable. However, expertise should be viewed as a tool rather than an identity. People should be willing to learn new skills, explore unfamiliar fields, and reinvent themselves when necessary.
A researcher may decide to start a company to bring their ideas to a wider audience. An engineer may move into design, management, or education. A writer may become interested in technology and build software products. There is no reason to assume that one path excludes another.
The greatest risk is not choosing the wrong path. The greatest risk is believing that there is only one path available to you. When people label themselves too early, they may overlook opportunities that could have transformed their lives.
We should remain curious, open-minded, and willing to experiment throughout our lives. By continuously exploring new interests and challenging our assumptions, we expand our possibilities and discover talents we never knew we had. The goal is not to find a single fixed identity, but to keep growing. As long as we remain open to new experiences, we can continue to reinvent ourselves and build a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
P.S. I guess I was heavily influenced by Steve Jobs' "connecting the dots" philosophy. Looking back, I think there is a lot of truth in it.