It's not uncommon to hear a career changer's story and find it's marked with a major setback prior to a successful reinvention. Often, such a setback is a catalyst for change. But in reality, it may be more jarring to experience misfortune after a period of achievement just when you least expect it. Thirty-six-year-old Mrinal Desai gave up everything a high-paying sales career in India, a prestigious professional network and all his family and friends to get an M.B.A. in the U.S. and then try his hand at information-technology product innovation. When Mr. Desai was accepted to the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Monterey, Calif., he thought he had overcome a major obstacle. Little did he know that, for him, the dream would mean a post-graduation period of unemployment and hardship.
Overcoming Rejection
But over three years, the more rejection Mr. Desai received, the stronger his resolve became. I wanted to work at LinkedIn, but their co-founder said they weren't hiring. I eventually persuaded him to let me come on board, and I helped them grow from 1.5 million to 6.5 million users, he says. Mr. Desai says his setback was the best thing that happened to him.Without being pushed against the wall, I would not have stretched myself and seen what I was really capable of. Indeed, after working for two years at LinkedIn, Mr. Desai left to start a company. His computer-support start-up, CrossLoop, just received $9 million in venture-capital funding and an innovation award from Laptop magazine. When your career dream is finally in your grasp but you suddenly feel it slipping away, how should you cope? First, don't do anything rash. Take a few days to recover and acknowledge your negative feelings about the situation. Remind yourself that your career doesn't define you, and that one setback doesn't make your reinvention effort a total failure.
Ignore Naysayers
It's also important to recognize what you've accomplished up to this point. We're good at achievement, but not at appreciating that achievement, says Tim Ferriss, who experienced stumbling blocks including a harsh relationship breakup and dozens of rejections on his way to becoming a successful entrepreneur and author of The Four Hour Work Week. You can get a better perspective by writing down all of the im possible things you've already overcome, he advises.While it may be tempting to isolate yourself, after the necessary self-reflection you should go back into the world and allow the people you care about to support you through this time. Recommend long dinners with at least two friends. They can provide fresh ideas and help you see things more clearly,. You should, however, be careful who you take advice from. Ignore naysayers unless they've specifically done what you're trying to do. Finally, get your dream back on track by launching a new project or trying a new approach. It will boost your motivation and keep you from ruminating too long on the setback
Jodhaa Akbar creator Ashutosh Gowariker was also named best director. The film also took home best music direction for Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman, best song lyrics and best male playback singer an award for performers who record soundtracks for on-screen actors.
Indian actress Priyanka Chopra celebrates after winning the Best Actress award for her movie "Fashion" at the 10th International Indian Film Awards.
Former Miss World Priyanka Chopra was named best actress for playing a model who stages a comeback in "Fashion."
Mr. Gowariker, who directed the Oscar-nominated 2001 film "Lagaan," said he was advised not to make a film about the touchy subject of Hindu-Muslim relations but went ahead because I somehow felt it is the need of art. "Jodhaa Akbar" describes how what was intended as a politically strategic marriage between a Muslim emperor and a Hindu beauty evolved into genuine love. Picking up his award for playing the king, Mr. Roshan saluted Mr. Gowariker, saying This is as much yours as it is mine
Ms. Chopra called "Fashion" one of the most difficult films of my life.
Best supporting actor went to Arjun Rampal for "Rock On!!" about the reunion of an Indian band and Kangana Ranawat won best supporting actress for "Fashion."
The female star of "Jodhaa Akbar," another former Miss World, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan from the Hollywood movie "The Pink Panther 2," missed out on best actress honors, but it was still a big night for her family the first family of Indian cinema. The actress is married to actor Abhishek Bachchan, the son of Indian screen legend Amitabh Bachchan. Aishwarya Rai did pick up awards for best actress of the decade and outstanding achievement in international cinema, joking that the second award felt like a "mini-lifetime achievement award." Abhishek was named best actor in a humorous role for the Miami-set comedy "Dostana." Accepting his award, the younger Mr. Bachchan paid an emotional tribute to his father, saying I was a young boy watching the greatest actor alive. The elder Mr. Bachchan presented the lifetime achievement award to veteran actor Rajesh Khanna who received a standing ovation from the audience of thousands recalling that Mr. Khanna's fanatic female fans would pick up dirt from his car tires and place them in their hair as a gesture of worship. The word superstar in the Indian film industry was for the first time coined for him, Mr. Bachchan said.
Mr. Gowariker's "Lagaan," about a group of Indian villagers who play their British colonial rulers in cricket to decide the fate of their taxes, was named film of the decade. Another heartthrob, Shah Rukh Khan, won male star of the decade. Mr. Roshan presented his father, filmmaker Rakesh Rohan, with the director of the decade prize. The nominees in the top categories were chosen by film-industry insiders, with the winners decided by an Internet vote. The day's marathon festivities began with a three-hour long red carpet ceremony along a 200-meter strip inside the massive The Venetian Macao casino-hotel resort, with passionate ethnic Indian fans from as far as the U.S. and South Africa pressing up against barricades, punching their hands in the air as they chanted the names of their idols and their movies. The awards ceremony itself was a freewheeling five-hour variety show ending at 2:30 a.m. Sunday that combined a Cirque du Soleil circus performance, skits, movie spoofs, and the elaborate song-and-dance routines that Indian cinema is renowned for. At one point, the host waded into the VIP section to get different stars to sing Hindi numbers spontaneously. The dance performances were a spectacular showing of fast-paced hip-swiveling action in glittering costumes amid disco lights fireworks and confetti.
Her head and body covered in silver jewelry, Aishwarya Rai was carried onto stage in a golden sedan chair by barefoot men to the music of "Jodhaa Akbar" and then performed with a group of bare-chested dancers. Her husband showed up among the audience in a pink-striped kurta, slowly made his way to stage while high-fiving members of the audience then shook his body with female dancers in red bikini tops and red dresses.
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