When Venkataraman was asked in an interview, about these changes in his career,he said this is not at all surprising. He said " Science has no watertight compartments". He further added that if one looks at the list of Nobel Laureates in Chemistry, one will find that many are graduates in Physics. In other words, this is a norm, not an exceptional phenomenon. 

Of course, scientists provide us an example of an individual, who changes discipline, because he sees some 'answer' which he is not finding in his existing discipline. He is driven by Gain, so to say. Most of corporate individuals are driven to move from one domain to another due to Pain.

I met an individual who has done IIT last week. Getting into IIT is very tough and then graduating from it with high colours also demands high degree of effort and committment. However, two years after working, he wanted to know if he could join Management. Why does this happen? There are many reasons of course, but the one which concerns here is the lack of growth option.  

They find their growth has stopped for some reason. More often than not, they are unable to dive deeper in 1000 feet zone in their Engineering subjects. They feel like a fish out of water. On the other hand, as they work in companies, they feel that 'Management' could be a growth option. Having realised that 'Engineering' is not for them, they find another option to grow intellectually.

Commentators often jeer at these IIT'ians and make them feel guilty. But this phenomenon is quite prevalent in all professions; even within researchers and scientists.

However, unlike researchers, you will read numerous examples of corporate professsionals who have grown far away from their academic path. Continuing with our IIT example, I have met IIT'ians who grow into Corporate training which does not use their academic skills. I have also met IIT'ians who have moved into Indian Civil Services, Advertising, Hotel management and other fields. 

Why does this has happen? None of us can find the path of our growth before hand. ( Aptitude tests also cannot do that, despite the popular myth!) So when we encounter an obstacle in our growth, we find another path that will extend the path. Like science, life also does not have any compartments.

Infact, that is one of the great benefits of making career with thinking competency. Unlike doing competency individuals ( in sports, music and entertainment), thinking competency individuals change their professions, fields and domains to find their calling.

Only difference is that some individuals reach it through pain, while others reach it through gain. Which option do you wish to choose? In either of the case, change is inevitable. Change can be made more bearable with some smart actions and effort. That is the essence of being career-intelligent.