As documented by Ewort Atkinson.
I always thought that money would lead to happiness, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my journey is that money doesn’t always generate happiness. Sometimes, it’s better to opt-out of a high-paying job to find your true calling. This is my journey to following my passion.
I am a digital marketing professional, business owner, and instructor who was making good money as a manager at a Jamaican telecom company, but I often felt unsatisfied with the work.
There was one quote that stood out to me the moment I read it. It was by Jim Rohn, who said, “If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way.” I knew I really wanted to change careers and do something that excited me, so I found a way by pursuing the skills I needed online.
This is the story of how I made a 180-degree shift from working an unfilling role in the telecom industry to mastering the world of digital marketing, eventually starting my own business, and even getting into teaching. Simplilearn’s coursework in digital marketing, taught by some of today’s industry leaders, provided the spark I needed for this dramatic transformation as a professional.
The Challenge: Embracing an Entirely New Domain
I’ve worked a number of different jobs early in my career, most notably a series of management and executive roles with FIMI Investments Jamaica Ltd., where I worked on marketing and sales strategies for the telecommunications company. In 2016, after more than a year as a Group General Manager for FIMI, I noticed that there was a serious and deepening technology skills gap at the company. To fill this gap, they started recruiting expats from overseas who had access to these new technologies.
Looking at FIMI’s trajectory while considering my own motivations and career goals, I decided to start exploring other opportunities. I already had marketing experience but realized that digital marketing was definitely the way of the future. I also found it fascinating and often envisioned himself in that role. Although I knew I needed formal training in the latest digital marketing tools and trends, I e wasn’t able to find adequate educational resources in Jamaica.
In my effort to get up to speed on digital marketing, I must have read everything I could get my hands on, including Avinash Kaushik’s influential Occam’s Razor digital marketing blog. It just so happens that Kaushik is also an instructor for Simplilearn, which he occasionally mentioned on his blog. So, I dug a little deeper by researching Simplilearn’s digital marketing course offerings and saw that they included live, online classes taught by some of the leading experts in the field.
I was fascinated by how rich and immersive an online training program could be and knew I had found the right solution that I needed to pursue my digital marketing ambitions.
The Simplilearn Solution: Getting a World-Class Digital Marketing Education Online
My initial goal was to learn general digital marketing theories and obtain some practical knowledge to supplement my marketing experience. However, I was particularly impressed with the quality and expertise of the instructors, including the classes taught by Kaushik and the instructor who taught me about pay-per-click (PPC).
The more I learned about digital marketing, the more I wanted to learn. Eventually, I racked up nine certifications from Simplilearn between 2016 and 2017, covering everything from content marketing and conversion optimization to social media and PPC. Completing my coursework while holding down my day job was not as difficult as I thought, although I had to make a few sacrifices along the way, such as cutting back on leisure time at the beach and playing basketball with friends, although with Covid-19, I had a bit more time on my hands while I was stuck indoors.
However after completing my coursework and receiving my certifications, I was ready to completely reinvent my career.
The Results: Enjoying a Satisfying Career and Teaching Others
To say that I had a positive learning experience with Simplilearn would be an understatement. I easily got a job in digital marketing shortly after completing my courses and eventually started my own full-service digital marketing company, Kinson Digital Hub, which took on six clients in Jamaica, the United States, and Canada. My passion for digital marketing continues to grow and I still read everything I can about the latest developments in digital marketing, in addition to attending webinars.
While I continue to learn something new every day, I also love sharing my knowledge and expertise with others. So, I started a digital training hub to help fellow Jamaicans learn about digital marketing, and also became an instructor at two Jamaican universities—digital marketing at Northern Caribbean University and digital entrepreneurship at the University of Technology, Jamaica.
When I first embraced digital marketing there was very little information about digital marketing, but now the domain is now booming in Jamaica. Now, my long-term career goals include scaling my business to provide 360-degree digital marketing services and becoming “the Avinash [Kaushik] of the Caribbean.”
My advice to other professionals is to aspire for greatness by embracing lifelong learning and upgrading your skills on a regular basis. Simplilearn has not only helped me attain knowledge and increase my income but also created more balance in my life. My achievements are a testament to the importance of following your passions instead of simply erring on the side of familiarity.
Do you want to master the essential disciplines in digital marketing? Check out the Digital Marketing Specialist course now!
Follow Your True Calling and Get Certified Today
Whether you need to enhance and update the latest skills in your current profession or want to chart an entirely new path, a world-class education in the latest technology and business trends are accessible anywhere there’s an internet connection. Simplilearn’s unique Blended Learning approach combines live, instructor-led classes with hands-on projects and self-guided tutorials for an effective learning experience. Learn about Simplilearn’s many offerings, beginning with the basics of Digital Marketing, Digital Marketing Specialist Master's Program, and the Post Graduate Program in Digital Marketing in partnership with Purdue University, and get on the right track today.
