"I think everyone has the same amount of time, and I want people to find themselves first. I don't want them to do something just because everyone else is doing it, or because money is a big issue. If you feel like you want to change something in your life, especially your career, I want you to have a sincere conversation with yourself, telling yourself that it's something you truly want. Can you visualize yourself in 5 or 10 years? Like today, I feel like I have everything in my hands, waiting for me to take action. If it's that clear, why wouldn't I do it?"
Excerpts from the feelings of Wuttipat Phuwadechakorn, a former flight attendant who turned to becoming a novice Thai dessert chef in Sawankhalok District, Sukhothai, after realizing the changes in his former profession. COVID-19 acted as a catalyst for this life-changing decision to find a more balanced life.
"It's the little details that we never noticed when we were teenagers. Maybe it was just the rhythm of life that made us realize we wanted to take better care of our health, eat and sleep on time, and that money wasn't enough, there were no bonuses, and salary increases were minimal. It made us question whether we still wanted to stay like this, if we were okay with the lack of progress. It led us to look for a side hustle, or to change direction, or even change careers."
Wuttipat recounts his decision to switch careers from flight attendant to Thai dessert chef after a trip to his girlfriend's home in Sawankhalok, Sukhothai. His girlfriend's mother had traditional Thai dessert recipes, which sparked his interest in this new profession. From someone who knew nothing about making Thai desserts, he learned and created innovative variations while maintaining the fragrant, delicious, and valuable aspects of traditional Thai sweets. His creation, "Khanom Thai Baan Mayura," has garnered significant positive feedback from customers. Popular items include his soft and chewy Khanom Chan (layered jelly dessert), Khanom Phakakrong (soft and smooth rice flour dessert), Aloo (orange-shaped jelly with salted egg yolk filling), and his fragrant pandan sticky rice pudding with coconut cream – a delightful blend of pandan aroma and the sweetness of palm sugar. He continues to develop his Thai desserts into souvenirs and gifts from Sawankhalok, Sukhothai.
This is the story of Wuttipat, one of the guests on the talk show "The Turning Point: Clicking Opportunity," a program that explores the turning points that have transformed lives and changed the course of many people's lives. The show features seven guests who transitioned from one profession to another. This program originated from the idea and passion of Thada Ratchakit, the project head and producer, and was funded by the Safe and Creative Media Development Fund (general application category) in 2021.
“The ‘Turning Point’ that we interpret isn’t about starting from scratch, but rather about making a choice. For example, why did they discover they loved studying music? It’s a positive aspect – finding what they’re studying, discovering what they love, or finding something they enjoy. It doesn’t have to be about suffering. At the ‘Turning Point,’ we wanted to understand why they made that decision. Initially, our target audience for interviews ranged from children to adults, to present diverse perspectives. We wanted to show them why they chose this path in their lifetime, what crises they faced that led them to change their life path and choose this career, and how they achieved their current success.”
Thada explained the origins and format of the talk show, which may inspire many to change their life paths. “The Turning Point: Clicking Opportunity” is a 7-episode talk show, each 30 minutes long, showcasing the life stories and turning points that led to opportunities for 7 interesting guests. These include a flight attendant who left Thai Airways during COVID-19, a theater director who switched to creating training courses for various companies, an illustrator who became an animation executive, a designer who became a world-changing thinker, and even a renowned playwright who miraculously became a professional interior designer.
"The Turning Point," a seven-episode series presented on Facebook and YouTube, has garnered increasing attention from viewers. It's a lighthearted talk show filled with insightful perspectives and life-changing stories from diverse guests, potentially leading viewers to discover turning points and opportunities that can transform their lives for greater fulfillment and happiness.
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