Turning What You Love into What You Do
By Patrick J. O’Connor
Many “Thrive After 55” readers probably have a mid-career child or two navigating the world of work. If so, the path of Tanaka Mupinga may provide insight into how to meet these challenges. Parents might suggest their children read this segment. It may assist them, if needed, chart a path to turning What They Love into What They Do.
Tanaka Mupinga
Tanaka Mupinga of Stow has had many life experiences, especially for someone so young. He testifies that lifelong learning and a solid work ethic have been the foundation of his journey. Perhaps this is because his parents are education professors. They instilled in him and his sisters the importance of constant learning. They role modeled as well by earning their own advanced degrees. And, a random event as a child made a lasting impression on him.
Work ethic + lifelong learning = opportunity.
Chance Meeting
On a family trip to Zimbabwe, a random meeting with a stranger proved prophetic. The stranger noticed symptoms in Tanaka and asked his parents to bring him in for an exam. It turns out the stranger was a medical doctor. He diagnosed Tanaka with malaria.
A chance meeting saved his life. Tanaka felt a calling to be like that doctor. He wanted to be as knowledgeable as the doctor who spotted his symptoms. Thus began his journey as a lifelong learner to make his “brain as big as possible.”
High School
Tanaka’s high school English teacher Patrick Youel noticed his talent for writing poetry. He suggested he enter the Kent State University Wick Poetry Center student contest. Wick is well known for supporting new and emerging poets. Tanaka won the contest, which included a scholarship.
An excerpt of this winning poem:
Whisper into the Well Long ago when I was young, I’d wished into a well Clutched a coin, walked up to it and told my heart to tell Looking down into the murky waters made me feel Like I had a secret weapon, used a coin to seal the deal Knowing that my dream would come, back to home I went Smiling ear to ear, a penny earned a penny spent Click here to read the poem in its entirety: Whisper in the Well.txt
Off to College
In 2012, he started bachelor’s degree studies in biology/chemistry at KSU. He also explored a variety of courses (birdwatching) and activities to broaden his college experience. He joined an acapella choir called the Kent Clarks. The group sang at the Obama White House Christmas celebration. This event led the group performing on NBC’s Today Show.
Tanaka finished his bachelor’s degree and followed it up with a master’s in human biology. Shortly after that, he was diagnosed with Type I diabetes. He learned that diabetes often affects the lower extremities. In fact, many podiatry patients are diabetic. Remembering his childhood malaria scare, this prompted him to enroll in Podiatry School at KSU.
Time for a Break
At age 27, a gap year seemed in order. Tanaka had been on a steady, firm academic pace for several years. He requested and received a one-year medical school leave.
His gap year would be different than many other students who often spend the year traveling and recreating. Tanaka’s year was spent in Norway, studying songwriting at the Lillehammer Institute of Music Production and Industries. He was selected as one of 48 songwriters internationally to prepare pop songs. Each songwriter would write and record weekly songs and share all 52 in a year-end portfolio. In August 2022, one of his songs was recorded by a Korean pop artist which led him spending two weeks in Korea. Another song focuses on the importance of work ethic. (Work Ethic Music Video).
He returned to medical school to continue his studies. However, considering his own diagnosis the prospect of being a surgical podiatrist was less appealing. He decided he preferred to make an impact in a different role.
Paths Merge
Now age 31, he signed on with Agilent Technologies selling high-end medical microscopes that take videos. He works with a variety of medical professionals, including podiatrists, to improve cancer patients’ health. His science courses and degrees provided content knowledge for his position. His songwriting experiences enabled him to express thoughts in a few words. He has blended these experiences into making sales and training videos for his employer.
Effective in 2025, he has been promoted to remote account manager. This gives him more opportunities to use his creative gifts. For example, he created and narrated a sales training video using bird calling from his birdwatching course as a theme for salespeople to connect with their customers. Very imaginative. He and his employer see him bringing a ”new look” to their sales and training video efforts. He envisions himself someday as being “Tanaka from Agilent.” I think he’ll get there!
A Winning Formula
Tanaka believes he has surpassed the goal he set many years ago in Zimbabwe. His background and work now connect him with a wide range of medical professionals bringing together the best of these medical professionals have to offer patients.
His key to success is his ability to blend his talent, creativity, education, work ethic and experiences together. He loves being a lifelong learner because everything is connected. The things he loves most are where he spends most of his time.
“Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good is your better and your better is your best.” ~Inspiration by Saint Jerome
