Now that I have excelled in my career these last 12 years, have a home of my own, good stable life, with a sober income. If given another chance at choosing my career what would I do different? Let’s explore..
In our teens…
We need a shelter, true! But while we are young, under the influence of our elders, is it a shelter we desire the most? Or it is Freedom? Away from home, a thing of our own, some respect, a little bit money, ability to travel, and get out of every sane struggle. In our teens, we want to run the fastest. We do stupid things; sit on an old van’s top and travel on even riskier roads. We camp at illegal places. We laugh at no-reason jokes. We do things, with no limits. Friends are the most precious things. For them, we go to all limits. Compromise, love, care, and struggle in a gang. In our teens, while we are away from our logical / sane elders — we Live.
One Day… You Give in!
We become a victim — and get a job! In our teen-hood; we choose a living of fun / happiness / trust while we are away from our elders. But when the pockets run dry, money stops flowing in, things go wrong; we reach out to our elders. These elders, lure you into choosing the “right” career, a career of their choice. And you give in. To blackmailing and fearsome logics — you surrender.
At your “Right” Job…
The following few years you work hard. You excel. Run, strive, be the best in your team, and win encouraging reports. You grow further in your career. While your kids are growing, you are paying their fee, securing your future, building funds, buying nice furniture and go back to working hard. Like your colleagues, you embrace your organizations’ beliefs. Success is now only in winning the best retirement package. You restrict yourself to people who are like you. Who accept the same definitions as your work place. School fellows and Uni fellows are now no more the friends you would meet with families.
A shell takes over your identity. You start murdering the young — honest — trust worthy uni guy; you once were. You do miss him at times. But the pressure / peers / compulsions / new colleagues and new priorities keep you stuck. You can’t enjoy the fun your university-self once enjoyed. You feel helpless. But you convince yourself, “future is going to be ok”.
Soon we retire. Soon we are given the privileges / money / safe retirement package / a life spent freedom and a label; “retired”.
What if I told you,
There is another option also. In your teens, instead of giving in to sane elders, you can stick to your rights. The thing that gives you joy, is the perfect thing to invest your energies in. You are correct when you think of running your own travel-guide franchise. Or when you think of building an art gallery of your own. Or when you want to become the next Steve Jobs. Or when you want to become the next mega-rich tycoon. You are right!
If you want your friendships stay alive forever, and you value your happiness from deep inside your heart, and you want to live to your fullest. There is no other way, but to do what you truly love. Instead of giving in to advises of your elders, who hide behind their fake-stability, make them give in to your dreams. Fight back. Stand for your grounds. You are in your teens, the strongest years of your life, do what makes you whole. These elders, are just logics, fears, and boundaries. Do not listen to them. Follow your passion. Live your dreams. Value your friendships. Cheer your tribe. And become somebody, who does not give in to logics.
This way; you never retire in your life. You live the longest. Your friends stay around you. And you have a whole lot of money to fund your dreams.
And if you are already adult, like me… Do not stop chasing your dreams! You become old, the day you stop believing, you are young.
