Do you know what you want in life?
18 12 2007
18th December 2007
I don’t know! I really don’t know! Often heard kids say I want to become an engineer, I want to become a doctor, a fashion designer, etc. But hey, does a 5year old kiddo really understand what it takes to become a doctor or what it means to become a doctor? Of course, I have seen a good number of people who have actually achieved what they always wanted to be since childhood.
Then, I have also seen the other kind. The other kind being kids who always wanted to become something but later realize that it is not their cup of tea! They want to do something else now! Now, changing your line at the age of 21, after completing your under graduation requires some amount of guts! But you know what the best part is, they at least know what they want, so what if they have realized it a little late in life? They at least have the courage to change their life direction and chase their dreams!
Coming to the 3rd category of people, who try to satisfy themselves by saying, may be this is what I wanted, so what if I don’t like the IT industry, I get paid well, I get to fly aboard for free, I work only 5 days a week, etcetera… etcetera … It’s not exactly a ‘compromise’ but a feeling of false gratification which one tries to derive from everything about their work, except work!
But, what about this category [There could be other categories too, right now I’m only thinking about myself ;-)] of people like me who don’t know what to do!
19th December 2007
I was reading an HBR (Managing Oneself) by Peter F. Drucker, the article read something like this – “most people, especially the highly gifted people, do not really know where they belong until they are well past their mid-twenties…” I’m very happy to read that!
I started writing this article last evening and was looking for a perfect ending. I guess I got it! The idea behind writing this blog was to vent my frustration out. I guess the purpose of writing this blog stands defeated as of now at least! 
Happpies Endings…
lol… haha…. so true!
Nova @ heheh..u blog so dedicatedly… turanat tera jawab aata hai, likhte hai.. bohot acha lagta hai!
khush kardeeti hai tu mujhe!
Thanks for taking the time to comment in my blog.
On this post of yours…
The feeling of ‘Wanting’ and ‘Belonging’ are unique to each person. ‘Belonging’ is also ‘wanting’ to be somewhere. And trouble usually comes where the ‘want’ becomes ‘need’, unreasonably.
“It’s not exactly a ‘compromise’ but a feeling of false gratification which one tries to derive from everything about their work, except work!”
Excellently said.
As for myself… when in a position seeking tough answers on life… I tend to go with “that which gives me peace of mind”.
Sounds odd? It works. And thats what matters.
good to see that happy ending…
It’s pretty much the same here. I’m actually a mix of all those categories. When I was small, I wanted to be an engineer/singer. Now, I have no clue about what is lying ahead for me.
True!
But, maybe such happy endings are very few … as very few of us actually follow our heart!
For rest, we probably just hope to ‘get life’ on those 2 days of weekend and few hours after work!
u know something….when i was a kid,i wanted to be a pilot…then i saw one of my cousin becoming a doc and i wanted to be a doc..then i saw 2 of my cousins doing engg. in NIT trichy and i wanted to be an Engineer and i joined for it…now i dont know why i opted to be a software engineer…its not that i hate the profession but i am not that fond of it too….
but there is one more thing i cant be what i want…he he coz my dreams are that high nowasays…like want to be like Johnny Depp,want to be Rockstar,want to participate in The Contender,to participate in Amazing Race,to be a Hollywood superstar….he he
Ashwin @
A. Your welcome!
B.I agree with you! After all at the end of the day, if too confusion prevails, its best to do what gives you peace of mind!
But, going back to my question, how do you chose what gives u peace of mind… !
Gaurav @ Thank you sir! Aap mere blog ke shuvaad se aaj tak jameesha mere har blog pe comment karte aa rahe hai… thank u so much
Ish@ You still have a long way to go Ish, you are still a kid and have sometime to decide… seeing your answer, i feel, all of us go thru the same… I feel, whats the big deal, chalta hai!
It’s okay to be confused, it is okay to change ideas and targets as we wish to, after all, its our life and we decide whats best for us!
Rohan@ Hey Rosha, dreamz are supposed to be as big as to become Jonny Depp! After all, its your dream and you have all rights to dream what you want! But, my question to you is, do you have the guts to give up engineering and think of starting your career in acting! Is that possible! After all, why can’t your dream be a reality! Whats stops us from taking up a profession in fields like acting, media against software engineering or a CA?
I agree there are few people who dare dream of becoming SRK and do acheive it, but not all of us think of turning our dreams into a relality!
IS that because the way we are brought up or just that we are scared of society, money or status, etc etc
There are times where i know what i want but dont know how? Sometimes i know how to get but then i think can i achieve all what i want? Confusion will always be in mind.
Determination will help to acheive what you want and how you want. It is said Rome was not built in a day. Patience, plan, vision and action towards goal gives us what we want.
vaishno since i am a student now and iam a complete dependent of my parents i gotta stand with them..I dont think that they will ever like the idea of dropping my so called ‘bright future ahead engineering studies” and to pursue something which can’t guarantee whether it will be a success or a failure….And mine is a dream,i am not even sure whether i am a good actor or something…
And if think like after getting a job i will try,yeah definitely i may try…
p:s:-its rohan,not roshan ..if u have mistaken
There are very few people in this world who are lucky enough to know early on that what exactly they want to do and , more importantly, are also good at that. Example: Sachin Tendulkar
For many, it takes years of experimentation and patience to zero in into something which they really like doing and also have decent talent in that..
Example: People such as JK Rowlings who take a while to find their true bearings.
For many many others, there is not one specific thing in which they are really outstanding or which they love the most..they have certain strenghts, weaknesses, interests and so on… Now, depending upon their circumstances and how they make use of their resources, they end up doing something in life-decent or ordinary..
The important point is to understand that life is a continuous learning and evolving process and no one decision -career or otherwise- can make or break you..
If you have something in you and you are open to change and risks, you will make it sooner or later..Until then, make sure you try to enjoy what you are doing at present and keep a long term perspective..As I always say, hang in there..
THANK YOU ???
$^$#%&$
What the hell happenned to you ???
Abhishek@ I agree that you require patience, etc to acheive ur goal, how do you decide what ur goal is!
Roshan@ Exactly! Thats exactly what i was trying to tell you, we can’t give up our regular stream of wrok to do something that mite not work out for us!Not many of us can afford to take so much risk in life!
That was typo error! sorry about it. Point noted.
Lallopallo @ Beautifully said! TOTALLY AGREE WITH EVERY WORD YOU WROTE
In fact, the article (Peter Drucker’s Managing Oneself) also says that very people acutally realize early in life what to do, most of them being sportmen, musicians and cooks!
Gugu @ hehehe
:)……
Sathish @ what does the smile imply….?
Comment: 20th Dec 07
Interesting discussion. I would like to add my input as well: First of all, I do not see any problem with any line of work as long as it is challenging and
helping you grow (Going in flight to abroad, weekend holidays dont exactly help you grow in your career). The reason that we live in a family and the family
has supported us all along while we have been young (financially and otherwise) leaves us in a responsible position to take care of our parents and kids. So
the financial part of the vocation is as important as any other factor. The second factor is the ability to take risks. If at all we want to venture out to
unconventional careers, we should have guts and accept the fact that though on the short run, the financial situation might not be very rosy but on the long run it may be very different. Here the role of family and spouse is equally important and if you have understanding and considerate people back home who are willing to share your burden and atleast not complain - Go ahead and take any plunge you want. Only your hard work, talent and comitment to the job along with the concept and its acceptability by the benificiaries, that would eventually determine your success. Eventually part depends on the venture. The venture depends on your skill sets, interests and host of external factors including luck. If you ask me, situations and luck alone are the greatest factors.
Destination Infinity.
Vaishno said: “I agree with you! After all at the end of the day, if too confusion prevails, its best to do what gives you peace of mind! But, going back to my question, how do you chose what gives u peace of mind… !”
How does a fish know that water is where it belongs?
I know some people get frustrated (sometimes angry too) when they are answered with a question. But I hope you can appreciate the import.
Destination Infinity@ Sorry for the late reply. But thank you for the elaborate reply.
1. Thats exactly what my point is, we can’t risk due to so many reasons, like family, finanical situation, etc
2. This particular sentence, “If you ask me, situations and luck alone are the greatest factors.” is EXCELLENTLY said.
3. I agree we need guts to take up unconventional careers. More so, whats important is the drive than the situation. Let me give you once example -
My cousin at the end of his 4th year in IIT realized engineering is not what he wants! He wanted to take up a career in media. He took a loan of 12 lacs, got thru a v reputed university abroad but in the end he could not get a job in US because the day he went for the interview was 9/11! The towers fell right in front of his eyes, helpless he came back to India because Asians were always seen with suspicion after that.
He came back to India, and did not join any IT firm, instead he took up a small job in a start up ( that too, after immense struggle) for rs.8000 in a city like Mumbai! Imagine….!
Now, of course, after 4 years, people realize how talented he is and admire him for what he is.. but, yes, he did got through that struggle…
So, it all boils down to the point,”How badly you want it”…
Ashwin @ point taken. You said that in a very subtle way… but, yeah after all, who tells the fish where it belongs to!
Sathish @ I think you got me wrong here. The question is not whether why we hide behind some reason to be what we are.. but do we really know what we want! Cause there must be some reason why we want to be the way we are!Right? Confused?…heheh..i’m at least!
Rathinikesh @ Thank you for visiting my blog. Sorry, missed out on your comment. You are right, since we usually do not follow our heart, there are not many SRK, Roger Federers… But, there are lots of successful IT/Software engineers (I’m not demeaning th IT profession, neither i’m trying to judge success in their terms)…
But, thats the fact!
What i want in life is very general.. i want love,money and peace..But what profession will acheive me all this is prettty confusing..
Its really better to be master of one game than being zack of all trades.(is the phrase correct?)
Am waiting for some kind of signal..which will tell me..”This is the one.Go chase it!!
@Nitin
Love and peace through profession? Tell me that was a typo… if not, I would say you are WAY off target. (unless by profession you mean becoming a high profile new age Guru spreading love among people… hehe… I am just kidding!)
Ashwin..
ya man..kind of typo..
What i meant was a profession which will help me to maintain whatever i have and doesn’t disturb my life.
@Nitin
Yep… that would make sense.
@Vaishno
Left you a request on orkut
Yes, you are right. Many people don’t know what they want in life. That’s why we have education that suppose to be helping people to find what they want and what their purpose of life. But it’s not serving it’s purpose.
It’s necessary to have self awareness in order to clearly know what you want.
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[...] accolades like, CNBC manager of the year! This blog is continuation of my previous post, “Do you know what you want in life?” Not many of us would dare to become what we dream! I’m not being pessimist, but the reality is, [...]