When should I leave the rat race?
The life journey is brief; no one’s here to live forever.
Our lives are nothing but a culmination of the choices we make. We’ve got to follow no rule book to say that we’ve made it in life. And yet, most of us measure our success by how far along we are in the corporate rat race.
The Worldly Pressures and Vanity
It’s a human thing to judge yourself on these parameters:
- Are you earning lesser than your peers?
- Are you in a less challenging job, leading to professional stagnation?
- Are your career prospects not too excellent now in your current company?
- Do you have lesser material possessions than your colleagues and batch mates?
- Do you often see your friends post vacation pictures on social media?
The Freedom of Choice
We’re witnessing life-changing evolution in all fields. Wherever your passion lies, opportunities are awaiting you. You no longer must pick something that doesn’t make you happy to earn a living. The power of social media and digital platforms has created awareness and demand for skills that would have previously been looked at as mere hobbies. Traditional and niche crafts like pottery and charcoal painting have global investors and opportunities.
Creating Your Way
The smart way to fulfill your dreams is to make your skills known and keep exploring relevant opportunities that come your way, don’t settle for anything that you’re not passionate about. If we look at Vineeta Singh, Co-founder of Sugar Cosmetics, her story is a testament that dreams do come true without following the bandwagon. As a 23-year-old, she rejected a high-paying job because she dreamed of being an entrepreneur. It took her a couple of years to get to where she is. She didn’t have it easy between failed investor meetings and being a mom, but being an entrepreneur made her happy. Today, she is one of the most celebrated entrepreneurs in the country and an investor on the reality show Shark Tank India.
Is It Worth It?
Happiness is always worth it. The rat race, on the other hand, isn’t. We all have our set of skills and talents that we must use. It will most definitely add value to and create an impact on your audience. The aim is to find purpose in life and a passion that makes you want to wake up every morning. This passion will find a way of becoming a rewarding career.
I wish you a great career ahead!
This article was written by Varun Dhingra. He is an ex-investment banker and currently serves as the CEO of Renous Consulting, a Human Capital staffing & advisory firm in India. He is also the Chief Curator of #LifeAroundBlueGrayBlack, a career-building show.
