Finding the life's purpose and putting into action. Advice I got from a public figure

We all have that one thing we secretly wish to pursue someday. But most of us end up killing it, not because it’s impossible, but because we find excuses instead of finding ways to make it happen.

I love talking about dreams and passions with people of all ages. I enjoy listening to their stories, and I truly admire those who chase their dreams, they’re my tribe, my inspiration. But what hurts me is seeing how many people chase money so much that they forget about genuine happiness.

Now, chasing money isn’t stupid, it does make life easier. The problem isn’t with money itself but with people who measure everything in terms of wealth, believing that materialistic happiness is the ultimate goal. No, it’s not.

One of the biggest mistakes we make is measuring passion with money believing that unless our passion earns us a fortune, it’s not worth pursuing. That’s why so many people quit what they love.

Here’s a common dilemma: say you’re passionate about becoming a writer and dream of publishing a book. But writing takes time, it could take months to write, years to publish, and even longer to gain recognition. Meanwhile, you get an opportunity to take a well-paying job that you don’t enjoy. What do you choose. If this situation has already happened to you, what did you pick - passion or money? Most people get stuck here.

I never found a convincing answer until I met Hans Ulrich Obrist at a business conference in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2017. He’s an author, historian, and art curator (among many other things).

I asked him the same question: Writer or high-paying job?

His answer was simple:

“In that case, do two things—one should bring you money, and the other should bring you happiness. There are many ways to make money with your obsession. Find them. Many people have done that.”

How simple is that? He even shared a story about someone (I don’t remember the name) who worked on his passion after his boring day job and later became a successful author.

Mr Hans Ulrich Obrist at me Convention, Frankfurt in 2017

That's how he explained it! (And his autograph at the bottom) 

I remember a chapter that I read from the book, Rework, it's one of the must-read books for startup enthusiasts. It says,... "squeeze a little time every day and work on what you love." I am sharing that chapter here, please read it. 

Another great takeaway from that chapter (which I highlighted) is a simple way to find your true passion through quick trial and error. Doesn’t that seem like an extremely simple solution to an extremely complex problem?

Come on, guys, it’s not that difficult to do something you love. No matter how big or complicated your dream is, simplify it to fit your circumstances. Take some time for yourself, brainstorm, and figure out what you can do!

Humour with a deep message! Found this at a youth hostel in Genova, Italy

“You will never be a guilt escape from your heart. So it's better to listen to what it has to say. That way, you'll never have to fear an unanticipated blow.” 

― Paulo Coelho The Alchemist