In the mid-nineteen fifties, an uncle was among the first batch of a handful of students to successfully pass out with a diploma in Electronics from a well-known technical institute in southern India. He enrolled at this institute prompted by a passion for tinkering around with small foreign-made appliances such as the radio, which was then believed to be not a part of electrical but electronics. In those days, Electronics was an unknown subject. His father was disappointed that the elder of his two sons was venturing into the unknown. He, therefore, coerced his younger son to choose medicine, which he believed to be a safer bet.

However, for the starter engineer, there were three job openings. He applied for and sat for all three interviews to be selected. With three letters of offer, he could choose who he wished to work with. He naturally chose Phillips, the Dutch manufacturer, setting foot in India for the first time.

The job was that of an apprentice. Moreover, it was an unpaid position for the first many months. It was made known that a permanent posting was a distinct possibility depending on how well one performed at work. The young apprentice learnt fast. He enjoyed doing what he did daily in setting up a new factory working shoulder to shoulder with the Dutch Managers. The factory setup was completed in record time, and the products rolled out to the expected precision. The management picked this young man who proved himself to replicate this experience by setting up a similar factory in Bangkok. This, too, was a repeat of success. It was followed by other factories in Calcutta and Pune that this young man started from scratch to become full-fledged manufacturing units. He subsequently headed the Calcutta and Pune factories for many years until he was finally promoted to Technical Director at the Phillips head office in Holland.

On the other hand, his brother, forced by their father to study medicine, graduated, scoring average marks. So frightened was he of surgery that he settled to teach general medicine at a local college. He retired a dull unaccomplished man.

This is an example of following one’s passion. Assume you complete graduation and turn to the job market at age twenty-three. Taking sixty-five as the global average age for retirement, you have no less than 40 and more years to wake up every morning to go to work. The following eight to ten hours must be unflinchingly exciting daily. Not a single dull moment. The remaining hours at home must be to recoup to have another enthusiastic day doing whatever you love to do all day, every day.

In the first example, the forty + years spent at work was a source of joy for the employee and employer. Phillips, from the sixties, made giant leaps in progress and continues to do so.

Therefore, you must do what you are good at. That which excites you. That which you love. It is only then possible to break barriers and rise to the top to become a world leader. And how did you get there? Following your passion.

Best wishes.
Ash Nan
2nd January 2023