Passion or money, the age old question! -By Anushree from IBA

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As soon as I reached the airport, I was informed that my flight was delayed. For someone who likes everything to be on time, it agitated. I had no other option but to sit in the Airport Lounge and wait for an eternity, which actually were two hours, to pass. But I was also really excited to go home this time. 

I had finally been given the amazing opportunity to work overseas, for a Singapore-based company. The thought of living in a new country, among completely different people, and visiting new places is a thought that had always fascinated me. And so, here I was – going home to meet my parents and stay with them for a month before I leave for Singapore.

I ordered a hot Choco latte and was about to pick a Vogue from the table when I saw a big, white-haired, old man come and sit right next to me. He was dressed in a funky black hoodie with a quote that read, “Awkward is my speciality”. I felt a little weird and wanted to shift aside. 

I constantly reminded myself, "Do not look at him. Do not look at him".

But of course, I did. The worst part was when he caught me looking at him.

It was then that he asked me, "Can I join you?"

Me: Yes, sure.

The Man: It was my last day at work today. From tomorrow, I have nowhere to be.

Me: Oh! I am sorry to hear that.

The Man: Sorry? Are you kidding? I am finally free to do whatever I want. Who wants to remain the Vice President of a company forever?

Me: That sounds great! So, have you thought of anything in particular that you would like to do?

The Man: Well, there's one thing that I’ve always looked forward to, for the past 35 years!

Me: And what would that be?

The Man: Paintings! I can finally start painting now. I actually enjoy them too. My wife was a big fan of my paintings when I was in college. But now that I’m free, I will miss the fact that she isn’t here to appreciate them anymore.  

In that instant, everything changed for me.

Here I was, Ananya, a 25-year old young woman, who also recently resigned from her job because she got an amazing overseas opportunity in Singapore. This job was anybody’s dream come true. But somehow my heart always yearned for the Content Writing job that I had been offered last week by a travel start-up in my hometown, Bangalore. They were a young team of 10 people who travelled the nooks and corners of India and wrote blogs about the same. 

And they needed writers. I had been a content writer ever since my college days. It came naturally to me but I had never thought of pursuing it as a full-time profession. This was perhaps because of two reasons; firstly, it didn’t pay me like the other big brands did and secondly, I didn’t know back then if I could build an identity of my own in the world, just by writing a blog. It seemed like a fool’s paradise. And so, I declined the offer from the travel start-up.

But here was a Vice President of a company, who devoted his entire life to his profession, earned huge chunks of money, built a good reputation in the society, and probably had the chance to taste all delicacies of life. But he still never felt complete or fully satisfied. All he cared about in his 35 years of career was Painting. His wife died a few years ago. So, all he now hoped was to travel and paint the world in his own canvas.

Me: Why didn't you choose to be a painter then?

The Man: My father never considered painting to be an actual career where I could have built my identity. In other words, he thought painting could never pay my bills and I would eventually be a nobody. Abba used to say, "It's your hobby, not your profession. So better do something that makes sense and would add value to your life." I don't know why he felt that way.

Me: And what could perhaps be wrong with people urging to do what they love against a petty little thing called financial stability? 

The Man: Beta, it is a never-ending debate "What you should do and what you can do." Everyone does not have the luxury of following their passion and they choose money because they hope to live a better life with it. However, money is in no way a measure of satisfaction or fulfilment in life. Financial security is important, undoubtedly - it motivates us to do better, it can buy solutions in desperate times, it helps you keep stress levels at bay, and what not! But unless you love your work, you're really wasting your time in being someone that you're not.

This conversation struck me hard. All of a sudden, he was making sense to me. He made me question my present approach towards work as well as personal fulfilment. I actually started thinking whether or not I really see myself doing the same work in the long run. All of these questions in my mind led me to things that our culture tells us not to do with our careers. 

We are asked to make our careers in jobs that pay well, and most importantly, that pay with certainty. Following our passion, not money and doing what we truly love isn't something we are raised to do. On some level, some parents even consider it silly. But is it really true? Or is followed blindly just like a century-old tradition? 

Me: I somehow feel both are important in life. I want to earn a lot of money so that I can fulfil my desires and at the same time, pursue my passion. Maybe, if I am really good, then money would automatically follow. Why can I not have both?

The Man: You absolutely can. But how many of us really know what we are actually good at, the work that makes us lose sleep at night? Do we know what drives us? Many of us don't even know ourselves. And by the time we do get to know, it's already too late.

He continued, "See, there's nothing right or wrong in choosing money over passion or vice versa, it's individual perspective. It's like whether you want to enjoy the dessert in the end or you want to keep tasting the dessert throughout your meal, because you never know when it'll finish. And if you’re really worried about adding value to your life, then please understand that it is not the same as adding value to your CV. If you want to create your identity in this world, then break stereotypes. Do what is not done. Set a new trail. Create your own legacy for which the world will remember you; not because you were like some Peter, Tom or Harry, but because you were “you.”

His words made me realize how much I enjoyed writing. I even won a few awards. But I never pursued it full-fledged. I just thought having a job that pays well would be safe. But the question was, for how long? How long would I pretend to like it when in reality, I clearly wanted something else?  

Before leaving to board the flight, I asked him, “Did you love your job? Or do you have regrets?" I was hoping to hear some ultimate mantra on how to establish a money-passion balance, about making a living versus actually living.

He just shrugged and replied, “Have a safe flight. And I hope you find your way home, this time without diversions.”

I finally boarded my flight that night, with just a single thought in my mind, "What would it be like if I waited to do something that I really want to do, something that sets my soul on fire, something that I truly enjoy doing until I was 60 or even 45? Would my husband be dead by then? Would I be so exhausted after a lifetime of work that I’d just be grateful that I could still eat and walk? What if I never make it to 60 and die before that?

That night, in the flight, I merely thought about our conversation, over and over again. A sudden realization struck me. There is no secret formula that could solve this equation of following one’s passion or money. If I do go to Singapore, I might not truly love the job but I would get paid enough to be able to afford everything I want. On the other hand, if I did not go for the content writing job in the start-up, I might truly love working there but I’ll miss the standard of living I lead presently. 

And what if I don’t leave either and do both. The man-made a compromise by completely letting go of his passion although he knew what he truly wanted in his heart. But why do I have to do it? I can be different from him, 30 years from now. I can still make the right choice. In fact, I can be in Singapore and still write for the start-up remotely. This can break the stereotype!

This thought gave me goose-bumps. I was surprised by how I never thought of it before.

I landed at 5 am. Outside the airport, I witnessed the breaking dawn – sleek rays of the sun, shunning the dark-grey clouds in the sky. I gazed at the sky as the cold breeze gave me chills. I heaved a long sigh at the beautiful sky, and said to myself, “It’s time to create a legacy!”

Thanks to the big, white-haired, old man who inspired many more like Ananya, the world is now transcending towards the emerging gig economy – giving rise to an independent set of workforce who don’t have to choose between following their passion or money anymore. They can, in fact, have both.