Losing Sleep over Career!

Had shared this on one of my FB updates, repeating it here as well,
Traveling in public transport (metro in my case) brings about a chance meeting with interesting sights and sounds. A T-shirt (worn by a young chap) had this on, 'Who says nothing is impossible, I have been doing nothing for years.'Amen.

I remember my school days, when my tantrums of getting out of bed early morning, was thwarted with the fact, that once I grow up (stand on my feet ) and mature out of school, then there is no stopping to my sleep (and eventually my dreams with it). I used jump up and count my days backward that moment on.

I did pass out of school, did mature, was about to nail the 'standing on your feet' part, when my folks who promised me the sleep, said that within a certain couple of weeks I need to get admitted in college through the forms for which one has to avail by standing in queue as early as 4 am. Dreams can wait, but college NO.

Form collected, duly filled but the sleep ditched yet again. Got admitted in the morning section of the college, a new journey minus the sleep and the dreams. 3 years and finally got a graduation, an Eureka moment...nah! By that time special classes on MBA started and as luck would have it, again a morning sessions.

MBA, three letters that promised to change one's world. What came in between (for me) was Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Morning sessions learnt QA and rest of the day struggld to figure out why wasn't QA an optional subject. In between the dreams did try to prod me, but couldn't find a pillow soon enough to elaborate.

Sat for the exam, got selected (no, not the IIMs), and got admitted. Folks became teary, as I was to travel out of home for the first time. Well, finally no one to disturb my sleep...but I was wrong. I may be leaving my folks behind but what I would be carrying was RESPONSIBILITY. From three letters to a whopping 14. I decided, this is it...another two years of my life and then I will sleep (and work) on my terms.

Passed out of PG college 'Responsibly' in 2003. Made some close friends, had some memorable experiences, learnt lessons on management and maintained that QA should not be part of such courses.

The moment arrived, got a job, time to break free, run riot, fulfill my unfinished dreams...guess what, landed up in advertising. A professions where you are paid to survive if you loose your sleep (and sometimes mind).

Have been in advertising since then, meeting clients, seeing brands grow, bust and go haywire. Met people with varied backgrounds and experiences, got accolades and brickbats, but never got the sleep or the dream back.

Went home town recently, reached around 10.30am. To my surprise saw my youngest sibling, who is in college still snoring away. Looked at the same very people (my folks), this is what they had to say, 'He was practicing on his drums whole night, his band has three performances in the town today, let him sleep'

The message on the T Shirt flashed in front of my eyes!