“The best way to live your life? Find a way to get paid for your passion.”
These words are spoken by the artist, whom the author met on a Mumbai to New York flight. During their discussion, the artist informed he had just sold his paintings to large hotel chains, who had requested for an art to be displayed on the walls of guest rooms, executive cabins and public spaces.
The author Ashwin Sanghi in his book, “13 Steps to Bloody Good Luck”, has written that 11th Step Passion should be used to balance wealth with knowledge. He shared his childhood story of summer job his father assigned him about learning the accounts with his father’s accountant. He used to take book to read, but the accountant would force him to do bookkeeping. He discuss this with his grand uncle. Uncle said, “Lakshmi (wealth) without Saraswati (knowledge) is always a problem. Lord Ganesh, the ultimate symbol of luck is always shown seated between Lakshmi and Saraswati. The presence of both is vital for good luck to happen.”
The author has discussed about balancing money and passion. Money had never been sole motivator for the most of the successful person. To explain this he has shared stories of Dhirubhai Ambani, P.V. Narasimha Rao, Richard Branson, Google, and Lakshmi Mittal. These people never questioned, “How much money I will earn?” instead they pursued their passion and ideas which lead them to success.
When an young man approached Socrates in search of wisdom, he was surprised when Socrates took him to a lake and dunked his head under water. As the man struggled to come up for air, Socrates continued holding him under water. Later after recovering, when the young man asked Socrates, why he had tried to drown him, Socrates replied, “What was it that you most wanted when you were under water?” “Air!” the young man answered. Socrates responded, “When your desire for wisdom is as great as your desire to breathe, you will find wisdom”.
Passion is like the need for air. When one is passionate about something, one will do everything possible to make it happen.
subodh anjal 