START realizing your dreams

I wanted to do something with my life but I did not know what it was.

Many of us struggle with this problem. I figured out a solution to this problem while watching the biopic of the original master chef Tarla Dalal.?

Let me introduce Tarla Dalal first. In the 1980s, when cooking as a profession was not aspirational. There were no cookery shows, no cookery magazines and not even cookery classes. The industry was male dominated. There emerged Tarla Dalal who became a household name and is still remembered.

Tarla Dalal also struggled with the same problem. She wanted to do something with her but did not know what it was. When I watched her biopic, I articulated a method to figure out the purpose of life. This methodology is called “START”

1. Solve problems

Keep Solving problems you see. (Tarla's husband loved nonveg. She wanted him to enjoy veg food cooked by her. She started experimenting with the food.)

2. Test your solutions?

Test your solutions with friends. When friends appreciate and people start copying your solution. That's a sign. (People liked her food. People wanted to learn from her.)

3. Aspire (The most difficult one)

When opportunity knocks, we fail to recognize it. You must have people around you who can encourage you to aspire and grab the opportunity. (When people approached Tarla, Her husband encouraged her to aspire.)

4. Roadblock fixes

When you hit the road. There come speed breakers (roadblocks). Slow down but don’t give up. Focus on getting to the highway. (The society made Tarla to close cooking classes. No one was ready to publish her cookbook. She did not give up)

5. Trust yourself

Self belief makes dreams possible. Identify roadblocks. Take calculated risks and fix the roadblocks. You will fly. (Tarla published her book. It did not sell. The roadblock was distribution. She fixed the distribution and she was famous.)

I told my wife that I have figured out the purpose of my life. She said, I already know. Purpose of your life is to keep me happy. So if START does not help you, please ask your loved ones, they will tell you the purpose of your life.

(The biopic of Tarla Dalal is available on Zee.)

This is the author's personal point of view and is not influenced by any person or organisation. Image credit to the team of Tarla Dalal, Zee5, Powerofnaija and Dainik Bhaskar.

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