What are we in here for!
I was watching the commencement speech by Obama for the Class of 2009 at the Arizona State Univerisity and was wonderstruck by the energy and passions that he brought onto the table. Just a gentle reminder, 2007 - 2009 was the time when the world was hit by the greatest recession of all times. There was a severe scarcity of jobs and conditions were in a turmoil.
However, stating these facts clearly, he talks about the biggest problem not being poverty that we might have led to, but the poverty of ambition that we were heading towards. Which is so true even today! I would try summarizing some key points that he talks about and try framing them in the current context of situations that our world is facing.
The key issue is we have been trained to think in a certain manner, stopping us to believe in change and our own self. Everyone wants to show up at the ribbon-cutting without building anything worth a damn! The idea of success that has been pedaled for a long time, chasing the brass rings and becoming ‘who’s who’ and making to the top 100’s everywhere is still true. And as he stated then, that won't work for most of us still remains undoubtedly correct.
Clearly, at a moment of such hyper-competition and times when the world is facing such grave issues, such an approach won’t take us where we want to go, that in fact, the elevation of appearance over substance, celebrity over character, short term gains over lasting achievements is preceisely what we need to end.
Why so? This kind of approach distracts us from our main business, what were we in here for? When you keep that in mind, it will automatically force you to surge ahead, keep your perspectives and priorities clear! We are all here for a bigger purpose, a purpose that we need to find, a destiny that we have to fulfill and it is certainly not in achieving the status quo.
You wanna be a captain, or you wanna change the face of the game, the choice is yours. Certainly being a captain helps however the latter can be achieved being Sachin Tendulkar as well. Titles are not the pre-requisite towards making a change. Titles give you authority but a leader is not made by authority, a leader is made by intent!
The body of work is always undone. We are here to make a difference, and constantly push ourselves to become successful for others. Rise up and become a hope for others. As you look at yourselves you might see a confused soul searching for a job, looking for prospects out there in the world to sustain, but a child might see a strong mentor in you. A poor person, striving for clean water might see a scientist or an engineer who can solve this issue of water crisis for them. A local businessman might see an economist in you that would make India a $5 Trillion economy. This is what we were in here for.
This change that we are talking about would need a change in perspective and attitude. Let's promulgate this idea, talk about it, have open discussions and debates We need the “young” generation, to help us in making this change, and when we use the word “young” we are not referring to age but quality and way of life. The determination to follow your passions and take risks, the spirit towards forcing yourself to think beyond your own self.
That is what is the need of the hour! We have a duty and we need to step up!
Cheers!