The Stories Of 15 Inspired Young Indians Who Chose Their Dreams Over Stability
“My own heroes are the dreamers, those men and women who tried to make the world a better place than when they found it, whether in small ways or great ones. Some succeeded, some failed, most had mixed results… but it is the effort that’s heroic, as I see it.”
– George R. R. Martin
We believe you’re familiar with our fascination for those who lead double lives professionally, that we explored through the lives of different individuals across India. These are the guys burning the candle at both ends, and doing a fine job at it. Then, there are those who choose to go off the deep end and vouch completely and irrevocably for their dreams (and no, they don’t get much sleep either). For these dreamers, we have another kind of respect, albeit an equally special one.
It takes immense courage – and a healthy dose of madness – to put an end to what is potentially a financially stable life, to pursue your real calling. So we scoured the space for individuals who have, at different points in their lives, taken a step back and re-evaluated what their dreams meant to them before deciding to throw their entire weight behind them. Here are 16 individuals who’ve truly followed their hearts, and won us over while at it.
I. Abhishek Mishra | Persistent. Optimistic. Focused
Who: 29-year-old Abhishek Mishra entered the corporate world right after earning his engineering degree, followed by a Masters in Marketing & International Business and an MBA . Even though he liked his job, he was constantly haunted by a sense of dissatisfaction and uncertainty.
Always having enjoyed sports and endurance activities through school, he realized that the corporate world was not his cup of tea when he ran his first Ultra Run. He quit his job in 2014 and decided to take up his love for endurance sports, more specifically, triathlons. Earlier this year, he became the first Indian to complete the 161 km run in the Kutch desert - ‘Run the Rann’, and is currently training for the Ironman.
In his efforts to spread awareness about fitness, he started his own company called Tabono Sports & Entertainment Pvt Ltd., which focuses on structured health and employee engagement programs for corporates. They are also a running, cycling, triathlon and sports event management consultancy.
“Dreams are aspirations that are hard to fulfil as they keeps on changing.”
On his passion for endurance activities:
“I believe that you need to be passionate about at least one thing to be able to live your life with complete satisfaction. A job shouldn’t be just a way to pay your bills. For me, it couldn’t get better than helping people to be happy and fit, which is why I am always filled with energy. I believe once you go into these kind of activities, simplicity is something you will start enjoying more than anything.”
The Biggest Challenge:
“The pressure from the society. Everyone close to me, be it, family or friends, were not very happy with my decision. But, I made it a point to not lead a life based on the others expectations from me.”
One line that inspires him:
“Bhagwaan Ke Bharose Mat Baitho, Kya Pata Bhagwaan Aapke Bharoshe Baitha Ho”(Loosely translated as, ‘Keep working and you will find the way.’)” - from the movie, Manjhi
II. Adarsh Munjal | Obsessed with food. Possessed by food. Dedicated for food.
Who: 27-year-old Adarsh Munjal is a food writer and entrepreneur who is popularly known as The Big Bhookad on social media platforms since 2010. He shares his culinary experiences on his website, www.thebigbhookad.com and in March 2014, he co-founded a professional food-photography venture with Snehsha Tank, called Lensplate, which caters to various restaurants and hospitality brands in the country today.
He kick-started his career as copywriter in digital & social media while he was still in junior college. Once he graduated in 2009, he decided to pursue a dual life of working at digital agencies during weekdays so he could feed himself; and devouring food during weekends.
He finally decided to focus only on his passion for food and left his job at The Glitch as their creative director earlier this year. Today, he is engaged in food photography for various clients in the F&B industry and is focussed on building content properties with television channels and other MCNs, to launch his new on-screen career as an anchor of a food or travel show.
“Being a writer or a brand strategist is not as easy it seems in a country like India. Most similar professionals get categorised as mediocre (and ridiculously underpaid) armchair thinkers. On the contrary, very few digital professionals like me usually have the courage to explore 5 different jobs in 7 years to finally realise there could be a way to pursue a new-age career.
While I disappointingly still get introduced as a “content entrepreneur” or a “food entrepreneur” even today, I’m just trying to be a guy who’s helping F&B brands sell delicious food through a new perspective, a new idea or a new kitchen, every day,” he shares.
“Dreams are meant to come true for those who choose to fly, for just a few, like you and me.”
On his passion for food:
“As a kid, I used to begin my day by asking my mother, ‘Aaj khane ke liye kya hai?’ The first thought in my head is always about the food I should be eating on that day. ‘Aaj Khaane Mein Kya Hai’ is the tagline of my blog, and that is also the motto of my life.
Now, I live to eat and I live to discover the new dishes that are being created by the new chefs out there. Mostly, I feel lucky to have this opportunity in my life to watch my dreams come true or not, while most fail even to try.”
The Biggest Challenge:
From responsibilities like paying rent or salaries on time to building new ideas for potential clients, every new day brings along a new journey of new challenges. Every week, is still a 7-day-working week. Every month, still ends with setting new goals. Every quarter, still strengthens the faith I have, to watch my dreams come true soon. In this long pursuit of success and happiness, I’m still far away from home; but now, I have finally realised that happiness is something in my liberty, it’s who I am and it’s who I choose to be.”
One line that inspires him:
“Never toss the coin son, fate is on both the sides.”
https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-voices/the-stories-of-inspired-young-indians-who-chose-their-dreams-over-stability-vol-iii