Despite everything - the pollution, the violence, the apathy, nature defying sexuality and "hopelessness", these are certainly the best times one can hope to live in . We have every gadget to make life easy, we know that every desire can be fulfilled, almost everything can be bought, every place can be conquered and most important, someone is willing to pay you for every little talent you possess. We finally have arrived at an age for "A place for everyone and everything in its place" - Dunno if the latter is true, but yes there certainly is a place for everyone today.
Think of the inventions that revolutionized this century - The Internet,the Mobile phone, the Social Web. Why are they important/ground breaking? Because, never before has so much power been bestowed on the hands of the individual. Never before have people enjoyed unlimited access, power and choice, without having to sacrifice anonymity - the anonymity of being the common man.
Today the mantra seems to be - You have something you are proud of - it doesnt matter what - someone, somewhere needs you - It could be anything... Sample these...A top corporate honcho having a portfolio like Chief Belief Officer and strategy, top 5 start hotels employing housewives to make 'ghar ka khana', shopping consultants who will help you pick clothes that will suit you and your wallet, not to talk of cultural officers, diversity managers, why you can make a living even if you only know to eat - I really dunno what other quality a food critic has. So the fact of the matter is if you are super good at something, anything - even if it is mundane and commonplace, if you are passionate about it, you can carve your own niche....
Is this good? Never better, of course! But where you are blessed really is in understanding what your calling is - to understand what you are 'cut out' for!Most people just vanish never being able to know.... or even attempting... So there's just one difference in people like Aamir, Sachin, Zakir Hussain and most of us - they have found their calling, while we have given up even before we tried! In fact, 'without purpose' you are a lost cause!
So what's this era about -it is an age where simple things can find expression and where ordinary is celebrated and in fact revered and exalted. How else do you explain "phenomenon" ( I dunno what else to call it) like "Kolaveri di" - if that is not the celebration of the ordinary and commonplace, then what is.... Please note that I never meant mediocre anywhere. So finally, its not cliche, every one really has something unique that the world is waiting to lap up. Power to the ordinary, but relentless. Maybe the key to being extraordinary is in really being utterly and super ordinary....And in getting comfortable being...
Think of the inventions that revolutionized this century - The Internet,the Mobile phone, the Social Web. Why are they important/ground breaking? Because, never before has so much power been bestowed on the hands of the individual. Never before have people enjoyed unlimited access, power and choice, without having to sacrifice anonymity - the anonymity of being the common man.
Today the mantra seems to be - You have something you are proud of - it doesnt matter what - someone, somewhere needs you - It could be anything... Sample these...A top corporate honcho having a portfolio like Chief Belief Officer and strategy, top 5 start hotels employing housewives to make 'ghar ka khana', shopping consultants who will help you pick clothes that will suit you and your wallet, not to talk of cultural officers, diversity managers, why you can make a living even if you only know to eat - I really dunno what other quality a food critic has. So the fact of the matter is if you are super good at something, anything - even if it is mundane and commonplace, if you are passionate about it, you can carve your own niche....
Is this good? Never better, of course! But where you are blessed really is in understanding what your calling is - to understand what you are 'cut out' for!Most people just vanish never being able to know.... or even attempting... So there's just one difference in people like Aamir, Sachin, Zakir Hussain and most of us - they have found their calling, while we have given up even before we tried! In fact, 'without purpose' you are a lost cause!
So what's this era about -it is an age where simple things can find expression and where ordinary is celebrated and in fact revered and exalted. How else do you explain "phenomenon" ( I dunno what else to call it) like "Kolaveri di" - if that is not the celebration of the ordinary and commonplace, then what is.... Please note that I never meant mediocre anywhere. So finally, its not cliche, every one really has something unique that the world is waiting to lap up. Power to the ordinary, but relentless. Maybe the key to being extraordinary is in really being utterly and super ordinary....And in getting comfortable being...
