As I looked for means to kill time, I stumbled upon this blog titled “Regrets”, which seemed to arouse an interest in my philosophically bent, (and utterly bored mind). Unfortunately, sleep is something that tags along, on the mention of a humid, summer afty. However, sleep, in this case, had managed to completely evade the seeker, and it is, but unfortunate, that I have not been endowed with the talent of catnapping.
And so, as my hungry eyes, searched for anything soporific (if not intellectually stimultating!) they came across the book titled “Screw It, Lets do It !”. Ahaaa.. sounds like a definite good bye to my ever-so faithful ennui! Now this is when, esnips becomes a god-sent gift, for financially challenged students (saying students is not self-evident apparently!;) like me, definitely, do not consider “buying” a plausible circumstance;) (who says knowledge is free!?)
For those ignorants ! (yes I am exercising my right to freedom of speech;), I am actually quite tempted to say “Hail ye ignorants!”,(see how bored one can get ?!), however, I refrain, for saying so, would provide the nicest possible excuse for You to yescape (in true vivek ishtyle, although am too lazy to type so many a’s :P). Ok, cutting short the circuitous prose, the author of this book happens to be Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group (Virgin airlines, rail, mobile and so on… ).
Having been almost half-way through the book, I can assure you,that the book does not add on to the pile of self-improvement prophecies published everyday (that sooo often claim to be otherwise, in fact I have heard they are coming up with a How To Sleep while watching your Eyelids, one as well)…. Fortunately, Richard does not tell his readers what to do, BUT what has worked for him. He also makes it quite clear that he’s been lucky a couple of times, in his most life-threatening endeavours.. where most of the other authors rule out the possibility of luck and wholly focus on hard work, I appreciate the fact that Richard, does accept, not all is in our hands.
Calculative risks, challenges, responsibilities, smart planning and living life to the fullest, are some things I have picked up from this book. Regrets, ofcourse, an essential part of life, something that reminds us of what all we might have lost, if we had not regretted the past and treated the present as a “present” !;)
But the most important thing I have picked up from this book, is none of the above.
One of the reasons I foresee my future in a pharma firm (JUST one of the reasons !), is that we often need something tangible , to assess our worth, and ofcourse, for personal satisfaction as well. Sometimes, the quest for truth or knowledge is JUST not enough. I agree that an academic career pursuing research is very intellectually rewarding, but at the end of a tiresome day, with nothing worthy to be titled “RESULTS”, phrases like “quest for truth”, remain exactly that ; mere phrases. And so I thought, that a position as a research scientist in a pharma, would not only allow me to carry on research(commercial, but so what?), but provide a financial tangibility to the job. Before you mistake this as a hidden passion for money-making, I must tell you I have never really had any inclination towards making fortunes, nor has it ever thrilled me. However, it would just form a good take home package, when on those blue days, I have nothing to derive from the job.
Richard however, has shattered all such ideas. “If something stops being fun, donot do it anymore!”, seems to be the explicitly highlighted motto of his book. The void created by any activity can never be filled in by “money”, it is something that just comes along, but not, something one must seek, as a sole source of contentment. Money-seekers, never reach their destinations ! I have learnt to segregate, the remuneration, from what I would love to do, irrespective of what I would get back. And neither does money add purpose or meaning to what we do. It IS purchasing power, but never something to be purchased, in return for ones contentment and self-deprivation.
The prospect of joining a pharma still interests me, but one of the reasons for doing so has now ceased to exist !
