Passion, Purpose, Profession

Passion, Purpose, Profession A do-it-yourself programme to uncover your true potential

3 Big Q’s Why is it necessary for us to have a passion, a sense of purpose? Can’t one become successful by merely being smart and well-connected? Can’t one be happy by finding an easy way to earn lots of money , and spending it on what gives us pleasure ?

Why is it necessary for us to have a passion, a sense of purpose?

Can’t one become successful by merely being smart and well-connected?

Can’t one be happy by finding an easy way to earn lots of money , and spending it on what gives us pleasure ?

3 Big A’s Integrity and Simplicity Most people find it very unpleasant to lead ‘multiple’ lives, full of contradictions & complications Ideals and Values Most people need to have a sense of right and wrong to shape their lives with, and to have an interest in something beyond themselves Challenges and Motivation Most people need something to keep themselves motivated & inspired, and being challenged

Integrity and Simplicity

Most people find it very unpleasant to lead ‘multiple’ lives, full of contradictions & complications

Ideals and Values

Most people need to have a sense of right and wrong to shape their lives with, and to have an interest in something beyond themselves

Challenges and Motivation

Most people need something to keep themselves motivated & inspired, and being challenged

… and 1 Big S Success! Who doesn’t want to be successful? Make a list of successful people you (truly, deeply) admire the most Most successful people are driven by ambition – which is a mixture of passion and purpose (that sometimes comes from pain ) that they find in their profession They have a sense of history and destiny in what they do Others find them awesome and inspiring , and in contrast find themselves too bogged down or inadequate

Success!

Who doesn’t want to be successful?

Make a list of successful people you (truly, deeply) admire the most

Most successful people are driven by ambition – which is a mixture of passion and purpose (that sometimes comes from pain ) that they find in their profession

They have a sense of history and destiny in what they do

Others find them awesome and inspiring , and in contrast find themselves too bogged down or inadequate

Don’t you want to be successful? If yes, remember that merely wanting to be successful is never going to get you there The surest route to success is finding your passion and pursuing it, finding your purpose and fulfilling it, and choosing the right profession to do this in If you have passion, everything else will follow – failures too, but only as stepping stones to success!

Don’t you want to be successful?

If yes, remember that merely wanting to be successful is never going to get you there

The surest route to success is finding your passion and pursuing it, finding your purpose and fulfilling it, and choosing the right profession to do this in

If you have passion, everything else will follow – failures too, but only as stepping stones to success!

Is there something you’ve always wanted to do but for some reason never been able to? Do you find yourself not really driven or focussed towards anything in particular? Here is a simple programme that can help you discover your passion & purpose, and also find ways to actually achieve it Go through the entire programme first, and then schedule each of the steps involved – pace it to suit your personal needs & constraints Try and stick to the sequence – avoid skipping steps!

Is there something you’ve always wanted to do but for some reason never been able to?

Do you find yourself not really driven or focussed towards anything in particular?

Here is a simple programme that can help you discover your passion & purpose, and also find ways to actually achieve it

Go through the entire programme first, and then schedule each of the steps involved – pace it to suit your personal needs & constraints

Try and stick to the sequence – avoid skipping steps!

Prologue Let’s start by asking why you’re here… Do you feel strongly about art/design? Are you good at it? Are you fascinated by it? Do you want to make a career in it? Do you want to do something outstanding in it? This is important, because all successful artists/designers through history have invariably been extremely passionate about their work Remember, ‘passion’ can take many forms – including rebellion, defiance and subversion – but it is always grounded in a compelling vision

Let’s start by asking why you’re here…

Do you feel strongly about art/design?

Are you good at it?

Are you fascinated by it?

Do you want to make a career in it?

Do you want to do something outstanding in it?

This is important, because all successful artists/designers through history have invariably been extremely passionate about their work

Remember, ‘passion’ can take many forms – including rebellion, defiance and subversion – but it is always grounded in a compelling vision

Warm Up 1 Now, let’s look at the things that give you most and least sense of fulfillment… As a child? As a teenager? Today? What do you learn about yourself from this?

Now, let’s look at the things that give you most and least sense of fulfillment…

As a child?

As a teenager?

Today?

What do you learn about yourself from this?

Warm Up 2 Let’s move to those things that you’ve always wished to do or be but have never been able to or allowed to, and hated to do or be and have always been forced to… As a child? As a teenager? Today? What do you learn about yourself from this?

Let’s move to those things that you’ve always wished to do or be but have never been able to or allowed to, and hated to do or be and have always been forced to…

As a child?

As a teenager?

Today?

What do you learn about yourself from this?

Warm Up 3 Let’s look at the people you most admire and would love to be , and those that you don’t respect and would hate to be… As a child? As a teenager? Today? What do you learn about yourself from this?

Let’s look at the people you most admire and would love to be , and those that you don’t respect and would hate to be…

As a child?

As a teenager?

Today?

What do you learn about yourself from this?

Step 1: Slow Down! Take a break from doing whatever you are doing, and run an audit on your life over 24 hours… Are you satisfied with your day-to-day life? Are you filling it up with too many activities to find out those that really give you satisfaction? Take a look at yourself from the outside – do you come across as the person you’d really like to be? Are you on course to finding your passion?

Take a break from doing whatever you are doing, and run an audit on your life over 24 hours…

Are you satisfied with your day-to-day life?

Are you filling it up with too many activities to find out those that really give you satisfaction?

Take a look at yourself from the outside – do you come across as the person you’d really like to be?

Are you on course to finding your passion?

Step 2: Write your Epitaph You are what you are But you can be anything that you like… What would you like to do or be? What would you like to accomplish ? How would you like your epitaph to read? Are you on course to finding your purpose?

You are what you are

But you can be anything that you like…

What would you like to do or be?

What would you like to accomplish ?

How would you like your epitaph to read?

Are you on course to finding your purpose?

Step 3: Pinpoint the Barriers What’s stopping you from starting out to be what you dream of being? Lack of purpose (“I don’t know what I want to do”) Lack of clarity (“I don’t know how to get there”) Lack of conviction (“I’m not sure if it’s good enough”) Lack of confidence (“I’m not sure I can do it”) Fear of failure (“I don’t want to look like a fool”) Inadequate support/resources Too many distractions/obligations/expectations List down more, and rank all in terms of how much they cripple you

What’s stopping you from starting out to be what you dream of being?

Lack of purpose (“I don’t know what I want to do”)

Lack of clarity (“I don’t know how to get there”)

Lack of conviction (“I’m not sure if it’s good enough”)

Lack of confidence (“I’m not sure I can do it”)

Fear of failure (“I don’t want to look like a fool”)

Inadequate support/resources

Too many distractions/obligations/expectations

List down more, and rank all in terms of how much they cripple you

Rider: Demystifying ‘Barriers’ PURPOSE can be found by committing yourself, going through trial & error, and constantly evolving your purpose CLARITY can be found only by starting to seek – it just gets clearer from then on CONVICTION can be found by educating yourself, discussing your thoughts fearlessly and with an open mind CONFIDENCE can be found through perseverance, acquiring skills and relentless practice FEAR OF FAILURE can be overcome with the awareness that everyone fails at some time or the other LACK OF SUPPORT/RESOURCES can be dealt with through ingenuity and innovation DISTRACTIONS, ETC. can be countered by having a solid set of friends

PURPOSE can be found by committing yourself, going through trial & error, and constantly evolving your purpose

CLARITY can be found only by starting to seek – it just gets clearer from then on

CONVICTION can be found by educating yourself, discussing your thoughts fearlessly and with an open mind

CONFIDENCE can be found through perseverance, acquiring skills and relentless practice

FEAR OF FAILURE can be overcome with the awareness that everyone fails at some time or the other

LACK OF SUPPORT/RESOURCES can be dealt with through ingenuity and innovation

DISTRACTIONS, ETC. can be countered by having a solid set of friends

Step 4: Take Charge! Time flies , and college is the best (often the only ) period we get to find our passion & purpose, and launch our campaign to achieve it So the first and most important step is to take charge over your life – you’ve spent fourteen years with others who looked after you – snap out of it! Along with taking charge, acquire a sense of urgency – to make the most of your college years This is the toughest step, because no one but you can help you through it

Time flies , and college is the best (often the only ) period we get to find our passion & purpose, and launch our campaign to achieve it

So the first and most important step is to take charge over your life – you’ve spent fourteen years with others who looked after you – snap out of it!

Along with taking charge, acquire a sense of urgency – to make the most of your college years

This is the toughest step, because no one but you can help you through it

Rider: Find Some Heroes Did your list of admired people feature anyone who’s alive? Ask them – via email, phone or just by talking to them in person – what they feel are the most important choices they have made Now, find someone who’s accessible (i.e. at Srishti – could be a student, staff or faculty) Ask them insightful questions that can inspire you to embark on your very own journey towards greatness Chances are you’ll get a mixed bag of responses Sift out the uninspiring ones and keep the ones that make sense to you, in your context

Did your list of admired people feature anyone who’s alive?

Ask them – via email, phone or just by talking to them in person – what they feel are the most important choices they have made

Now, find someone who’s accessible (i.e. at Srishti – could be a student, staff or faculty)

Ask them insightful questions that can inspire you to embark on your very own journey towards greatness

Chances are you’ll get a mixed bag of responses

Sift out the uninspiring ones and keep the ones that make sense to you, in your context

Step 5: Make a Wish list WARNING! This is going to commit you to attempt at being outstanding in every area you put down…! Now, go ahead and list down at least three big dreams that you’d like to come true for yourself Be realistic, though – give yourself a theoretical chance for success! On the other hand, don’t be timid and make heavy weather of something relatively trivial – get ambitious!

WARNING!

This is going to commit you to attempt at being outstanding in every area you put down…!

Now, go ahead and list down at least three big dreams that you’d like to come true for yourself

Be realistic, though – give yourself a theoretical chance for success!

On the other hand, don’t be timid and make heavy weather of something relatively trivial – get ambitious!

Rider: Pause, Inform, Revisit Right – so you want to be a rock star, or a film star, or the next Arundhati Roy… Before you take your plunge, take a moment to ask yourself if you really know just what it takes It would be a pity if you wanted to be something totally outside the discourse of art & design, because that’s what you’re here for In fact, if you’re totally convinced you want to be something outside of art/design, maybe you’re better off not wasting precious time here…! So, invest time and effort to inform yourself about being outstanding in your chosen area – and locate Srishti as a launch-pad to getting there

Right – so you want to be a rock star, or a film star, or the next Arundhati Roy…

Before you take your plunge, take a moment to ask yourself if you really know just what it takes

It would be a pity if you wanted to be something totally outside the discourse of art & design, because that’s what you’re here for

In fact, if you’re totally convinced you want to be something outside of art/design, maybe you’re better off not wasting precious time here…!

So, invest time and effort to inform yourself about being outstanding in your chosen area – and locate Srishti as a launch-pad to getting there

Rider: Find a Mentor You can find help to walk through this process — with someone known as a mentor A mentor is not necessarily a friend , nor someone who’s an expert , nor even someone you like or admire A mentor is someone who is empathetic, supportive, knowledgeable and yet critical, honest and demanding – most important, s/he is approachable and accessible to you What is important is that you respect and trust her/him, and can communicate with/ confide in her/him People benefit from having mentors at every stage in their life Can you think of anyone who could make a good mentor for you? [You could have more than one.]

You can find help to walk through this process — with someone known as a mentor

A mentor is not necessarily a friend , nor someone who’s an expert , nor even someone you like or admire

A mentor is someone who is empathetic, supportive, knowledgeable and yet critical, honest and demanding – most important, s/he is approachable and accessible to you

What is important is that you respect and trust her/him, and can communicate with/ confide in her/him

People benefit from having mentors at every stage in their life

Can you think of anyone who could make a good mentor for you? [You could have more than one.]

Step 6: Go Public By now, you should have a fantastic wish list and a sense of how Srishti can help you achieve it Now’s the time to publicize your intentions – go public with your dreams & aspirations! Put up posters, paint it on your t-shirts, change how you look/dress, put on labels & stickers, read, write, talk about it all the time, to everybody Sounds scary? It is, but it also gives you something tangible to work towards – a sense of focus, purpose and identity – over the next few months of your life Remember, it’s perfectly okay to fail – it’s only if you try that you will discover that you can actually do it!

By now, you should have a fantastic wish list and a sense of how Srishti can help you achieve it

Now’s the time to publicize your intentions – go public with your dreams & aspirations!

Put up posters, paint it on your t-shirts, change how you look/dress, put on labels & stickers, read, write, talk about it all the time, to everybody

Sounds scary? It is, but it also gives you something tangible to work towards – a sense of focus, purpose and identity – over the next few months of your life

Remember, it’s perfectly okay to fail – it’s only if you try that you will discover that you can actually do it!

Step 7: Plan It! So now you’re set on an ‘impossible’ journey How are you going to make it possible? How can you plan to attain something ‘impossible’?

So now you’re set on an ‘impossible’ journey

How are you going to make it possible?

How can you plan to attain something ‘impossible’?

Rider: Making an Effective Plan Pace Give yourself a comfortable time span in which to achieve your objective/s – it could be a week, or 20 years Make sure, however, that it’s not too comfortable! Work backwards till you have a plan for the next year, next term, next week… and tomorrow! Milestones Break up your journey into byte-sized steps, each of which is a tangible evolution of your idea Resources You’re going to need plenty of help: find the people, the materials and the opportunities to develop your ideas

Pace

Give yourself a comfortable time span in which to achieve your objective/s – it could be a week, or 20 years

Make sure, however, that it’s not too comfortable!

Work backwards till you have a plan for the next year, next term, next week… and tomorrow!

Milestones

Break up your journey into byte-sized steps, each of which is a tangible evolution of your idea

Resources

You’re going to need plenty of help: find the people, the materials and the opportunities to develop your ideas

Literacy If you’re going to do something outstanding , it would help if you became an authority on the topic Read, Read, Read! all you can about the subject Write your views, thoughts, weird notions – and show them freely to people! Competencies Begin acquiring the skills that you’re going to need Practice, Practice, Practice! (and you shall be perfect) Energisers How are you going to deal with all the low points? Sometimes you’re your own worst enemy… Find all sorts of solutions and keep them handy

Literacy

If you’re going to do something outstanding , it would help if you became an authority on the topic

Read, Read, Read! all you can about the subject

Write your views, thoughts, weird notions – and show them freely to people!

Competencies

Begin acquiring the skills that you’re going to need

Practice, Practice, Practice! (and you shall be perfect)

Energisers

How are you going to deal with all the low points?

Sometimes you’re your own worst enemy…

Find all sorts of solutions and keep them handy

Rider: Factoring Srishti So you’re on your passionate journey. But then your teachers say: “ It’s been done before.” Or, “Instead, why don’t you look at …” Or, “I still need thirty drawings by tomorrow.” How do you deal with this? Just go ahead with your way? Give up and comply with your teachers’ instructions? First, try and be open. Maybe what they say makes sense! Else, be creative. Be smart. Find a way to do both: Either by adapting your idea, or actually doing both and comparing the results – challenge your teachers with your work!

So you’re on your passionate journey. But then your teachers say:

“ It’s been done before.”

Or, “Instead, why don’t you look at …”

Or, “I still need thirty drawings by tomorrow.”

How do you deal with this?

Just go ahead with your way?

Give up and comply with your teachers’ instructions?

First, try and be open.

Maybe what they say makes sense!

Else, be creative. Be smart. Find a way to do both:

Either by adapting your idea, or actually doing both and comparing the results – challenge your teachers with your work!

Serious Rider: Enjoy Yourself! The journey towards passion and purpose is deadly serious, but it’s also plenty of fun So if you’re not quite enjoying yourself so far, you need to revisit your original inspiration One key reason why the fun goes out of achieving our dreams is when we stop working hands-on and end up merely talking about it all the time So make sure you’re doing, making, creating as much of the time as possible Make your own studio…

The journey towards passion and purpose is deadly serious, but it’s also plenty of fun

So if you’re not quite enjoying yourself so far, you need to revisit your original inspiration

One key reason why the fun goes out of achieving our dreams is when we stop working hands-on and end up merely talking about it all the time

So make sure you’re doing, making, creating as much of the time as possible

Make your own studio…

Step 8: Chart Steps # 9, 10, 11… At this stage, you should be on your way And you have probably acquired enough experience to figure out what needs to be done next So go right ahead and chart your own course from here onwards…

At this stage, you should be on your way

And you have probably acquired enough experience to figure out what needs to be done next

So go right ahead and chart your own course from here onwards…