Years ago, the Chairman of the company I worked for, told me that I should always aim to be content with the job I do and not look for happiness. I nodded my head politely when he said that. To my mind, as we say in Mumbai, 'same difference'. After all, these words are interchangeable, aren't they? Not one to ask too many questions to the chairman who I respected immensely, I left it at that.
Cut to eight years later.
I have recently made two major changes in my life.
I have moved to a beautiful house. It is a big, airy, spacious, well lit house with absolutely amazing neighbours. Above all, when my parents came to visit, they nodded in approval. From their expression of delight, I figured they were thinking that finally, their daughter had probably 'arrived'.
The second, I changed my job. Moved from a rather demanding role to one where there is no performance pressure, no competitiveness, no melodramatic team members, no demanding clients and above all, no revenue targets. A job with a fairly free wheeling job description.
I had finally found the happiness I had been running after for years. But am I really content?
Unfortunately for people like me for whom their career achievements have become the centre of their beings, life takes a beating when happiness overtakes contentment.
Happiness is about beautiful surroundings, that perfectly brewed cup of coffee in the morning, being surrounded by lovely people, endless supply of books and movies. I am happy.
Unfortunately while I like being in this state of happiness, I realise I am driven by contentment. And, I want to be content just as much as I want to be happy. Perhaps, a little more.
Contentment is largely about the success of a campaign you have had to fight for at every stage.
It is about leading a team that feels accomplished.
It is about winning a new business because the Client truly believes we are the best in the industry.
It is about coming up with that one idea which I truly believe will change the fortunes of my brand.
It is about my boss having the confidence in my abilities to do the job and do the job well.
It is about waking up with sweaty palms, not knowing how to solve a challenge that has been hurled towards me the evening prior.
It is about having nine balls in the air and ensuring they stay up in the air, no matter what.
Today I realise the difference.
Solving a problem is contentment. Winning an award for it is happiness.
Can I please have madness back?
Cut to eight years later.
I have recently made two major changes in my life.
I have moved to a beautiful house. It is a big, airy, spacious, well lit house with absolutely amazing neighbours. Above all, when my parents came to visit, they nodded in approval. From their expression of delight, I figured they were thinking that finally, their daughter had probably 'arrived'.
The second, I changed my job. Moved from a rather demanding role to one where there is no performance pressure, no competitiveness, no melodramatic team members, no demanding clients and above all, no revenue targets. A job with a fairly free wheeling job description.
I had finally found the happiness I had been running after for years. But am I really content?
Unfortunately for people like me for whom their career achievements have become the centre of their beings, life takes a beating when happiness overtakes contentment.
Happiness is about beautiful surroundings, that perfectly brewed cup of coffee in the morning, being surrounded by lovely people, endless supply of books and movies. I am happy.
Unfortunately while I like being in this state of happiness, I realise I am driven by contentment. And, I want to be content just as much as I want to be happy. Perhaps, a little more.
Contentment is largely about the success of a campaign you have had to fight for at every stage.
It is about leading a team that feels accomplished.
It is about winning a new business because the Client truly believes we are the best in the industry.
It is about coming up with that one idea which I truly believe will change the fortunes of my brand.
It is about my boss having the confidence in my abilities to do the job and do the job well.
It is about waking up with sweaty palms, not knowing how to solve a challenge that has been hurled towards me the evening prior.
It is about having nine balls in the air and ensuring they stay up in the air, no matter what.
Today I realise the difference.
Solving a problem is contentment. Winning an award for it is happiness.
Can I please have madness back?
