so I’m a rocket scientist but only almost I trained as an aerospace
almost I trained as an aerospace
almost I trained as an aerospace engineer twice over first as an
engineer twice over first as an
engineer twice over first as an undergrad and then as a grad student
undergrad and then as a grad student
undergrad and then as a grad student after college I moved to the world of
after college I moved to the world of
after college I moved to the world of consumer technology and management
consumer technology and management
consumer technology and management working in some of the best companies in
working in some of the best companies in
working in some of the best companies in the world in strategy and operations
the world in strategy and operations
the world in strategy and operations rules what I’m going to do today is talk
rules what I’m going to do today is talk
rules what I’m going to do today is talk to you about my zigzag journey and what
to you about my zigzag journey and what
to you about my zigzag journey and what it has taught me about following one’s
it has taught me about following one’s
it has taught me about following one’s heart many people have spoken about
heart many people have spoken about
heart many people have spoken about pursuing the importance of pursuing a
pursuing the importance of pursuing a
pursuing the importance of pursuing a passion already from Paulo Coelho
passion already from Paulo Coelho
passion already from Paulo Coelho Anthea’s Ali to commencement speakers
Anthea’s Ali to commencement speakers
Anthea’s Ali to commencement speakers around the world and even some of
around the world and even some of
around the world and even some of today’s speakers but what I want to
today’s speakers but what I want to
today’s speakers but what I want to focus on is the is the part that comes
focus on is the is the part that comes
focus on is the is the part that comes after the the left lambdas but
after the the left lambdas but
after the the left lambdas but infinitely more important sequel to
infinitely more important sequel to
infinitely more important sequel to follow in your heart so what should you
follow in your heart so what should you
follow in your heart so what should you expect if you switch careers to pursue a
expect if you switch careers to pursue a
expect if you switch careers to pursue a creative passion if you move from our
creative passion if you move from our
creative passion if you move from our structured and analytical vocation to a
structured and analytical vocation to a
structured and analytical vocation to a more freewheeling creative one what are
more freewheeling creative one what are
more freewheeling creative one what are the challenges of such a move and is it
the challenges of such a move and is it
the challenges of such a move and is it really worth it
really worth it
really worth it so what follows after following your
so what follows after following your
so what follows after following your heart let me tell you a little bit more
heart let me tell you a little bit more
heart let me tell you a little bit more about myself I have wanted to be a
about myself I have wanted to be a
about myself I have wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember but
writer for as long as I can remember but
writer for as long as I can remember but because I was good at math and science I
because I was good at math and science I
because I was good at math and science I was drawn towards engineering and it’s
was drawn towards engineering and it’s
was drawn towards engineering and it’s the tragedy of our country and it’s such
the tragedy of our country and it’s such
the tragedy of our country and it’s such a cliche I don’t even want to talk about
a cliche I don’t even want to talk about
a cliche I don’t even want to talk about it but I ended up living it so I became
it but I ended up living it so I became
it but I ended up living it so I became an engineer first got a bachelor’s
an engineer first got a bachelor’s
an engineer first got a bachelor’s degree then a master’s degree then I
degree then a master’s degree then I
degree then a master’s degree then I followed one lucrative job after another
followed one lucrative job after another
followed one lucrative job after another but this habit I could not shake off
but this habit I could not shake off
but this habit I could not shake off it’s a habit I like to call right early
it’s a habit I like to call right early
it’s a habit I like to call right early instinct of spending a lot of time in my
instinct of spending a lot of time in my
instinct of spending a lot of time in my head of analyzing and dissecting the
head of analyzing and dissecting the
head of analyzing and dissecting the world around me and the most frequent
world around me and the most frequent
world around me and the most frequent subject of all this analysis with me my
subject of all this analysis with me my
subject of all this analysis with me my own life am I truly happy doing what I’m
own life am I truly happy doing what I’m
own life am I truly happy doing what I’m doing I would ask myself very often now
doing I would ask myself very often now
doing I would ask myself very often now let me make it clear that all my
let me make it clear that all my
let me make it clear that all my professional choices required a lot of
professional choices required a lot of
professional choices required a lot of hard work a lot of planning and a fair
hard work a lot of planning and a fair
hard work a lot of planning and a fair share of good luck – I hadn’t walked
share of good luck – I hadn’t walked
share of good luck – I hadn’t walked into anything blindfolded then why had
into anything blindfolded then why had
into anything blindfolded then why had my choices not
my choices not
my choices not satisfying as I’d hoped they would be
satisfying as I’d hoped they would be
satisfying as I’d hoped they would be why would I get bored and restless so
why would I get bored and restless so
why would I get bored and restless so easily now given that this is a
easily now given that this is a
easily now given that this is a classroom full of students I’m sure many
classroom full of students I’m sure many
classroom full of students I’m sure many of you have identified these symptoms
of you have identified these symptoms
of you have identified these symptoms and even diagnosed yourselves tell me
and even diagnosed yourselves tell me
and even diagnosed yourselves tell me the truth there’s no shame at all you’re
the truth there’s no shame at all you’re
the truth there’s no shame at all you’re not alone
not alone
not alone do you also suffer from chronic
do you also suffer from chronic
do you also suffer from chronic dissatisfaction if you are healthy you
dissatisfaction if you are healthy you
dissatisfaction if you are healthy you lead a comfortable life but still find
lead a comfortable life but still find
lead a comfortable life but still find yourself chronically dissatisfied you
yourself chronically dissatisfied you
yourself chronically dissatisfied you might be suffering from an unfulfilled
might be suffering from an unfulfilled
might be suffering from an unfulfilled passion what what is an unfulfilled
passion what what is an unfulfilled
passion what what is an unfulfilled passion what does that look like
passion what does that look like
passion what does that look like so let’s flashback to 20 or years ago I
so let’s flashback to 20 or years ago I
so let’s flashback to 20 or years ago I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was
knew I wanted to be a writer when I was
knew I wanted to be a writer when I was very young so I started keeping a diary
very young so I started keeping a diary
very young so I started keeping a diary when I was only eight years old and then
when I was only eight years old and then
when I was only eight years old and then I kept a personal blog for several years
I kept a personal blog for several years
I kept a personal blog for several years hoping to document the world around me
hoping to document the world around me
hoping to document the world around me to use in my inevitable future novel no
to use in my inevitable future novel no
to use in my inevitable future novel no matter how busy I was I enjoyed writing
matter how busy I was I enjoyed writing
matter how busy I was I enjoyed writing for my school and college magazines and
for my school and college magazines and
for my school and college magazines and each time I was unhappy my mind would
each time I was unhappy my mind would
each time I was unhappy my mind would wander to writing so if you are you know
wander to writing so if you are you know
wander to writing so if you are you know thinking about contemplating what your
thinking about contemplating what your
thinking about contemplating what your true passions are ask yourself what
true passions are ask yourself what
true passions are ask yourself what seeds have you been sewing through your
seeds have you been sewing through your
seeds have you been sewing through your entire life what has been consistent
entire life what has been consistent
entire life what has been consistent what do you think of when you’re happy
what do you think of when you’re happy
what do you think of when you’re happy what do you think of when you’re unhappy
what do you think of when you’re unhappy
what do you think of when you’re unhappy if you know what this passion of yours
if you know what this passion of yours
if you know what this passion of yours is good for you congratulations but then
is good for you congratulations but then
is good for you congratulations but then what is stopping you from pursuing it
what is stopping you from pursuing it
what is stopping you from pursuing it the most common reason that comes up is
the most common reason that comes up is
the most common reason that comes up is risk you might not have enough money
risk you might not have enough money
risk you might not have enough money saved up
saved up
saved up you don’t want to be financially
you don’t want to be financially
you don’t want to be financially dependent on your parents or your spouse
dependent on your parents or your spouse
dependent on your parents or your spouse that that’s the all you might not have a
that that’s the all you might not have a
that that’s the all you might not have a safety net at all so that’s the boat I
safety net at all so that’s the boat I
safety net at all so that’s the boat I was in for most of my twenties I just
was in for most of my twenties I just
was in for most of my twenties I just need to save up a little bit more I told
need to save up a little bit more I told
need to save up a little bit more I told myself do a desk job for a few more
myself do a desk job for a few more
myself do a desk job for a few more years and then I will move to writing so
years and then I will move to writing so
years and then I will move to writing so it’s good to hedge your risks of course
it’s good to hedge your risks of course
it’s good to hedge your risks of course but the longer you wait the more likely
but the longer you wait the more likely
but the longer you wait the more likely you are to run into a different kind of
you are to run into a different kind of
you are to run into a different kind of fear so if you wait too long then you
fear so if you wait too long then you
fear so if you wait too long then you might be afraid it’s too late to start
might be afraid it’s too late to start
might be afraid it’s too late to start because of that famous 10,000 hour
because of that famous 10,000 hour
because of that famous 10,000 hour principle that you need 10,000 hours of
principle that you need 10,000 hours of
principle that you need 10,000 hours of practice to get good at something that
practice to get good at something that
practice to get good at something that you need 10,000 hours
you need 10,000 hours
you need 10,000 hours practice to get good at something so I
practice to get good at something so I
practice to get good at something so I asked myself if I start this late what
asked myself if I start this late what
asked myself if I start this late what if I fail I look ridiculous I have built
if I fail I look ridiculous I have built
if I fail I look ridiculous I have built up such a good bank of achievements and
up such a good bank of achievements and
up such a good bank of achievements and accomplishments why would I throw it all
accomplishments why would I throw it all
accomplishments why would I throw it all away how could I start over in my
away how could I start over in my
away how could I start over in my thirties with nothing but good
thirties with nothing but good
thirties with nothing but good intentions but I did start over that’s
intentions but I did start over that’s
intentions but I did start over that’s why I’m here yeah I did start over
why I’m here yeah I did start over
why I’m here yeah I did start over that’s why I’m here and the reason I
that’s why I’m here and the reason I
that’s why I’m here and the reason I took the plunge was because doing
took the plunge was because doing
took the plunge was because doing nothing felt harder than taking the risk
nothing felt harder than taking the risk
nothing felt harder than taking the risk I started with baby steps I started
I started with baby steps I started
I started with baby steps I started writing after work and on weekends I
writing after work and on weekends I
writing after work and on weekends I took some writing classes I started
took some writing classes I started
took some writing classes I started developing a few short story ideas as
developing a few short story ideas as
developing a few short story ideas as well and that’s it so I started with
well and that’s it so I started with
well and that’s it so I started with baby steps so this is to say that you
baby steps so this is to say that you
baby steps so this is to say that you know you don’t have to always make full
know you don’t have to always make full
know you don’t have to always make full plunge into your passion you can just
plunge into your passion you can just
plunge into your passion you can just dip your toes as well and then when I
dip your toes as well and then when I
dip your toes as well and then when I decided to start writing full-time I
decided to start writing full-time I
decided to start writing full-time I I knew I was ready hold I thought I was
I knew I was ready hold I thought I was
I knew I was ready hold I thought I was ready and then I was proven wrong
ready and then I was proven wrong
ready and then I was proven wrong without a doubt
without a doubt
without a doubt writing my first novel has been the
writing my first novel has been the
writing my first novel has been the hardest thing I’ve done and following a
hardest thing I’ve done and following a
hardest thing I’ve done and following a passion is actually harder than leaving
passion is actually harder than leaving
passion is actually harder than leaving it on fulfilled who would have thought
it on fulfilled who would have thought
it on fulfilled who would have thought that right but you might wonder what’s
that right but you might wonder what’s
that right but you might wonder what’s so hard about following a passion about
so hard about following a passion about
so hard about following a passion about writing a novel there’s no boss there
writing a novel there’s no boss there
writing a novel there’s no boss there are no deadlines and you’re doing
are no deadlines and you’re doing
are no deadlines and you’re doing something that you claimed you loved
something that you claimed you loved
something that you claimed you loved that’s what I thought too so let me tell
that’s what I thought too so let me tell
that’s what I thought too so let me tell you step by step how my bubble was burst
you step by step how my bubble was burst
you step by step how my bubble was burst starting over will teach you to be
starting over will teach you to be
starting over will teach you to be humble one of the biggest pitfalls with
humble one of the biggest pitfalls with
humble one of the biggest pitfalls with starting a creative pursuit relatively
starting a creative pursuit relatively
starting a creative pursuit relatively late in life is that you’ve consumed a
late in life is that you’ve consumed a
late in life is that you’ve consumed a lot of what you hope to create so even
lot of what you hope to create so even
lot of what you hope to create so even though you might not have formal
though you might not have formal
though you might not have formal training you have a good instinct for
training you have a good instinct for
training you have a good instinct for what you want to achieve so for example
what you want to achieve so for example
what you want to achieve so for example if you want to be a writer you’d better
if you want to be a writer you’d better
if you want to be a writer you’d better have read a lot of good books so you
have read a lot of good books so you
have read a lot of good books so you know what a good story feels like but
know what a good story feels like but
know what a good story feels like but when you start that thing that you just
when you start that thing that you just
when you start that thing that you just put down on the page will look awful it
put down on the page will look awful it
put down on the page will look awful it will feel awful it’ll look awful for a
will feel awful it’ll look awful for a
will feel awful it’ll look awful for a very long time this is terrible I
very long time this is terrible I
very long time this is terrible I remember thinking page after page I’m
remember thinking page after page I’m
remember thinking page after page I’m just not good enough I should give up
just not good enough I should give up
just not good enough I should give up and unfortunately there’s no easy way
and unfortunately there’s no easy way
and unfortunately there’s no easy way out
out
out the only way to improve is through
the only way to improve is through
the only way to improve is through action and all you can do is
action and all you can do is
action and all you can do is keep trying and keep improving another
keep trying and keep improving another
keep trying and keep improving another struggle might be that you might have
struggle might be that you might have
struggle might be that you might have spells spent a decade building mastery
spells spent a decade building mastery
spells spent a decade building mastery in a completely different field I was a
in a completely different field I was a
in a completely different field I was a gold medalist in college I had a perfect
gold medalist in college I had a perfect
gold medalist in college I had a perfect 4.0 GPA in grad school and I got mostly
4.0 GPA in grad school and I got mostly
4.0 GPA in grad school and I got mostly great reviews on all my jobs and when I
great reviews on all my jobs and when I
great reviews on all my jobs and when I started writing my confidence was
started writing my confidence was
started writing my confidence was completely shaken I was used to
completely shaken I was used to
completely shaken I was used to validation I was used to achievement and
validation I was used to achievement and
validation I was used to achievement and writing is a solitary and thankless
writing is a solitary and thankless
writing is a solitary and thankless activity there’s no reward other than
activity there’s no reward other than
activity there’s no reward other than the joy of writing a beautiful sentence
the joy of writing a beautiful sentence
the joy of writing a beautiful sentence and there’s no marker of success til
and there’s no marker of success til
and there’s no marker of success til you’ve finished what you started in fact
you’ve finished what you started in fact
you’ve finished what you started in fact I remember after I wrote my first
I remember after I wrote my first
I remember after I wrote my first chapter I sent it to three friends for
chapter I sent it to three friends for
chapter I sent it to three friends for feedback and four fans for feedback and
feedback and four fans for feedback and
feedback and four fans for feedback and three of them loved it and one did not
three of them loved it and one did not
three of them loved it and one did not and I was so upset that I could not
and I was so upset that I could not
and I was so upset that I could not write for a week then eventually I had
write for a week then eventually I had
write for a week then eventually I had to tell myself that I was not in the
to tell myself that I was not in the
to tell myself that I was not in the world of equations and Excel models
world of equations and Excel models
world of equations and Excel models anymore there were no correct answers
anymore there were no correct answers
anymore there were no correct answers writing was subjective unlike the
writing was subjective unlike the
writing was subjective unlike the objective nature of my previous lives
objective nature of my previous lives
objective nature of my previous lives but still it took a lot of time to
but still it took a lot of time to
but still it took a lot of time to digest that simple lesson but without a
digest that simple lesson but without a
digest that simple lesson but without a doubt the hardest part has just been
doubt the hardest part has just been
doubt the hardest part has just been writing I’m sure all of you noticed that
writing I’m sure all of you noticed that
writing I’m sure all of you noticed that writers complain or turn about not being
writers complain or turn about not being
writers complain or turn about not being inspired and we have a whole term for it
inspired and we have a whole term for it
inspired and we have a whole term for it I mean there’s no filmmakers block or
I mean there’s no filmmakers block or
I mean there’s no filmmakers block or musicians block but who hasn’t heard of
musicians block but who hasn’t heard of
musicians block but who hasn’t heard of writer’s block
writer’s block
writer’s block oh I remember there were days even weeks
oh I remember there were days even weeks
oh I remember there were days even weeks when I didn’t have a single good idea
when I didn’t have a single good idea
when I didn’t have a single good idea and I remember thinking what if I only
and I remember thinking what if I only
and I remember thinking what if I only have enough good words in me to write on
have enough good words in me to write on
have enough good words in me to write on weekends did I make a mistake and I was
weekends did I make a mistake and I was
weekends did I make a mistake and I was this close to giving up not once not
this close to giving up not once not
this close to giving up not once not twice but almost every other day for the
twice but almost every other day for the
twice but almost every other day for the first three months and I just couldn’t
first three months and I just couldn’t
first three months and I just couldn’t write I would give up and you know when
write I would give up and you know when
write I would give up and you know when that changed it changed when I stopped
that changed it changed when I stopped
that changed it changed when I stopped looking at writing as the wishy-washy
looking at writing as the wishy-washy
looking at writing as the wishy-washy passion I was following but started
passion I was following but started
passion I was following but started looking at looking at it as my career
looking at looking at it as my career
looking at looking at it as my career when I sit down to work on my novel
when I sit down to work on my novel
when I sit down to work on my novel every day I’m not following my heart I’m
every day I’m not following my heart I’m
every day I’m not following my heart I’m doing my job so I have to sit down and I
doing my job so I have to sit down and I
doing my job so I have to sit down and I have to write it took me a very long
have to write it took me a very long
have to write it took me a very long time to absorb this very simple piece of
time to absorb this very simple piece of
time to absorb this very simple piece of advice sit down and don’t get up don’t
advice sit down and don’t get up don’t
advice sit down and don’t get up don’t get up till
get up till
get up till you’ve written enough which sounds like
you’ve written enough which sounds like
you’ve written enough which sounds like a Michael Jackson song but set yourself
a Michael Jackson song but set yourself
a Michael Jackson song but set yourself a daily target and just keep at it till
a daily target and just keep at it till
a daily target and just keep at it till you hit your goal
you hit your goal
you hit your goal 80% at least 80% of my writing days
80% at least 80% of my writing days
80% at least 80% of my writing days begin the same way I sit down I flounder
begin the same way I sit down I flounder
begin the same way I sit down I flounder for an hour or two either the writer’s
for an hour or two either the writer’s
for an hour or two either the writer’s block is too strong or my writing feels
block is too strong or my writing feels
block is too strong or my writing feels stilted what sets about the good days
stilted what sets about the good days
stilted what sets about the good days from the bad ones is when I give up
from the bad ones is when I give up
from the bad ones is when I give up whether I decide after the first hour of
whether I decide after the first hour of
whether I decide after the first hour of struggle that I’ve had enough or whether
struggle that I’ve had enough or whether
struggle that I’ve had enough or whether whether I decide to sit down and keep
whether I decide to sit down and keep
whether I decide to sit down and keep writing if you can build this muscle
writing if you can build this muscle
writing if you can build this muscle this muscle of persistence in great and
this muscle of persistence in great and
this muscle of persistence in great and if you can learn to be patient then half
if you can learn to be patient then half
if you can learn to be patient then half your job is done another essential
your job is done another essential
your job is done another essential component of doing this job and a big
component of doing this job and a big
component of doing this job and a big big struggle of mine is turning off the
big struggle of mine is turning off the
big struggle of mine is turning off the Wi-Fi you could take this to me and be
Wi-Fi you could take this to me and be
Wi-Fi you could take this to me and be prepared to give up distractions turn
prepared to give up distractions turn
prepared to give up distractions turn off all those voices in your head that
off all those voices in your head that
off all those voices in your head that ask you questions like what will the
ask you questions like what will the
ask you questions like what will the critics say is there a market for this
critics say is there a market for this
critics say is there a market for this and all those are fair points but no I
and all those are fair points but no I
and all those are fair points but no I mean something far simpler just turn off
mean something far simpler just turn off
mean something far simpler just turn off the internet I speak as an Internet
the internet I speak as an Internet
the internet I speak as an Internet addict
addict
addict you never know again one click turns
you never know again one click turns
you never know again one click turns into an hour so the Internet is the
into an hour so the Internet is the
into an hour so the Internet is the enemy of productivity but all of this
enemy of productivity but all of this
enemy of productivity but all of this sounds really exhausting right the good
sounds really exhausting right the good
sounds really exhausting right the good news is that it gets better after months
news is that it gets better after months
news is that it gets better after months and months of keeping at it the balance
and months of keeping at it the balance
and months of keeping at it the balance has started to tip for me the number of
has started to tip for me the number of
has started to tip for me the number of bad days is lower the lows are not as
bad days is lower the lows are not as
bad days is lower the lows are not as deep and it’s easier to bounce back to
deep and it’s easier to bounce back to
deep and it’s easier to bounce back to productivity and the cause I’m an
productivity and the cause I’m an
productivity and the cause I’m an engineer I have a graph to prove it so
engineer I have a graph to prove it so
engineer I have a graph to prove it so this is my writing journey it took me
this is my writing journey it took me
this is my writing journey it took me almost a year of incubation before I
almost a year of incubation before I
almost a year of incubation before I even started writing my first chapter
even started writing my first chapter
even started writing my first chapter then it took me about a year and a half
then it took me about a year and a half
then it took me about a year and a half to write the first quarter and that’s
to write the first quarter and that’s
to write the first quarter and that’s when I quit my job and started writing
when I quit my job and started writing
when I quit my job and started writing full-time but it still took nine months
full-time but it still took nine months
full-time but it still took nine months to write the quarter after that but only
to write the quarter after that but only
to write the quarter after that but only five months for the one after that and
five months for the one after that and
five months for the one after that and now I’m close to the finish line this is
now I’m close to the finish line this is
now I’m close to the finish line this is not to say that all novels are us in the
not to say that all novels are us in the
not to say that all novels are us in the making I think I’m particularly slow and
making I think I’m particularly slow and
making I think I’m particularly slow and we heard that some people have written
we heard that some people have written
we heard that some people have written novels in a month but this is just
novels in a month but this is just
novels in a month but this is just for you that if you persist then things
for you that if you persist then things
for you that if you persist then things get better things get easier so summing
get better things get easier so summing
get better things get easier so summing up what I’m trying to say is that
up what I’m trying to say is that
up what I’m trying to say is that switching to a creative field is hard
switching to a creative field is hard
switching to a creative field is hard but getting good at it is even harder to
but getting good at it is even harder to
but getting good at it is even harder to attain mastery you will have to study
attain mastery you will have to study
attain mastery you will have to study the work of people who came before you
the work of people who came before you
the work of people who came before you and their work will be far greater than
and their work will be far greater than
and their work will be far greater than anything you can hope to achieve any
anything you can hope to achieve any
anything you can hope to achieve any time soon you will need to be humble
time soon you will need to be humble
time soon you will need to be humble you’ll need to seek and take feedback
you’ll need to seek and take feedback
you’ll need to seek and take feedback but also learn to push back on
but also learn to push back on
but also learn to push back on self-doubt and there will be many many
self-doubt and there will be many many
self-doubt and there will be many many days of self-doubt but what’s important
days of self-doubt but what’s important
days of self-doubt but what’s important is to start and to move forward to keep
is to start and to move forward to keep
is to start and to move forward to keep pushing through one step at a time then
pushing through one step at a time then
pushing through one step at a time then you begin your efforts will seem to
you begin your efforts will seem to
you begin your efforts will seem to amount to one step forward and two steps
amount to one step forward and two steps
amount to one step forward and two steps back but if you persist there will be a
back but if you persist there will be a
back but if you persist there will be a point when it will switch to two steps
point when it will switch to two steps
point when it will switch to two steps forward and one step back anything more
forward and one step back anything more
forward and one step back anything more than that will come from your efforts
than that will come from your efforts
than that will come from your efforts your luck your talent pursuing a
your luck your talent pursuing a
your luck your talent pursuing a creative passion requires a lot of
creative passion requires a lot of
creative passion requires a lot of suffering but if you are willing to
suffering but if you are willing to
suffering but if you are willing to suffer then it’s a very rewarding
suffer then it’s a very rewarding
suffer then it’s a very rewarding journey I would happily do it all over
journey I would happily do it all over
journey I would happily do it all over again thank you
again thank you
again thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment