Written by: Ketan Kulkarni
John M, Jane L, and Ken P are 3 accomplished professionals! They met each other for a catch up get together Friday evening.
John is a very successful actor and is doing several television series and getting some break in movies. He is doing well in his career. He recently bought a nice house in his desired neighborhood and is in a stable relationship. He is looking forward to his big break that may be around the horizon. He does feel overworked and hates the politics and the backbiting. He enjoys his income and lifestyle for sure. And loves the attention he gets!
Jane is a corporate employee who worked hard to rapidly climb the ladder! She soon realized that she needed a broader identity, and the stress of work was really hurting her. She has since taken up her childhood interests in theatre and piano and spends time there. She is volunteering for local veterans and derives pleasure from it. She looks forward to her career but envisions starting some consulting over the next decade. She isn’t in a stable relationship and does crave some meaningful personal relationships now that her finances are stable.
Ken is a physician who loves his work. He spends 75 to 80 hours a week working. He has an excellent income, but his lifestyle has matched up with his family spending. His net worth isn’t great! He isn’t sure if he can continue working like this for decades! He wonders where he should invest his money and how to gain control of his finances.
The 3 have been under graduation friends meet and have been much looking forward to this evening. They have a lot to share and talk about. Much to catch up.
After the initial ice breaking and catch up the discussion soon turned towards finances. And then to a heated debate!
“Well, what is life without ample money?” John said.
“Well yes but…” The debate continued with everyone bringing in their perspective.
They talked about their personal views around money, their investments, their challenges and even assets and debts.
“Well, clearly money is our greatest asset!” John asserted.
John truly believed that money means success and happiness and fulfilment! That had always been his belief. Jane had met so many corporate millionaires that she disagreed. She had seen the challenges with extreme capitalism and profit mindset. Ken was unsure. He valued income but also service and work. Meaningful contribution was key for him.
Ken argued “I’m not too sure. Is it all about money truly? I do need to master my money but…
The debate was interrupted by Ian. He was their senior but connected well with the crew. He was always a mentor to them
Great to see you, everyone exclaimed.
“I’ve been listening to your chat for a couple of minutes. You guys didn’t notice me initially” Ian said.
After a few minutes of catch up he finally said. Well may be let me share my view. Especially since last year!
Ian was a 45-year high-achieving corporate tax accountant. He built a grand reputation, successful practice, excellent income, and investments with a net worth greater than 2 million. In his 30s he worked 60-80 hours weekly, used to be very irritable but keeps pushing through. He did have a family, 2 children and few good friends but had not spending enough time with them. And then the COVID-19 pandemic happened. He spent 8 weeks in the Hospital on oxygen due to major respiratory complications. Something ran through his mind! When we recovered, he was a changed person, inside out! He awakened.
His views changed dramatically.
Ian passionately began sharing the new Ian’s viewpoint!
Here is what I learnt!
Money is important
No doubt money is important. You need it to support your desired lifestyle. Money is a means goal!
Money doesn’t mean success and fulfilment automatically
Money can certainly aid success and fulfilment but assuming that having wealth automatically guarantees success and fulfilment is a myth. I have now met so many people who are very high net worth but unfulfilled and unhappy. Some of them certainly are very fulfilled. In contrast I have also met people who have modest monetary wealth and yet fulfilled and happy. Overall, a definitive concordance doesn’t exist between wealth, success, and fulfilment.
You need a comprehensive framework for success
While the above point may seem paradoxical, the truth is that everyone needs a clear framework for success. Success is not just about achievements. It’s not enough to just appear successful but also feel successful. Its key to define what success truly means to you rather than aping the masses. That will never lead to true fulfilment.
The magic within
My sickness led to a big awakening. I realized that I’m the awareness that becomes aware of my thoughts, emotions, actions, and habits. I realized that we always have and make a choice or where to direct out attention. Whatever we focus on expands. If you focus on the positive, it expands. If you focus on the negative, it expands. The awareness model as presented in “The Legendary Quest” explains this. To create your life by design you need to align with your core values, interests, and vision of life.
Your greatest asset is your attention
I repeat, your greatest asset is your attention. You need to bring your awareness to the forefront of your life. As it expands, you can consciously choose your thoughts, emotions, and habits. You can process your restrictive thoughts, emotions and even habits. You can consciously invest your attention in what you truly desire to do and thus master time and task management. You can consciously develop your mindset and relationship with money and optimize it.
You don’t need to be a monk to be awake
It took me a major life event to realize this inner magic. But that doesn’t have to be the case. You don’t need to be a monk to be awake. Conscious awareness is within everyone’s reach if we are willing to develop and pay attention to it. It doesn’t need you to invest an enormous amount of money or take a 6-month retreat or sabbatical. It’s here and now and you can work on it. Certainly, advanced spiritual work may need much more work and practice but that’s a whole different process.
Once you start developing your self-awareness, you can start realizing your best vision and version…
Certainly, Ian catalyzed the process for John, Jane, and Ken!
For more information you can visit www.thelegendaryquest.pro. You can subscribe to receive a free life satisfaction questionnaire.
About the author Ketan Kulkarni:
Ketan Kulkarni is an international award-winning physician, entrepreneur, a clinician researcher (>125 published papers), a finance coach, author, an avid learner and networker, a traveler, an art enthusiast and antique collector and a music buff.
The Legendary Quest:
https://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Quest-Professionals-Excellence-Fulfillment/dp/B09TWPHFFR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=25K7XCWQWPD6I&keywords=the+legendary+quest&qid=1669732777&sprefix=legendary+quest%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-1
