Destiny Beyond Origin
The dichotomy of everything in the world astounds me. On one hand, there exist success stories of individuals who have risen from humble backgrounds and tackled hurdles untold to emerge victorious against forces that seem undefeatable. Such specimens are prevalent throughout the media and living within hair’s breadth to the global coffee obsession urges me to narrate a story. Howard Schultz, the founder of one of the biggest names associated with coffee - Starbucks was the first one from his family to go to college. Coming from a long line of tailors and barrel manufacturers, he worked part time jobs to support himself through college. Trying his hand at a variety of labours, he went from working at a Ski resort to finally being known for the mega chain that he has created today. It was this man alone that transformed a company that solely sold coffee beans to the leviathan that maps out the world domination of coffee as we know it today.
On the other hand, it is not uncommon to hear sob stories of people and their failures owing to a lack of resources. As I write this, I sit in my chair gazing at my cats, two creatures so similar yet so different, each with their eccentricities. All throughout this, only one integral question keeps waltzing in my head - “What is the difference, that makes the difference?” How are Socks and Ashton (my two baby cats in case you didn’t catch up), two animals (whose only purpose is to eat and take up half of my bed) so different despite their inherent tendencies?
If the simplest beings can have so much that sets them apart, we humans probably have no less than a million factors that make us who we are today. The mindset we show up with has to by far be one of the most influential in fashioning the human beings we are. Circling back to the dichotomy, those who fall on the other end of the success spectrum have more in common than we acknowledge - The mindset that leads a majority of us to believe that our past circumstances determine our future. This limiting mindset can massively hinder any progress forward and chain us to our self imposed limitations. Our past life experiences most definitely sway our narrative but they need not necessarily define it. It is easy to get stuck in the narrative of where we come from and completely neglect the magic our challenges cast upon us.
When I was in conversation with a close friend of mine who is also FinTech stalwart, the conversation almost organically leaned towards the power of problems. Everyone who has been through a life altering event and has come out stronger would acknowledge how they would not want it any other way. Our challenges oftentimes are our soul teachers, guiding us through life better than anything else could have.
I guess this indeed is the difference that makes the difference - The decision to take ownership of our lives and its every challenge. Ownership of our unique experiences makes us realise that we are no longer limited by our circumstances but rather empowered by them.
Co Creator : Meherzeen Siganporia