'What should I do with my life' had a seminal influence on mine. I happened to read it at a time when I too was asking that question. And it helped me realise the path I had chosen for myself was the right one after all.
Yes, starting JAM magazine had been the original dream. But somewhere along the way - caught up in the grind of running a magazine - I had stopped writing. And with that something inside me died.
'What should I do with my life' rekindled the chahat to write inside me. Besides the book, here's something Bronson wrote on his website titled "Advice on writing":
It takes an average of ten years dedication before you can make a living writing creatively full time. Even those who succeed early are often rewarded with praise too early, trapping them in a yet-to-mature phase as they attempt to repeat their success. It all evens out over time.
Finding a way to allow yourself the time, to buy time as you mature into your writing, is the biggest "how to".
That rang so true! I started freelancing when I was in college, had 100 published articles to my credit before I graduated - in every publication of the day from TOI to Sunday Oberver to Femina. I continued to write during my MBA, then on my first job (where else - Bennett Coleman & Co).
And then JAM happened but kaboom! I became more of an editorial manager than a writer. To begin with, JAM was meant to showcase the talents of college students and I wasn't one anymore. As time went by, I started having doubts about my ability to write for people much younger than me... And then about my ability to write itself.
Nothing I wrote sounded right to me. So I didn't.
To cut a long story short, I did find the courage to start writing again. And more importantly, the 'voice'. By voice I mean the confidence to let the sentences flow from somewhere inside me without agonising over every word. Without comparing myself to anyone else or their style of writing. Just being myself.
But a more tempered, sensitised and reasoned self than the younger me.
Here's what Bronson has to say once again which every writer must internalise:
Write from your whole self. If you have a sense of humor, make sure that flavor’s in your writing. If you like talking ideas, make sure there are ideas in your writing. Anything less will be unsustainable.
And here's another bit of advice I like:
Don't work up to your observations - don't save them for the last word. Start with them. Put your very best stuff first, and then force yourself to grow and synthesize and come up with more, more stuff to rival your best.
Here's one of the first pieces I wrote after I got into writer mode:
Life, liberty & pursuit of yuppieness (Businessworld March 2004)
And another... If you ain't a cat, don't worry! (rediff.com, July 2004)
Both these articles quote from Bronson's book and this one I like in particular:
Individual success will not be attained by migrating to a particular 'hot' industry, or by adopting a particular career guiding mantra?
Instead, the individuals that thrive will do so because they focussed on the question of who they really are, and from that they found work that they truly love, and in so doing unleashed a productive and creative power they never imagined.
This is one of the arresting thoughts in the book I underlined with a pink marker. And it may sound strange but once in a few months I glance through the underlined paras of the book. And it inspires me, every time!
So there, this is the fan mail I should have written long ago but never got around to.

In short, a subject that could degenerate into a 'Chicken Soup for the Soul'. But, with Bronson writing you know he'll manage to carve out a 'big picture'. And yet make these ordinary people and their dilemmas come alive in a manner that makes you go "I know exactly what he's talking about".
Will let you know in case the book falls below expectation - am pretty sure it won't. Magar kya ummeed se dugni hai? Gimme a week's time to find out!
P.S Also read the amazing: Nudist on the Late shift by Po Bronson. Especially if you work in an IT company!
Hi Rashmi,
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting ! Will look forward towards these reads in the forthcoming holidays only if i don't get tied up.
Some of the liners you published in your post are quiet good and like you mentioned "oh i can relate to this" was the feeling while i kept glacing through them.
Signing off,
Girish
Hi Rashmi,
ReplyDeleteHave read almost all your posts at Rediff. They are original, written with a lot of thoughfulness and offer a sensible advice to many 'aspiring youths'. Might add that i also find Mahesh Murthy of 'passion fund' having very similar ideas towards life. his columns in businessworld are no more visible but they were great nonetheless!
keep writing!
ali
I've gone ahead and ordered the book online. I hope I don't regret this implusive purchase :-)
ReplyDeleteHey Rashmi,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Po Bronson review. Heard a lot about him and his books but never actually got around to reading them. I guess it's high time I picked up some of his books.
-Pent.
Hi Rashmi!!
ReplyDeleteThis his very co-incidental, but I too happened to read that book when I was searching for the right answer to "What should/could/may I do now?". I found the book truly amazing, especially Po's way of simple writing. None of his sentences were incomprehensible and I think you would also agree to it.
And, here I would like to point out one more thing. I find your articles too very easy to read and comprehend. I think that is what differentiates a good writer from the not-so-good one. Your writings have been too good and one of the first few blogs that I read everyday is yours! Continue writing, and if possible, please allocate some space in your blog and post there, the articles that you have written in Business world (BW website is too unser-unfriendly to register and read and sometimes I miss buying the book and am not able to get it later.. )
Keep up the great work!
Cheers,
Venkat.
(PS: Is JAM available in Chennai?)
sounds more like Steve Jobs-ian funda..
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Rashmi, you've successfully slashdotted (or rather youthcurried) your geocities link!
ReplyDeletei cant understand why you are so keen on hosting images on geocities , when flickr or blogger itself has the facility of hosting images!
ReplyDeleteyou are gettin old rashmi! he he! catch up with technology!!
My home pc blocks pop-ups, so hard to use the blogger upload facility. Have done it now.
ReplyDeleteVenkat - yes JAM is available in Chennai but not that widely. However u can subscribe to the mag. Details on www.jammag.com top rt hand corner. Wait a week and we'll be accepting credit card payments as well
Read the book "what should i do with my life" , but not that much impressed from the book , the book surely talks about the people who defied the norms and listened to their heart, but I am not sure how much of it does fit into Indian scenario........I mean where most of the individuals in west are independent , we carry a bundle of expectations from our family,friends,foes etc..to live up to that and think about youself...what does one really want in life??......thats very very difficult ( thats a personal experience ).
ReplyDeletePlaying with your RSS feed??
ReplyDeleteI am getting 4 new feed alert while there is no new post.
I am a regular reader of your blogs and a fan of yours. I like your style of writing and the issues on which you write. I have recently started blogging and so please do check out my blogs at www.joytonsing.blogspot.com and please post your comments.
ReplyDeletehey rashmi;
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean......i'd gone into that phase after my college days(graduation) got over....i didnt know what i wanted...a 'proper proper' corporate career or a creative one......im also trying to balance my writing with my MBA and i havnt still truly made yup my mind........
hey btw i've done something for rediff.com tooo......dunno if uve ever read those articles?
neways.....a good post.....
What can i say?...except that a writer understands a writer's mind.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for an inspirational piece!
im not too sure if i can write but this guy-Hugh Macloed- sure inspires me to remain creative, u must read his manifesto..'how to be creative' from changethis.com.......its not like the usual 'how to' books trust me
ReplyDelete-kruosis
hey rashmi! read your piece 'life, liberty and pursuit of yuppiness!'in bw. thought provoking and much needed. i guess the thing with our country is that upwardly apirations are so high that everyone wants to do an mba from the iim as a passport to 'achievement' as the world sees it. no one stops to think about what their talents, aptitudes or desires are, its all sacrificed in the mad rush to 'achieve'. hopefull articles such as yours, and books such as po's, will bring back some sanity into our society.
ReplyDeletei really liked both the articles you have mentioned in this post!
ReplyDeletealso i agree with you that even in the iims at the time of recruitment engineers esp IITs are preferred over the rest of the 10-15% of the non-engg students!
on a different note, i feel adding adsense to a blog is just plain cheap. I dont know why so many students even from IIMs add it. i mean does google pay THAT MUCH?? A personal blog should be different from a commercial blog and as soon as ppl sense some kind of commericiality in the blog i guess the credibilty goes down!
if you dont mind do let me know how much on an average can one earn in India through this. maybe even i can start a blog myself ;)
I am unable to open the first article about 'What Should I Do With My Life. The link doesn't work. Is it really not working or is there is some problem on my side. Anyway found an article with similar writing on http://www.fastcompany.com/online/66/mylife.html. Is this the same?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, hope you find your roots back soon. Keep blogging.
Po Bronson's book "What should I do with my life is wonderful" indeed. If you really like such books I would recommend "Achieving your dream career" by Morgan and Banks, Working identity(dont remember the authors name), Karma, Destiny and Career by Nanette hucknall.
ReplyDeleteAmong Indian authors the best book written is by former world billiards champion Geet sethi"Success v/s Joy" to which a handome tribute was made by no less than Amitabh Bachchan.
I happen to be a writer and a poet myself and if you really like the subject check out my blog http://makeyourpassionyourprofession.blogspot.com/
Hi Rashmi,
ReplyDeleteThis is Hardik, from Cognito Advertising, Vadodara. I hope you may be aware of my name as i a am regular contributor for our magazine JAM. Your article "Kya Aap Copywriter banna chahte hai? is one of the best articles i have read (partly because i too am a copywriter). have just started reading your blogs. Keep up the good work. am enjoying them..although i came to know about your blog lately..otherwise i would have posted my humble comments much earlier...
ok c ya...keep writing the right things...
减速机 齿轮减速机 SEW减速机 摆线针轮减速机 蜗轮蜗杆减速机 interlining
ReplyDelete明星代言 明星经纪公司
制动单元 铝壳电阻
modern abstract art sofa manufacturer
净水器 开水器 净水机 净水 软水机 软水 直饮机 家用净水 家用净水器 家用净水机 中央净水 中央净水器 水家装 水家电 水卫士 混合机
过滤机 DHL快递 俄罗斯签证 回转支承 Laser marking
保险箱 法兰 法兰标准
polycarbonate sheet 回流焊 波峰焊
压球机 注册上海公司 儿童摄影
牛皮癣 皮肤病 制氮机
食堂售餐机 校园一卡通
学校一卡通 ic卡售饭机
食堂售饭机 深圳一卡通
广东售饭机 机电设备安装
北京发票 代开发票
餐饮发票 住宿发票
广告发票
网络电话 免费网络电话
假发 补发
织发 植发
压滤机 板框压滤机
蒸馏水机 纯蒸气发生器
上海搬家公司 上海搬场公司
大众搬家 大众搬场
张家界旅游 香港旅游
深圳旅行社 打包机
收缩机 对讲机 电源模块
血管栓塞剂
售饭机 水控机 水控器
萎缩性胃炎 neoprene laptop bags
SEO优化
SEO优化 计量泵
胃炎 胃病
冷水机 冰水机
工业冷水机
北京特价机票 北京打折计票 北京国际机票
北京机票预定 北京飞机票
北京订机票 北京机票查询 饮料机械
银杏 水培花卉 企业宣传片 空分设备
化工泵 离心机
电话交换机 程控交换机 集团电话 集装袋
混合机 混合机
混合机捏合机 捏合机
捏合机导热油炉 导热油炉
导热油炉 反应釜 反应釜
反应釜 spherical roller bearing
搬运车 搬运车 电动搬运车 油桶搬运车 堆高车 电动堆高车 半电动堆高车 堆垛车
高空作业平台车 电动叉车 平衡重叉车 前移叉车 电瓶叉车
韩国饰品批发 模块电源
X架 超薄灯箱> 易拉宝 展柜制作
代理服务器 游戏加速器 网络加速器
网通加速器 电信加速器 电信网通转换器
电信网通加速器 网通电信互转
网通电信互通 网络游戏加速器
美国VPN代理 美国独享VPN 美国独享IP
pvc ceiling panel Spherical roller bearings
SEO优化
安全鞋 劳保鞋 防砸鞋 电绝缘鞋 上海安全鞋 上海劳保鞋 江苏劳保鞋
服装软件 服装管理软件 进销存软件
进销存管理软件 服装管理系统 服装进销存软件
进销存系统 进销存管理系统 免费进销存软件
吉林中医 东北特产
打包机
阳痿 阴茎短小 阴茎增大
早泄 前列腺炎 阴茎增粗 阴茎延长
国际机票 上海国际机票
国际特价机票 国际打折机票
砂磨机 砂磨机
砂磨机 卧式砂磨机
卧式砂磨机 卧式砂磨机
三辊研磨机 三辊研磨机
三辊研磨机 混合机 混合机
混合机 锥形混合机 锥形混合机 锥形混合机 行星动力混合机 行星动力混合机 行星动力混合机 无重力混合机 无重力混合机 无重力混合机
干粉砂浆设备 干粉砂浆设备
干粉砂浆设备 捏合机 捏合机 捏合机 导热油炉 导热油炉 导热油炉 反应釜 反应釜 反应釜 搪玻璃反应釜 搪玻璃反应釜 搪玻璃反应釜
乳化机 涂料设备 干混砂浆设备 无重力混合机 胶体磨 涂料成套设备 双螺旋混合机
北京婚庆 北京婚庆公司
400电话
办证 呼吸机 制氧机
亚都 亚都加湿器 亚都净化器
亚都装修卫士
饰品批发 小饰品批发 韩国饰品 韩国饰品批发 premature ejaculation penis enlargement
安利产品 马来西亚留学
网站优化 网站推广
衬布
代写论文
代写论文
论文代写 代写论文
磁力泵
离心泵
化工泵
隔膜泵
螺杆泵
潜水泵
油泵
耐腐蚀泵
泵 水泵
拖链 防护罩 排屑机 塑料拖链 钢铝拖链
化工离心泵
计量加油泵
自吸式离心泵
管道油泵
自吸式排污泵
潜水排污泵
自吸式磁力泵
耐高温磁力泵
不锈钢多级离心泵
多级离心泵
耐腐蚀自吸泵
自吸化工泵
玻璃钢液下泵
液下式排污泵
卧式离心清水泵
氟塑料磁力泵
磁力驱动循环泵
耐腐蚀污水泵
卧式化工离心泵
玻璃钢耐酸泵
防爆管道油泵
不锈钢多级泵
立式多级离心泵
塑料磁力泵
水泵厂
手摇油泵
上海水泵厂
上海水泵
离心泵厂家
热水泵
清水泵
气动隔膜泵
深圳装饰 深圳装饰公司 深圳装修公司
特价机票 打折机票 国际机票
机票
新风换气机 换气机 立式新风换气机 风机箱 新风系统 能量回收机
搅拌机 混合机 乳化机
分散机
毛刷 毛刷辊 工业毛刷 刷子 钢丝刷
涂层测厚仪 硬度计
兆欧表 激光测距仪
测振仪 转速表
温湿度计 风速仪
超声波测厚仪
粗糙度仪
噪音计 红外测温仪
万用表
硬度计 万用表
美容院 美容加盟
澳洲留学 澳大利亚留学
什么是法兰
电烤箱
酒店预定 北京酒店预定 北京酒店
离心机
nail equipment nail products nail product nail uv lamp nail uv lamp nail uv lamps uv nail lamp nail brush
nail file nail tool nail tip nail gel curing uv lamps lights
万用表 风速仪
红外测温仪 噪音计
苗木价格 苗木信息 标牌制作 深圳标牌 北京儿童摄影 防静电鞋 淘宝刷信誉
威海凤凰湖 威海海景房 大庆密封件
打标机 淘宝刷信誉 TESOL/TEFL国际英语教师证书 英语教师进修及培训 北京快递公司 北京国际快递
这表明互联网普及后在线翻译的异军突起,翻译更为准确呢?对此,笔者做了一个小小的实验。我们分别通过GOOGLE、百度、雅虎这三个在线翻译深圳翻译公司软世界的关注。喜迎2008中国奥运年北京翻译公司了。深圳翻译公司搜索巨头谷歌、俄语翻译,
ReplyDelete韩语翻译广州同声传译百度对在线翻译广州翻译公司,上海翻译公司。,德语翻译,
的重视程度商务口译,同传设备已经说明一切。翻译是一门严谨不容践踏的语言文化。同声传译,凡购买中国移动手机充值卡深圳同声传译翻译主要以网络为基础深圳翻译.深圳英语翻译 ,无需制作炫丽的界面和复杂的操作功能深圳日语翻译,中国移动后台词库和网络搜索资源来获得最接近的翻译结果。所以 广州翻译公司,用户的体验不能停留同声传译如果广州翻译公司,韩语翻译的今天,同声传译偶尔会和翻译公司,东莞翻译公司。在线翻译工具的应用越来越凸显出强大的亲和力。法语翻译思同声传译设备租赁,是会议设备租赁,一项调查显示法语翻译思同声传译设备租赁,是会议设备租赁,深圳手机号码网,深圳手机靓号,有67.1%的用户同传设备出租会议同传系统租赁选择在线翻译会议设备租赁乘坐和所有客户一起分享奥运来临的喜悦。新疆租车,奥运喜充天”活动更多的是通过线翻译同声传译
希望大家都會非常非常幸福~
ReplyDelete「朵朵小語‧優美的眷戀在這個世界上,最重要的一件事,就是好好愛自己。好好愛自己,你的眼睛才能看見天空的美麗,耳朵才能聽見山水的清音。好好愛自己,你才能體會所有美好的東西,所有的文字與音符才能像清泉一樣注入你的心靈。好好愛自己,你才有愛人的能力,也才有讓別人愛上你的魅力。而愛自己的第一步,就是切斷讓自己覺得黏膩的過去,以無沾無滯的輕快心情,大步走向前去。愛自己的第二步,則是隨時保持孩子般的好奇,願意接受未知的指引;也隨時可以拋卻不再需要的行囊,一路雲淡風輕。親愛的,你是天地之間獨一無二的旅人,在陽光與月光的交替之中瀟灑獨行.........................................................................................................................................................................................
酒店喝酒
ReplyDelete酒店消費
喝花酒
粉味
寒假打工
酒店經紀找茵悅
台北酒店經紀
酒店兼職找茵悅
酒店打工找茵悅
酒店兼差找茵悅
酒店上班找茵悅
酒店工作找茵悅
禮服店找茵悅
酒店pt
打工兼職找茵悅
打工兼差找茵悅
酒店領檯找茵悅
酒店公關
酒店小姐