What’s my BUTTON?

It was well past the ‘so called’ working hours during the day for me. But, my day wasn’t over yet. I was meeting one of my dear friend Shripal Gandhi, who is the Founder and CEO of Swipe Telecom. I was stunned to see his growth in the past two years. He has leaped from 0 to 100 crores in 15 months! He is such an inspiration to me! Though it was around 10:30pm, I was quite fresh! I was looking forward to meet him!

We met, hugged and sat over a cup of coffee! I shared with him a proposition, which I thought was very interesting and exciting. He heard it, rubbished some, pondered over some, and obviously had feedbacks to give me! I was bowled over sheerly by the way he thought! (afterall you don’t reach 100 crores just like that!)

Everything looked rosy until Shripal dropped a bomb! He caught me by surprise with a deadly question! He asked me, “Amit, since long I wanted to ask you – WHAT IT YOUR BUTTON?” I couldn’t understand what he meant by that. He saw my bewildered face and further clarified – “What is that, which keeps you going? What makes you look forward to your tomorrow?”

After thinking for a few minutes, I shared with him my goal for 2020. He listened with eyes of appreciation. But, his question remained the same. He said, “What you are sharing is a financial goal. But, if I keep money away from it, what will be that thing which you can keep doing without getting tired? Even if results don’t come the way you anticipate, you can keep doing that as passionately as you started; believing that it is a matter of time it clicks with people!” I was dumbstruck! Everything around just seemed to have frozen! Honestly speaking, I didn’t have an answer for his question. There were a few things I did other than work, which I enjoyed. But, I didn’t know whether that was ‘my button.’

Though we spoke further about a few more things, that question – “WHAT IS YOUR BUTTON” kept lingering. As I was driving back, I turned off the music system so that I could ponder on this awesome question. Some interesting and insightful thoughts followed –

·      Am I actually doing something, which I love doing? Or is it a family business I am continuing? Or am I doing because I have a bachelor or master degree in that field?

·      Am I caught into this “rat race” of a daily routine, where I seem to be busy full day? But at the end of the day feel tired and not satisfied or content?

·      Am I doing whatever I am doing for sake of money or maybe because I don’t know what else to do?

·      Am I stopping myself from doing what I wish to do because I don’t have courage or maybe because I don’t want to face the refusal of my loved ones?

These questions have hit me like a trace of bullet. I answered a few questions; but still don’t have clarity on most. I am eagerly looking forward to answering these questions to myself.

I sincerely believe that I have just one lifetime to live and that must be lived at the fullest! I should be able to live a life where at the end my comments should be – “WOW! What a lovely life you have lived!” I need not do anything for money. One philosophy also says – I should not run behind money. Instead money should run behind me!

I have decided that I really really want to find out – “WHAT IS MY BUTTON!” As suggested by Shripal, I am doing a ‘three step process’ to possibly find that out –

1.    I will talk to my nearest and dearest ones. I shall ask them to think and write 5 of my best qualities! I will get atleast 5 people to write for me!

2.    Once they have done that, I will ask them that depending on these qualities, what do they think is the best thing for me to do? Once you have their responses, I am going to sit with it to analyse if a “Eureka” moment happens!

3.    If I come across something, which I feel I will enjoy doing, I will take action and do it. So many times, I just don’t take the step.

I am kind of curious and excited as I am going to do this ‘three step process’! Until I find ‘my button’, I will continue to do the best in what I am currently doing. But from now, the search is on. I will go all out to find out – WHAT IS MY BUTTON?

Have you found out YOUR BUTTON yet? Would love to know from you!

Love,

Amit Kothari

…… always upgrading!