Office Chronicles: Navigating Corporate Life with ease

My Unexpected Journey to Ambition

For a long time after my MBA, I existed in a comfortable bubble, a self-imposed sanctuary of 'good enough.' Ambition? That word seemed to belong to someone else, someone with a relentless drive I couldn't comprehend. My days were filled with hobbies, a relaxed routine, and a distinct lack of urgency. The thought of a 9-to-5, chained to a laptop, felt like a form of cruel and unusual punishment. 'This is working,' I told myself. 'This is my peace.' Little did I know, I was wrong."

The first cracks in my comfortable life appeared when I started hearing whispers of my MBA peers lives. Their side hustles, their demanding 9-to-5s, their ambitious projects – it was all a stark contrast to my stagnant life. Suddenly, my 'peace' felt more like a void. I started feeling inadequate fueling a cycle of negative self-talk. The lack of structure, the absence of a challenge, was ironically creating more stress than any demanding job ever could."

But breaking free from this loop wasn't a sudden, dramatic transformation. There were no magic wands . It was a messy, uncertain process. I remember the daunting feeling of 'where do I even begin?' I took a leap of faith and started as a recruiter, earning a meager 7,000 rupees a month. But those humble beginnings, those long hours and the sheer determination to prove myself, forged a resilience I didn't know I possessed."

One of the biggest shifts was my mindset towards upskilling. The very concept that once filled me with dread became my lifeline. I discovered a renewed passion for learning, particularly for the French language. It was more than just acquiring a skill; it was rediscovering a part of myself. French became my secret weapon, the key that unlocked doors to opportunities I hadn't imagined. It led me to AXA, a company that challenged me and nurtured my growth. And then, to Michelin, a global giant where I continue to learn and evolve."

Looking back, I realize that my journey wasn't about finding ambition; it was about discovering my own version of it. It wasn't about conforming to someone else's definition of success; it was about creating my own. Life, as they say, is the best teacher. And I'm grateful for every every lesson, and every leap of faith that led me to where I am today.