From Burnt-out to Mastery

​A lot of burnt-out corporate professionals come to me wanting to be entrepreneurs.

Let me tell you a story. After Buddha got enlightened, he is supposed to have said to his disciples that I need not have left my palace to be enlightened. In shock, the disciples asked - Why did you leave then? Buddha's response was - I did not know any better.

So, if you are hanging up your corporate boots to become an entrepreneur in search of freedom, fulfilment and fun; you will find you will not go too far.

I left my corporate job because like many, I had hit an inner glass ceiling. I used kids as an excuse to hop out of a job that had increasingly lost its meaning and I couldn't make myself drag my feet anymore. If I am transported back to my old job today, I would still experience what I feel today for my current work - deeply fulfilling rejuvenating passion, refreshing enthusiastic energy and joyful gratitude - by using my job as a way to reach personal mastery.

It does not matter what you are doing. What matters is who you are being and what game are you playing - that of mediocrity or mastery. Why did I leave my job then? I did not know any better.

That's what happens with a lot of corporate professionals who join our integrated entrepreneurship program. As part of the leadership component of the curriculum, they break through their inner barriers and create meaning, purpose and joy in the same job that was eating their spirit before; and end up choosing their jobs over being entrepreneurs.

The only reason to become an entrepreneur is when you are filled with passion, purpose, commitment to make a huge difference to a specific community that inspires you to be of service to.

Love,
Jyoti.