JOIN USTaking a break to chase dreams
This software programmer has it going all well for him! Sachin Gupta, is flooded with offers from practically every part of the world.
He has a pay packet that could turn anyone green and his work schedule doesn’t extend beyond eight hours. Yet Sachin had different plans for his life. Not that he wasn’t happy – he just craved for more – he wanted to fulfill his dreams!
More and more youngsters like Sachin are leaving the comfort of their jobs to go on a sabbatical in order to pursue their hobbies or just chill out.
So after working with some multinationals for a few years, the much-in-demand Sachin decided to take a break in 2003 that lasted for three years, and paved a pathway for his passion of theatre.
And, yes, during the interim period he rejected every offer he got, even from some of the topmost US-based multinationals. “I wanted to do theatre seriously and make the best use of my time when I am off work. And, that's exactly what I did, during my sabbatical, I did Broadway theatre, conducted acting workshops, wrote scripts and set up my own theatre academy Chillsag Chillies,” he explains.
And, it’s not just a matter of pursuing your interests. Just when the burn out metre started ticking hard, Anuj Vohra, knew that it’s time for him to take that break. He worked as a business development manager with an ad agency for five years, and then decided to split from the company and since then Anuj has “only lazed around, read books, learned salsa and met up with friends regularly.” Moreover, he wants to continue doing this for another two months,” he smiles.
But, what about the fear of not finding a new job? “Hardly! I have the confidence to get a new job anytime I want it. Moreover, I want to start something of my own in future. So even if I don’t get the ‘right’ job, I can think of doing my own business,” he says.
Interestingly, stress and lack of time are the two biggest factors because of which youngsters are considering a sabbatical, right in the prime of their career.
For Radhika Jain, it was the latter. After working as a marketing executive for three years, Radhika took a year’s break to pursue theatre. Irrespective of the financial crunch, the need for creative satisfaction was so immense that she went ahead and kicked her job to devote her attention to satisfy her creative keeda.
She mentions, “Life is moving amazing for me. I have no regrets, no liabilities and I am extremely happy about whatever I am doing. Moreover, I don’t think I would want to go back to marketing. The only time the sabbatical would ever get over now, is the time I start my own production house.”
And, no, these breaks are not necessarily “organised” holidays on a dream-fulfilling-spree, they are also the kind of breaks taken to rejuvenate oneself. Astha Gautam, studied in Switzerland for a year and after coming back to India last September, she consciously decided to “holiday” for six months.
The MBA aspirant, who also wants to start a chain of bakeries, explains, “There was so much more to do after I came back. I had not spent any time with my friends and parents and was feeling terribly out of touch, so I decided to enjoy as long as it lasts!”