Life often takes unimaginable turns, leading us on paths we never imagined. As a management professional in a US-based company, juggling between work and family has always been my primary focus. As a child, the possibilities seem endless but as we grow older, we realize the walls of reality are pushing us to a finite number of paths. Everyone harbours within them a glorious dream that may never be fulfilled. Similarly, deep within me lay a dream that seemed almost impossible: summiting Mount Everest. This dream became a reality at the age of 49, proving that it's never too late to chase your aspirations. Here’s my story of perseverance, positivity, patience, and the incredible journey from the corporate world to the highest peak on Earth.
Lost in the Rat Race
The Corporate Conundrum: Balancing Ambition and Family
For most of my life, I dedicated myself to my career and family. Family is the most important thing in life: an unbreakable invisible bond. As a management professional, my days were harassed with meetings, deadlines and finally strategies. Beginning my career in 1996, I was able to accumulate the skills by acquiring knowledge and mastering the information about a given domain as well as being aware of innovations in the technology. The rat race was evident as I pursued professional growth, income, and status. I did so for my family in hopes of providing them more than I ever had but unbeknownst to me, my very ambition pushed me away from the family I loved more than anything.
"Some might call it selfish, but in hindsight, I was navigating the short-term pain for the promise of long-term gain"
Financial Fallout: A Wake-Up Call
In the early years of my career, success often pulled me away from my family. The more I got, the more I wanted. I worked weekends, came home late on weekdays, and my wife worried that our son would never know me as a father. I knew I wasn't there for my wife, son, and daught...
