Value creation

I met a couple of old buddies of mine over the long weekend, and we got talking about what we thought of life while we were at IIT and how it has turned out. That conversation set me thinking quite a bit - what is the right way to lead life? What leads to long term satisfaction and happiness?

After some deliberation, I have come to the point of view that the most important thing one can do towards one's life is to invest in assets that can create value over the long term. For example, I went to IIT and did a course in CS just because it was the 'in' thing to do and because my rank could buy me the entry ticket. Thankfully I enjoyed the course and (hopefully) learnt something!! But I fear most of us just go and do something because we are allowed to.

Often we start getting into routines and stop questioning whether what we are doing is really creating an asset for us. For example, a lot of my b-school colleagues got into jobs on campus because they could, not because they wanted to. The monotony and routine of our regular jobs often makes us oblivious to the fact that what we really want to do is something else altogether. Only a few can break out of this trap and create long term value for themselves. Investing in learning at the early stages of a career, even if not immediately rewarding, is always beneficial in the long run.

There really is no short cut to long term value. The sequence is quite simple: figure out what you want, picture yourself in the end state, and constantly ask yourself if your single steps are leading towards that milepost. If yes, keep the faith and soldier on, if no then cut your losses and start afresh.

Asset creation is the key. Investing time and effort in value creating assets (whether jobs, learning or relationships) is what can make life meaningful and satisfying in the long run.