It’s my birthday week. And as I start a whole new year I list down all the things that I am most grateful for.
One of them is that I love what I do, each and every single day. From the minute I wake up in the morning, I am brimming with energy, new ideas and a palpable excitement to get through the day. Friends and even business associates often joke that I was born to do what I do, and I agree – there is nothing else I would rather be doing. It often prompts people to ask me how I landed my career, how they can follow my footsteps and what is my secret?
The truth is, there is no secret. Even if there ever was, I wasn’t aware of it. I grew up with a convincing belief that this is the path I wanted to follow, without knowing how. I just believed in my dream and followed it with everything I had. And today, I literally am living my dream.
Queen Bee Production has been my labour of love and this company stands for every idea and belief that I hold close to my heart. The underlying motive of our TV shows — The Uma Show, Top Guns and others — is to inspire people to live the highest version of their life; to aspire to be the best they can be.
Every episode tells a story of passion, success and leadership of the highest order. I know this from all the emails and messages I get, that there are people listening, particularly my young friends.
I believe that all children have a marvellous understanding of what they enjoy doing. They are unafraid to dream and chase their dreams. But as we grow up, we allow this magical force to dwindle and we make room for self-doubt. It’s human to doubt oneself, after all.
On such days, I seek solace in good literature and great writers. One of my favourite quotes is from Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist; “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
Not attempting to do something, just because you think it won’t work, or you are not ready, is reason enough for it not to. I realised that the time taken to fret and worry was the same time that could be used to plan and execute; and that was so uplifting.
So today, ask yourself what dreams are you holding secretly in your heart? And when do you plan to chase them? If not now, then when?
If not you, then who?
— Follow Uma on social media on @umagd
