Question and Answer

Last week, our head of office called me for a brief conversation in his office. A 10-minute audience with the Big Boss should sound like a privilege. Somehow, I dreaded it. 

Apparently, our Human Resources Head informed him of my intention to resign. In a straightforward manner, he told me that he did not want to lose a newbie like me.  My colleagues, according to him, have very good things to say about me. My confidence was suddenly up ten notches high. For about 7 minutes, he shared a personal experience when he was based in another country and how he was able to turn one big struggle into a success story. During the first 8 minutes of my privileged encounter with the Big Boss, my motivation was reaching its peak. But towards the last 2 minutes, he dropped the big question. 

“What do you really want to do in life?” He asked.

“Well, I…”

I was dumbstruck and lost for words. When my senses finally told me to say something about being able to make an impact in the lives of people through the work that we do, he saved me just in a nick of time. 

“You don’t have to answer. I just want you to always remind yourself about what it is that you really want to do. Always ask yourself that question.” He said.

Then the 10 minutes was over.

After sleepless nights, I still don’t know how to answer the question. Of course, the answer has always been at the deepest recesses of my heart. But the courage to blurt it out, more so act on it, is something which scares the hell out of me. 

Years from now, will I forgive myself for not daring to answer that one simple question?