Listen to your heart. It knows all things...

Paulo Coelho told you, I am just saying it again.

Bhaiya, my uncle tells me to pursue government jobs.

My father wants me to take up the family business.

All my batchmates have joined service companies.

I am not sure if I want to do that.

If you just saw yourself in any of these statements, this issue is for you.

As a 20-something year old, it is difficult to figure out what you really want from life. There are so many people around you telling you to pursue all different things. Amidst the influences, it is understandable that you feel confused and don’t know what your career is going to look like. You don’t have it all figured out. And that’s completely fine.

You are doing pretty well.

Today's kids don't give themselves enough credit for everything that they do. I talk about hardcore life issues, how to study engineering, and career in my Twitter spaces and Instagram Lives. I always get an audience of 500+ people listening to the content, even on weekdays. Trust me, you all have it more figured out than any millennial at your age. I don't think when I was in college I could have gathered so many students to listen to helpful talks and conversations, no one could have. With the innumerable distractions in this information age, you are doing pretty well.

What is your life like?

See, everyone has a different level of privilege. You need to figure out yours and play according to it. If money is a concern, do not take the risk of startups. Nine out of ten startups are unsuccessful, and that's the hard fact. Earn some money, make a cushion to fall upon, and then go for startups. If you do not have this concern and startup seems like a good chance to take, then take it. Think out how fair or unfair your life is, and then take those chances.

Attain a balance between sustainability and ambition.

Be selfish.

In single-player games, do you give your remote control to anyone else? No, right? So how can you give the remote control of your life to someone else and let them play? You cannot compare your graph to someone else, it is your own. When someone gets an award, we hear these speeches where they thank their family, friends, teachers, and literally everyone. Do we thank anyone when we fail? Success can be attributed to others, but you cannot attribute your failures. You are responsible for your life and career. So tune in to the FM of your mind. Shut everything down, go for a walk, and think about what you want from life, not what everyone else expects from you. This is the one time that I will ask you to be selfish, and listen to what YOU want.

Let’s talk.

Career choices can be difficult. So let’s start a conversation. If you are someone who is still “figuring it out” or someone who already has, share your thoughts in the comments below. I am certain that the answers will help people out there get clarity, or at least find some camaraderie.