IF YOU DID NOT HAVE TO WORK FOR MONEY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

What would you do as a career if money didn’t matter?

Pratiksha:  I am a pilot. Even if money did not matter, I would choose it as my career. Since it was the first thing that came to me when I was a child… to be free, to be in the sky, to fly like a bird; and the navigation light of a plane that draws me even in the dark sky.

Suraj: I think I’d be a full-time social worker if money didn’t matter in life. I still try to keep myself engaged in various activities of social welfare from time to time, be it during times of national crisis, natural disasters or a pandemic. I think it is the responsibility of people with voice, reach and means to stay empathic towards the vulnerable section of the society and help them rise from their hardships. I would happily make it my full-time career if money wasn’t that important. 

Lino: I would very likely be working exactly in the industry that I am currently in. E-commerce is not only a thriving industry where you can learn so much in a short amount of time, but you also really have such an immense impact on various aspects of a country, particularly in an emerging nation like Nepal. As an online marketplace, we can drive change and disruption in plenty of industries, be it in payments, logistics, marketing or retail. I am really privileged to work in this company and particularly this country and I really love my job. Money is certainly not the reason why I do what I do. It is the challenges, the learning, and the impact I can create together with my team and all our partners on a daily basis.

Anu: As I always say, never start a business just to make money, start a business to make a difference. I would still choose a career in fashion designing, in creating sustainable and ethical wearable pieces of art as this is my passion. I enjoy what I do which is why I founded Kallisto Designs. For me painting is therapeutic. 
Besides this, I believe in giving back to society. To support fellow women in ways within my capacity, I am involved in several women’s organisations that work towards the advancement of women’s self-sustenance and women’s rights.

Narottam: As a matter of fact, I would choose to do what I am doing today. Even now I am not doing it for money; the mission I am working towards matters much more to me. The real power in a job comes when it is geared towards advancing a bigger cause. 

How important is work satisfaction for you? Do you critically evaluate your work?

Pratiksha: Work satisfaction is very important to me because it motivates me to work harder, be more focused, perform better, and be faithful to my duty, job, and responsibilities.
Yes, I do most of the time. It helps me determine where I need to improve, maintain a positive attitude, and reminds me of my goals from time to time.

Suraj: It’s the most important thing I’d say, probably the only important thing for me. I am someone who has walked away from a lot of promising opportunities in life just because I felt it would drain me even if I made tons of money. I constantly try to find purpose in everything I do. I think I’d lose myself if I lost that sense of purpose. 

I love to keep myself under the microscope as regularly as I can. I am a startup CEO and we receive very little mentorship hence increasing the risk of costly mistakes every day. That’s why I try to minimise that risk by critically evaluating my work, decisions and my team’s performance regularly. 

Lino: I believe many of us have worked in jobs before that were not that fulfilling. Maybe a company without a vision, maybe a horrible boss, or maybe a job where you just work for the sake of working, but may not always see the true impact of your contributions. When you want to build an industry like e-commerce, it requires a lot of commitment and hard work. You need to be extremely passionate about your job and love it fully. My job is why I am in Nepal and it is quite an honour to lead a company of 700 plus people. It certainly comes with tons of responsibilities and sacrifices elsewhere. I believe that I need to always give a bit more to the job compared to my team. They should expect a lot from me. I believe that you need to set an example and lead from the front. Hard work and a strong commitment has to be the fundament for leadership in my opinion.

Anu: Work satisfaction is extremely important to me. I stand by the saying, ‘If you choose a work that you love, you will never have to work a day in your life.’ For me, work satisfaction is building a great team who share a similar passion and support each other in bringing thoughtful imagination into life. The definition of it could differ from person to person.

Through self-evaluation, I analyse my accomplishments as well as my shortcomings. It also allows me to track my progress over time, facilitate better working relationships which benefit me to contribute to my personal and professional development.

Narottam: I am a very reflective person and I constantly review my works. Saturdays and Sundays are holidays at my office. Every Sunday, I stay alone and assess my job and see if it is contributing to my passion and long-term mission. The most important parameter I use to evaluate is whether my work is making or will make a significant difference in the domain I am working in and whether my core values and principles are aligned with that of the organisation I am working for. In short, what I feel is your job should also inspire your heart; not only your mind. 

In a society where family responsibilities and expectations are high, how difficult is it to pursue one’s dreams?

Pratiksha: It is difficult, but not impossible to pursue one’s dream without the backing of one’s family. Not only our family, but everyone around us is helping us in some way and we are all connected as social animals, we require love and support not only for our dreams but also for living.

Suraj: I think it’s all about balancing the responsibilities. We live in a society where family is considered very important and we are expected to have an active participation in family affairs as well. Sometimes it gets overwhelming as career priorities get overshadowed by family responsibilities but it’s family that truly matters at the end of the day. I think we as youngsters need to learn to neatly balance these two important aspects of life because both are extremely necessary for a blissful life. One beautiful aspect about our society is that our families can act as a perfect support system for our growth which societies in the west don’t offer. We just need to find that correct balance. 

Lino: I have to say that I come from a different cultural background given that I have lived most of my life in Germany. In my home country, it is fairly common that you stand on your feet quite early on. Many start to work next to school when you are around 14, for example in a supermarket. That’s exactly what I did. It teaches you the value of money and also gives you first insights into work ethics. After finishing high school, I went on to complete my military service with the German Armed Forces. That really taught me a lot in terms of teamwork, leadership and of course hard work. Ever since I was quite free to do what I wanted and I could pursue the career that I want for myself. My family never put any pressure on me and I am very grateful for that. Starting to be independent early on, trying out different jobs, different industries have worked out for me so far. Life and also one’s career is rarely a straight line. Now with my parents getting older, I do see more responsibilities coming my way, where I want to be able to support them if required. Family is the most important, yet I was never constrained by significant family responsibilities.

Anu: For me, it’s been about finding the right balance between professional and personal life. I wouldn’t say there haven’t been challenges, but I have overcome them with support from my loved ones, hard work and commitment.

Narottam: It is really challenging to pursue one’s dream in societies like ours where the family and societal expectations are so dominant. Our society’s expectations overshadow and at times bury an individual’s dream and passion. Only a few audacious people fight hard against the society’s expectations and dare to pursue their own dream. Rest of us suffer because of what we are doing to fulfil others’ expectations at the cost of one’s individual dream. Truly speaking, the family expectations are the heaviest burden one carries, and struggles to prove oneself throughout life. It is so suffocating.

Why does society look down on people who don’t earn much?

Pratiksha: Everyone has their own perspective. Some may look down on people who do not make a lot of money while others may not. I have no idea why certain people look down, and it saddens me. Who are we to judge them if they are satisfied with their work and earnings?

Suraj: This is something I could never completely understand. I think it’s due to the social construct we live in, we are a society dangling between traditionalism and modernisation and there are downsides to it. We are on a craft of modernisation and commercialisation trying to launch from the launchpad of tradition but unable to leave behind the unfair classification of caste, class division, economic segregation and much more. While a certain privileged segment of the society is enjoying the fruits of modernisation and commercialisation in abundance because of the reach and head-start they had, a certain segment of the society has been left far behind. I think we need to revise and change our understanding to understand that not everyone is getting a fair chance in life. A small realisation could change a lot. 

Lino: Unfortunately, this is common in almost every society, be it in Germany or in Nepal, just on different scales. In our societies, success is often closely linked to wealth and a higher income, that’s the idea of modern capitalism. And this is what social media or television often conveys to us. But this is obviously a very shortsighted way of seeing it. Is someone with a lesser salary, less worth? Obviously not and that’s the reason why this is an absolute no-go for me when it comes to our company. I would never like to see such behaviour in Daraz. My time in the German military brought me together with people from very different societal backgrounds and you had to make it work together. I believe it helped me to remain with my feet on the ground and therefore it is really important for me. In our company we embrace a super flat hierarchy where I want everyone to contribute and be able to have an impact. We are a big company with big dreams and to achieve our dreams we need every single one, be it an intern, a security guard, or our managers. I want that everyone treats another with the same respect and dignity, regardless of position and seniority. And so far, this is working really well for us. Our company culture is by far the most important element we have and therefore remaining humble and supportive is deeply embedded across the organisation. In the end, we have to do it together. 

Anu: Such thought depends on the values instilled in you. I personally do not subscribe to this statement. 
Narottam: Our society has lost its core and has become superficial. I strongly feel that a society has to stand for something much bigger than money. It is a matter of utter sadness that money has become the single most powerful yardstick to measure the success of an individual in our society. There are several reasons behind it. Thanks to so-called consumerism and globalisation money can buy literally everything in our society. Access to information has become so easy and we easily get influenced by global trends. We have given so much importance to individual success at the cost of public goods. We have not understood the value of public goods that actually enhance the individual welfare in the long run. Living in our society is so expensive. Even the basic needs such as education, health, housing etc. are so expensive. The uncertainty is so high. Money provides a sense of security and certainty. Our society is highly status conscious and money is a visible signal to show one’s status. 

Besides your career, what are some of the things that fill your heart with joy?

Pratiksha: Though I am not good at playing guitar, I love jamming and singing, hanging out with my favourite people, travelling to new locations, and having free food. These are some things that really make me happy.

Suraj: I love gazing at the night sky and exploring the stars. I own a simple telescope and whenever possible I rush towards my terrace and point it towards the endless sky, it helps me escape from the everyday rush of life. Apart from that I am a huge cricket fan, if there’s an important match, you will either see me in the stadium or in front of the TV screen. Cricket is probably the first love of my life. 

Lino: My family and friends, no doubt. I do not see many of them as often as I would like, particularly since the pandemic started. But with the technology we have it is easier. Beyond that I like to explore, finding new restaurants, new galleries or other cultural sites in Nepal. Just roaming around Kathmandu is always an adventure in itself. Despite living here for three years already, I always find something new. Nepal is really interesting and culturally a rich place, and I am glad to call it home.

Anu: Joy is in all the simple things in life. Spending quality time with my family and friends, sharing their accomplishments and successes bring me happiness. I take life as it comes.

Narottam: Playing table tennis, brainstorming and bouncing ideas with friends and colleagues, and the people from entrepreneurial ecosystem, especially with young people and on the topic of education over a coffee, playing with my daughter and being with my family, watching football matches, and travelling with friends and family, reading latest articles, etc. A fulfilling life is achieved when you can work out a balance among your work, family and friends, and your own time and priorities.