Finding Your True North: When Life’s Journey Finally Becomes Your Own.

Have you ever been stopped in your tracks by a seemingly simple question? The kind that appears innocent on the surface but sends you tumbling down a rabbit hole of self-reflection? That’s exactly what happened to me recently when a friend casually asked: 

What are you passionate about? 

Are you following what your heart and mind desire?”

On the surface, it seemed like an easy question to answer. After all, I’ve built and run a fairly successful small business for 27 years. As a first-generation entrepreneur, I could confidently say that passion drove me to achieve something meaningful. But when I looked deeper—really looked—I wasn’t quite sure anymore.

The Passenger Syndrome: When Life Drives You.

For years, I wondered: Have I been in control of my life, or has life been driving me along its own predetermined path while I sat as a mere passenger?

Looking back, my early years were anything but deliberate:

• School: I finished in a stream that wasn’t my forte at all. Barely made through.

• College: Switched to a subject that was, once again, everything but a choice.

• Military: Joined the Armed Forces without much deliberation, deciding within the first year that I’d only stay for the stipulated five years.

Each step felt like following the Darwinian theory of survival—adapting, persisting, but not necessarily thriving in alignment with my true self.

The First Real Choice: Entrepreneurship as Awakening.

The turning point came when I decided to become an entrepreneur. For the first time in my life, this felt like a deliberated choice—not just going through the motions or following societal expectations.

Despite the usual “rollicking” of Army life, this decision set me going in a direction that felt authentically mine. Yes, there were troughs and crests, the inevitable tempests of establishing something new. But through it all, I found myself enjoying what I was doing for the first time in my life.

That’s when I realised something profound: the need to be creative and keep creating new vistas and avenues is what I’m truly passionate about.

Life Lessons Learned Along the Way.

1. Passion Isn’t Always Obvious from the Start.

Sometimes passion isn’t a lightning bolt of clarity. It’s something you discover through experience, through trying different paths, even through the things you initially resist. My journey through various streams and careers wasn’t wasted time—it was research for finding my true calling.

2. Being a “Passenger” Isn’t Always Wrong.

There’s wisdom in allowing life to guide you sometimes, especially in your early years. Those experiences I thought were just “going through the motions” actually equipped me with skills, resilience, and perspectives that later proved invaluable in entrepreneurship.

3. Calculated Risks Are Worth Taking.

I’ve never gambled in the conventional sense, but I realize I’ve been “gambling with life” all this while— taking chances, betting on myself, choosing uncertainty over security. This kind of calculated risk-taking has been the gateway to my most fulfilling experiences.

4. Transformation Is Ongoing.

The usual transformational changes keep happening. What excites me today might evolve tomorrow, and that’s not inconsistency—it’s growth. The key is staying open to these changes rather than rigidly sticking to outdated versions of ourselves.

5. Creation Is Its Own Reward.

The passion I’ve discovered isn’t just about business success—it’s about the act of creation itself. Building new vistas, exploring fresh avenues, bringing ideas to life. This creative drive transcends any single venture or achievement.

Questions for Your Own Reflection.

As I’ve learned, sometimes the most valuable questions are the ones that initially make us uncomfortable:

1. When did you last make a truly deliberated choice? Not just going with the flow, but actively choosing your direction?

2. What activities make you lose track of time? These might point toward your genuine passions.

3. If you could start over, what would you do differently? More importantly, what would you keep the same?

4. What kind of “gambling” are you avoiding? Sometimes the biggest risk is not taking any risks at all.

5. How has being a “passenger” in some areas of your life actually served you? 

Not all unplanned journeys are wasted journeys.

The Journey Continues.

Today, I’m more comfortable with the idea that life is part deliberate choice and part surrender to circumstances beyond our control. The key is recognising when to take the wheel and when to trust the process.

My 27-year entrepreneurial journey taught me that passion isn’t just about following your heart—it’s about creating a life where your heart and mind can thrive together. It’s about embracing both the planned destinations and the unexpected detours.

The most important realisation? You’re never too late to start making deliberated choices. Whether you’re 25 or 55, whether you’re just starting out or pivoting after decades in one direction, you always have the power to become the driver of your own life.

Sometimes the best journeys begin not with knowing exactly where you’re going, but with the courage to finally take the wheel.

What deliberated choice will you make today