🚀 In the End, It’s the Memories That Matter

A few days ago, one of my mentors retired.

He had spent close to 35 years in the corporate world and had a highly successful career. His children are well-settled, holding high-flying consulting roles after graduating from Ivy League business schools in the US.

As I called to congratulate him on his wonderful career, our conversation meandered, and I ended up asking him, “What was the most important thing you learned from your career?”

I expected him to mention his elevation to a C-suite role or a successful exit from a startup. But his answer surprised me.

🎯 He said, “The most important thing I have learned in the past 35 years is to build and preserve memories, Vignesh.”

While I understood the gravity of his statement, it wasn’t until today that I truly felt its impact.

My daughter was going through my cupboard at my parents’ place. My parents have meticulously preserved many of our memories, and she managed to dig out an old digital camera of mine.

I had purchased this camera in 2006. Kudos to my dad for preserving it so well that it works like a charm even today. The charger still functions, and the memory card holds a treasure trove of memories—a walk down memory lane.

As I went through the photos, it felt like time travel between 2006 and 2024. New faces had been added during this period, and I had lost some of my near and dear ones.

There are very few moments in life where time seems to pause, and this was one of them. Scanning through the 2,000-odd photos in the memory card—some dating back to 2006—I felt transported to another time.

Suddenly, my mentor’s statement made perfect sense.

The past few years have been hectic, with my focus entirely on pushing myself to achieve more in my career. This conversation with my mentor was a reality check. At the end of the day, as we look back, it’s the memories we’ve created that truly matter.

⭐ I’m not the “New Year’s resolution” type, but this moment has inspired a new focus for me: Striking a balance between building a successful career and creating lasting memories. ⭐

P.S.: Kudos to Eastman Kodak Company —imagine the quality of a product that works like new after nearly two decades of use. It’s a shame that such a wonderful company lost its way in the face of changing trends.