She: What is the sweetest of all sounds?

He: The sweetest of all sounds is the voice of the woman we love!

She: That’s cute! Is that an original? If yes, may be it’s working on me.

He: Think of it as one then! 😉 However, it is a 17th Century saying.

She: If it has been stated for ages, it must be true.

He: Sure it is, but there are some things which sound better.

She: What do you mean?

He: The sounds of anchor chains, plane motors and train whistles.

She: You talk like you are some kind of a traveller.

He: Haha! No, I am not. I am just a wannabe…

If you are reading this, thank you for sparing your precious time which you would have otherwise spent scrolling through dozens of oh-so-meaningful and not-so-meaningful posts on Facebook. And don’t tell me you did not judge at least one post thinking that the person is such a wannabe! 😛

I have been at the receiving end of many a question about the name of my website. The word “wannabe” is used to define a poser, which is demeaning and derogatory. While I did agree with them somewhat, let me tell you about this experience…

When I was living in Delhi, my friends and I would attend many rock concerts, especially one called GIR – Great Indian Rock. We would always be amused by the bunch of youngsters who would come to the concert, posing and flaunting their best metal t-shirts, long hair and tattoos.They would be smoking away to glory while stealing a clandestine sip from a bottle of coke laced with Old monk rum every now and then.

It was a ritual for us to go to the concerts and make fun of them – we called them wannabes. However, as the years passed by, the same “wannabes” went on to rock the stage while we remained a part of the crowd, now head banging to their music and seeking a chance to befriend them.

MORAL OF THE STORY 

The world at large tells you to be yourself, and not try to be someone else. But, no one tells you how! So, if you want to be like someone you idolize, you need to start with being a wannabe and along the way of your journey, you will end up discovering yourself.

And with that thought, let me briefly share with you my journey on why I decided to start this project called thewannabetraveller.com

April ‘2012: My brother found a job in Singapore. So while moving out, he handed me the keys to our music studio business (Carnival Underground) and asked me to start managing it. [ this is another story which I will share someday ]

January ‘2014: I had completed little more than 9 years with American Express, however a well-paying successful career did not seem fulfilling. While I was managing the studio business, I found my passion for music again and thought of taking a break from corporate life. I somehow landed an interesting job with a music start-up. However, it was not well-paying. I had to decide quick and I was confused. High-paying Job which was mundane or Low-paying job which could be adventurous?

February ‘2014: It was 5 minutes past midnight. I packed my laptop bag and was ready to leave from work.On my way out, I found a crushed piece of paper on a table. I picked it up to throw it away, but I was curious to see what it read, and as strange as it may seem, I found my answer.

I took the leap of faith and quit my corporate life after 10 years to embark on a journey which was completely unknown. I was unaware of the road ahead but I was ready to give it a fair chance…

Last words from my ex-VP when I put down my papers… 

Saheb, you are entering an industry which can prove to be nasty and dirty. However, do remember that you will have a story to tell which most of us can only imagine!

I can assure you that every single day for the next one year was nothing short of a roller coaster ride!

December ‘2014: My studio business was doing pretty well, so I decided to quit my job with the start-up and plan my first international vacation. The destination was an easy choice. Singapore! 

March ‘2015: I had no clue this would really happen. I came for a vacation and I found a new home. 

21-May ‘2015: Yes, exactly 2 years ago today, I moved to Singapore and my life has changed ever since.

Initial days are always exciting until routine kicks in, and Routine my friend is boring!

I somehow did not want to get too comfortable with my 9 to 6. I figured that a major portion my social media indulgence and internet browser history comprised of travel blogs and videos. Also, during my first corporate innings, whenever I found myself too stressed, the only thought that came to my mind was to run away to some place far and wide. But that did not happen quite often. My mind was clouded with a million prejudices and inhibitions of why I should not travel.

Life gave me a second chance to start afresh. Why not make the most of it and instead of just thinking to travel, why not I really put some action to the plans. With that thought, I pledged to fulfill my dream to embark on a lifelong journey to keep learning and keep growing (and not just to run away from the mundane). 

So now, after 8 years, 25 countries and a little experience, I have decided to share my stories with all you wannabes who sit behind a laptop all day, have a hopeful browser history and a dream to reach out and achieve your dreams, someday!

The mission of the website is to empower individuals to develop a growth mindset and achieve their full potential through curated content, tools, and resources.

My vision is to create a global community of individuals who are equipped with the knowledge and resources to overcome obstacles and achieve success, by fostering a culture of continuous learning, self-improvement, and personal growth. This website is the go-to destination for anyone looking to develop a growth mindset and create positive change in their life.

If you have read till the end, please do leave a comment and feedback. I am not a writer, so do expect a lot of errors. All your feedback will be highly cherished and appreciated. StayWannabe!

P.S. All photographs in the website have been taken by me using an iPhone6 only.

Into the wild image source: http://cinemababu.com