A brutal line from my coach that changed my career

I still remember the way he said it.

We’d just lost a tight match. I was lacing up my shoes when my coach sat beside me and dropped the line like a yorker to the gut:

“You’re good. But are you ready to spend the next ten years in grind mode — with no guarantees?”

I didn’t answer. Because I didn’t have one.

For the longest time, I believed passion was enough. I thought if you wanted it bad, the universe would open its gates. So I chased cricket like a full-time job.

Early mornings. Bruised fingers. Empty wallets. Dreamed of IPL. Spoke in match references. I even skipped a cousin’s wedding to show up at nets.

I had one goal: Make it.

But when that question hit me — “Ten years. No guarantees.”, I froze.

Because deep down, I knew. I was betting everything on desire. Not skill. Not demand. Not strategy.

Just raw, unfiltered want. And it wasn’t working.

Here’s the thing no one tells you:

Passion is romantic.
But it’s not reliable.

It’s a spark, not a strategy. And sparks die if you don’t build a fire. I’ve seen this same trap in business. Designers who love fonts but hate talking to clients, writers who want to write books but never finish a blog post, marketers who chase aesthetics but skip outcomes.

And yes — folks who “love branding”

But only the parts that look good on Instagram. Here’s what I learned (the hard way):

Don’t build a business around what you love.
Build it around what you’re willing to get good at.

What kept me in branding wasn’t love at first sight.

It was this:

1. People trusted me with their brands.

2. I solved a real problem.

3. They paid. I got better.

Slowly, I started to enjoy it. Then came the flow. The obsession. The meaning. That’s the mistake so many make. They chase the feeling, not the feedback.

If you’re feeling stuck right now, here’s a better question: Not “What am I passionate about?”

But:

• What’s a problem I can solve that others avoid?

• What do people already come to me for?

• What’s something I still do even when I’m tired?

Follow that.

Even if it feels random. Even if it’s not “the plan.” Because love doesn’t lead.

It follows.

I’m not in cricket anymore. But I still approach branding the same way I approached the sport: Show up. Study. Train. Evolve.

But this time? I’ve got clients instead of coaches. Real wins instead of dreams. And a brand that wasn’t born out of passion, but out of progress.

P.S. I talk a lot more about this in my course, The Brand Engine. It’s not about logos. It’s about clarity, action, and building a brand that actually works — not just looks good.

Presale’s on till June 13th. (I mean, till tomorrow) And people are already saying nice things about the course.

And just hit reply and tell me what you’re building. Always down to chat.

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