Building Walls, Breaking Barriers: A Love Story with Work
They say when you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. But let me tell you, when you love what you do a little too much, you might just end up installing 1 lakh square feet of walls in record time!
At the New Chennai Trade Centre, I took on a mammoth task – six walls, each 250 meters long and 26 feet high. Normally, this would take six months. We wrapped it up in 58 days. Even Rajinikanth might have taken a second to process that!
The Magic of Saying ‘Yes’ and Asking for Help
When the project started, I stood there in disbelief. Is this real? The walls I built were the only thing visible for miles. But here’s the secret – love for my work kept me going, and so did the people around me.
Despite my usual reserved nature, I realized the power of asking for help. Expert inputs from Rtn. Punithan, consultation from my Business acquaintance Siddharthan, and the collective wisdom of senior contractors made the impossible possible. If there’s one thing this project taught me, it’s that the universe conspires only when you dare to reach out.
The Power of People Who Believe in You
While I was busy managing both shifts – 12 hours each – my home front magically aligned itself. My 82-year-old mother-in-law flew in from Singapore to rescue the school morning madness. My husband, a contractor himself, pressed pause on his projects to support me. My office staff, Deepa and Gayatri, extended their hours without hesitation. Even my cook Deepa (God bless her!) took over dinner duties.
And the biggest surprise? My dad, who retired five years ago, stepped in as my night shift engineer – without even asking me! Love doesn’t always need an invitation, does it?
When Passion Fuels the Impossible
There I was, a tiny figure against these towering walls, juggling materials, manpower, and machines. And yet, I wasn’t exhausted. Not once did I feel drained. Because when you love what you do, energy becomes a side effect. My 10-year-old daughter Manasvi started tutoring my 5-year-old son Dev, sensing that Amma was out there building things bigger than homework.
If there’s anything I learned, it’s this – love for your work is the greatest fuel. It keeps you going even when logic says you should collapse. And when that love is strong enough, the universe doesn’t just support you, it works overtime to make sure you win.
Rtn. Sagarika, a civil engineer and entrepreneur, leads Sri Guru Enterprises with passion and precision. A proud Rotarian from Rotary Club of Chennai Akshaya, she thrives in the construction industry, proving that loving your work makes even the impossible achievable.
