It’s easy to keep climbing the corporate ladder when you forget how far down the bottom is. Maybe that’s the problem with the ladder in the first place, there is no real top. And even when there is, does it really fulfill that initial itch that inspired us to start climbing? The lesson is, that with no real end to the ladders we climb in life, it’s incredibly crucial to make sure we are climbing the ladders that matter. Does every step of the way set us on fire, and make us believe that we are following our purpose, contacting with that warm fuzzy feeling inside?

For Adnan Mahmub of Microsoft, by way of a poor upbringing in Bangladesh, he set his sights on an incredibly high ladder. The ruler at the top? Bill Gates! But when he found that even the top of the top wasn’t entirely fulfilling, he decided to jump ship and start climbing a completely different ladder.

Enjoy this inspiring Ted talk of going from nothing to success, realizing the truth of your pursuit, and courageously switching gears in order to follow your real purpose. A true inspiration!