Upon graduation, believe it or not, I had no job. I had no

The words of Gary Cohn — “Upon graduation, believe it or not, I had no job. I had no interviews. I had no prospects. I had no worries. What I did have, I had passion. I had enormous passion. I had passion for financial markets. I had fallen in love with financial markets.” — rise from the depths of experience like a flame that refuses to be dimmed by uncertainty. They speak to that eternal moment when a soul stands upon the threshold of life, armed not with guarantees or titles, but with passion — that sacred fire which alone can turn the unknown into destiny. In these words lies the ancient truth that what we love with pure devotion will one day reveal the road meant for us.

When the young Cohn left the halls of his university, he was as countless others are: uncertain, unchosen, unseen. He had no job, no interviews, no prospects. Yet, unlike many who tremble before the emptiness of possibility, he carried within him something the world could neither measure nor deny — a fierce love for his craft, a passion so profound that it conquered fear. For the ancients would say, “A man who burns with purpose walks safely through the dark.” And so it was — while others sought security, Gary sought meaning. And in that seeking, he found his strength.

This spirit echoes the stories of all great seekers who have walked before us. Consider Thomas Edison, who began with no wealth, no formal education, and no certainty but his love for invention. He failed a thousand times, yet each failure was a lesson drawn from passion’s well. Or remember J.K. Rowling, who, in poverty and despair, clung not to a job, but to the burning idea of a story — the world of Harry Potter — which would one day awaken the dreams of millions. The common thread among them all is this: passion precedes fortune, and those who fall in love with their purpose need not fear the absence of opportunity, for they create it.

What Gary Cohn teaches us here is not only resilience, but trust in the inner fire. The world measures worth by visible signs — titles, salaries, positions — but the ancient wisdom reminds us that true power begins unseen. It is born in the quiet hours when the heart whispers, “This is what I was made to do.” Passion, when pure, transforms even the smallest effort into a prayer of creation. It is not ambition’s hunger, but devotion’s strength. Where ambition demands recognition, passion seeks mastery; and it is mastery that calls forth destiny.

In the marketplace of life, many chase riches without love, and find only exhaustion. But the one who loves his craft — the painter who paints for joy, the trader who studies markets out of wonder, the teacher who teaches for the light in a student’s eyes — such a one becomes unstoppable. Passion does not eliminate hardship; it gives hardship meaning. It turns rejection into refinement, failure into preparation, and time into an ally rather than an enemy. The ancients called this tapasya — the sacred fire of effort — through which the spirit is forged and the world is shaped.

So let this be a lesson to all who stand at the crossroads of uncertainty: do not mourn what you lack; awaken what you love. Do not envy the one who is already established; become the one who is already ignited. For the road of passion may be long and unseen, but it is certain — it leads toward mastery, and mastery leads toward destiny. When the young graduate says, “I have nothing,” let them add, “but I have a fire.” That fire will outlast degrees, outshine credentials, and outlive the doubts of the world.

In your own life, then, seek first not the position, but the purpose. Ask not, “What can I gain?” but, “What can I give with joy?” For the universe favors those whose hearts burn with sincerity. Each morning, feed your flame — learn, practice, immerse yourself in your calling — until your passion becomes your path, and your path becomes your legacy. For as Gary Cohn reminds us through his journey, the one who loves deeply never truly starts with nothing. Passion is both the beginning and the promise of all greatness — the immortal spark from which all triumphs are born.