My perspectives began to take shape at the age of 16. It was in the summer after the 10th grade that I realized my passion for photography, that too by chance. My father wanted to catalogue a list of the birds for his resort in Udaipur for the sake of his clients, and sought my help.Before I knew it, I began camping and exploring the countryside of Udaipur and so realized my passion. My day would begin with an early morning trek around the Aravalli mountain range in Rajasthan, where I would visit birding areas, drying lakes and bird sanctuaries. I would research various books to identify species and then jot down my own observations about their nesting behavior, habitats and bird calls. These efforts culminated in the publication of Birds of Aravallis, a detailed and photographic guide to extensive birdlife in the Aravalli mountain range in northwest India. I realized another fervent passion of mine during my National Cadet Corps days, and that was long-distance running. To me, running represents an escape into a meditative state of mind, a way to feel alive, focused and calm at the same time. I have now become an ardent marathon runner and run in over 85 long distance races. Running has taught me to stay focused and to strive continuously without giving up.As a marathon runner, I need to change my running shoes every two to three months or so. I thought hard about an alternative to elongate the life of my expensive marathon shoes. After several failed attempts to mend my shoes, I deduced that my old shoes could be recycled into slippers, with a good grip and cushioning. A business idea struck! My venture, called “Greensole”, is currently in its embryonic stage, but is all set to have a global impact in the near future, by providing low-cost, recycled and durable footwear to the needy. Albert Einstein once said, “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.”