The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters,
but a man of understanding draws them out.
Proverbs 20:5 [NIV]
No one knows pursuing your dream better than Richard Westerfield. At age 22, having studied piano, violin, and voice, he got his first chance to conduct an orchestra. "The moment I picked up the baton, I knew this was what I wanted to do." His parents however, urged him to be more practical. So he got a master’s degree in business and took a well-paying position in international investment banking.
But Richard’s passion for music never ebbed. After putting in 12 hour days on Wall Street, he’d stay up nights writing music scores. His vacations were spent guest conducting for orchestras around the country. One year he got his big break when a famous European conductor (Erich Leinsdorf) had to bow out of 5 guest appearances with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Westerfield, his understudy, took over to critical acclaim.
On the last night of the Philharmonic, Richard learned that his father had terminal cancer. "I realized then that life is too short not to do what’s really important to you." He quit his job and started fulfilling his passion – full time conducting. He’s had to make some adjustments, as his career is just starting over again, but he’s finally found the joy he never knew in business ...
Are you pursuing your passion? No day is better for fulfilling your lifelong, God-given dream than today.
