What you want to be when you grow up ?

         Its funny that I still ask this question to myself. Everyday life presents with choices and one chooses the path that most suits his/her present idea of what he/she wants to be when he/she grows up. When I was young, the first time my dad asked me this question, I think I said 'Policeman'. My dad asked, "why policeman? ",  I said, "I like their costume".  Well, I changed my mind when me and my family moved to India. Growing up, I was exposed to computers, and that's when I decided to be a computer engineer. But am I doing justice to the career I chose ?  While I still love my current role as a software architect/engineer, being able to develop software that changes lives of people, I still believe that there is also something else that I love to do and could be more happier.  At this point in career, no looking back, since this is now my bread winner and a family supporter.
          I believe most people, if not all, think or feel about this, the same way at different intensity. I keep seeing and hearing people changing careers late in their life or venture into own business. So far I have never encountered anyone being 100% excited about his/her current job in my field ( Software development ). When I ask, "What is that you like to do the most" to most people, amazingly almost everyone said that given a second chance, he/she would love to do something completely different from their current job/work.  When I watch  interviews of a successful artists  like movie actors or singers etc. in TV, I hear a lot of passion and love towards their work. I often ask myself, why can't I be like them ? How can I be passionate of my job, unless it offers me to pursue my hobby or interests at work? 
         I feel it is nothing like loving your work you do. I think, following are cases when you love your job,

• Work is inline with your hobby
• You have an excellent idea at work that is recognized
• You have financial interest in the job you are doing, like big bonus, own business etc.
• You like someone at work :-) Really?
• I can't think of any more reasons, any suggestions ?

 I think kids at young age should be frequently asked this burning question growing up, so that they sub-consiously think about what they love to do forever, earlier in their life and could take right decision at the right time. Most parents in or from India ( from my experience), influence or push their kids in their career choice. This is ok but its very important to learn their kid's potential and passion early on and give them a chance to live it. BTW, when I ask my 4 year old son, he says he wants to be a Spiderman, who helps people with his strength and he feels that way,  though his physique is like he would fly with the direction of wind let alone saving others :-).
You must have felt the same atleast at some point at your job. So what did you do to overcome this?
Please share your thoughts by adding your comments below. I would love to hear what you think.