7 minutes - Countdown to Clarity

What can happen in just 7 minutes? Your entire world can turn upside down.

Personal Note:

My initial plan was to publish a different story today, but the recent, tragic news about the death of a young professional at EY—allegedly due to work related burnout—has given me pause. This news hit close to home for many of us in the corporate world, doesn’t it?

Look, I'll be straight with you – I love to work. I'm that person who often goes the extra mile, sometimes burning the midnight oil. But it's MY choice, and I'm cool with it. But here's the kicker – I know, deep down, that my job isn't the be-all and end-all of life. It's just a part of it, albeit an important one.

I've seen enough to know that this work-life thing is messy. Some companies want your soul, others are more chill. Some folks live to work, others work to live. And you know what? Both are okay if both parties know what they are singing up for. What's not okay is feeling trapped or judged for your choices.

We need to get to a place where it's normal to talk about this stuff openly. Where companies lay out their expectations clearly, and people feel free to say, "Yeah, that works for me," or "Nah, not my scene," without fear.

This story? It's my way of grappling with all this. It's about a guy who thought he had it all figured out, until... well, you'll see. It's only seven minutes of his life.

I hope it makes you think, maybe even feel something. About what really matters to you, beyond the paycheck and the fancy title.

Take care! Now to the story:

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NewYork, 7 June, 2026, 8:00 PM

"...and that, ladies and gentlemen, is how I turned setbacks into stepping stones. Remember, success is a choice. You either commit to it fully, as I say 'go all-in,' or watch others reap the rewards. Thank you."

Thunderous applause filled the auditorium as Edward Chambers, known to most simply as "E," concluded his keynote speech. The energy in the room was electric, with attendees rising to their feet in a standing ovation. E basked in the adulation, his charismatic smile lighting up the stage.

As he stepped down from the podium, a sea of admirers surged forward. Smartphones appeared from every direction, their owners eager to capture a moment with the man of the hour.

"Mr. Chambers, your journey is truly inspiring!" gushed a young executive, practically bouncing with excitement. "Your all-in method is very alluring, but is there a way to balance it with—"

E chuckled, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of pride and amusement. "Balance?" he interjected, his voice dripping with condescension. "That's a myth perpetuated by those afraid to commit fully to success. Don't balance – prioritize. Go all-in, focus on excellence in your career. Everything else can wait."

Another attendee chimed in, hesitation evident in his voice, "I'm sold on the all-in method, but when I hear you say go solo, don't have chains of—"

"Family?" E interjected, his voice rising with passion. "Yes, make success your family. My friend, when you're at the top of your game, you can have it all on your terms. Stop thinking with an ancient mindset. Family, kids, community—all these are chains keeping you from growing. Break free!"

His best friend and colleague, Mark, appeared at his side, clapping him on the back. "That's our E for you – married to success and loving every minute of it!"

E beamed at Mark, his eyes shining with affection. "You know it. Who needs the complications of marriage or kids when you've got friends like this guy? He'd take a bullet for me, wouldn't you, Mark?"

Mark nodded enthusiastically, his loyalty unwavering. "Without hesitation, brother. You're my family."

The crowd around them laughed appreciatively, hanging on every word. E was in his element, doling out sage advice and witty quips with equal measure. This was the life he had worked so hard to achieve – adored, respected, and envied in equal measure.

8:02 PM

Suddenly, a shrill alarm cut through the chatter. The fire alarm blared to life, its piercing wail causing a momentary hush to fall over the gathering.

The intercom crackled to life, but it was not the usual announcement voice. Instead, it was strained and raw with emotion. "I... I need to tell you all that these are likely to be the last few minutes of your lives. I'm so sorry—" The message cut off abruptly, replaced by the sound of a scuffle before going silent.

Murmurs of concern rippled through the crowd, but E remained unflappable. "Nothing to worry about, folks," he said, forcing a laugh. "Probably just a prank or someone having a breakdown."

But before people could regain control of the situation, a man burst into the room, his face ashen. "Turn on the news!" he shouted, his voice cracking with panic. "Nuclear warheads are headed for New York! It's all over the emergency broadcasts!"

If there was any doubt left, it was erased as every phone in the room received an emergency government notification declaring that New York was under nuclear attack. For a moment, the room fell eerily silent as the weight of the words sank in. Then, chaos erupted.

The reality of the situation hit like a physical blow. E felt the air leave his lungs as if he'd been punched. Around him, the scene transformed in an instant. But he quickly reminded himself that he was a leader, and he needed to take control. These were his people, and they needed him now more than ever.

"Listen, folks!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, clearly shaken but trying to hide his anxiety with an unsuccessful attempt at sounding confident. Not everybody, but most heads turned toward him.

"So what if these are the last few minutes of our lives? We are the lucky ones who have tasted success, and we'll go out like winn—" he was interrupted by a loud shout from the audience.

"FUCK OFF, you loser! We are about to die and you nonsense is the last thing I want to hear" The raw emotion in those words seemed to change something in the room. People snapped out of their shock, and suddenly, E was no longer the focus of their attention.

Those who moments ago had been jockeying for his attention now looked right through him. Phones were pressed to ears, fingers flying over screens as everyone fought to make one last connection with their loved ones.

"Please, pick up, pick up," a woman sobbed nearby, clutching her phone like a lifeline. Her voice broke with each unanswered ring.

"Daddy loves you so much, sweetie," a man choked out, tears streaming down his face as he gazed at a photo on his screen. His fingers traced the outline of his child's face, a gesture of tenderness that spoke volumes.

E stood frozen, suddenly feeling very small and very alone. He turned to Mark, desperate for some anchor in this surreal nightmare, only to find him already engaged in a tearful conversation with his wife and children.

"I love you all so much," Mark whispered into his phone, his voice thick with emotion. "You've made my life complete. I'm sorry I can't be there with you now."

The realization hit E like a tidal wave – he had no one to call. No desperate last words to share. No photos to gaze upon in these final moments. The empire he had built, the success he had prioritized above all else, meant absolutely nothing in the face of oblivion.

As the minutes ticked by, E remained rooted to the spot, an island of solitude in a sea of emotional farewells and declarations of love. The very people who had hung on his every word now rushed past him without a second glance, some fleeing the building in a desperate attempt to reach nearby family members.

In those last, precious moments, Edward "E" Chambers, the man who had everything, discovered the bitter truth – he had nothing that truly mattered. As the seconds slipped away, taking with them any chance of rectifying a lifetime of misplaced priorities, E finally understood the true price of his so-called success.

His voice, once commanding and confident, now came out as a broken whisper, heard by no one but himself: "I was wrong... so terribly wrong."

And then, a blinding flash, precisely at 8:07 PM, erased everything.

© Harsh Munjal

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