DESIRE

Notice that any self generated action is largely the result of compulsion or desire. While compulsion by its very meaning suggests that there is no alternative and is forceful, desire evokes in our mind a pleasant, willing and positive emotion within us suggesting that the action is something we eagerly look forward to. This is because DESIRE emits from our own ability to Develop Enthusiasm Sustained Interest Renewed Energy. Going to a movie, a party, a picnic gets us excited, enthusiastic and eager whereas attending a lecture or a routine office meeting triggers thoughts of an unpleasant, boring and disagreeable waste of time. Hence it is essential that one needs to generate DESIRE within to make life interesting, to enable you to be proactive and enjoy every moment.

You can generate DESIRE if you see life as an interesting GAME and make a conscious effort to play that game well.

Goal in mind - There must be an objective, a result, a goal that helps one focus. Without a goal we merely meander through life like sheep grazing in the pastures, merely going through the act of eating and sustaining. As human beings we are blessed with greater intellect, imagination and initiative that we need to make use of. This can be done by outlining our goals, visioning the big picture and purposefully striving to attain the goal using all the resources at our command. The goal is the beginning and the focus of any desire.

Attitude is positive – Without a positive attitude we cannot generate self belief. A positive attitude can be generated when one is able to align ones goal, thoughts and actions. The starting point of this is identifying and focusing on the right goal. Focus on what needs to be done and not on what should be avoided. The latter has a negative connotation to begin with and more importantly does not help us focus on one single objective. Then we need to outline the roadmap to reach the goal, the wherewithal required to sustain us in our quest and take a decisive steps to reach out goal. With the right attitude, we begin to subconsciously fill spirit with the desire to succeed.

Motivation is envisioned – Even if know our goal and start with the right attitude, the energy to continue our quest comes from the amount of motivation we can generate within us. The motivation is not merely attaining the goal but must be apportioned into smaller slices of achievements, must include a large dose of self satisfaction, tons of encouragement from the progress made and must include the pioneering path breaking success you have personally enjoyed along the way. Motivation is the oxygen that keeps the desire alive.

Excellence is targeted- Reaching a goal maybe relatively simple. The real achievement is doing it in style. Excellence is the outcome of careful detailing, planning and execution. Excellence is attained when one can improve the existing benchmarks; improvise the current methods and pioneer new techniques along the way. Rarely can one go about achieving a goal all alone. Excellence therefore also includes one’s ability to be a good team player, a dependable team member and a welcome team participant. Excellence make the desire even more personal and appealing.

Once you begin the GAME in dead earnest your will discover your DESIRE and your own ability to Develop Enthusiasm Sustained Interest Renewed Energy

Action Points

1. Think of the latent desires that you had during your school days. The numerous alternative professions you hoped to take upto. The various hobbies and passions that you wished you could indulge in. Do you still retain the DESIRE for it? If yes, what is stopping you from exploring those avenues? Once you have the desire time and money are no impediments; go for gold!
2. Choose from among the following art forms and determine your desire to explore one or more of it

• Painting
• Photography
• Cartooning
• Sculpting
• Dancing
• Classical music
• Doing card tricks
• Magic
• Haiku
• Exotic cooking

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Acronyms to kick start the New Year

Just thought that this set of acronyms would provide each one of us the perfect inspiration for the New Year and hence I have chosen to share the same here. It would be a very person or a very dumb person who would not accept the fact that he/ she did not face failure in the past and particularly in the year just gone by. Most times the failures could be attributed to incompetence, inefficiency, tardiness or carelessness. However often when we attempt something new we are not successful in the first attempt and we are dejected. Many times we refrain from attempting something new purely because we are afraid to fail. Yet when we reflect on all the progress we have made right from the time we clumsily held  a pencil in the hand and attempted to write the alphabets to the numerous times we feared drowning in the pool while learning to swim or the numerous bruises that  testified to the difficulty we had in learning to cycle we realize that failure did not hinder our resolve. This is because to FAIL was just an acronym for First Attempt In Learning.  Resolve to attempt something new each month and master it or make significant progress in it by the end of the month.

For sure, you would have committed blunders and felt that it is the end of the road as far as your future was concerned. Yet, despite the admonishments and embarrassment you faced you still got another chance to redeem yourself. Perhaps you failed an exam or did not honor a commitment. Possibly you did not clear a number of job interviews or worse still never got a call for a job interview despite applying in numerous places. Some of you may be stuck with a boss who is often critical and unappreciative of your work and threatens you with dismissal. The fact is that despite these very daunting circumstances you still live with hope, possibly you have even managed to be successful in your academics or career and you have expectations to a even better future. All this, despite you often feeling that it is the end of your dreams. This clearly demonstrates that the END is merely an acronym that reminds you the Effort Never Dies.

One word that hurts us most is the word No which to put it mildly is a point blank refusal our plea. As children we may have craved for the best toys and clothes only to be stonewalled with a firm NO. Maybe as teenager you were forbidden from attending late night parties or perhaps even encountered the pain of being rejected with a firm no by a person whom you had a crush on. It is equally possible that as a professional your subtle and not so subtle requests for a pay hike has been dismissed with a curt no. For sure every NO hurts but once we come to terms with it, we rationalize that there is always a Next Opportunity.  

So, as the poet Longfellow says in his poem ‘ The Psalm of Life’

Let us, then, be up and doing,

   With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

   Learn to labor and to wait

The First Attempt In Learning may not be successful but you must remember that Effort

Never Dies and  that life always gives us the Next Opportunity to be successful.

Action Points:

• During this week walk up to complete strangers and wish them for the New Year. ( it is not as difficult as it first seems). Also observe their reactions for it give you clues as to what you did right or wrong.
• Ask your best friend/ sibling/ parent/ colleague to tell you honestly about the one habit / aspect of your personality that they would like you to change / improve/ work on. Ensure that you make a fervent attempt to try to work on it during the year.

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WORK

When we hear the word WORK the immediate thought that comes to mind for most people is that it is an insipid, terrible way of going about living. If these thoughts overpower us daily, our daily life will be hellish one. Rich or poor, king or pauper work is destined on mankind and we cannot escape that reality. Some may argue that the filthy rich need not work but look around and you will notice that they are working harder than most. The utterly poor including beggars also have to go about doing their work so as to earn, live make their life more comfortable and pleasant. Since work is inevitable, how about looking at life in a more acceptable way and see it as a Way Of Rewarding Knowledge?

The rewards of work are manifold. To begin with, work enables us to keep busy. If we did not have any work, we would in serious trouble since an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Work rewards us with learning. While it is true that we often do the job based on what we have learnt, the reality is that what we learn on the job is far more critical in terms of being efficient and productive. It also enables us to realize our true potential and perhaps even helps us discover shades of out personality that we never knew existed. The most important reward of work is that it leads to monetary gains be it salary or profit. Far too often we focus on the monetary rewards without applying our mind to the quantum of effort or quality of work we do. Perhaps this often leads us to hate our work. By and large each one is rewarded by work in a relatively fair manner.

The key to doing good work is in leveraging the knowledge one has to the fullest. This could mean that at times we have to upgrade our knowledge, seek out opportunities at work to find niches in which we can pitch out expertise and the truly rewarded are those who make work a passion of their own liking. Knowledge is never static and so while academics can provide crucial inputs to get us going being able to proactively improve and enhance value in the work done is what brings large rewards.

The problem for many is how to love our work. My suggestions are as under:

• First accept that work is a reality that we cannot escape.
• Next try and find a work that is closest to your interest, passion, knowledge and ability.
• If you are unable to find such a work that matches all the above or worse still has no correlation to any of the above, then be grateful you have some work that keeps you out of trouble and in fact rewards you for the effort.
• Dispassionately look at your work and find as many reasons as possible to be appreciative / thankful for the work you do. E.g. A heart surgeon has greater respect in society than a pathologist who conducts autopsies. Yet there must be some motivation for people to choose to be a pathologist
• DO also remember that, it is human nature to be craving for more and the rewards of work rarely satisfy most people. So while you must seek to be rewarded more for the better work you do, do not forget that better work means more effort.

Perhaps now, you have a better appreciation that WORK is a actually a wonderful Way Of Rewarding Knowledge!

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Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

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BELIEF

 

What distinguishes the successful person from one who has not realized his/ her full potential is the BELIEF that they are able to begin with and sustain in pursuit of their goals for they Begin Efforts Looking Inwards Embracing Faith. As they say well begun is half done and self belief is the key to beginning a task well. Belief is not something that is alien to us. We were born with it but we were not aware of it. Look at a little child who first begins to turn on the side, then learns to turn over on to its belly and thereafter begins to crawl. While instinct and evolutionary process could explain this progression, one cannot deny that there was an unconscious self belief that propelled this progress. Look at a toddler taking its first steps. It falls, perhaps hurts itself, cries but soon the failure is forgotten and with renewed belief it keeps attempting till he/she has taken the first wobbly steps.

The problem with us lacking belief actually began when we experienced and understood the term fear. Fear sows in us the seeds of doubt and slowly the large majority of us fall into a quagmire of self doubt, insecurity and risk aversion. The antidote for this is calculated risk taking which involves making a realistic assessment of the reality around and then cautiously proceeding to pursue ones goals. Once we repeatedly do this and embrace success, fear is slowly erased and replaced by belief that comes from regained confidence, renewed passion and anticipated success.

The long term means to have BELIEF is in Looking Inwards and finding your strengths, your abilities, your passions and your temperament. In the process you would also become aware of your limitations, your dislikes, your fears and your inadequacies.  The process of looking inwards is a journey to self discovery; a path we often avoid, for fear of confronting the unpalatable. Yet it is this self discovery that liberates us from our self imposed limitations be it in being risk averse or failing to harness our talents. Ironic as it sounds, this is actually a conscious attempt to discover the unconscious powers within that have remained latent but can now be ignited with a zealous spirit and harnessed into a passionate flame that powers us and fires us from within.

Once we realize that we are powerful beyond belief, we need to Embrace with Faith everything that has to be done to attain our goals. As they say Faith can move mountains; and you can imagine how much more easier it is to move ourselves as compared to mountains, provided we have faith in our abilities, our resilience and our cherished desires. Faith transcribes self belief into a self propelling, self directed and self motivated ball of energy that launches itself to attain its goal.

So take a deep look inside and find your destination, then embrace with faith the efforts you have to take and the sacrifices you have to make and Begin your Efforts for that is when your BELIEF will translate into the success that comes with you Beginning Efforts Looking Inwards Embracing Faith.

Action Points:

1. Source a copy of the book You will see it when you believe it by Wayne W. Dyer and get another perspective into Self Belief.
2. Attempt the following task. With nothing else in your pocket other than a handkerchief and your personal id spend a day in the city and if possible raise as much money as you can for your favorite charity (without disclosing your intent or begging). Hints: (a) Do not carry any money or your credit cards with you. (b)You can earn that money by doing odd jobs. (c) Before you begin also write down the amount you believe you can collect for the charity so that you have a worthwhile goal to pursue.
3. Read the post on FAITH - Finding Answers In The Heart by clicking on the following link  http://www.poweract.blogspot.in/2010/01/faith.html

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on -

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

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BEST

When we set out to do a task, more often than not our objective is to merely completely task. Of course completion of the task must be the prime objective but one must not forget that there are a number of other factors that come into play when we do the task. These factors also have a bearing on how we accomplish the task and how we are judged by our team members, peers and superiors. Our attitude, our competence, our dexterity, our self belief etc all come into play and if all these are well aligned then we actual give out our BEST which means that our Brilliant Efforts Stand Triumphant

To give off our best it is essential that we first orient ourselves for the same. Begin with a winner’s mindset accepting the challenge and focusing on not just completing the task but being ready to overcome any and all obstacles in pursuit of our goal. There are times when this can be a daunting prospect especially when we begin work on a long drawn out and seemingly complicated ask. It is at this point that we must begin the process of visualizing the end result, work backwards and identify the key intermediary steps, put the appropriate checks and balances in place and kick off the activity with gusto and grit. e.g. Attempting to give a competitive exam like a GMAT / GRE or Starting a new business venture.

Maintaining above par quality standards holds the key to us giving of our best. Reputation is built on consistent performance, excellent output and a no excuses policy. This effectively means that one has to adopt lofty standards which can be tough to attain, tougher to maintain and really satisfying when attained. We need to guard against any temptation to compromise on our standards, rule out short cuts to reaching our goals and be ready to pay a price to ensure that we get back on track in case we stumble or slip. One way to ensure that we do not deviate from our standards is to identify the right benchmarks to follow. E.g. Brand names build over time reflect the reputation created with quality and consistency. The IIT’s and IIM’s are a prime example of this. For individuals tags like dependability, hardworking, studious, humble etc. are quality tags that the world at large bestows based on their perception of the individual.

Get going in right earnest is the mantra that triggers us giving our best. Far too often we end up planning to give our best but most times we end up aborting our plans or merely attempting it half heartedly. While we may have chalked out lofty goals and a foolproof road map to attain it when it is time to begin the journey we find it hard to overcome our misgivings about success, our fear of overreaching, plant a mine filed of self doubts about our abilities and / or simply proceed with little vigor and even less enthusiasm thus just about reaching the goal with no feeling of ecstasy or triumph. It is only those who keep their doubts aside, fill their minds with positive thoughts, generate the spirit of adventure and throw themselves whole heartedly into the rough and tumble of the challenge who can give off their BEST and ensure that their Brilliant Efforts Stand Triumphant.

Action Points.

1. Write down 3 of your passions that you have not yet indulged in. Now select one of them and outline an action plan to get going on pursuing it in the next 1 year. Put time frames and cost implications to ensure that the task is well planned. One year from today enjoy the fruits of your best effort.
2. How will you tackle the following and give your best

• You are a passionate fan of a sport and you want to ensure you get a ticket (which is in short supply) for the big finals of the game
• You want to make your family happy by surprising them and doing something that they believe you won’t manage eg, improving your grades / taking them on an overseas trip
• Identify the one weakness that you are constantly being a negative feedback about. Now how will you ensure that that you overcome that weakness and get a positive feedback from others about that.

Power Act - from http://www.actspot.com/ is focused on -

 

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

 

You are also invited to visit our DAILY inspirational and motivational blog http://www.actspot.wordpress.com//