TARGET

Success is largely measured by how a person has achieved his/ her goals and surpassed expectations. This necessarily means one must have a predetermined target which is nothing but an attempt To Aim at Realistic Goals Every Time. This means that one must spend time in visualising one’s expectations, translate that into a clear goal and simultaneously draw up an action plan to achieve one’s target in the shortest possible time.

Pinpointing the target is easier when one is participating in a shooting or archery competition since the target is clearly outlined and the bulls eye clearly visible. In daily life, the shape, size and value of the target are hazy and constantly undergoing a metamorphosis. We are also guilty of looking ahead with hope, moving ahead with trepidation and giving up in frustration simply because the goal was hazy, our efforts half hearted and our self belief fatigued.

The challenge in identifying targets is because

-       We are not specific about what we want. Using phrases like very happy, large house, cushy job, peace & contentment, peaceful life, happy retirement are merely adjectives masquerading as targets. Targets are the specifics that will lead to the fulfilment of these platitudes and phrases.

-        we either overestimate or underestimate our abilities as a result we go after easy targets that do not give us the required momentum for success or we go after unattainable targets that would lead to frustration and failure.

-       We give up too soon partly because we do not want to put in the efforts required, partly because we misjudge the progress made and largely because we divert our attention to more pleasurable alternatives.

 One thing is certain. Setting a target would enable one to focus better, measure progress, take corrective action and get motivated to try till one succeeds. Targets will also provide one the impetus to take setbacks in one’s stride, be grounded when sudden windfalls are got and persevere till the goal is attained. So nothing can stop one from attaining success if one is ready to To Aim at Realistic Goals Every Time.

Action Points:

• Draw out the sketch of your dream house.                                               
• If you won a lottery of Rs.100 lacs (One crore) what would you do with that money.
• If you had to save an additional 10 percent of your current income what expenses would you cut down on?
• How would you get one additional hour in the day for you to pursue your passion? What activities would you cut down on or delegate in order to get this additional one hour?

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FIRST

Our obsession with standing first in every aspect of life has often been both a boon and a bane. As a boon standing first is motivation to perform well, but it becomes a bane when the expectations are not correlated with the person’s ability to achieve the first place. However, this concept of standing first is based on the popular perception of what is considered to be standing first. In reality if we change our perception of what it means to stand first, each of us can achieve the distinction of standing first frequently.  To begin with one needs to view standing first as Foremost In Reaching Set Target.

Notice now that being first is possible when we can show improved performance for ourselves. This assumes that we have some objective in mind and we set about achieving that target in more optimal ways than we have ever done before. Assume for a moment that the best academic result you achieved was struggling to get a first class. Now if you target to get a distinction without really measuring the effort required, the probability of not achieving that is very high. However if the target set is to improve your score by 10% and then you set about diligently working towards it, any improvement over what you have achieved in the past would make you stand first as compared to your past achievement.

You can also view being first from the stand point of attempting anything new. Anything you do that you haven’t attempted before is a first for you. Here again you are only competing with yourself to overcome you apprehensions and fears about attempting something new. The first day of school, the first time you went on stage, the first time you participated in a race, the first time your drove a car all alone, the first time you attempted a dare the list goes on and on.  Then there is a first that brings in to play your character, your values and your ethics. The times you refused to pay a bribe, the times you refused to cheat in an exam, the times you stood up to tell the truth, the times you apologized for a mistake, the times you kept your temper in check, the times you pardoned some one who wronged you. Every single time you are able to resist giving in and taking the easy way out because it was against your conscience you achieved a first.

The thrill of overcoming the perceived risks, the exhilaration of achieving what you set out to do and the relief that you did what you set out to do are the collateral benefits that come out of you daring to be the Foremost In Reaching Set Target.

Action Points:

Identify 3 bad habits that you want to eliminate. How will you go about ensuring you manage to overcome it? So what is the first step that you are going to take and when ?

Name the most important value that you hold most dear to you. How often were you able to hold on to that value. Can  you recall an instance when you were gravely challenged to hold on to that value with succumbing to pressures from others?

What do you consider your first and foremost achievement in your life?

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COMMIT

Everyone has noble thoughts, good intentions and certainly the desire to be an ideal individual. Many a time these positive thoughts propel us into action and we begin with élan and panache only to falter, fail and give up too soon. For the vast majority our intent keeps the desire burning in us but does not manifest itself in anything tangible or substantial. The key to transforming our lives into the ideal and successful individual we intent to be, is in making a determined effort to COMMIT ourselves to what we set out to do. The moment we make that effort to commit to our plans and dreams is the moment we Create One Major Magical Instant Transformation

We fail to commit for a variety of reasons. Top of the list is our sheer laziness.  Sadly that is followed by our unwillingness to challenge ourselves, our fear of failure, our penchant for escapism to more enjoyable pursuits and of course lack of self discipline. If we delve into our school/ college days, many of us would make the regrettable and painful realization that our marks and performance were not up to our abilities simply because we did not commit ourselves to the rigors of studying for the reasons elucidated earlier. Despite this realization, we continue with our wayward ways and hope for some divine miracle or some chance success. It is essential to remember here that if you want to win the lottery you must commit the price of the lottery ticket and buy the lottery; no pain no gain is the simple principle.

Fast forward your thoughts to those momentous events in your life that made you happy and elated. Underlying each of those moments, there would surely be commitment made by either you or someone close to you to ensure those magical moments. It could be the first time you were applauded by your teacher or the very first goal you scored in a match. It could be a fancy dress completion in which you won a prize or the time you cleared a competitive exam. What is common is that for every little success you enjoyed you did commit yourself to the task on hand. Whilst other too would have made similar commitments, with a wee bit of luck and perhaps your special talent and ability you managed to taste success. There could many moments that your recollect where despite you committing yourself you were disappointed with the outcome. However you will never regret those moments because you know for sure that it was not because you didn’t commit that you didn’t win but for reasons beyond your control.

So how does one ensure that one can commit to something? The first is to decide what you want to commit yourself too. This is a very tough decision because many a time there are so many equally attractive opportunities competing for your attention. Remember Mr.V.V.S.Laxaman the star batsmen in the Indian cricket team. He had to make a momentous decision in his teens whether to pursue his academics and follow his parent’s footsteps and become a doctor or to pursue his love for cricket despite it being an extremely competitive sport. He did commit to the latter and the rest is history. Notice there was nothing common between the choices on hand for him.  Once you decide what to commit to, be prepared to give it your all. This means sacrificing a lot of pleasures, being self disciplined, being ready to face the physical and psychological pain, having the courage to fall down and get up no matter how hurt you are and being ready to shut yourself away from all forms of temptations. Does this guarantee success? Alas the answer is NO but it definitely brightens the chances of success because once you COMMIT you Create One Major Magical Instant Transformation and you will be a changed individual forever. 

Action Points:

1. Take out your New Year resolution list or prepare one right away. It must have at least 3 short term goals, perhaps another 3-5 medium term goals and possibly 3 long term goals. For each of these goals outline at least 2 firm commitments to ensure your progress towards achieving your goals. E.g. If you have a long term goal of achieving X amount by the age of 55 list out how much you will save from today and where will you invest it. To arrive at the savings figure each month you may have to do a fair bit of calculations but that is all part of what you have committed to. Or if you have short term goal of improving your scores in the coming exams prepare a study time table and allot more time to the subject you are weak in or dislike.
2. Can you remember 2 of your most passionate dreams? Perhaps it includes things like meeting your favorite icon or owning a fancy car or creating a mobile app etc. Now commit yourself to the intermediary steps to achieve that dream.
3. Outline 5 of the most pleasurable diversions / activities that you love. (Partying / movies / TV / sleeping / chat / mobile games etc. could be part of that list.) Commit yourself to sacrificing 3 out of the 5 in order to achieve your dreams/ goals.

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Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

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FEAR -has two meanings

I came across these intriguing expansions of the word FEAR and was sure it would provide an interesting analysis. Earlier I had written on the very popular expansion False Evidence Appearing Real (http://www.poweract.blogspot.in/2009/12/fear.html) and thought this to be an equally enlightening way to appreciate the context and interpretation in everyday life. 

Forget Everything And Run is something that everyone would experienced sometime or the other. It is the essence of survival else we would not have been blessed with it. There is nothing to be ashamed of by giving in to your fears for not all of us are alike and we all have our inhibitions, anxieties, quirks and phobias. However, we also carry a lot of false notions about our ability to cope with a stressful situation and that is when we need to ensure that our fear is not irrational, unsubstantiated or unfounded. E.g. Fear of exams is often the result of poor preparations that triggers panic as exams draw near. Fear of public speaking is actually a culmination of negative thinking about all the possible disastrous scenarios that we visualize and don’t dare to confront. 

So before we decide to give in to our fears we need to calmly examine the rationale and probability of our fears being genuine. E.g. A person with a very short temper would be well advised to realize his/ her inability to keep the temper in check and walk away from a possible explosive situation without feeling like a coward. Suicide is perhaps the most unfortunate nadir of FEAR translating to read Forget Everything And Run

Face Everything And Rise on the other hand is key tool that leaders utilize to stand tall and influence others. Confronting our fears is the best way to find out if the fears are valid or largely imaginary. The risk of ending up with egg on the face or failure is very real but the experience garnered would be invaluable. Being pragmatic and realistic is essential if one dares to face fears to ensure that the odds are favorable. E.g. It would be fool hardy to show false bravado and confront a desperate gunman, unless the person has no choice. Similarly taking on potentially dangerous dares or getting into an ugly spat with a charged up mob, tend to be foolish choices exercised when better alternatives could be at hand. 

Peer pressure is often a trigger for people to succumb to pressures of being seen as a sissy. Getting addicted to vices like drinking and smoking or drugs has its beginnings in people succumbing to peer pressure and indulging to begin with. If they face the pressure and rose above the pressure, it is possible that they would be spared the addiction.  Another example would be that of a person who is not comfortable driving at high speeds should never be pressurized by fellow passengers into reckless driving but be bold enough to face the taunts and stick to his/ her comfortable speed limit. Articulating a minority view points with passion and conviction in many ways is symbolic of how one can cope with a majority pressure and yet Face Everything And Rise.

Action Points :

How will you cope with the following FEARS ? Outline the next steps you would take?

• Having to take injections for the rest of your life?
• A looming breakdown of a relationship?
• A dramatic drop in your investment values with high probability of bankruptcy?
• Your inability to locate some vital personal documents like title deeds of property?
• You are advised a risky surgery ?

 How will you respond to the following scenarios?

• You are in the zoo and suddenly you notice that Lion has come out of its enclosure.
• You witness an accident from your window. Next day you hear that one person has died and the police is seeking statements from witnesses who would probably have to also visit the courts of and on.
• You have seen your neighbor’s child in the company of undesirable elements in the neighborhood.

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

Powering your Spirit to ACT Now.

You are also invited to visit our inspirational and motivational blog

http://www.actspot.wordpress.com