You thought, you had problems.
That you were not given enough by god.
Never give up- despite all odds.
Things will start looking up – and the results are just round the corner!
Go for it- and work hard. You will get your rewards.
Brilliant Video. Live you life to the fullest. Find ways to get up – everytime you fall! Don’t give up.
Nothing comes easily – especially success.
This video is one of the best I have seen which highlights what goes beyond the success of people who are stars today. Nothing but pure practice.
Go through this every single day- and motivate yourself to put in that effort- to bring the passion to the fore- that will propel you to bigger things in life!
While you prepare for your exams, spend 5 minutes to go through this. It will make your preparation afterwards seem easy!
All the best. Happy Viewing.
”Goals are not only absolutely necessary to motivate us. They are essential to really keep us alive.” Robert H. Schuller
While reading the book “Lessons Learned – Loving your work” , I came across this article from Peggy Fleming, who was a Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medallist.
As a student, I know this is a very difficult value proposition to follow. But read on- we will come to the point.
I quote-
“What that instilled in me was to practice perfection. Every time I skated and had a lesson from my coach, I tried to think of a performance- I tried to think of the crowd. I tried to think of how that pressure would feel. I actually came up with a game that I did at every lesson: I would try to do a perfect lesson. That made it even more difficult; I didn’t want to make one mistake in the hour I had with my coach. It was fun. I think he respected that to: and it was fun for him to have a student who was giving it her all at a practice.
What I learned was that practicing perfection, not cheating yourself, is the best way to go through life.
Even today, when I go for a run, I hear that little voice in my head saying, “I have committed to this hour. I am going to keep running the whole time. If I stop, I am cheating, and I’m not getting the benefit out of this. I’m only cheating myself”.
I obviously was very impressed with this article.
And I suspect most of us don’t go on to win gold medals in the Olympics because of this single attitude gap! (maybe there is a talent gap as well – but hey, we don’t know that)
As students, you are very well poised to take advantage of your position to put in that extra effort – every day to make a difference.
From where I stand, I wish I had someone to tell me that at that time (I can see you roll your eyes and say – that is what my parents tell me all the time 
) but, it is true.
Instead of doing everything in one lot, start making small changes- everyday.
If there are any questions that you can spend that extra 5 minutes time on so that you are perfect, go do it before you call it a day.
Spend time preparing for your classes before the classes actually happen- and see how much more you get from it. Help your teacher help you get the best out of yourself.
If you are preparing for exams- this is what you do-
– Ensure that you have everything listed out that you are going to read
– Ensure that you actually spend the time as listed out by you- focusing and giving your 100% studying & preparing
– Move onto the next topic end of the timeline you have set- irrespective of where you are- but make a commitment to come back and finish it completely.
– Ensure you actually complete all the work without fail.
By following your own guidelines, you build a level of respect for yourself- and set yourself up for a gold medal in the future.
Many companies & many people in their personal life, end up in a situation where they qualify it to be a No-Win situation. Many of them move into a shell & start being upset about their situation – and in many cases, lose heart – and in the bargain- lose the battle.
Recently, I was reading this book – Boom!. It gave me kind of refresher on changing my attitude, that I have started using this extensively….
Whilst the book has a number of other elements to talk about- one aspect that stood out (to me) was – the matter of Choice!
· The difference between ordinary people and extraordinary people is CHOICE.
· The freedom to choose may be the most power attribute and precious resource you have in your life.
· The Freedom to choose is yours alone to leverage or not. No one can grant it to you, and no one can take it away from you.
In your personal as well professional life- we just have to make that one choice – to work differently & look for Solutions (these are few) rather than problems (there are many). But the choice is OURS to make – and I choose to look for solutions- and the opportunities rather than the problems.
In the current situation, there are a number of things we cannot influence. However, we should actively look for areas that we can influence. What do we choose to be today?
Choose to be a PLAYER- not a BYSTANDER. We all have a choice to be a player- someone who is not standing idly on the ground, while a match is going on – but actively engaging with the other players in the team, and working towards a common goal of winning in this game.
Players chose to focus on what they can control.
· You can control your attitude towards your boss and senior leaders & the business.
· You can control your ability to perform, to become a guru, a thought-leader, a go-to-person who is seen as adding value.
· You can control your approach when interacting with your boss and other leaders.
What can we do as a Star Team? – we may not be able to single-handedly change our company’s culture, but we can….
· Create a small pocket of success in your own area of influence that inspires others to take notice and behave differently towards us, and our team. Share it with the rest of the team. Let us celebrate all our success together. Every small success will add a brick to our goal of being the OEM team in the world! (Why stop there – why not the best team in MS).
· Bring the right attitude. (Solutions – not problems)
· Avoid people who are tuned out and actively disengaged.
Another key element to becoming a very successful team is when EVERY member thinks like the OWNER of the company! Instead of being (and behaving like an employee), start behaving like an "Employer/ Owner" . Why would this be required? (this was truly an eye-opener- and I believe each of should adopt this as our mantra).
Why Owners? –
· Owners step out from behind titles and job descriptions to act on behalf of the customer , partners and the company.
· They never say "This is not my job" or "this is too big for me".
· Owners cater to the organization mission, vision and values. Non-owners cater to bosses.
· Owners focus on the business results of their actions
· Owners have the guts to ask the tough questions. They understand the consequences of complacency- and they aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo with the mantra "How can we make it better"
· Owners disregard functional boundaries to consider what’s goodf or the company as a whole.
· Owners pay attention to detail
Be the change you wish to see in the world – MK Gandhi
If you have stuck by till now – here is a quick homework for you.
Identify 3 activities you will take up immediately- take a pen & write it down- which will set you in the right direction. Think about your personal or professional life- and where you think you are not playing the role of a PLAYER- list it out- and start making a move to change that! Things will be different.
Creativity, in many people’s opinion, is something a select few are born with!
And most go through life without touching their creativity button.
Many people assume creativity to be the cornerstone of an artist’s and writer’s arsenal. Not so. Creativity touches every aspect of your life- and how you differentiate yourself from the others. A very good trait that can help drive your career or your child’s thinking in directions that not many have taken the trouble to tread on.
While other tools are available, I find the exercise of Mindstorming to be one of the best I have tried out. I read this in a Brian Tracy book – and since then found out many other well known authors and professional recommend it as well.
So, here’s how you do it!
Start with a clean paper.
Simple enough?
For most of you, the first 5-8 answers will just pop out. These are typically the ideas that people take & get to work. These are also the ideas that are most common and most others would also come out with. Now is when you persist!
Till you come to 15, it will be a stretch – but the ideas will still come out.
This is when you don’t give up! Keep at it and squeeze every drop from your brain. The next 5 will come from the depths of your brain, which will surprise even you!
List out the 20 answers. Identify the answers that address your question and give you solutions that may not have been apparent to you otherwise.
Great. Ready to go.
So, how does this apply to you?
In every aspect of your life (work or personal).
If you are faced with a problem today, try this out.
Remember:
Very precise questions will lead your brain to lead down a very precise path. Vague questions will let your brain wander around 
E.g – From – “How do I get promoted?” to – “What are the things I can do to get promoted in the next 6 months”
Or
From: “ what can I do for my daughter’s birthday?” to “What can I do differently for my daughter’s birthday that will make it memorable for her?”
Try this out.
"If you want to get the best out of a person you must look for the best that is in him."
— Bernard Haldane
There are some stories that touch your heart. Especially those that have a message.
This is a story I got earlier from the net – and I especially think it is relevant for parents as well as teachers.
There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher. Her name was Mrs. Thompson. And as she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same.
But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard. Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn’t play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X’s and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child’s past records and she put Teddy’s off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy’s first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners. He is a joy to be around."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother’s death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn’t show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren’t taken."
Teddy’s fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show much interest in school. He doesn’t have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy’s. His present which was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.
Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children’s laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.
Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, and writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.
Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher’s pets."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he’d stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor’s degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer, the letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.
The story doesn’t end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he’d met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course,Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.
They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson’s ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn’t know how to teach until I met you."