SUCCESS = Staying Positive: How to?

Whenever I come across successful persons, I often wonder - How do these men and women stay positive and concentrate on their goals, and march ahead inspite of so many contrasting, discouraging situations, so many -ve bullets, so many pull down, etc.? "Are these individuals born POSITIVE!.... or it is their CHOICE!". I believe that everyone is born positive - GOD never differentiate while crafting everylife and he puts in equal energy, attention, care in shaping each career - some people choose to accept GODs gift and leverage on it - other's simply refuse!

Thus, staying POSITIVE is a matter of choice. If you have made this choice - realize that one of the best way to be POSITIVE is to bring in SELF CHANGE. We need to bring in "self changes" on three fronts, viz. thinking, attitude, and behavior.

Attitude change can only happen from INSIDE OUT. Accept the responsibility to bring in attitudinal changes - Be responsible for "Who I am?", "What I have?", and "What I do?". This responsible state of mind would help us to take control of our life. This would provide us sense of ownership to life, mandate mission for life, uplift basic values and value system of life, and as well result in improving discipline.

Thinking can be changed by observing every situation LOGICALLY. Best way to begin this process is to start observing our own thinking. Is it -ve or +ve? If it is -ve, then you need to change it. For this we need to change our self talk - what you talk to yourself. We need to let our mind and heart know that you are special child of GOD, today is the most wonderful day, etc...

Behavior can be brought in through true assessment, determination, and discipline. Change from being "Reactive" to situations to "RESPONSIBLE" to situations. These would help you to pass through 4 stages of behavior changes "Unconscious Incomepetence" --> "Conscience Incompetence" --> "Conscience Competence" ---> "Unconscious Competenece". This would help you to reincarnate "The NEW YOU"!.

We ourselves can influence our environment by adding positive behavior! Leave bad habits and adopt good ones. Make more positive contributions. Remember to watch your definitions - as they become thoughts. Rememebr to watch your thoughts - as they become words. Remember to watch your words - as they become action. Remember to watch your actions - as they become your destiny. Choice is ours - with positive attitude - we can have positive destiny that can not only change our life for better but candle many lives in positive manner. Be SUCCESSFUL by being POSITIVE. Thus -

SUCCESS = STAYING POSITIVE!

Making Miracles = Positive Attitudes = SUCCESS

During my young days, I was malnourished, frail and weak looking person. Yet, I was participating in long distance races and won few of them. Many elderly people advised me not to take part in this game which requires lots of energy, strength. Inspite being weak and frail, I had one quality - ATTITUDE. When I introspect today, I realize that I had attitude to WIN.

Attitude is combination of thinking, emotions, the way of viewing events, circumstances around you, and your perspective. Your attitude is what you do and how you respond to the things that occur in your life. With postive attitude, you can win under any circumstances or situations. Attitudes are much more important than facts. Attitudes make the difference in success or failure! There are certain facts in our lives that cannot be changed, but your attitude can overcome these facts. Budhia, a malnourished kid from Orissa who ran miles together could overcome facts that he was poor, malnourished, no one to take care with his attitude, attitude to win. If he can overcome contransting and -ve circumstances at age of 5 with his attitude, Why can't we?

Willie Jolley, in his book "It only takes a minute to change your life" states that "to get a positive attitude you must make a decision. You may not be able to control the things which happen around you, or things which happen to you, but you can control the things that happen "in you. Attitude is every thing! Make decision to have a good, positive, and productive attitude everyday".

Come join us to the flight of success by changing the attitude from its negative to its best ever positive and winning attitude. Positive and winning attidtude can make impossible things possible, as well dreams to reality. It can make miracles happen in your life. Thus, I often say that making miracles is all about having positive attitude. Thus -
Making miracles = Positive attitude = SUCCESS!!!

Success = Ability to rise

During my school, college, university days I was never counted amongst very bright and intelligent lot. I was an average student, and thus my teachers, family, and friends were often worried about my dreams and ambition level. They often told me that one can be successful only when he/she is intelligent, smart, and bright - just like a gifted child! I always use to envy toppers in my class. However, today when I come across few of them - I thank my stars that I was an average student with big dreams and ambition to succeed.

I was aware of my being average and thus I was ready to have some falls, setbacks, and was prepared to rise again each time that I fall flat. This saved me from frustration of being a failure, but at the same time provided me with energy to fight back and rise back. It is thus important that how many times you rise back when you fail. More you fail and each time you stand up again, magnitude of your success expands and rises to a greater height. All successful folks pass through these tides of highs and lows, but each time they down swing - they surge up to overcome obstacles and hurdles which pushed them down.

Thus Success in many a sense ability to rise. So rise every moment amongst all odds and you would be in the category of successful individuals.

SUCCESS = ABILITY TO RISE!!!!

You can't just try - Do it!

Most of the time when I speak to my students, and colleagues about doing assignments, they either keep quite and do not respond. If at all they respond, they say that "I will try my best". At times such answers upset me. Upset me because both are so very negative in nature.

My father has taught me that in order to move forward you have to do things and not attempt doing them. There is nothing like "try". Do we try to eat or we eat! Do we try to walk or we walk! Do we try to laugh or we laugh! Do we try to sleep or we sleep! Think, if we woul have only tried to do these things, life would have been so much miserable.

Many folks keep thinking for days and months together as to how they would attempt doing certain things and never do it! Since they always try doing it - they never move forward and do not achieve milestones in life. All the successful individuals don't try - THEY DO!

It is my strongest belief is that key to success if doing it - and not attempting or trying it!

So keep doing things that you believe that it would lead you to success in your chosen area. Don't try - Do it!!!

Leadership = Extra Mile = Success

The other day, I had this sales person who visited my home at 10.30 p.m. I was not actually interested in meeting him as I was hard pressed for time, and neck deep in my work. However, he was consistent in following my appointment, which I was evading for nearly a week. When I told him that I would not have time to speak to him or listen to his product during the day - he asked for time in the evening. Reluctantly, I told him that I would not be free before 10 p.m - thinking that he would drop the idea of meeting him. However, he proposed that we meet at 10.30 p.m. With no execuses, I agreed thinking that he may not turn up. But he was at my door at dot time. During the course of conversation with him I realized that he is one of the most successful salesman in his organization and he has achieved this feat in a years time of joining. I querried him about his schedule - he says while most of his colleagues prefer to work between 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. - he instead begin his day at 8 a.m. and work as late as 12 midnight. Impressed with his work ethics, I agreed to buy his product. What I liked in this gentleman is his passion to drive ëxtra mile".

I began introspecting my success till date. Am I an extra-ordinary individual? Soon I realize that whenever I have been successful in what so ever that I have achieved is because of extra miles. Doing extra than what is expected from you. May be planning, implementing and commissioning Local Area Network (LAN) and Web Server in mid 1990's at my first job - success has been because of extra mile. Few of my friends always envy and say that I am lucky one, I am gifted with qualities to be successful. I think more than luck and godly gift - it is extra mile that would lead you from an ordinary to extra ordinary. Because, ordinary people don't spend extra time on the extra mile. But this extra mile gift you with the leadership. Leadership lead you to SUCCESS!

Run Extra Mile = Be Extra Orniary = Be Successful!!!

Success = Expanding Window of Opportunities

My last 40 yeas of life has taught me one thing. On every day, practially eveny minute we are offered opportunities by life.Some of them we realize, some of them pass un-noticed, some of them we realize when they zipped past us. Success is not one time event. It is ongoing process, and it keeps happening at every passing moment. Gravity and magnitude of our success depends on how we respond to these opportunities. How many we miss and how many opportunities we encash determines the degree of success.

Self help guru Robbin Sharma says "Each day, life will send you little windows of opportunity. Your destiny will ultimately be defined by how you respond to these windows of opportunity". I alwys wonder if life offers these windows of opportunity of every one - then why some folks are more successful than others. Answer to this puzzle is simple though not many of us realize it. Some of us capture and encash on these opportunities, and emerge as winners. Many of us shrink from them, often we do have fear of these opportunities, and the success that they are likely to offer to us. Thus, we run away from them, we simply fail to face them. However, if we run towards them, life would be full of success!

I challenge you to ride on the waves of opportunities that life offers to us and be successful!

Success = 'WILL' to win

On our way of journey to success there would be situations and instances where we find ourselves in several unsatisfactory circumstances, cornered with no hopes to come out of it. But with every passing moment our WILL to survive provides us tremendous energy to face it. Thus, there is nothing impossible for human to achieve - it might be difficult - but not impossible - provided we have 'WILL" to win.

Strong "WILL' backed up with faith, self determination, clear vision, and towering dreams would not only steer us out of any adversities, but would strengthen us and make us stronger to face any thing that is on our way. As Billy Ocean says in his song "When the going gets tough, the tough get going". With every tough situation, you would become more stronger with 'WILL' and faith in that "WILL'. Infact, GOD tests us situations, and offers us an opportunity to be more stronger than we are now. All that we need is 'WILL' to succeed and undoubting faith in our 'WILL'. Success is ours!

Success = Leadership = Extra mile

Successful individuals are great leaders. Leaders are always busy in finding 25th hour for every day that god offers to them. They are always on extra mile - doing extra things outside the normal work hours. Leadership is demonstrated when we run an extra mile at the end of exhausting, and tiresome day -not because it is easy to do, but it is right thing to do!

When we do extra than normal toward achieving success in our task, in more than one sense we assume direct responsibility towards our scccess. This assuming responsibility encourages to put your best self forward with passion and dedication to the cause. This exhibit the unassuming leadership potential that is hidden within you. Once people around you begin experiencing such leadership potential and talent within you, they would start flocking around you and listening you. This helps to you create that 25th hour of the day that you are desperately looking for! Thus, you would be able to your plan for success with ease, and be Succesful!

Thus, keep doing extra than what is expected outof you - have extra edge in what you think would bring into circle of successful men and women. Remember - Extra mile = Leadership = Success!!!

Success = Sense of Urgence

We often hear that success is not a chance but it is planned event. However, we often come across folks who keep on planning for life together. They keep investigating and examining every plan that is put forth before them or they think of. They analyze it - analyze it - and keep analyzing its pro's and con's. Hours, days, months, and at times year pass by - but they still continue to plan, evaluate, analyze.

However successful individual dream their success, plan it, and immeditely implement it. It is not only implementation at our pace - but implementation with sense of urgence is what required to be successful. As if today is last day that god has gifted - and there may not be tomorrow. Thus to achieve success we need plan with sense of urgence. Thus, SUCCESS = SENSE OF URGENCE.

The people who are marching ahead towards sense of urgence are often self motivated, uncommon dreamers amongst commers, with great zeal about life, dedication to their cause, with sense of purpose of life. They are often called "workoholic" and one who often sleep late - get up early, always on run, often never ever have warm food - but eat fridge cold lunch and dinners at odd hours. Reason - the sense of urgence. Sense of urgence with lightening speed!

I often talk in my lectures that "Biodiversity Informatics is a marathon that needs to be run at the lightening speed". When I think about these successful individuals and their journey to success - it is nothing but "journey to success with lightening speed". These lightening speed journeies are possible because of "Sense of Urgence".

Realize this sense of urgence and be successful!!!

A "Minute" for Success

What needs to be successful in life? There are several books, lectures and visionaries who have provided tonns and tonns of insight on this. One can spend life together to assemble, digest, assimilate this wisdom. But inspite of all these words and advice of wisdom, success can not be reality, unless we decide to be successful.

Thus, I believe success only requires a investment of a "minute". Span of 60 seconds, during which you decide to be successful, span during which you begin to dream, and duration during which you decide to implement your dream.

As Willey Jolley says "It only takes a minute to change your life". It only takes a "minute to be successful" - Do take out a minute out of busy schedule to be successful - just a "minute".

Be successful!!!

Success = Dream X Plan X Work

I often get stumbled with questions as to is there any specific formula for "Success". I often get some common answers such as - be determined, hardworking, smart working, dedicated, workoholoic, etc. However, I never got to arrive an point of understanding which can reveal of specific sutra for success, until few years back. May be about 8-10 years back, when I was recollecting one of my win in long distance race which, I won at the age of 18 years.

This race which started from Pune's Goodluck chowk with nearly 150 runners on brizzy, cold december morning. Until Chaturshingi temple I was one of the last runner and the distance between me and the lead runner must be about 1 - 1.5 Km. However, suddenly, I increased my pace to take advantage of down slope from University Circle till Simla office. By the time I reached Simla office, I was one of the five lead runners. Victory was within my sight - I just kept on streching myself little extra and by the time I was at Balgandharva Rangamandir square, I was secon in lead with just one runner ahead of me. Later, I completed this race at second spot at Goodluck squre.

Today, when I look back at this win - couple of things that srikes me. I did not do anything extra as preparation for this race in terms of training, diet, counselling etc. However, few things happened naturally, and unknowningly. I was dreaming about my success in this race atleast some 15 days in advance - both during day when I am wide awake and in the nights when I am fast a sleep. Infact, the entire route, its terrain, environment, people cheering me, my trail at the beginning, and surging ahead at second half of the race was all that screened several times in my dreams. I had won this race first in my dreams and then in reality. Had my dream been clear and screened me winning at first spot - I am sure I would have been first in the race. Thus, success first needs to be believed both in day dreams and dreams while sleeping.

With every of those dream snaps, my subconcious mind was planning as to how I would be running this race. First at slow pace - so that body is warmed up enough - also the first phase of the race is where uphill slope is there followed by downward slope in second half. So, based on dreams I planned that I will be conserving my energy to surge ahead in second phase where in most of the runners would be exhausted in phase I alone. Based on the sequences of dreams, and planning which happened subconciously, I remeber practising on the route atleast 2-3 times prior to the actual competion.

Thus, when I introspect about "How I won this race?"after nearly 10 year later it is very clear, I did one uncommon thing, i.e. I adopted uncommonly used formula for success i.e.
Success = Dream X Plan X Work

Most of the time we are often told that if you wish to be successful, then work - work hard on the road where every one is also competing. We are also told that dreams would come true if you continue to work. However, this is common perception of success, i.e Success = work + plan + dream.

But then most of us those who succeed in life do follow exactly opposite what the commoners think of success sutra. Thus, renowed self help guru Shiv Khera often says "Winners don't do different things - They do things differntly". How true this quote is - that winners apply uncommon formula for success - Dream X Plan X Work.

To continue winning - keep dreaming!

Sutras for Success

Success is not a chance. It is a choice. A choice that individual has to make. Once such a choice has been made, it calls for strict discipline. Discipline to observe, follow certain principles. These principles can also be referred to as "sutras". Thus, "Sutras for Success".

My objective of this blog is to share some of my personal reveliations and experiences while climbing towards the ladder of success.