Written on Sunday, August 28, 2016 by Siddharth PV
Fear is a Funny thing
Sometimes it stares you in your face
But often it is subtle
Too much care for anything
Too much importance given to something
Are all silent samples
Of the fear that festers
Through a small dejection, maybe through a subtle rejection,
It creeps into your being
It plants itself in your subconscious
Far away from your seeing
But then if you are ready,
Your fear will come into clarity
And when you get the chance,
Stare your fear in the eye..
For your neglect
Will only help it multiply
Face it,
Don't fight it
Acknowledge it,
Believe in yourself & Act despite it
Do what you can
Take your chances
Don't let fear
Dampen life's many romances
--
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Written on Saturday, September 19, 2015 by Siddharth PV
Mumbai Airport, 19th Sept, 2015
When I came I was a mess
This I must confess
My confidence at a significant low
My body had also dealt a big blow -
A thing of pride and pleasure
Was complaining of too much pressure
But since then over a month has passed
And I many a lesson have amassed
There's nothing strikingly new
But have insights emerged quite a few
A reinforcement of the fact
That most effective are the simplest didacts
Just entered the port again
To take at promising opportunities an aim
But this time it feels different..
Of the outcome I am less sure
But I am sure I will endure
All I have to do..
Is by the basics persevere..
I must know all will be well
And that sincerity will a just fortune tell
Sometimes it might take a while
And difficult will it be meanwhile
But persist I must on the right cause
Without taking too long a pause
For if there's one thing I have learnt under duress
Is that faith and efforts are a man's only redress
Since efforts will your fortune tell
In the end all will be well
Posted in
attitude,
bouncing back,
context,
determination,
excellence,
experience,
failure,
mistakes,
morale,
motivation,
success,
thinking
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Written on Saturday, September 05, 2015 by Siddharth PV
Source: The Corporate Dossier : Sept 4, 2015
On why Murthy changed his ideology from communist to capitalist:
Capitalism believes in equality of opportunity as compared to the communist ideology - which talks of equality of outcomes.
Also - when Murthy started Infosys - he was very clear -
"We will earn the respect of all stake holders."
- Which is akin to saying we will deliver so much value to all stake holders, that they will start respecting us
- 'Delivering value' is the action, 'respect' is the outcome
Saras Sarasvathy:
Creating jobs is what is required. Now, either you can be a small entrepreneur who starts his small thing - or you can be one of the scale up entrepreneurs who sees the start ups around him and offers his talents to scale up the offering to a larger level.
Most MNCs have been successful because they have EMBRACED Scale,
- compare this with Subroto Bagchi's thoughts in 'The Elephant Catchers' where he speaks about how it is important to mentally 'embrace the idea of scale' to be able to do it effectively.
That is to say that - scaling will NOT be easy. A large part of it will be difficult and uncomfortable. You have to mentally commit to it.
Only then will it work out.
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Written on Monday, August 17, 2015 by Siddharth PV
Learn from your enemies.. Pay heed to your Friends..
But most importantly.. Listen to yourself!Cos there is no other maestro..Who knows your real plan!Cos the world's just a canvas painted in your hue..It's your only reality that's true!
To your inner voice.. Be the best listener you can..
Give others their due.. But never lose sight of your own view..
You must learn to become and remain you..
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Written on Friday, December 07, 2012 by Siddharth PV
I look at a girl and fall for her smile..
But I eulogize it.. Wanting to mistake it for something more sublime..
I adore her mischievous trait.. And drool over her gait..
But when it comes to accepting such thoughts.. I tell myself 'Wait'!
Then I battle my brain and force it to stop..
The instruction is - 'Either think great thoughts, or none at all'..
Might have just met a girl in the past.. But I already wanted to move into a future fast!
Now I realize and accept.. it was just my insecurity putting me into a cast..
I have always been battling my brain.. Fighting hard..
Trying to rationalize these basic emotions.. through logic hard..
But why could I never accept emotions so banal?
Well, how could I? I thought 'I was great' after all..
But now I realize.. Nobody fell into love wanting to make the Taj..
It just happened along the way.. Emerging from a mirage..
I cant spend my time.. Worrying dozen a dime..
It will be just a crime.. If I waste my prime..
Now I realize.. I am just an ordinary guy.. Wanting to be great..
That I'll make it when I come to it.. in that there's nothing to debate..
--
Cheers!
Siddharth 'PV'
http://siddharthpv.blogspot.com/
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Written on Sunday, July 10, 2011 by Siddharth PV
Read Somewhere in the ET:
Suggestions for a young professional:
Be the change agent or part of the team that spearheads new initiatives. This will require ability to take on challenging assignments
Push the boundaries and challenge the status quo. A lot can be achieved by questioning 'it-happens-like-this-only' syndrome
Build relationships across the organisation that go beyond your immediate stakeholders
Have informal conversations with seniors to gain their insights on work-related matters
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Written on Friday, June 10, 2011 by Siddharth PV
"Fate gives all of us three teachers, three friends, three enemies, and three great loves in our lives. But these twelve are always disguised, and we can never know which one is which until we've loved them, left them, or fought them." - Gregory David Roberts
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Written on Monday, January 24, 2011 by Siddharth PV
Courtesy - Amit Munshi
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Top Five Regrets to Avoid in Your Life
On December 14, 2010 I sent out a Snapshots based on Randy Pausch's "Guide to a Better Life". This listed 30 lessons from him with 3 additional ones from me. Since I received a huge response to the same, I am sending you another 'Snapshots' which looks at life from the opposite view – instead of listing "dos" it focuses on the "don'ts".
This Snapshots is based on a write-up entitled "Top Five Regrets of the Dying" by Dr Bronnie Ware. I expect that fewer MindTree Minds would have come across this earlier on the Internet than Randy's points. This may lack the emotional punch of Randy's points, given the context of his speech. However, I found it more powerful, because it is easier to focus and act on 5 issues than 30 points. Also, I reason that this should be of high value to all of you who have the majority of your lives ahead (unlike older persons like Chip Bearden and myself!) so that you can live your lives in a way that you won't need to confront these regrets towards the end.
So here goes with what Bronnie Ware has to say. I have added my own observations at the end of each point. First, the preamble from Bronnie Ware which gives you the source of his observations:
For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.
People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learned never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.
When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:
1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way.
From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.
My comments: This is the one I agree with most of all and it's a message I frequently communicate directly and indirectly in my sessions on Mission, Vision and Values of MindTree. So list out your unfulfilled dreams and start fulfilling them. I did this about 20 years ago and it led me into becoming a late stage entrepreneur. You need to check what your unfulfilled dreams can do for you!
The point on health is important. To my mind there are two major factors that influence it (outside of genetic factors etc):
(i) Making the effort to keep yourself fit to last the distance. This is why I initiated the Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body program at MindTree.
(ii) Enjoy what you do and have a positive attitude.
2. I wish I didn't work so hard
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship.
Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.
My comments: It may not surprise you that this is one point which doesn't resonate for me (I hope it doesn't surface as a regret years later when it's too late!). I believe I belong to a breed of "Nevertirees" for whom work is a reward in itself. If you enjoy what you are doing, if you are passionate about what you are doing, why should one ever regret working hard? Also, I believe that the busiest people are often the ones who work out an appropriate work-life balance.
3. I wish I'd the courage to express my feelings.
As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming.
We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.
My comments: In response to my December 14, 2010 Snapshots, Ritesh Kini sent me beautiful lyrics from a song called "Everybody's free to wear sunscreen". Its thought-provoking lines include "Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, don't put up with people who are reckless with yours". Negative emotions like envy, anger, resentment lead to bitterness and ill health. So guard against these at all times and get them out of your system.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends
Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.
It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.
My comments: The Internet has made this one easier. I have rediscovered old friends thanks to it and got increasingly involved in things like "golden" reunions.
The song sent by Ritesh also makes a special mention of siblings being as important as your few close old friends and I would vouch for the same.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier
This is a surprisingly common one.
Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice.
They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.
Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.
My comments: "Happiness" is a subject on which I have given considerable thought and also one on which I have done considerable reading. We have a "Happiness and Subjective Well Being" research project going on right now in MindTree. When we have this output available, I hope to have a separate Snapshots (and maybe more) on the theme of Happiness.
In conclusion, I hope years later each of you can look back on your lives and say that you were able to avoid Bronnie Ware's most frequently observed regrets and other regrets too. Also, I hope you will lead a life where you fulfill most, if not all, of your dreams.
Regards,
Ashok
Ashok Soota | Executive Chairman | MindTree Ltd. | Global Village, RVCE Post, Mysore Road, Bangalore 560 059
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Written on Monday, November 22, 2010 by Siddharth PV
A LEADER'S PRAYER
*
* Adapted from "An Administrator's Prayer", Harvard Business Review, Jan-Feb, 1957 Grant me the self-awareness to know honestly what I am, what I can do, and what I cannot;
Grant me the judgement to channel my energies into those avenues which best utilize my abilities and do not require talents which I do not possess;
Grant me the wisdom to admit error cheerfully and learn from my experience, that I may grow and develop and avoid repetition of mistakes;
Grant me humility to learn from others, even though they be younger, less experienced, or of humbler station than I;
Grant me courage to make decisions whenever they are necessary and to void rashness when they are not;
Grant me the sensitivity to judge the reactions of others that I may modify my actions to meet the needs of those affected;
Grant me the consideration to recognize the worth of each individual, and to respect all those with whom I have contact, neither stifling their development nor exalting myself at their expense;
Grant me the perspicacity to acknowledge that I can be no more effective than my subordinates enable me to be, and to deal with them so that they can help me by helping themselves;
Grant me the tolerance to recognize mistakes as a cost of true learning and to stand behind my subordinates, accepting my responsibility for their actions;
Grant me the insight to develop a personal philosophy, that my life may have more meaning and satisfaction and that I may avoid capricious action under the pressures of expediency;
Grant me the patience to live realistically with my circumstances, striving always for the better, but recognizing the perils of too rapid or too drastic change;
Grant me all these things, dear Lord, that I may live a more useful life, through serving my fellow men, and, through them serve you.
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Written on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 by Siddharth PV
From the 'Speaking Tree' Column in the Times of India on Saturday Nov 6, 2010
A Beginner's Mind - Marguerite Theophil
http://tinyurl.com/2vpojrd
Some Excerpts:
* Shoshin, a concept in Zen Buddhism meaning beginner's mind, refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when learning, even when studying at an advanced level.
* People get impatient with their slowness in figuring out something different; or they cannot bear to display their own early incompetence, that is so necessary before one can get better.
* 'I know' attitude - A friend humorously yet perceptively called it "the point of know return".
* Shunryu Suzuki's explanation, captures it best: "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few."
* "Don't-know is the warrior's wisdom." At crucial moments, it can help you take a step back and allow you to respond to the situation as it truly is. Beginner's mind can keep you open to new possibilities and break old habits of responding, taking you closer to what you truly want.
The idea behind this approach is that you take all of the things you know – your expertise, opinions, reason and logic, even your cherished beliefs – and you put them all away.
Notice: you don't throw it all away; you just 'empty your pockets' of them for a while. Later you can put them all back in. The thing to understand is that there is as important a place in our lives for "I don't know", as there is for "I know".
Most of the time what we 'know' are our assumptions of what might possibly happen, or experience and judgements about similar situations, or conclusions we came to on previous occasions.
But real learning takes hold in the here-and-now.
It happens in the moments of fumbling, in the flashes of success, in the natural plateaus we mistake for 'nothing happening', and in progression of skill and competence as we plod on. Focus on either the past, as in "Oh but i learnt this or that so much faster", or the future, even surprisingly in the much-valued goal setting process, as in "I need to get really good at this by this date", often can and does create mental obstacles for us.
To cultivate beginner's mind, some things we are invited to do are – let go of old stories; set aside expertise and status; take one step at a time; immerse yourself fully in the moment; focus more on questions than answers; fall down seven times, get up eight.
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Written on Monday, October 18, 2010 by Siddharth PV
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.\
Explore.
Dream.
Discover.
- Mark Twain
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Written on Saturday, October 16, 2010 by Siddharth PV
An interesting post from Seth Godin
Mentors provide bespoke guidance. They take a personal interest in you. It's customized, rare and expensive.
Heroes live their lives in public, broadcasting their model to anyone who cares to look.
The internet has created a long tail of heroes. There are tens of thousands of musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, social leaders, politicians (okay, maybe not thousands of these), coders and colleagues to find and emulate. WWHD. What would my hero do?
I find heroes everywhere I look. I find people who speak to me over my shoulder, virtual muses, who encourage me to solve a problem or deal with a situation the way they would. This is thrilling news, because there are so many heroes, so freely available, whenever we need them.
For all the people out there using the fact that Jeff Bezos (or Jacqueline Novogratz or Husain Abdullah or Chris Anderson or Anne Jackson) won't be their mentor as an excuse for inaction, there are a dozen who realize that their example is enough.
Like a custom made suit, a mentor is a fine thing to have if you can find or afford it. But for the rest of us, heroes will have to do.
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Written on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 by Siddharth PV
1. Life is a marathon..
You have to realise that whatever choices you make today, they will affect your long term in some way.
So you always need to have a long term perspective.
2. Its not about how many projects you executed..
What matters is the number of projects you executed well.
So, you might pick up a single project at a time - but make sure you execute it well.
No point in picking up multiple projects at once.
3. Think Macro and also execute micro..
Have the ability to think at a macro level - look at the bigger picture and take decisions that will lead to long term gains.
But at the same time, have the ability to execute at the micro level.
Develop the ability to do both simultaneously.
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Written on Sunday, September 12, 2010 by Siddharth PV
Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities.
~ Norman Vincent Peale
Great minds discuss ideas
Average minds discuss events
Small minds discuss people
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
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Written on Friday, July 16, 2010 by Siddharth PV
WHERE the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
- Rabindranath Tagore
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Written on Sunday, July 04, 2010 by Siddharth PV
So how does one go about networking? Of course - by getting to know people.
And what is the best way to get to know people?
I am told that 'talking to people' is a good way. But on second thoguhts, are conversations/discussions compltely reliable?
Cant conversations be 'engineered' to suit the need?
Haven't we all been exposed to the ease with which one can 'lead' a discussion to achieve pre-determined outcomes (a desired 'image', a perceived 'persona', etc)?
Of course - this is not to say that conversations are futile - just that they may not be the best solution..
Instead, how about sharing common experiences?
What if you find yourself in the same situation as someone else? Wont the other person's response tell you a lot about his nature/perspectives vis-a-vis your nature?
Working with someone on solving a common problem could tell you a lot about the person's attitudes, approaches, strengths and weaknesses.
Most importantly, if you are put into a unforseen situation with someone, aren't the chances higher that evryone will react in their most natural ways possible?
This will effectively highlight people's inherent natures as they wont have the opportunity to 'cook up' the 'right' responses.. Most likely - people will end up just 'being themselves' and this will help in really understanding them better.. In fact, such experiences could end up completely changing people's pre-decided / pre-determined 'images'...
And this would help one chose his networks better!
So, having understood this, one could go about facilitating his 'networking' in 2 ways:
1. Pray and hope that he gets a chance to share many interesting 'experiences' with all the folks in the MBA program..
2. One could actually 'design' a way to bring about such experiences.
So here's to looking forward to successfully organising/planning many interesting 'experiences' in the times to come..
I am sure they will help me build better networks in the long term
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Written on Saturday, June 12, 2010 by Siddharth PV
"Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that all was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, and make it possible."
T.E. Lawrence
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of hi...gh achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt
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Written on Wednesday, June 02, 2010 by Siddharth PV
I just saw the first 15-20 minutes of Wake UP Sid - the movie and something which struck me instantly about Sid's character was the simplicity in his decision making. He seemed like someone who has kept life really uncomplicated for himself. No wonder then that he was able to take decisions so easily. And at some level, I did feel very very envious of him. I look at myself in the past few weeks and I see that my thinking has been becoming more and more muddled - my decision making more and more convoluted - and it wasn't this way at all times. Surely something needs to be put back in order.
Frankly, I do not want to get into the nitty-gritty of whether Sid's attitude towards life was correct – to each his own, I say. What I want to focus on is what made it possible for Sid to take the decisions so easily? And how can I go (back) to such a state?
The reason that Sid could take those decisions so fluently was probably that he had his motivations absolutely clear. He knew himself and what he wanted very well. As a result, he could act in accordance with his heart rather easily. And acting in accordance with one's heart / one's basic motivations is one of the most liberating experiences. If you are truly acting in accordance with your heart, you act without the overhanging sword of any doubt. You give it your all because the motivation for the action comes from one's basic nature and motivations – it is not driven by any false pretenses, external influences, etc.
Now, when I look back at my recent actions/decisions and single out the decisions / actions which I was not completely satisfied with – I realize that those decisions/actions were very highly influenced by my environment. That is probably the reason that I have not been feeling too happy about those decisions/actions.
It's time to set this right. After all, if I don't clear up this surrounding clutter (environmental influences) right away, I will probably lose touch with my basic motivations (typical case of the signal getting lost in too much noise).
--
Of course – I am not saying that one should not listen to others' inputs (opinions / views / reviews). That would be a folly. But one must be on guard and avoid these inputs from becoming unconditional influences (sometimes its ends up being that way out of sheer repetitiveness).
In fact, I believe it is important to seek feedback. But one must take it objectively and not let it become an overarching dictat.
Posted in
decisions,
feedback,
influences,
keep it simple,
to be yourself,
wake up sid
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Written on Monday, May 17, 2010 by Siddharth PV
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley
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Written on Wednesday, May 05, 2010 by Siddharth PV
Excerpts from Harsha Bhogle's speech at IIMA - this speech was part of a series of seminars at IIMA called 'Face to Face with Achievers of Excellence'.
Excerpts:
* I had this feeling of inadequacy - of how everybody else was better than me. But IIMA accepted me for who I am. That is a huge feeling.
* I will talk based on what all I have allowed to come into my system over the years.
* Ambition needs a driver - sometimes the 'ends' provide the driver.
* There are 2 approaches -
1. the end as a driver of ambition
2. the journey as a source of joy
* The end as a driver of ambition often is a source of anxiety - adds to the degree of turbulence / entropy.
Sometimes, the focus on the end removes the focus from the means - are we treading the right path?
* They gave Yuvraj Singh a different set of goals which helped him succeed.
* People come to IIMA to build careers - not to earn a starting salary.
* One of the easiest ways to excellence is to work as hard as you can and to do your best whenever you can.
* Harsha Bhogle on the tour of Australia - worked for free, wrote ghost columns for Border. Take care of the runs - the dollars will take care of themselves.
* Chase your performance goals - chase your professional goals - let the result take care of itself.
Perfect the process of performance - dont allow the pressure of the result to choke your performance.
Eg. of the above concept: The swimmer in lane 4 has no control over what the swimmer in lane 5 is doing. If he starts worrying about it (something he has no control over) then he's spoiling his performance.
* Everything I have done is because I have loved it.
* Adherence to ethics helps you to have peace of mind.
* Focus on execllence in preparation and performance. Set yourself perfromance goals, not result goals.
* Give everything your 100% - give every moment 100%.
You never know who's reading what - you never know who's watching what - you never know where's the next big opportunity is coming from - that's the beauty of giving your 100% every single time.
* Quran: Lord helps those who give their best.
* When we lose - we seek excuses. People who are excellent never say - I was great BUT..
That just means you are putting the blame on somebody else. This means, you are not great already.
* If 'being wrong' is in your possibility map, then you do go wrong..
* Never grudge anyone their success - cos when you are successful, they will grudge your success.
* How do you motivate yourself to do No. 40 after you have done 39 eisodes? You tell yourself that No. 40 is all I have wanted to do!
There is a certain pride is giving everything a 100% every moment and to everything.
* Always seek people who are better than you. The moment you surround yourself with people who are NOT better than you - you stop growing. For a very selfish reason, always surround yourself with people who are better than you.
* When I started out, I had no one to look up to. I had no heroes. So I hung around with the crew. My hero was the was cameraman who said 'I have never missed a stumping in my life'. My heroes were all technicians.
* When we reach a certain level, we start surrounding ourselves with smaller people. Or - we start hating criticism. on the path to excellence, it is always very crucial to have people around you who can tell you whether you are doing right or wrong.
DONT EVER MARRY A FAN. Marry a girl who will tell you whn you are wrong. Only then will your marriage survive.
* Arrogance often comes in the way of excellence.
* Playing non-striker: I was willing to be a non-striker. I wanted to be extremely good at something - I knew I couldn't be the best batsman. I genuinely wanted to be a great fielder. I wanted to be a very good fielder.
* Initially I tried to compete with the other commentators. They all asked 'How much cricket have you played?'
But I dropped my ego and said that what I want to prove is that I understand the game very well - and for that I dont need to have played a lot of cricket.
Besides, if I make my guests on the show more comfortable, they perform better.
So, part of my job is to make Sunil Gavaskar look better..
* If you have ego and anger on your side, you dont need an opponent. I try not to have an ego.
Subjugate the self - lose the EGO.
* I love what I am doing. I have the greatest job in the world.
* Beyond a certain level, ability or talent is the most useless virtue to have. What matters is attitude. Beyond a point, talent is not useful as it doesn't solve problems - it breeds an ego. Its important what you do with that talent.
* Some people have always used their talent to succeed. So they dont know how to succeed in case you failed.
* Everybody in the top 10% will have the same talent. So what's your USP?
You work ethic and attitude counts for far far more than your talent.
* Sachin played 55 days in a row - that's attitude! Tendulkar's work ethic, attitude and passion produced the 55 hundreds. Talent might open the firt door, second door - but surely not the last door.
* When you make a mistake, what's the first reaction? The more mistakes you make, the more you know what not to do. Excellence is as much about knowing what to do - as about knowing what not to do.If you can be excellent at not knowing what NOT to do, you will know what to do.
* Everybody in life is allowed to make mistakes - it is the second or third mistake that you are not allowed to make.
* Excellence is about desire: 'I'll not let a single ball go past me.' ; 'Hit one more to me'
* To excel in a profession, you need to know everything about the profession -
When I entered television, I told myself - I will learn everything that is needed to be learnt.
* What is luck?
You make things happnen for yourself.
It is a combination of preparation and recognition.
* Are you willing to work your backside off when no one is watching? It not only means you are ready for the opportunity when it comes - but it also means that you are earlier to spot the opportunity.
* 'During the football worldcup in 1986, Gary Linekar happened to be in the right position because he knew what the right position was.'
* Lance Armstrong: I dont win the Tour De France on the last day. I win it when I am riding in thee mountains in the winters when nobody wants to ride.
* Are we willing to work even when the opportunity is not obvious?
* Excellence raises its game when the moment comes. Excellence is about humility. If you are not humble, you will not be willing to hang around, to do the things it takes to seize the opportunity when it comes.
* Did I make my luck by calling?
* Being excellent is also about having the confidence to share knowledge - if you are not comfortable sharing knowledge, you are insecure. Excellence is not insecure.
* Some of us never know how good we can be. People who have achieved excellence have always been ready to stretch their own limits. (When will you be ready to take chances? When you are ready to face the results - when you are sure of yourself.)
'Let me try and see what happens. What is the worst thing that will happen? You'll fail. Are you scared of failure? You will also know what you cannot do. All of us learn by trying.
* Excellence is always in the present. Sometimes, we are too anxious about the future - sometimes we are too caught up in the past. You must make the most of what you have now. People for whom the past is more glorious than the present will never succeed! Excellence lives in the present.
* 'Khudi ko kar buland itna,
Ki har taqdeer se pehle khuda tujhse pooche,
Ki bataa teri raza kya hai?'
Posted in
attitude,
cricket,
excellence,
harsha bhogle,
IIMA,
luck,
mistakes,
success,
talent
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