Nothing is impossible - my small brief for students and learners?

Impressed at the way the students are contributing for the growth of this nation and overall development, and as a New Year message, I have decided to share my views on overcoming negative thoughts in achieving our respective goals and decided to provide some information which I think useful for the students.

In our journey in life, when we look at our mistakes and think as to what we have lost due to our mistaken and negligent attitude, we tend to get depressed and it contributes to further loss in life. Another thing is about our respective backgrounds and some may feel that they are not with good background and show their background as an excuse for not achieving their goals or not doing anything substantial in life. We may not be able to do anything if we loose hope and embrace negative attitude. We need to be positive always and believe that nothing is impossible.

We tend to often ignore the fact that success comes to everyone who is hardworking, planned, motivated and persistent in his chosen path.

We, Indians, as I feel, are deeply indebted to our great scientist and former president of India Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam for instilling high thoughts in everyone’s mind and no Indian could have touched the hearts of so many children and young Indians as our Dr.Kalam did.  His message to the children and to the nation is that nothing is impossible. I presume that many of my friends and students could have read his book “Wings of Fire” which really gives fire to all who reads the Book with the basic intention of learning something for our growth.

The text of the last paragraph of “Chapter – IV – Contemplation” is extracted hereunder for ready referral.

“I will not be presumptuous enough to say that my life can be a role model for anybody; but some poor child living in an obscure place, in an underprivileged social setting may find a little solace in the way my destiny has been shaped. It could perhaps help such children liberate themselves from the bondage of their illusory backwardness and hopelessness. Irrespective of where they are right now, they should be aware that God is with them and when he is with them, who can be against them?”
But God has promised

Strength for the day,

Rest for the labour

Light for the way.

It has been my observation that most Indians suffer unnecessary misery all their lives because they do not know how to manage their emotions. They are paralysed by some sort of a psychological inertia. Phrases like ‘the next best alternative’, ‘the only feasible option or solution’, and ‘till things take a turn for the better’ are commonplace in our business conversations. Why not write about the deep-rooted character traits which manifest themselves in such widespread, self-defeatist thought patterns and negative behavior? I have worked with many people and organizations and have had to deal with people who were so full of their own limitations that they had no other way to prove their self worth than by intimidating me. Why not write about the vitctimization which is a hallmark of the tragedy of Indian science and technology? And about the pathways to organizational success? Let the latent fire in the heart of every Indian acquire wings, and the glory of this great country light up the sky.”

 I have extracted the above statement of Dr.A.P.J.Kalam believing at the standards of our students and their qualities. Its true that understanding or feeling the real sense from the message of Dr.A.P.J.Kalam as extracted above, may require some real life experiences, but, it is enough to have a real feeling of the message of Dr.Kalam if you read his Book with the intention to learn something from his life. The reason behind stressing on the reading of “Wings of Fire” is that it really helps people and students to come-out of depression and negative thoughts and it will teach you as to how to succeed in life. Its true as I feel.

 Its true that the perception of success differ from person to person and some may feel success if they get a good job in some MNC and some may like to incorporate a company like “Apple Computers” or to become a great businessmen like our Ratan Tata.

 Irrespective of your perceptions about success, if we are persistent and not depressed in our journey, we bound to succeed in life one day.  It is not my statement and it is what the successful personalities proved to the society.

 It is true that, we, Indians have some bad tendencies. For example, if some completes CA or CS, he may feel substantially achieved and many may not touch the books thereafter with a learning attitude. It is a grave mistake and illogical tendency. It is also been referred by Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam in his book “Wings of Fire” and the relevant extract is given below for your ready reference.

 “A leader can only be free to lead his team if he keeps abreast of all that is happening around him – in real time. To lead, in a  way, is to engage in a continuing education. In many countries, it is normal for professionals to go to college several nights every week. To be a successful team leader, one has to stay back after the din and clutter of a working day to emerge better equipped and ready to face a new day.”

 We need to change our educational system too and we may feel ashamed of looking at the manner in which the institutions like Harvard functions, gives respect to knowledge and education. Don’t say that the governments there provide lot of funding to the institutions or don’t say that the private sector participation in educational sector is more in abroad. I have provided some links in this brief for the students thinking that those may be useful for them and through those links; you can find the functioning of premier institutions like Harvard and Stanford and as to why they are premier. Again, through the links, look at the simplicity and involvement of J.K.Rowling and Steve Jobs while they address the students. I have referred the issue believing that the youth of this nation may bring far reaching changes in our system and make our country to compete with truly developed nations like USA, UK, Japan etc.

I just want to share my little knowledge on the successful personalities who can influence anyone and who makes it amply clear that success will not come in a day and it comes only with hard work, planning, patience, discipline and persistence. We need not refer Bill Gates who had a privileged background from the beginning though he is a great achiever establishing Microsoft at 19 and clinching an unbelievable deal on his own and with his management strategies.

 I advise the students who are depressed; want to succeed in life and achieve something big, to know about the journey of successful personalities. I would like refer few hereunder and few links are given, through which, you can feel what the successful personalities say and how success comes.  

 Sir Sorabji of Central Bank of India:

You may not be able to get a good book or biographical book of Sir Sorabji of Central Bank of India. But, you can get the information about him through internet. He is so great and a person with very very ordinary background initially and later been regarded as a pioneer of Indian Banking. He has established a first Indian Bank run by Indians and it is “Central Bank of India”.

 He had to embrace so many family commitments and responsibilities at a very young age and due to those commitments, he had to join in a Bank as “Clerk” when he was eighteen. He had to abruptly stop his studies and had to join the Bank as a Clerk. In those days, all Banks are European Banks as those are run by Europeans and these people believe that Indians are incapable of managing things as Sorabji felt.

 Enriching his knowledge with sheer academic interest simultaneous to his work pressures, by pursuing his further studies, by facing all the organizational politics, with the hard work and strong will to succeed, he could take a decision to start a Indian Bank on his own and by 30, he has established an Indian Bank and that is Central Bank of India. Nobody has believed Sorabji initially, but, only with his strong will power and determination, he has taken the Bank to great heights. Truly great journey.

Steve Jobs of Apple Computers:

I believe that you all know about Apple Computers, its founder being Steve Jobs. We will cry if we listen to Steve Jobs about his life and the struggles.

Do you believe that his natural parents have given him adoption as they felt that Steve may not get a good education if he is brought up by them? Do you believe that Steve Jobs had struggled to have a good meal even once in a week in his life? Steve Jobs is a real achiever.

I don’t want to tell you about him, and if you wish, please listen to Steve Jobs address to Stanford through the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1R-jKKp3NA

J.K.Rowling:

J.K.Rowling’s life is unbelievable. A Great journey. An utter failure in studies and a big failure during initial part of her life. So many problems and struggled even to pay her rent.

A very principled lady despite all the problems. If you listen to J.K.Rowling and about her life, I am sure that you will not get depressed under any circumstances.

You can listen to J.K.Rowling. I have given the link below for her address to Harvard and I hope you will enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L445BmUEXH4

 Barrack Obama:

Many of you may criticize Barrack Obama and many criticized for conferring Nobel on him. I am a strong supporter and fan of Barrack Obama. He inspires many and proved that nothing is impossible. Like Steve and J.K.Rowling, obama too could not get a good background, but, become the President of United States.

A black man with a funny name and with no place to permanently stay when he was a child. Struggled so much to pursue his studies. Neglected his studies initially and then become a first black president of “Harvard Law Review”. He has struggled a lot in life, but, not comprised with achieving his goals.

I would like to provide few links which contains his speech to DNC during 2004, his brief biography and his address to the nation on “Fathers Day”. The links are provided below and I hope, you will enjoy all the information.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWynt87PaJ0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL0KxjeKlrM

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj1hCDjwG6M

My intention behind exposing my views as above is to ask my friends not to compromise with their goals, have big dreams a Dr.Kalam said and accept the truth that success will not come in a day and you need to persistent until you reach your goal.

Wishing all the best to the students in the New Year 2010.