“Where do you see yourself five years from now?” is a typical question in a job interview. It is a tricky question and is used to assess the candidate’s commitment to the job and to find out his or her career goals. [Find multiple resources on this question at the end of article.]
What if the same question is changed into “Where do you see yourself at the end of life’s journey?” Then it becomes a question that pales everything else to insignificance.
But in case, you want to consider the possibility, think about a question Jesus asked: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”1
That means the entire possessions of the world, its pride and glory, riches and kingdoms, wealth and pleasures, selfies and social media, are nothing compared to finding life beyond the grave.
Therefore life on earth is just a preparation; an interview where you are given a chance not to answer the question, “Where do you see yourself five years from now?” but instead “Where do you see yourself spending eternity?”
The choices are clear: heaven or hell, God or judgement. The decision is made now and here. Like there is a final bell for every exam, there will be one in your life as well.
Let me end with the poetic words of John Donne:
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
Yes, there will be one last and final call. But then it will be too late to decide. Vote for God today; and that election will stand the test of time and all eternity!
It’s never too late to start. You should turn your back to the past and walk forward in hope. If it is strength for the journey you are worried about; it is God himself who will be your strength.
It’s never too late to start. None of us are assured of tomorrow. So do not be anxious about what might happen. That is none of your business. But think about how you can make the present opportunity better.
It’s never too late to start. You might have debated long in your mind how to say that you are sorry for the wrong words you used or the mistakes you made. Most of us have passed through it. But if you are genuinely sorry, say it now. It will start to heal a lot of wounds.
It’s never too late to start. So many good things you planned to do, die before they are even born; isn’t it? A perfect start is often a myth; but a small beginning has in it potential to grow and multiply. What matters is not the feebleness of the attempt but that you get things start moving.
It’s never too late to start. Most of us neglect our loved ones at home in the pursuit of our career, hobbies, or even earning more likes and views in social media. But isn’t that sad? Remember what the great cricketer and missionary C. T. Studd said, “The light that shines farthest shines brightest nearest home.” So start to spend more time with your loved ones and make a deliberate effort to show them your love today.
It’s never too late to start. Say No. Most of your troubles can be due to your attempt to please people. Starting today, say no when you are in doubt, when you clearly know that something is wrong, and when you understand that others are trying to manipulate you.
It’s never too late to start to seek God. Just take a moment to say, “I love you, O God.” “Have mercy on me, O God.” “Help me, O my God.” “Guide me, O Lord.” “Give me wisdom to take the right decision.” Or, “Thank you Lord.” In these short and simple prayers, your life can open up to possibilities of God stepping into your life. Seek God today; look into his glorious face, and see the compassion for you in his eyes.
Get up!
Life is more about second chances than you can dream of. Champions and winners script success stories by rising up from the ashes of defeat. They are heartbroken when they see someone else lift the trophy for which they fought with sportsman spirit till the last moment. But that does not prevent them from pursuing their goal to win. You too should be like that. Don’t stay in your bed of despair. This is the time to get up!
Get up!
It might have been years that you stayed in this defeated mode. That doesn’t matter. God is not only the God of your past but of your present and your future as well. He is not limited by all that went wrong in your life. He is not limited by the victim stories you have told yourself and others countless number of times. He is not limited by all your negative circumstances, all those people who tell you that you can’t succeed, or any other force that is bulldozing you at this time. He wants to act decisively in your life. Therefore, get up!
Get up!
This one single act can change the way you think, act, and move forward. It is by taking this first step that you will realize all that the locusts have eaten away in your life. It is this one act of getting up that can change your destiny. Do not wait. Now is the time. This moment is your opportunity. Get up!
“Why are you downcast,
O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Saviour and my God”
It is an Organization’s unique approach to work that helps shape its culture. Building a world class culture in an Organization is like growing a tree. It will take time to send its roots deep. But once it takes hold it is firm.
Here are the seven must-haves that builds a great culture in any Organization:
Discipline
A positive and vibrant culture happens only with discipline. This discipline is not imposed by rules and regulations, do’s and don’ts. This discipline is self-imposed and not enforced by force and supervision. Instead it is delivered by people who have a passion about their work and a commitment to see their work contribute to the greatness of the brand for which they work for.
Leadership
Culture does not work upwards from the rank and file of an Organization. Instead it is largely determined by the leadership. It begins with a leader’s vision and values. It gathers momentum by the enthusiasm shown by the leader in creating an ambience within the Organization that is in tune with his stated purpose of the Organization’s long-term goals, strategies, career paths for employees and of course people policies. When members of the team align themselves to this; there is rapid growth and progress.
Pride and Meaning
To have a great culture, people in an Organization need to feel meaning in their work. Most of them do not care about the big picture. But they do need to be assured that their role and the work they do makes a significant contribution to the Organization. Only then will they have pride in the Organization they work for. The bottom line is that motivation to embrace culture does not depend entirely on the money one earns; but it depends more on knowing that one’s work is valued.
Freedom, Autonomy, and Responsibility
We all love freedom. And what most people hate is working for bosses who are generally not positively spoken of. An Organization which can give freedom to its employees to work can create a culture which is totally different from an Organization which functions under autocratic hierarchical structures.
Freedom does not mean that employees work randomly and totally at their will and pleasure even if it is work from home. No.
There are expected deliverables against deadlines even when work is done as self-managed teams. Leadership roles change within teams as and when required. The sense of ownership and the way members of team take up responsibility is immense when working like this.
Communication
How do you feel when the Organization keeps you knowledgeable about its progress? How do you feel when they call you for an All-Hands meet and share with you the joy of having accomplished one of your big goals? How do you feel when they inform you truthfully about reversals of fortunes and honestly tell you about some cost-cutting measures that has to be taken? The impact of communication which is clear, direct and purposeful is enormous as far as culture is concerned.
Ideas that boost brand image has to be repeatedly communicated to all within the Organization in creative ways. It will infuse members of the team with confidence and pride.
The “We” feel
Celebrations and coming together are not a waste of money. Instead it creates culture. It creates an immense and invaluable memory bank of good times together. What bonds families is the time they spent together. In the same way, Organizations which create avenues for meaningful get-together is building a rock-solid foundation for retaining their best work force in the best of good will and loyalty.
Purpose
If you want me to single out one word or concept which contributes to great culture, I can answer in one word. That is purpose. It is an understanding of purpose that gives an Organization the reason for its existence. It is an earnest belief in purpose that helps an Organization endure difficult times and come through crises stronger and vibrant than ever before.
It is purpose that determines what business to do and what not to pursue. It is purpose that enables employees to avoid distractions and focus on what is meaningful and absolutely essential. In fact, Organizations thrive when purpose permeates their thinking, attitudes, communication, habits and action.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
Featured image: Bejoy Peter, Performance Coach, seen in the backdrop of purpose statement of Mettle Networks, Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram, May 2018.
God-given dreams take you through opposition, hatred, and standstills. Circumstances will seem to kill your dreams. But God-given dreams cannot die.
God-given dreams will often bring unlikely people acting a part in its fulfillment. They might act against you, might forget you, might say false stories about you, and even try to shut you in somewhere. But in all these events, God who put the dream in your heart is watching over you.
God-given dreams have an appointed time when all that you thought were lost hopes will suddenly come to life, gather momentum, and roll forward at dizzying speeds. Then all watching will know it is the hand of God that has done it and he has acted on your behalf.
God-given dreams bring great power and authority over people and situations. If you remain humble and do not forget the hardships God took you through to make you reach there, and if you have a forgiving spirit towards those who tried to do you harm; then God will prosper you and make all that you put your hands to, to succeed.
God-given dreams need wisdom from God to act with foresight in trying situations. Such dreams demand that you guard your character and keep it without spot. When all these combine with care and compassion for people, royal doors will open for you.
Finally, God-given dreams are given to those who are tested and tried in the furnace of afflictions that their hearts might be prepared to handle fame, fortune, authority, and power that will be given them. In their hands God-given dreams will find its intended fulfillment and success!
Great achievements follow when your pursuits are fuelled by the I Can belief and attitude. When this combines with enthusiasm and perseverance you become unstoppable.
Don’t Give Up
Life often brings unexpected difficulties. Some of them may cause you to feel like a failure. But you should fight back from defeats. Don’t quit when one more attempt might possibly change your fortunes.
Now Is Your Opportunity
You might love to run away from an opportunity because you are not well prepared. It doesn’t matter if you fail; go grab the opportunity and perform now. Waiting for a perfect moment, which never comes, is a deception.
Don’t Fear
There are moments fear grips each one of us. It is easy to yield to it. One way to get out of it is to encourage yourself with the reality of God’s presence with you. There is no greater antidote to fear than that.
You Are Valued
Are you someone who is constantly being compared with your brother or sister or friend or neighbour or colleague? It is a sad situation when you are unable to feel your worth. But remember you are unique. God created no one else on earth like you. He values you and rewards you not by comparing yourself with anyone else but by asking, “Did you faithfully use the talent or potential I gifted you with?”
Cricket World Cup 2011 will showcase some of the great talents of cricket. Not only is it going to be great entertainment it will also witness joy and agony, elation and tears, at the drama of quickly changing fortunes. It is not only about dreams come true but also about rains that steal victory from the deserving. Cricket World Cup, again, is not only about yelling crowds and great expectations; but it also about great wins, closely-fought contests, and unexpected defeats as well. In that sense, the game of cricket is close to life. It is this exciting aspect of how cricket is closely knit to the game of life that I would love to explore in today’s talk, Life Lessons from Cricket.
Cricket is a beautiful game. It not only entertains but educates as well. To a keen observer of the game, cricket teaches motivational secrets that can bring success in life. The basic lesson is that life is a game. It has laws and boundaries. We have to abide by the laws and play according to it. Yet winning remains a great art. Not all players win all the time. But then winning alone is not what matters most; but how one plays the game.
Therefore the question is with what attitude do you approach life? Is it with a negative approach which despairs even before the first ball is bowled? Again, do you approach life with a pessimistic attitude saying that the opposition is strong and their total is big and I will not be able to get there? Or do you believe in your God-given abilities, and try to give it your best shot with a positive never-say-die attitude? Remember, it is the same ball that can take your wicket or that can be hit for a six. Remember that life is short and what is important is to play the game with hope. As King Solomon rightly pointed out; “Anyone who is among the living has hope-even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!”
With that in mind let us look at some life lessons from the game of cricket.
First of all, cricket teaches us that mistakes are common in life. I have often wondered the reason why bowlers are motivated to keep on bowling even when the batsmen are hitting them for boundaries and sixes? The simple reason is that they bowl in the hope that the batsmen will soon commit a mistake. We as viewers of the game are either delighted with the opposition’s mistakes or made sad by our team’s mistakes.
But the game goes on. That is perhaps the highlight. We have seen great batsmen get out for a duck or get run-out. We also have seen great bowlers being hit for many boundaries in an over. All this is part of the game. So let us face the fact that mistakes are common in life. The key to success is not to lose heart when a mistake happens. Instead learn from it; make your skills sharper and try again with renewed spirit the next time. And always be alert to the possibility of mistakes.
Secondly, cricket teaches us that each individual is unique and important even in a team. One big difference between cricket and football and many other team games as well is that in cricket there is greater scope for individual brilliance. In the past there were all-rounders or match-winners who could change the game in their team’s favour very quickly. Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Richard Hadlee, Ian Botham, were all consistent players who could change a game with bat or ball. And there were players who epitomized the joy of fielding like Jonty Rhodes who could turn the tide by his brilliant fielding alone. In modern cricket, such players are called game-changers.
What makes a player a game-changer? A player who knows his role well; one who knows what is expected of him at any given moment in the game and does exceeding well in bringing his role to perfection is one who is a game-changer. Sachin Tendulkar, who has won the most number of Man of the Match awards in One day Internationals is a classic example. What is the lesson for you? Many young people think that they are not good enough. This is a mistaken thought. You are created unique. Celebrate your uniqueness and find out your role in life and then be the best in that role. Success will then coming knocking at your doorsteps.
Thirdly, cricket teaches us that success comes to those who enjoy the game. If you take a good look at the great names of world cricket, you’ll find that those names that are not forgotten by generations are those of cricketers who played with passion on their sleeves. To them, cricket was not a means of livelihood or brand promotion. Instead they loved the game, dedicated themselves to be masters of it and did hard work to bring their skills to perfection.
They took to the field with sincerity of purpose, were focussed and sweated it out. But above all, they delighted in the opportunity to play for their national team. They took pride in it. Such players have left behind a lasting legacy. The secret is to enjoy playing the game. Likewise in life too we need to learn to enjoy the work we do. Then success will come naturally. To quote the wise King Solomon once again: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.” Let us also remember the words of Sachin Tendulkar: “Statistics could be a form of reflection of what a player has contributed but for me it is about enjoyment and not statistics”
A few more points related to Life Lessons from Cricket needed to be noted as well. Cricket teaches us that life needs planning. The way a batsman paces an innings well is a sign of his class as well as the fact that he calculates his moment of acceleration with precision. In test cricket a batsman gets ample time to get used to the wicket and the bowling and then start scoring at leisure. But in the limited overs game things are a bit different. Here the batsman’s ability to adapt quickly to the given situation is what makes him a valued player. From the bowler’s point of view, test cricket is a test of one’s endurance while the limited overs game is a question about how quickly he can get wickets or contain the batsman.
All this requires great planning and preparation which includes studying the opposition. Each individual player’s strengths and weakness has to be analysed to have a great game plan. Likewise in life too there should be real planning. Nothing should be left to chance. To quote King Solomon again, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” So plan well. Have confidence in your gifts and talents. Play each ball with the merit it deserves. Treat your opposition with respect. Play according to your game plan and be sure to have a back-up plan if your original planning fails.
The next thought is that cricket teaches us that success in cricket as well as in life is a matter of perseverance. All great players have had their moments of failure. Usually with bad performances in consecutive matches, the media goes to attack the player even if his past records speak for itself. This is especially true with the Indian Media and the pressure of critics is very difficult to handle. Sometimes former players pitch in with harsh and unjust criticism. But great batsmen let their bats do the talking taking failures in their stride. Likewise, great bowlers come back with crucial wicket-taking performances.
Note that all such great players have something in common. They’re winners and they have the passion to win. They never quit. Criticism only fuels their resolve to do their best. We need to remember this quote now long associated with cricket: “Form is temporary; class is permanent.” The life lesson is that you need to weather stormy seasons and endure lean patches in life. You need to always hold on and never quit.
Remember the words of Sir Winston Churchill who said, “Never! Never! Never! Never! give up.” Do not consider a game over till the last ball is bowled for as Napolean Bonaparte said, “Victory belongs to the most persevering.” Do not blame circumstances; one has to learn be a good player in fast wickets and slow-turning pitches at home as well as abroad. Learn to play the game of life with great sportsmanship.
Above all else, cricket teaches us that life is about entertainment. The goal of each player is to do well so as to entertain the audience. How is this done? Through a variety of ways. There is nothing more fascinating to watch than a pace bowler bowling great line and length and have the batsman in a mesmerized hold. There is a kind of rhyme and rhythm to the long run up to the crease and completed by a graceful follow through.
A spinner on the other hand often tricks a batsman by his flight and varied pace and turn. Or is there anything more lovely than an exciting cover drive, or a straight drive which gives no chance to any fielder, or a lofted six over long off or long on?
What about a batsman dancing down the wicket to do so. What about the poetry of a hook shot to a bouncer or the brute force of a pull shot that races to the ropes like lightning. Words fail me to say about the drama of run-outs, stumpings, quick-reflex catches in the slips and forward short-leg, dramatic stops at the boundary line; so on and so forth.
The quick running between wickets, the raised bat as a batsman reaches a milestone, a bowler’s elation at the sound of the cricket ball hitting the stumps; the running in of players to the centre to crowd around and celebrate; what fantastic entertainment is this!
Young friends, life is not just about existence. Instead it is about living life to the fullest. It is about utilizing your fullest potential not just to achieve fame or fortune but more to inspire others to do well. This is a great privilege and responsibility. You can inspire others by your great performances. As Helen Keller, who inspired many by her triumph over great odds in life, once wrote , “When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.”
That is what exactly happened in the 1983 World Cup with Kapil Dev’s unbeaten 175 against Zimbabwe. It was nothing short of a miracle as when he came in to bat India were 17 for the loss of 5 wickets. Kapil recently said this about that great knock: “I was too young at that time to understand the emotions. Now after so many years, the achievement has finally sunk in and I realize it was a truly great one. God creates a day for sportspeople and that day was mine.”
Finally, cricket teaches us the art of finishing well. Often in the game we find teams starting off well while batting. When everything seems to be going great and commentators start projecting big final scores there is a sudden middle-order collapse which is soon followed by some bowler finishing off the tail.
Though not every match goes according to this script, it is vitally important to note that many teams fail to follow through the good work they do at the beginning of an innings. This can be due to overconfidence, concentration loss, allowing pressure of the situation to get the better of one’s nerves, carelessness or sometimes poor decision-making. Whatever it be, the team that wins is one that has one or two players who are great finishers.
Finishing well is definitely a great art. For example, during the golden days of West Indian Cricket, there was a kind of habit with the West Indian batsmen to finish off every game with a six. Likewise each one of us should determine early in life to finish well. Otherwise you’ll be rattled at the crossroads of life when life takes unexpected twists and turns. Sadly very few cricket players have ended the long innings of their career on a high note. Others waited to be dropped from the team before announcing retirement. But a few like Steve Waugh and Muttiah Muralitharan finished their test careers in blazing glory as if it were a fairy tale ending.
Let me sum up the main highlights once again:
Cricket is a beautiful game. It not only entertains but educates as well. Cricket teaches us that mistakes are common in life. It teaches us that each individual is unique and important even in a team and that success belongs to those who enjoy the game best. Further, cricket teaches us that life needs planning and preparation and shows us that perseverance is the key to leave a lasting legacy behind. Above all, cricket teaches us that life is about entertainment meaning that life is to be lived out to its fullest God-given potential so that you’ll inspire others with your performances. Beyond all this cricket teaches us the art of finishing well in life. To conclude, great cricket legends never die; they just fade away!
As many colours are there so also are there many lenses with which to view success. Each will show a different image; coloured by the way each person likes to see success:
Success!
It all starts with a desire to do something worthwhile. Most of us fail right here. Our focus is inward. Trying to receive; but reluctant to give. But blessed is the man who learns to give of his time, talent, treasure and knowledge to others.
Success!
It is one’s ability to stick to a purpose. You can call it constancy to purpose. The oft-quoted example is that of the postal stamp which sticks to the envelope and makes it to the destination.
Success!
It is one’s ability not to wait for seeds to sprout. You might have heard the historic legend of Johnny Appleseed, born John Chapman (September 26, 1774 – February 18, 1845), who went around planting apple seeds across many states in U.S.A. and kept on travelling doing good.
He did not wait for the seeds to sprout. But knew that someday the good that he had planted would multiply when the seeds would sprout and grow and bear fruit. The point I am trying to make is, “He who conducts an orchestra must turn his back to the crowd.”
Success!
Is all about the quest for excellence. Sometime ago I read somewhere that “Michael Angelo painted with a brush in one hand and a candle in the other to prevent his shadow from covering his masterpiece in progress.” Such quest for excellence should inspire us to do better.
Success! It’s all about keeping on moving while waiting. There is a saying by Thomas Alva Edison, “Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.” What does it mean? To hustle here means to move energetically and rapidly. But how to do it while waiting? that’s the question!
Listen to the Risen Christ speak with authority: “I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” 1 These words have put courage in the hearts of countless men and women down through the centuries.
And today, if a closed door has left you feeling helpless and stranded, here are a few thoughts to think on:
Secondly, look up to God. He can create opportunities where none exists. What he shuts no one can open and what he opens for you, no one can shut. But looking up to God does not mean there are easy answers.
You might have a long wait ahead. And it is often this test of patience that wears you down. Nothing seems to happen while you wait. But that is how it is.
Thirdly, even while you pray to God, sharpen your skills. Learn something new that will help you make the leap when your opportunity comes. If you fail to update your knowledge you will never be able to make yourself prepared and ready for the new thing that will come to your life.
See, when God sent the rain and the flood, he asked Noah to build the ark. Neither had Noah seen rain before; nor had he ever built even a small boat. But he was ready when the flood came. Then the LORD shut him in inside the ark.2 The shut-in experience became a blessing; a place of safety, and an open door to a new beginning in life.
Fourthly, ask, seek, and knock. Look around you. A closed door can mean that you have to change directions. What might have been a success in the past might not be what is needed for the hour. Your willingness to change can be tested at this time. Keep looking for the next opportunity maybe in a new area or domain.
Finally, the most difficult one among all this, thank God for the closed door in your life: Thanking God means that you are admitting that the situation is beyond your wisdom to handle. Thanking God that you trust God to make the next move for you. Thanking God that you understand that God is preparing people and circumstances to match the moment that will make others look at you and say, “See, what God has done!”3
Olympics is one of the finest expressions of man’s passion to excel, dominate and win. On the other side, the agony and the pain of defeat after having come so close is the stuff that the legend of the Olympics is made of. In this speech today, I would like to highlight perseverance as the key to the Olympic glory.
Failing is one thing; but failing without a true fight is something else. Do we lose the battle even before the game begins? Are victories made in the playing arena or is it worked out in one’s mind already? These are questions worthy of our highest consideration.
Under-achievers try desperately to find short cuts to avoid preparing for performance. But honest hard work is the only way in which preparation can be done. If you can do the unglamorous work of preparation in the shadows; then when the spotlights will focus on you, they’ll see the emergence of a champion like gold coming out purified in the fire!
Dear friends, there is no substitute, I say again, no substitute for “blood, toil, tears and sweat.” The Olympic glory is not a product of rocking away in easy chairs; but is the reward of those whose “faces are marred by dust and sweat and blood,” today.
So many have said this many times, but I am saying it again: “Rome was not built in a day.” Everybody says it feels great to win an Olympic gold. But how long have you to be at it to win? How many heartaches have you to endure?
With what courage will you bounce back from defeats? Will your enthusiasm hold good when all that you built up over the years crumble down into rubble and dust?
Keeping on going for medal gold even when you’re crushed in spirit, even when medal gold seems unattainable, even when detractors say that it is not possible to achieve, is the secret of winning! In one word, perseverance is the key!
Victories in life are not permanent. We find the Olympics throw up new champions every four years. We find the glory of the past achievers pale into insignificance with the arrival of new ones.
So what is the relevance of the Olympic glory? It should teach you and me that life’s most coveted moments might not perhaps be in the victory stands. The lasting legacy might not be the medal you won but the sterling example you leave behind of “how you played the game!”
Dear friends, the Olympic glory is not for the man who is chasing a few nice rabbits here and there when he is hunting a prized lion. He has to keep track of his one goal. He has to keep his eyes focussed. He should see nothing but his victory. He should be able to say No to passions of life and distractions that all others indulge in.
Life continues. The Olympic torch in its journey across oceans and continents represents this continuity. It tells us that a message is being passed on. of a positive message of excellence to the next generation.
Will the next generation remember you as one who fought well; no matter whether you won or lost? Let me conclude in the words of Napoleon Bonaparte, “Victory belongs to the most persevering!”
Thank God for all your failures in life. Let those failures be personal, financial, in relationships, or any other; thank God for them all. This is absolutely difficult.
Yet once you start praising God for your failures in life; it simply lifts the burden from your heart. Maintain this attitude of praise throughout the year.
It means that you are willing like a little child to hand over to God all your broken toys and in return get the most beautiful and cherished triumph of creative work and good made out your dismal failures in life. Believe me, though it takes real long time, it works!
Again, when you fail, never lower your standards. I learned this principle from the encounter Simon Peter the expert fisherman of the Sea of Galilee had with Jesus Christ (Refer Luke’s Gospel, Chapter 5).
Once Simon was washing his nets after a long night’s hard work at the sea. Jesus stepped into his empty boat and asked him to keep the boat a little away from shore. From there he taught the crowds. When he finished teaching he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
To this Simon said, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Remember, Simon Peter was an expert fisherman. He had caught nothing after a hard night’s toil. Not only was his boat empty, but his purse was also empty that day.
Yet against common sense, he obeyed the word of the Lord Jesus Christ and caught a great catch that day and all the fishermen were astonished. It led Simon Peter to worship Christ and follow him!
The point is that the catch is always in the deep; not in shallow waters. It doesn’t matter if after having worked long and hard you have caught nothing.
If you listen to the voice of the Master and obey; you’ll have a great catch indeed! More importantly you discover the path you need to travel to fulfil the purpose of your life.
Long distance runners or swimmers probably find the laps immediately after the half-way mark most difficult. That is the time when motivation starts running low and discouragement sets in.
Of course there are individual variations but anyone who has attempted a big project knows all about the pressure that builds on the mind towards the middle.
#1. When your energy is running low do not think of the finishing tape. Think of what you are doing at the present. Just focus on completing that one step. In other words do it one step at a time.
#2. Recollect your motive. What was it that made you attempt this in the first place? When you think of it; your motivation, if it is a genuine one, will come back. Find some way to keep reminding yourself of your mission statement.
#3. Remind yourself that great victories are won by simply holding on when the cause seems hopeless. Do not listen to your emotions which are playing tricks on your mind at the moment. So stay on course no matter how low you feel.
#4. Try to stand in the shoes of a Coach. Imagine you telling somebody in your current situation words of motivation. What will you say? Definitely you won’t ask that person to quit; will you? So the positive words you would imagine telling another will itself pump you up with enthusiasm.
#5. Seek help. There is no need to act brave when you are feeling down. Talk with someone you trust and ventilate your thoughts. Make sure that the person you are talking to is someone who is able to help you see reality in a proper light. After listening to you, he or she will be able to tell you exactly why situations are not as bad as it seems to be.
#7. Make prayer a habit. Those who suddenly think about calling to God for help would possibly find that they don’t have his phone number. But those who are familiar with God by spending time with him daily will find it much easier to tell God how tempted they are to quit. When such an honest prayer is made, God often sends his angels to strengthen you; and often these angels are people whom you least expected to be there for you at that critical hour.
“I don’t feel like speaking today,” is that kind of attitude and response which is common with school kids. But you should be made of stronger stuff than that.
I do accept that your problems at home, issues with health, work pressure at office, a broken relationship, and financial struggles are weighing you down. But what about tomorrow. It may or may not bring solutions. So if you don’t speak today you lose an opportunity–a time and opportunity and a moment that will never repeat itself in your life again!
More than that you lose a chance to make a stand for doing what is right. Your emotions will fight tooth and nail to oppose your decision to speak. And, if you allow your emotions to dictate probably you’ll end up doing nothing significant in life.
On the other hand, can you imagine the confidence it will give you if you can step forward and attempt to speak? Sure, you are unprepared. But did you know that some great speeches are born in the fire of “I can’t do it” protestations? So decide to speak no matter what you feel.
You anyway will not solve your problems by not speaking. Therefore step out and speak. Tomorrow you will be able to speak with more grace, eloquence, and confidence simply because today you attempted to speak in spite of your troubles. When you speak today it might not be anywhere near perfection; but that doesn’t matter. What alone matters is the fact that you did not yield to the spirit of despair that said, “I can’t do it!”
Success in life is about your ability to refuse the negativity that wants to dominate you. Success is not about measuring the quality of each speech delivered or every single attempt you make. Success is about keeping on doing what you are good in spite of all of your doubts and fears.
So do it today. Let your voice be heard. Who knows how you might inspire someone else by your courage to speak today! Let me conclude by reminding you that the feeling that “I can’t do it”is a deception and a lie. You can if you are simply willing to try.
The first thing to do to speak without fear is your willingness to try. Forget about all the lies about your failure the devil whispers in your mind. Instead, be ready to make a fool of yourself on stage.
Let me tell you the truth point blank:
One, you will make mistakes; I don’t know anyone who does not make them on stage; at least once in a while. I know I do.
Two, people will say good things to you like, “You speech was wonderful.” The best thing to do is not to believe it. For it doesn’t mean anything. And probably they have no more knowledge of the craft of speech than you do.
Three, people have too many things to think about already–the bills they have to pay, how to manage their bad boss at office, and the studies of their children that worry them. Do you think they have time to think about your speech and all its faults? I doubt.
Of course, you will feel humiliated when you make mistakes. For we are made of flesh and blood and emotions and mood swings; aren’t we? So, what’s the big deal? Your failure on stage proved you to be a human being. That’s all to it; and nothing more.
Now how to handle criticism levelled against you. It definitely hurts. Why? Because we have strong egos. Now what does than mean? It is the thinking that I am right (always), and I simply can’t be wrong.
Now think about it this way. It doesn’t matter how good or bad your speech was. Think about improving on it. Be dissatisfied with your best efforts. Then you will be able to see criticism helping you on the road to excellence than tearing you apart.
Finally, let me tell you the secret of success I have personally known and experienced in speaking. To me, it has always been the truth of God’s love to me displayed on the Cross of Calvary where Jesus shed his blood and died.
It has also taught me that failures are integral to the process of becoming good. It teaches you more about humility than anything else.
So face your fears honestly. But don’t make it an excuse to run away from speaking situations. Volunteer to speak. Fail. Fail again and again. The time will come when it will be difficult for you to not to succeed. And still if you fail, let it be so. But tomorrow you will try again; won’t you!
In this short speech, let me try to point out three ways that lead to failure.
Reason #1 If you ask me which is the most important reason why people fail; I can confidently say that it is their inability to say NO when confronted with a wrong choice. In other words such people try to please everybody. They are dominated by “What will others think about me?” thinking.
The failure to say NO with boldness the first time they get a chance to do so is the road that takes many through pain and bitterness and sorrow even though the entry to it was often through the gateway of pleasure.
Reason #2 The second major cause of failure in the modern world is the inability to avoid distractions. We live in a noisy world with a lot of voices and sounds everywhere. You cannot walk through the street without being visually attracted to all the colours and brightly lit adverts everywhere. But these are nothing compared to the distractions that come to us through gadgets especially mobile phones and through social media like Whatsapp and facebook.
The trouble with distractions is that they come in good packets which makes it difficult for you to resist. My friends, distractions takes your eyes off your goals and makes you lose sharp focus. As far as I know, there are not many who has achieved success in life without having pursued it with a single-minded aim.
Reason #3 Interestingly, the next reason for failure is something that will bring a smile to your face. It is nothing other than procrastination. Let me ask you how many times have you postponed doing things you should have done? How many times did such delaying of things dishearten you when pending tasks became a little mountain?
If you wish to avoid this trap, ask two questions when confronted with tasks. Is this urgent? Is this important? Having obtained those answers tackle the hardest and toughest task first. And “Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today,” as Sir Benjamin Franklin said.
There are many other causes for failure. Some among them are, lack of a specific aim or goal; the absence of planning and teamwork, not setting meaningful and realistic deadlines and sticking to it, the inability to persevere in the face of difficulties and setbacks and of course not updating knowledge.
Perhaps you can add many more to this list. But I can assuredly tell you with all confidence that if you work on the three core ideas mentioned in this speech, you can reverse the trend of failure in your life.
Let me repeat those important points once again. To succeed in life, one, learn to say NO with boldness the first time you are confronted with a wrong choice. Two, have the courage to say NO to distractions even when they come in good packets. Three, say NO to laziness; instead prioritize tasks and do things promptly without postponing.
To conclude, let me remind you that winning is a habit in life, a killer instinct you have, fuelled by a burning desire to achieve.
Attitude #1. Winners believe that it is possible to achieve
It goes without saying that all wins happen in our minds before it works out in reality. Winners conquer giants of fear and doubt in their own minds before they enter their playing fields. He who wins the battle in his mind is already a winner. He is not intimidated by opposition however fearful they appear to be.
Attitude#2. Winners see possibilities not problems
So many people lose the joy of living just because they talk about problems all the time. They forget the reality that all people have problems. But winners see problems as opportunities to be innovative, creative and tap hidden potential with enthusiasm. This very difference in outlook makes it possible for a winner to conquer seeming problems with ease.
Attitude#3. Winners do not quit even when others give up
Every highway and byway of life is littered with the bones of those who started well but gave up somewhere during the journey. This happens because it is easy to give up. But it takes blood, toil, tears, and sweat to make a win possible. It is all about persistence and perseverance. Winners are those who have persevered.
Attitude#4. Winners are constant learners
Winners are humble and are willing to learn from others. They do not stop learning. Always observant, they, like a sponge absorb the best from others. It is when people stop learning as soon as they complete their education that they become fossils. A winner is armed with latest information and he therefore is able to make intelligent decisions without loss of valuable time.
Attitude#5. Winners rehearse often and practice their art to perfection
Fools are those who think that it is easy to perform. All great performances come attached with a huge price tag. Long hours of preparation and sweat and practice is what makes a winner perform at his very best when the spotlights are focused on him. A winner labours on while others sleep; and while others relax winners push themselves to rehearse yet one more round. The results follow.
Attitude#6. Winners do not wilt under the pressure of criticism
There is no winner who has not passed through the fires of criticism. Winners do get hurt by criticism; sometimes more badly than the ordinary person. Often winners too feel like giving up. But the difference is that they choose to react positively and creatively to the pain of criticism. They make criticism levelled at them a real tornado of inspiring force to perform better and prove their critics wrong. Criticism thus becomes the fuel that burns and propels winners forward to great victories.
Attitude#7. Winners do not make success a resting place
Winners are those who are always dissatisfied with their best. They are never content in a good sense. Always there is unrest within their hearts. They scan the skies above and always try to soar still higher. Success does not satisfy winners. It only makes them long for more. They do not rest on past victories and laurels.
Attitude#8. Winners give their best in all their attempts
There are people who always look for short cuts in life. If people are not watching they do a shoddy work all the time. But winners are unlike them. They give their best at all times. It does not matter whether it is a small opportunity that has come their way; they’ll do it as if it was the greatest privilege they got in life. Giving hundred percent plus every single time is the way winners do it all the time.
Attitude#9. Winners comeback from the worst situations and pull a win straight from the jaws of defeat
Testing times prove a man or woman for their mettle. Often they stare at defeat. But winners never give up hope. They know that even when the battle is going against them; at any point they are capable of making a comeback. And they do so too; by calling forth energy and resources we thought impossible from a person exhausted from the fight, we find a rallying cry and a shout of triumph as the winner turns the tables in a flash.
Attitude#10. Winners make it possible for others to succeed
There are people who make success an end in itself. They do not see beyond the victories they enjoy in life. But true winners are those who see life in larger and broader perspective. They try to make life easier for others by lending a helping hand. Perhaps the greatest contribution from true winners is that they motivate others to be the best they can be.
I am yet to meet a genuinely talented person who has not passed through a period of loss of confidence in his or her life or career. Certainly these dark periods of doubt have really made people stronger than before.
When you pass through a period of loss of confidence it is quite natural to brood on all negatives and failures that has happened to you. That is self-defeating. Instead of doing this, think of all your best past performances and believe that you can do it again.
Some people accept loss of confidence as a permanent attachment of their lives! How sad to see people live in the belief that they will never get out of loss of confidence. Such a belief is a lie and totally untrue!
What we need to accept is the fact that for a brief passing period of life we have entered a tunnel experience where all is dark. But hold on. Light will break at the end of the tunnel. Loss of confidence therefore should be accepted as a normal part of life but never accepted as a permanent condition. In this acceptance you will find freedom!
At the same time resist the huge temptation to rush things and the attempt to get back to top gear as quickly as possible. But if you attempt to rush things, that attempt is surely going to backfire on you
Instead take your time. Go it slow. Stop your activity and simply do nothing for long periods. Your mind and body need the stops rather than the notes of music at this time. And remember each person in the same situation of loss of confidence takes a different time to recoup and recover. So take your time and do not allow anyone to rush you!
Your goal at the moment is to get back the rhythm and the passion and the enthusiasm and the effortless grace with which you did things in the past. Till you get back to your absolute best, stay contented on the small stage. Your time to roar and soar is just a few days away!
No matter what the darkness in your life; no matter how great the loss you have faced; no matter whether it was your irresponsibility or mistake; no matter how long you have been out of touch with your best; no matter who or what great odds are pitted against you; no matter how depressed and sorrowful you are now; know that with God nothing is impossible.
As King David rightly expressed,: “You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light” (Psalm 18:28). Yes, with God you can. Even before you stop reading this, thank God for the mighty comeback he has enabled in your life. It will happen; it surely will!
A final thought that we need to keep in mind is that loss of confidence is no hopeless condition.
If rightly approached, such a phase in life can bring the best out of us; and can result in an outflow of creative use of our hidden potential and talents. More perhaps has been achieved by people with loss of confidence when they have trusted in the grace of God.
When St. Paul prayed thrice that God would remove a thorn in his flesh (exactly what this source of his loss of confidence was no one knows), the Lord Jesus Christ told him the secret to get the better of it:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weaknesses.”
Paul, powered by that word of confidence, became a great achiever in spite of all negatives that happened to him in life. So also we too can achieve trusting in the power of the One whose grace is sufficient in all our loss of confidence and whose power energizes us to rise and conquer in spite of all our weaknesses!
Therefore with St. Paul, let us also confidently say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13 Bible NKJV).
There are three things you should remember once you have tasted success:
The first thing to remember to counter complacency is that others are working hard to reach where you reached. You simply cannot relax.
Do not think that competition disappears when you have succeeded. The truth is it becomes more competitive than ever. So to stay at the top you need to exercise more vigilance than what it took to take you to the top in the first place.
Remember, when success weds complacency, it spells failure!
The second thing to remember to counter complacency is that you need to be ready to embrace change and adapt new methods. Times and methodologies and technologies are changing rapidly.
What was cutting edge yesterday is blunt tomorrow. Therefore be alert to changing needs and stay ahead by initiating change than following it.
Remember, when success weds complacency, it spells failure!
Why do I stress this point? It is because great men and women, great teams and organizations, nations and empires fell because they compromised on the basics.
Remember, when success weds complacency, it spells failure!
So let me remind you once again. the three points you should remember to counter complacency: One, Others are on the move to reach where you are, probably inspired by your own performance. Two, you need to be flexible and willing to change methodologies as needed. Three, and more importantly remind yourselves of basics all the time.
Let me end by reminding you yet another time: When success weds complacency, it spells failure!
Life has changed after Covid-19. Classes are online. I miss the warmth of friendship, the ambience of learning, and the fun of doing things together.
Life has thrown new challenges. In this context, as I look back at all my experience of teaching, I think there are three things every student should know. Let me share that with you.
First of all finding yourself where you are now was never your choosing.
When you were young it was your parents who decided things for you; perhaps they still do.
You might not like everything they do and might not agree with all that they decide for you. But there are no perfect parents on earth and yours are no exception. Learn to forgive in case they are wrong.
At the same time do not give up when you find yourself in a course of study that was never your first choice.
Instead make best use of time and opportunities that are present for you. Do not compare yourself with others and feel inferior. Negative circumstances are just the right conditions for you to excel.
Who knows! If you show passion for the subject that you find yourself in today, your skill in it might just be the most wanted in the changed world tomorrow.
Secondly, learn to do ordinary things exceptionally well.
Let me start from the simplest of examples. From drawing a margin in your notebook, writing today’s date on the blackboard when given the chance, tying your shoelace properly, are all indicators of greatness.
No task is below your dignity if you can stamp it with a divine “nothing left undone that could be done” attitude. Whatever you do, do it with enthusiasm and as if there is no second chance.
When such an attitude becomes a habit there are no end to possibilities. What is mundane and routine becomes ablaze with glory.
So then, aim high and keep on doing the ordinary with the best of your efforts every single time you attempt. Let there be no exceptions.
Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles. This is a great promise that God told his people through Prophet Isaiah (40:31).
It tells you about God who has not forgotten you or your struggles in life. He has immense power and wisdom to show himself strong on your behalf.
He is motivating and encouraging you to rise up from your bed of despair. He is calling you to believe in him who will help you to soar on wings like eagles.
When you feel like quitting or giving up; do listen to this motivational podcast.
It will surely inspire you to trust in God who will help you to fly high just like how eagles do.
“Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” 1
1Isaiah 40:31 Bible NIV 1984.
Featured image courtesy: Photo by Frank Cone on Pexels | Microsoft Designer
If you look at circumstances, if you look at the wind and the clouds and the surging waves, you will never move out of the safety of the shore.
What does that mean? It means you lose your opportunity. And opportunities might not knock a second time.
Therefore have an eye that looks out for opportunities. They might not present themselves well-dressed and might even appear in beggar’s clothes. But it is your eye that looks out for the opportunity which sees potential hidden within.
Secondly, ask, seek, knock. Opportunities will never come for those who simply sit, wait, and daydream. They come only to those who actively seek for it. Be bold and persistent. And be gently persuasive. But do not give up.
Above all, never think closed doors as permanent. Trust God. He can open doors where no opportunity seems to exist. He can bring things to life out of what others term as dead situations.
Therefore be wise in the way you use God-given opportunities in life. It can mean the difference between failure and success!
When it happens the first thing to believe is that you can come out of it, God helping you.
Again, do not be surprised that you feel totally confused and unable to do so many things you did with ease in the past. That is how it is during a period of loss of confidence.
What you need to do is to look back, look forward, and look up. What you shouldn’t do is look inward and feel helpless.
Instead, look back to your best past performances and believe that you can do it again. Perhaps much better than how you did it then.
Then you need to look forward and focus on dreaming big for your future. Do not focus on the present misery and limit yourself. The greater your dream the better chance for your quickness of recovery.
And when you dream, always think of helping people to be at their best through your success. It will give a greater purpose to your dreams and enthusiasm in your present efforts.
The next thing to do is to look up. God loves you and is always ready to help you. The only thing you need to know is that his sense of timing is different.
He is patient. He takes time to rebuild your confidence. His goal is formation of your character and making you have inner strength and courage.
Perhaps the hidden blessing in loss of confidence is that you become a person with compassion for others. Instead of being puffed up with pride because of your talent and abilities, you learn to stoop down and give a helping hand to those who struggle with lack of confidence themselves.
So cheer up. Your loss of confidence is not going to last long. With hope in God and trust in his unchanging love for you, move forward to climb greater heights than you have ever achieved so far.
Finally, treasures and riches mean what it means. We all love to store up money. Nothing wrong with it when it is made through genuine hard work.
Yet Jesus asked us to store up our riches in heaven where moth doesn’t eat and rust doesn’t corrupt. It points out the uncertainty of riches in this world. And the permanence of what is sacrifially given away out of compassion and love for others.
Let me conclude. When God is promising you such great treasures of darkness and riches stored in secret places, will you settle for less?
Leadership is an intentional exercise. If you leave it to chance, the chances are that you will experience power leakage in leadership. Here are 7 areas you need to be conscious about.
#1. Getting over-familiar with people.
There is nothing wrong in building relationships and friendships with people who are under your leadership. But never forget the principle of distance. Leadership that allows people to get too close to you personally can disable you to function well when you need to correct, discipline and persuade them to take action.
#2. Being a caring person.
Caring for others is a good quality. But there is a conflict here with power in leadership. The more you seem to care for people, the more they tend to steal your valuable time. A need that can be met in five minutes might go into a prolonged discussion of personal needs and difficulties if you don’t exercise proper leadership. Be matter of fact in your listening, give to-the-point advice, delegate wherever possible, and instil hope. Do that in quick time and get back to your work of leading. Don’t be pulled into the trap of seeing only the need of one person when you are leading an entire team or organization.
#3. Late intervention.
Leadership is best when there is anticipation of emerging situations. That calls for timely intervention. If as a leader you become a spectator watching others lead the show in a discussion, then there is power leakage. You have to show boldness to step in, take the lead, and control discussions. There will always be people who love to have the limelight, to show off how knowledgeable they are, and those who deliberately try to usurp leadership. Therefore you need to be alert to the fact that leadership is always open to competition and the seat you occupy is envied by many.
#4. Being surprised by information. One of the mistakes leaders make is when they do not take care to get information from the grassroots. Do not depend on your immediate chain of command alone for critical information. Bypass them and have a secure reporting system in place. The worst thing that can happen in a discussion is when you have to ask, “What is the discussion all about?” It makes you look weak and uninformed. Having vital information with you is an absolute must for any leader.
#5. Not leading with questions.
A leader who exercises power and influence is one who knows to ask the right questions. This helps to question wrong assumptions people have about situations and problems confronting them. Asking the right questions can shake people out of complacency and make people commit themselves to deadlines and plan of action proposed. Questions can help to elicit critical information that might become vital in solving problems or taking negotiations forward. A leader is one who should have persuasive ability and that cannot be true without the ability to ask questions. A simple question like, “What would you have done in this situation?” can get the listener become creative with his or her response.
#6. The Nero effect.
Nero was busy playing his fiddle when Rome was burning. Leaders who close their eyes to immediate needs and substitute them with other lesser pursuits, hobbies, or distractions fall into this category. Problems do not disappear on their own. They have to be tackled with diligence. St. Paul makes that point very clear when he wrote that if a person’s gift is leadership he should exercise it diligently1 which means that he should do it with careful and persistent work or effort. Yes, leadership should be approached as work to be done with a long-term vision and keeping long range goals in mind.
#7. Forgetting the killer instinct.
Leaders who forget the killer instinct are like athletes who relax when they see the finishing tape allowing others to edge them out. A leader should always be doing critical follow-up to ensure that nothing takes him or her by surprise. Whatever can be foreseen should be anticipated; and necessary measures taken to avoid surprises. A leader cannot take promises made at face value but should keep reminding people of their commitments often. It might seem annoying but that is part of the killer instinct. Get things done without fail. Don’t leave it to chance. That is the power of leadership in action. Read 7 Essential Stops to Leadership Power Leakage on LinkedIn
The second skill needed is abundant enthusiasm. It is that quality that keeps up a joyful energetic go-getting attitude even when progress is extremely slow.
The third skill you need is the readiness to do the same boring things again and again. One step at a time, one step at a time, one step at a time it goes on.
Finally, what you need is the hope that you’ll touch the finishing tape however slow life seems to move on. There is no substitute for this.
Above and beyond all this, trust that God does not despise a slow mover. The God who created the eagle also created the snail. And if the snail made it to Noah’s ark it crawled all the way. Wow; isn’t it?
Do not give up. Problems in life will keep coming just like waves keep hitting the shore. Do not fear when you see them. Instead of running away you have to look for ways to ride on the waves.
Do not give up. Life is precious. You are given only one. So make the best use of it. Focus on what you can do today. God has given every man and woman promise of strength for each day’s troubles.
Do not give up.
Some people whom you trusted might have let you down. It is now your feel that no one can be trusted. But there are others who will come to help you and stand with you. Have hope.
Do not give up.
You might have lost many opportunities in life. You might have wasted many years. My friend do not brood over a dead past. God can always give you a new beginning. He will take care of all that was lost.
Do not give up.
Good things to happen in life takes time. Be patient. When difficulties come in life and no progress is made in what you planned to do, be patient. Use this time to slow down, make plans, and dream big. Do not allow people’s opinions to frustrate you.
Do not give up. You may not have much money. You may be lacking much needed resources. These are limitations. But they need not stop you from thinking creatively. Adapt to limited resources. Think big. Cut your expenses wherever possible. Put off certain purchases. You can make it through a rainy day. The sun will shine again.
Do not give up.
If you believe that God is watching over you, do not become anxious. I know it is easy to say, “Do not worry.” But it is difficult to practice. When loss and hurts and distress come it is quite natural to ask God, “Why?” You might not get all the answers. When you feel like giving up then, just ask God to hold you tight. Don’t You Quit
It is time to say goodbye. I have said it many times before. Yet it has never grown easy.
I now stand alone on the deck of my ship awaiting a new set of passengers.
I will wake up tomorrow with a heavy heart. I will miss you all.
Do not think that the sessions have come to an end. This is not an end but a beginning. What the caterpillar calls an end, the butterfly calls a beginning!
As a Trainer I cannot walk with you all the way. Like Rev. Martin Luther King said the night before he was assasinated, I may not cross with you over to the Promised Land. There is a place where I have to stop and you have to go on.
All of you have shown immense talent. At some point along our journey each one of you discovered who you truly are. You realized your true potential for the first time in your life.
Now it is time to use every opportunity that comes your way. You will certainly make mistakes. You will face criticism.
But remember three things.
One, aim for excellence.
Two, keep on doing what you are good at. Perseverance is the word for it but for ease of remembering let me say endurance.
Three, enjoy speaking.
These are the Three E’s I would like to leave you with:
Excellence!
Endurance!
Enjoyment!
I would like to thank each one of you for being part of this Batch. Each one of you contributed to the success of this class in your own unique way.
Thank you for the love, fun and friendship. I hope it will last for a long time to come. And thank you for the thoughtful gifts you gifted me with. It makes this parting even more difficult.
It is now time to say goodbye. I don’t promise that everyday I will be thinking of all of you. That is not possible. But at the back of my mind somewhere you will be there.
Let me end by asking why we go and watch sunsets even though they bring in darkness? It is because we are sure that the sun will rise again.
Some of you have already seen sunsets in life. This is my heartfelt prayer and wish for you: that each one of you will have a brilliant Sunrise in your life with better hopes, better dreams and better tomorrows. Thank you
Instead of seeing yourselves as failures; try to see yourselves as valued in the eyes of God. You are someone who can shine a ray of hope in some dark corner. For the darkness that clouded your vision is being lifed from your life.
The past died. And has been wiped out. It can no longer act today. Arise in the newness of this realization and fulfill the vision.
2. Do not limit vision by myopic vision.
Most people have a short-sighted vision. They make their life a mockery. To gain riches or fame or power are their life’s goals. Some just want to eat, drink and be merry. All these are like the grass that grows up today and withers tomorrow. Throw such silly things into the fire. Let it burn to ashes.
Instead enlarge your vision. Climb high. Look down from there. Have a bird’s eye view. See your entire life in one stretch. Or imagine all your life being played on the screen fast forward.
What would you like to have achieved at the end of it? What difference did your life make? When you look back at your life from the end of it; does not most things that you count most dear today seem like tattered rags instead of trophies?
So dear friends, awake to a bigger vision. A vision that looks impossible. And dare to live it.
3. Do not limit your vision by your circumstances.
To the one who complains; no circumstance is ever right. The winds are needed for the boat to sail. And its fury required to make a man a sailor in the truest sense. For a man who has seen no storms will never have a tale to pass on. He will never teach a vital lesson to those who get ready to sail.
Difficult circumstances are God’s chariots to lift you up high. They are the playgrounds where God teaches you to fly; to defy gravity and soar in spite of it.
Those who do so have a vision of seeing themselves kiss the stretch of blue and catch the orange gleam of golden sunrise on their wings. To the onlooker from down below it looks as if their wings are on fire.
But it is their hearts that are on fire; fully ablaze at their triumph over their negative circumstances. Powered forward by walking on dry ground through the midst of the raging seas.
4. Do not limit your vision by what others tell.
Almost always all others tell you is why you shouldn’t do it. Believe me; they are telling you their fears. They are afraid that their unspoken dreams will be fulfilled by you. They cannot bear that thought. So they advice you why you can’t live your dream.
But let me ask you; is this your life? Have you only one life on earth? If so, decide; who will be at its steering wheel? When your hand is held by the Almighty; fear none else. Be sure that His plans and purposes will never fail. For “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30).
And His vision is always to make broken vessels a channel to pour out His comfort and strength to the downcast, the oppressed and the needy. Dear friends, if you have a vision to touch the lives of people with hope; then go ahead and bring that vision to fruition.
Talent alone will not take you places. As Stephen King has said: “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”
Now what should you do with your talent?
First of all be thankful to God that you have been uniquely gifted. On the other hand if you become proud, someday there will be a fall. And like Humpty Dumpty after his fall, no one might be able to put you back together again.
Secondly, do something to improve your talent everyday–be it singing, drawing, speaking, writing or anything else. Doing something each day will take you nearer your goal.
Fourthly, discipline yourself. You need to take care of your health, your habits, your relationships, and how you spend your time. As H. Jackson Brown, Jr. has said, “Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.”
Fifthly, when you are focused on bringing others happiness through your talent your light shines out. Someday, God will demand an accounting of how you used your talent. Then you shall earn your reward for best utilization of your time, talent, and treasure.
Sixthly, some people never take an effort to use their talent. It is like digging a hole in the ground and burying it. Be sure that it will rust to its death and ruin there. What is the use of it, then?
Finally, talent without perseverance cannot succeed.There will come obstacles, rejection, criticism, and setbacks. There will come times when you will pass through loss of confidence and self-doubts. These are common to those who are uniquely gifted and talented. But it is your ability to hold on and move in spite of all these that will help you finish strong.
Let me conclude reminding you once again that talent is God’s gift to you. Don’t let it remain unopened, unused, and neglected. Instead, fan into flame1 or kindle afresh the gift of God that is in you.
