It doesn’t take much to build a good habit. If you can aim for five minutes each day it can be done. Brushing one’s teeth is a simple example of the power of habit. We were taught to do it when we were young. The fact that we continue to do it is because of the habit formation that happened in our childhood.
Let me suggest a few habits you can try out each morning for five minutes. We will start with a spiritual habit. Most of us don’t realize that several people across the globe don’t wake up each morning. So be thankful to God for giving you grace to see a new day.
Take five minutes just to praise him, just like the birds do at dawn. Thank him for goodness shown to you. Do not bring in your needs or requests or complaints at this time.
Another habit you can think about us to read something inspirational for five minutes each day. Or you can choose to listen to an inspirational talk. Why is this important? It is important because we all need reminders. We often forget fundamentals. Reading or listening can remind us of basics.
For example, reading from the Book of Proverbs in the Bible can remind you, “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”* We have seen a spiritual habit and a habit for engaging your mind.
Now let us look at play. Look around you. What is the sight that you see everywhere. Isn’t it that of the young and old with heads bowed down? Are they praying? No, not at all. It is sad that physical activity has now come down because people find entertainment in mobiles. Nature of work for many also encourage sitting down for long hours.
So make it a point to spend five minutes doing physical exercise. It can not only ensure physical wellness but also contribute to emotional well-being.
Finally, let me conclude with a social habit. Greet people with a smile. If done from your heart it can spread happiness. What better time to do it than when you see a person first thing in the morning? To conclude, let me say that five minutes a day can change the way you dress up for success. Good habits formed can help you win in life like no other.
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.
Everyone seems to be angry these days. Outbursts of anger have become common.
#1. The Pressure Cooker
Some people bottle up things on the inside and keep it boiling under tremendous pressure. At some weak point the whole pressure comes out with a loud blowing whistle. It jolts listeners and makes them wonder what really happened to provoke such an outburst.
The solution is simple. Have an outlet. Find a trusted friend with whom you can share on a regular basis what is irritating you. That is a safety valve.
“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control ” – Proverbs 25:28.
#2. Accept Others
One of the surest ways to have conflict in marriage is when one tries to change the other. This simply does not work. Therefore the husband gets angry at the wife and vice versa.
The surest way such conflicts can be avoided is to understand and accept your husband/wife as a person with shortcomings. And love him/her anyway in spite of all faults.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” – St. Paul (1 Corinthians 13:4–8).
#3. Self-Righteousness
Many people get angry because they think that they are right all the time; and whatever others say is wrong. It is ego at its worst. When combined with pride it becomes destructive.
If you honestly admit, you’ll be able to say that a major percentage of outburst of anger from your part happened because you had the “I am right” attitude.
Why not think there are other people who could be right. And be humble enough to admit the fact that you might not know everything under the sun.
“Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” — (Ecclesiastes 7:9).
#4. Don’t React Quickly
Sometimes there is a genuine reason why you became angry. But it is good to give yourself time to think. Take a walk and get alone for some time. Do not allow your emotions to do the talking. Think through the problem. And speak (or write) to those concerned after you calm down.
Such a time gap would clarify issues and you’ll be able to deal with the core issue rather than lose yourself in lesser and unimportant issues that can take the power out of your communication.
“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” .” — (James 1:19, 20)
Summing Up
Anger without doubt ruptures relationships. It wounds deeply. Words spoken in anger cannot be taken back. They get struck deep in the hearts of those it wounds.
Is there a remedy? Ask God for help. It might sound too simplistic. But it is always wise to seek his help. For anger, even when one is aware of it as a problem, is not easily overcome.
Anger can have deep roots in a sense of failure in life. It can be caused because you carry bitterness in your heart because somebody wronged you or abused you physically or emotionally.
Anger can come when you feel helpless due to physical weakness or financial lack or shortage. Anger can arise in our hearts when people judge you unjustly, raise false accusations against you and say unkind words of criticism.
Anger can also come when people attribute wrong motives to your good intentions and when they fail to respect you. Let me ask again, is there a remedy?
There might be lots of advice you can find. Common sense, practical advice from friends, counselling; all might help. But these might not address the root cause or causes of the problem.
Personally, I would strongly ask you to seek God’s help in prayer. Cry out to him. Ask him for forgiveness. Seek his help to heal all wounds and hurts and pain caused by your outbursts of anger. Yes, my friend, seek God. You will find mercy with him to help you come out of anger healed!
—
“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret–it leads only to evil.” — Psalm 37:8
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. — Ephesians 4:26, 27.
“An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.”– Proverbs 29:22
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself snared.” — Proverbs 22:24, 25. [All quotes above from Bible NIV 1984 edition]
A statue of beauty and marvel is born when the marble allows the chisel to chip away its edges; hidden potential is never brought out without the pain of edges being shaved off sharply.
Prayer works best only when you are ready to change and accept the answer that God in his wisdom delays; he never answers unless you are desperate enough to grab the new and leave old ways behind.
Therefore grow old in years but retain that wonder which provoked the child in you to ask and keep on asking; for when you lose that wonder all is old and nothing new.
—
Inspired by the words of the Bible, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
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).
Great dreams are deposited in human hearts by divine hands. Then an ordinary man becomes a dreamer. He starts thinking beyond his time and circumstances. It is soon followed by the dreamer being shaped by his dream.
Dream Big
Dreaming big has many impacts. First of all it changes you from within. It enlarges your heart to think of possibilities. It gives you an increased measure of faith to trust in God. It gives you a sense of destiny. When these kind of things happen you feel a stirring within you to fly high above your circumstances that might be trying to pull you down.
When dreams are lived out it is quite natural to encounter rough weather. It can come in the form of mistakes,unkind criticism, threats, failures, thoughts of giving up, and finally loss in many forms including finance and reputation. But bad times enlarge one’s heart, strengthen one’s resolve, fuel the passion to achieve and steel one’s character with integrity.
Go On. Finish Strong.
The temptation to give up midway into the success story is common to man. It all happens when one loses sight of the finishing tape. Then the focus gets blurred. Other distractions too can easily side-track at this point in time.
Plan Your Innings
It is a great surprise to me to see how many people go through life without any serious planning. All they do is crisis management. Instead if they could have a game plan and stick to it they can have success. Be flexible to change according to what the situation demands without totally destroying the original game plan.
Wisdom to Run Your Business
A lamp cannot burn if there is no supply of oil to it. Likewise a man cannot continue to shed light if his wisdom runs out of supply. He, in order to successfully run an enterprise, needs a continual supply of wisdom. It is needed not only to plan but also to make right decisions. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5 Bible).
Time cannot be bought nor can it be saved. Yet we often procrastinate and allow the doors of opportunity to close. Therefore “Never leave till tomorrow which you can do today” as Benjamin Franklin so wisely observed.
Celebrate What Is That Is Uniquely Yours
Others are usually good at pointing out what you are not good at. But it might take a long time for them or for you yourself to know the worth of the treasure that you carry in your earthen vessel.
But realize that each one of us has a gift of his own. And it is in the exploring, developing, and maturing of that gift to fruitfulness that a person becomes useful to others. Therefore fan into flame the gift of God that is in you.
Failures Do Not Mean the Game Is Over
Perhaps we need to learn to fail successfully:
Of course its primary lesson is sportsman spirit. One has to learn to treat failures with the same courtesy with which one treats successes.
The second lesson of course is to know that failures happen once in a while to the best of men. But we will never lower our standards. And never stop striving to win.
Purpose Is Important
Purpose gives direction to life. It helps you to focus on priorities and not get entangled by the niceties of life. A purpose-driven life is not easily distracted. Instead such a life is relentlessly focussed on achieving the goals and objectives which it had set out to accomplish and finish.
Growth: You Cannot Afford to Stay Still!
Growth in life is a complex process. But its principle is simple. It can be said in two words, “Let go!” And there is much value in those two simple words. Real growth in life comes only when we learn to leave self-defeating habits and negative thinking patterns behind.
“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29).
Focus
Focus, I believe, is a key element in any success story. Being sure of what you want to do in life and why! When you are focused you will eliminate all good things that are distractions. In modern contexts, gadgets and social media can take your focus away quite easily.
Empty Spaces
Empty spaces can come in the pursuit of any dream. See those blank spaces through the eyes of music which too has empty spaces. “The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes — ah, that is where the art resides” so said the noted Austrian classical pianist Artur Schnabel.
Looking at Closed Doors
I have learned from experience that God is in the business of opening and closing doors: “What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open . . . See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut (Revelation 3:7b, 8)” is what he has said. Therefore looking ahead with hope and trust in God when doors close is part of a dreamer’s attitude to achieve success.
Loss of Confidence can strike after a series of defeats. It can make you think that you are not worth it and that all your efforts were in vain. It can drain away initiative from you. But surprisingly loss of confidence can happen at the best moments too though I have never discovered why it happens. That is a whole lot more difficult to handle.
Often a smile, an encouraging comment, a positive feedback or an unexpected phone call are those little things that has put confidence in me back again in such situations. If you are able to have one good laugh it can easily restore confidence.
This is the simple and most enduring lesson I have learned: Keep on doing what you are good at in spite of all doubts, despair, discouragement, disillusionment and defeats. And bounce back from most astonishing setbacks.
Leave a Legacy Behind
You leave a legacy behind when you have been able to show someone the stairway they had to climb in life. You leave a legacy behind when you have been a small match lighting up great torches. You leave a legacy behind when you have been able to make a person smile.
The Bible in the words of the Prophet Daniel promises a rich star-studded legacy to those who have tried to live like that: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12:3)!”
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!“The journey has by no means ended. But when one hits a century it is always an emotional moment. Yet it is also a time to look back and find out what elements had contributed to the success story.”
The above post is a condensation of Century Notes published on the occasion of the Century Batch of Bejoy Peter’s Public Speaking. In the preface I had written then:
“The journey has by no means ended. But when one hits a century it is always an emotional moment. Yet it is also a time to look back and find out what elements had contributed to the success story.”
The 100th Batch of Bejoy Peter’s Public Speaking was held at the Trivandrum YMCA from 2nd July to 14th July, 2007 with 16 students in attendance.
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!
If you have not failed, that means probably you succeeded in everything you did or you did not attempt to do anything at all.
The chances are that you never tried. Now why is that so? Most likely you were afraid to try because you feared to make mistakes. But then you already made the big mistake of not attempting.
What is the fear that keeps you from not trying. Isn’t it the fear of failure? Yes, it is!
What happens when you fail? The best thing that happens is that it shows you the stuff you are made of. Failures inspire you to do better next time, helps you learn from your mistakes and makes you desperate about winning. Failures can unmask your pretensions and show you your true character.
Failures also teach you humility. It teaches you that success is a process and not a destination. So there is no reality in classifying certain experiences of life as failures. What you probably call “failure” has done more to mould you into a person with strength of character than anything you achieved and termed as “success.”
So if you ask me, I prefer you to go and risk failure in something that you know to be good. The world may laugh at you. Let it do so.
But you go multiply your attempts. And when the nets come in empty after a long night’s hard work I hope and pray you will hear the voice of God saying“Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch!”*
Stefan and Daniela playing with plane and cock hydrogen balloons
I am the simplest of toys. Yet what else can match with the flight of joy, the leap of hearts, the waves of laughter and the bubbling memories I do create in life!
See, my friends, you need not be born in a palace to make it big in life. If you have a will to touch the skies, you can rise above from what pulls you down and fly.
And it is not in the colour or shape that the secret lies, but the faith and confidence you have on the inside. That is what makes you and me fly.
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
Covid 19 has changed the face of the world. Faces have been masked, handshakes are not welcome anymore, social distancing is the norm, classes are online, and work from home (WFH) and video-conferencing is the new culture.
A lot of changes in quick time has happened. And change is never easy.
There are three things you can do to cope with change:
One is acceptance. There is no good in closing your eyes to changed realities. The longer you resist change the harder it becomes for you to adopt and adapt. So show a positive attitude to change.
Second is managing fear. The pandemic has made man realize how fragile life is. Carefully laid plans are disrupted, dreams crash, and hopes dashed in the blink of an eye. Being wise in practical steps and trust in God along with it are the means to handle fear.
First of all, don’t be afraid of change.
It has to be seen in a positive light. Know that every act of change is accompanied by doubts. Some of these doubts, if entertained for a long time, can stop you from acting. Therefore it is important to act and make needed changes before opportunities close their doors on you.
The second step is to know that there is no survival without change.
Though there is nothing new under the sun, change keeps happening. If you resist change, you will soon be outdated. Your competitors will get far ahead when you have not even begun. So be open to change. And be willing to learn and add new skill sets to your profile. Yes, with a learning attitude most of the difficulties accompanying change can be overcome.
Thirdly, be excited about change.
There is nothing like enthusiasm which can change your attitude. Instead of finding excuses for not changing, why not find reasons to be full of joy and anticipation about the change that is coming into your life? After all, expectant mothers look ahead with hope to see the newborn’s face even when they know that their world is going to change dramatically with the arrival of the child!
Finally, many people have found COVID-19 an opportunity to vent their anger against God and to proclaim him dead. I do understand their feelings. There are lot of questions I too do not have an answer to.
But what if the pandemic is a simple reminder from God to man that in spite of man landing on the moon and probing space like never before there are lot of things he is yet to understand!
Even though it sounds very difficult just thank God for all that went wrong this morning if it did for you. Sometimes plans that get upset are Godsend to save you from running into greater difficulties during the day. In our busy world, we often need attention-grabbers; and interruptions early in the day can mean just that.
Know that a bad start does not change the big purpose of your life, whatever that be. Race along in the slow pace that is possible even when you had a bad start. At the end of the day, you’ll be surprised to note that you were able to accomplish far more than you dreamed was possible.
Let me conclude by saying that it doesn’t matter if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. What matters more is with what attitude you are going to face life today. — “For his [God’s] compassions never fail. They are new every morning” — Lamentations 3:22b, 23a Bible.
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?
I stand here today to speak to you because of what happened this morning. One of our classmates had to leave the class in tears. She is our friend; yet our words and actions caused her to leave in shame and distress.
Who is responsible? We all are.
And what is the problem? Somehow we enjoy jokes at other’s expense. Everybody laughs. Maybe even the person about whom the fun was all about also joins in the laughter.
But that doesn’t mean that the fun was cool. Knowingly or without thought we have wrongly succeeded in destroying the sense of worth of another person.
Now why do we crack silly and frivolous comments about someone’s personal appearance or dress or mannerisms? It is an attempt from our part to appear smart by diminishing someone else.
The temptation to do so is great, but with a little patience and effort you can overcome the urge to make fun of others. Instead, if you yield to it; someday it will boomerang on you.
I appeal to all who were involved in making fun of our dear friend to understand the deep hurt you have caused her. For you, it was moment’s joke; for her it is a lifetime of pain and shame.
What did you gain by making fun of her? Let me ask you, do you become smarter when you make fun of others? Or does your beauty increase when you demean others by your thoughtless remarks?
My dear friends, I ask you to try your best to redeem the situation. Reach out to her and say with genuine hearts that you’re sorry. There is still a ray of hope that things can be straightened out. Act before it is too late.
Let me conclude by appealing to the whole student community to put to an end to the insensitive act of making fun of others.
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?
We look at photographs and see a moment that was captured. It is a reminder that the train of life has moved on from there. Therefore we need to learn to move forward in life instead of living in the past.
Often you and me get comfortable with our past triumphs. A new day brings new challenges and new opportunities. We need new plans and new strategies. Living in the glory of the past can blind our eyes to changes that are much needed to achieve success.
Therefore forget the success of your past. Instead adopt and adapt new strategies.
Beyond forgetting success and failures you need to tackle hurts people dented your heart with. Life will always have an element of friction when you deal with people. It cannot be avoided. Sometimes we are at the receiving end. It is painful. It hurts. But do not allow that to make your mind sour. Not easy. But with God’s help you need to keep your mind strong.
Therefore leave your baggage of hurts somewhere. Do not carry the luggage on your head while you sit in a moving train.
Finally, have hope. There is a moment when the grip of the past on your life will be broken. It can happen in spite of the hopeless circumstances you are in.
The train will move on. But the driver has changed. No longer are you in control. Leave it to him. He will do something new. It will take time. Be patient. Endure through tough times.
So look ahead and see the new thing God will do in your life. Believe it.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland” — Isaiah 43:19 Bible.
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
I am sorry.
It takes courage to say those words. For you are taking responsibility for what went wrong.
I am sorry. It shows your humility. For those who are proud well never admit that they are wrong.
I am sorry.
It shows your sincere willingness to change. For there is no point in repeating mistakes again and again.
I am sorry.
It shows that you are a human being and not an automated robot. For we tend to err in spite of all our good intentions and best efforts.
I am sorry. Life is about relationships. Like oil that lubricates hinges which moves huge doors are these words. Saying I am sorry can heal hurts, forgive wrongs, and restore friendships.
So let go of your pride. Take that first step. Instead of arguing that you are right just tell the other person “I am sorry.”
What a joy it is when you are brought back to God and people are brought near to each other with those simple words!
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.
Excellence is a result of several attitudes. When these attitudes are combined together they become that one habit of excellence that shall springboard you to greatness.
The impact of excellence cannot be truly measured because it will outlive your life, create urges in ordinary lives to soar high, and set standards against which all future achievements will be compared to.
You might not master all the seven in one go; but you can make an honest attempt with one or two at a time until all of them become an intrinsic part of your life. So here are the seven:
#1. If you aim for excellence you should have an eye for detail.
Little things should not be ignored. When a space shuttle is launched think about all the minute pre-flight checks that are done and how things are put on hold at the minutest variation. History has proven the disastrous consequences of neglect of the same.
Therefore make it a habit to look, see and observe keenly what others fail to note.
#2.If you aim for excellence you need to keep polishing your craft daily.
Here, the only competition is against yourself. The only question that is asked is, “Am I doing justice to the potential God has gifted me with?” Again, the only audience you have will be you alone. So make sure you do something each day that will fine tune whatever ability, skill, or talent you have.
Therefore make it a habit to prioritize quality time each day for that one thing you are good at.
#3.If you aim for excellence a spirit of dissatisfaction should dominate you.
You should always be dissatisfied with your best. You need to learn to think about your best victories and performances as failures. The world will say great things about your victories. But as for you turn your back to the crowd like a music conductor does and look intensely to make your perfect, better.
Therefore make it a habit to forget your past successes and press on to do something new beyond belief.
#4. If you aim for excellence you need to race against time.
There is always a sense of calm urgency taking hold of a man dominated by a higher purpose in life. Such a man like a soldier in war has no time for the frivolities of life. He is sharply focused on making the best utilisation of time. That requires cutting off all distractions–bad, good, better–everything that does not contribute to helping you achieve your goal.
Therefore make it a habit to be a cut-throat in tearing down all time-wasting activities in life.
In other words the habit of saying excuses is not in your genes. If you get stuck somewhere you will think of how to find the best way out instead of feeling helpless and entertaining self-pity while you lick your wounds. Another important aspect of being prepared is to have processes in place to manage all that you do. Double-check even when you are certain you are fully prepared. Follow-up if others are involved. Make absolutely sure that all in human power has been done and taken care of.
Therefore make it a habit to do all in your power, wisdom, intuition, and foresight to be prepared.
#6. If you aim for excellence you will do your best each time you do something.
You will not rationalize and think, “Oh, this is only the trials. I can relax. But tomorrow for the real performance I will do my best.” Never will someone with excellence in his blood think like that. For him every single opportunity, big or small, is a chance to give his very best. Only such an attitude will take you places. Only such an attitude will help you do things in all earnestness even when no one is watching. Even when others counsel you, “Oh, this much is enough,” you will not listen. As the American legendary basketball Coach of UCLA fame John Wooden said, “Make each day your masterpiece.” I might add, “Finish each task you do as if you have no second chance.”
Therefore make it a habit to make each rehearsal, each activity, each routine thing you do stamped with “nothing short of the best.”
#7. If you aim for excellence develop an impeccable character.
Above and beyond discipline, hard work, doing something more than you are asked to do–the greatest work you do is working hard on developing character. It is important that you perform but far more important is who you are. It is far more important to finish well in life than to taste success and then lose it all in one thoughtless action. Again, Success is never sweet when those close to you experience you as bitter. So put a greater premium on being true to yourself, someone true to your word, someone who does not need to be ashamed if powerful spotlights are switched on even while you sleep in the dark.
Therefore make it a habit to have integrity in your life that will stand up to any close scrutiny.
To conclude, as you consciously practice these attitudes not as techniques; but as a true, sincere, and earnest approach to life; it will ingrain in your life as habits inseparable from who you really are.
It all starts with desire. There should be a burning desire to win. Forget all negative circumstances, people who tell you how what you dream cannot be done, and lack of money.
Secondly, start somewhere. Do not wait for ever planning. Take action even if it be a small step. Each single day do something that will take you nearer to your goal.
Thirdly, look for competition. Athletes and sportsmen do best when the competition is the toughest. Keep yourself motivated and challenged by the best you can compete against in your field.
Fourthly, but of great importance, you need wisdom. Pray to God, ask those who have succeeded in your field to share life lessons they learned, and seek guidance from those who can give you wise counsel.
Fifthly, make mistakes.That is the only way you make progress. I am not asking you to make mistakes through negligence. But I am asking you to be daring in your attempts, to push yourself out of comfort zones, and try your luck at new things you naturally shrink away from doing.
Sixthly, be single-minded in your pursuits. Do not get distracted. Burn bridges behind. Do not look back and wish that you should have remained in your old ways and habits. Instead look forward with determination.
Finally, have a killer instinct. It means that you will not rest until you finish what you have begun to do. It means that you will allow no obstacle, no defeat, no negativity to make you give up in despair. You might feel discouraged at your lack of progress, but you will hold on, fight on, and will not say “quit” until you have won.
My friend, there is a time to prepare the nets. There is a time to launch out from the safety of the shore. There is a time to cast your nets into the deep. There is a time to fight the winds and the waves.There is a time to persevere when absolutely no progress happens.
But the man who wins is the one who while awake or asleep dreams of and acts towards and relentlessly pursues the goal of bringing a boat full of fish to the shore. That is killer instinct that makes winning a habit in life.
Rain comes down from heaven to earth. It makes no distinctions as it showers down on the rich and the poor; the good and the wicked; young and old, men and women; in the watered lands, the deserts and endless seas.
Rain is regarded as a sign of God’s blessings in many cultures of the world. If there is a light drizzle at the time of beginning something new, the elderly people are quick to say that those are showers of blessing.
Rain refreshes, renews and revives. The dusty leaves of plants and trees covered with a film of brown dust looks fresh green, vibrant, and full of youthful zest after a heavy first rain.
Rain is a welcome to kids to play. Some like to jump into puddles, others like to get drenched or play football, a few like to float paper boats, while the careful ones don colouful raincoats or umbrellas to walk in the rain.
Rain has inspired not only peacocks to dance but also great works of art. From stories, poems, and songs of romance and fights in the backdrop of rain in movies, to paintings and photographs, and to the variety of moods it inspires in those who witness the same.
Rain is musical. On a cold night, tucked warmly beneath bed sheets as you listen, the heavy downpour falling on tin sheets, on empty pots, striking against window panes, the howling wind, the croaking frogs all become a blend of sounds pleasing to the ears. It lulls you to sound sleep and sweet dreams.
Rain is a sign of sorrows being washed away. “I always like walking in the rain, so no one can see me crying” is how the famous comedian and actor Charlie Chaplin described his life experience. Yes, there is something about tears that reminds us of the rain.
In spite of the fact lighting and thunder and flash floods sometimes strike terror, the rare sight of a rainbow arching its way across the clouds, can be to you the token of God’s promise to save you and keep you. Rain, ultimately therefore, is a sign of hope. That there will be good times once again. That God’s mercy will rain down yet again:
There shall be showers of blessing:*
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Saviour above.
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing—
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
My dear friends, if rain were totally absent from this earth, what a dry brown barren desert strewn around with skeletons parched by thirst the world would be. Therefore let us love and cherish the rain, and thank God for the gift of the rain he showers down on us from heaven!
These are examples of words of appreciation. They are becoming rare these days. We fail to tell people how good they are when we have the chance and the opportunity. But many pour out words of appreciation when a person lies cold and dead. Isn’t that a bit too late?
Words of appreciation has to be genuine. When said well, it comes out spontaneously.
Words of appreciation reflect truth about a person that he or she has never had a chance to realise for himself or herself. The words of encouragement you speak open up divine possibilities in the life of others. They, in turn, will start to live in expectation and hope of a better tomorrow.
Words of appreciation can change negativity quickly. A wife or husband who hears a word of appreciation from the other will be delighted to act kindly and enthusiastically and to offer help when needed.
Similarly, the life of many students have been changed for the better by one genuine word of appreciation by one of his or her teachers. It takes thoughtfulness on the part of the teacher to appreciate a student. Often, years later, teachers are surprised by their former students who come and tell them of the change words of appreciation had brought in their lives!
In a world where finding fault can easily become a hobby, words of appreciation can build others up. On the other hand, unkind criticism can tear a person down. Therefore you can choose to be one who make others feel valued and cherished.
It was Mark Twain who said “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” William James, American psychologist and philosopher said: “The deepest principle of human nature is a craving to be appreciated.” As long as we are obsessed with ourselves and selfies I doubt if we will ever have a mind to appreciate others. Therefore the first step is to stop looking inwards and instead be genuinely interested in others.
The second step is to look out for opportunities which will present itself to appreciate others. For example, one of your colleagues proposed a business idea in one of your team meetings. Why not preface your next comment with “That was a brilliant idea [Name]. Good that you brought it up.”
The most important step is to be genuine and sincere in your words of appreciation. Sometimes, just an approving look, a nod, a pat on the back (wherever appropriate), a firm handshake, a thumbs up or even a smile will go miles to make the day for someone.
Therefore appreciation is not just words but more importantly an attitude which can make friends and influence people. However, one problem we all have is taking for granted people close to us. Let us take time to appreciate the good food cooked at home for us. Let us be thoughtful to say how tasty it was. Let us learn to appreciate our children helping us with small things.
Let me conclude by saying that we can make this world a better place by being generous with our words of appreciation.
I stand here amazed at the sea of faces I see here tonight. I know it is your expression of love and kind regard towards me.
Thank you very much for being here when you had the choice to stay back home due to the rains pouring down outside.
I would like to thank the Management Association for selecting me for the Best Entrepreneur Award.
As I look back this has been a long journey. At the very outset of this journey there was disbelief among those who knew me. They questioned me on the wisdom of choosing to walk a road less travelled by.
The next challenge was finding the right people to believe in my dream. To my left and to my right they have been seated here. The manner in which each one of them became a strong pillar of support in this Organisation is a story in itself. Thank you dear members of my team. This award rightfully belongs to each one you.
Like any entrepreneur the fight for survival due to cash crunch and business idea failure came my way too. Those times were difficult. Those were times when I too questioned my leadership. The temptation to quit was stong. But I thank God Almighty for the grace given to survive those tough times. Success always comes with a price tag attached; doesn’t it?
If you ask me, at the end of the day, what it all meant I can answer in one word–wisdom. The wisdom that comes from experience that no management text book can ever teach.
If you ask me again, what gave me the motivation to go on; I can say it was the difference that my dream could make. Look at this village. Today it is a marked presence in all maps and not just a forgotten speck of dust in a vast land mass. Today so many families live with dignity and respect because of the work they have taken up not as a job but as a calling.
Today our Paper Bag making unit has impacted the society in a larger measure than we had dreamed of when we started. We have been able to diversify into eco-friendly bags not just paper. This I believe have encouraged a lot of people to say No to plastics and preserve this Planet Earth for the next generations to come.
If you ask me once more, what are your plans for retirement, my reply would be there aren’t any. For no true entrepreneur ever retires. The last lap is where the glory lies. It is a time given to give back yield in rich dividends from what you had received. This I wish to do with all my heart and with all the strength that God will grant me.
I dedicate this award to my team who stood with me in all the testing times.
Let me end by challenging each one of you to go back from here with a greater dream than you have seen so far. Live with a purpose and look back and see that long line of lives and families you empowered to live with dignity. What greater legacy can anyone hope to leave behind. Thanks you.
