It's time to change.....it begins with us.....!!!!!!

“ In life, it is easy to extract negatives out of everything we possess, everything we act and everything we counter………………but to see the positive side of everything we face is a rare art……….”

 “A well-settled job, life moving smoothly and an unending enjoyment in whatever you were doing……………then life took a sudden turn and everything changed. Don’t you think god has been unkind on you or why this happened to you only?”  I asked him on a casual chat on that sunny evening amid a silence.

“No, I don’t think so……………. This happened to me because probably only I have the boldness and gumption to face and pass through it in the whole family.”  He replied and left me awestruck with the way he saw the situation in hand.

Well, when majority of junta try to search for negatives out of positives rather than acting vice-versa, the reply was an eye-opener for me. Unarguably, most of us or rather every one of us is encircled by small or big problems related to family, relationship, career etc.

For few of them, there might not be a solution at present, there might not be a door to exit but every problem comes with a solution. Difference is the timing………….. And optimism is a boat that sails fiercest of the storms…….!!!!!!!!

We get a job, crib about profile and package. We get a partner to move ahead in life with, but qualm about not having the gorgeous one in the lot. We have a gadget according to our need, but needs solace when we see someone with an Apple phone. We have well settled family, but always keep worrying about being dispersed due to other obligations.

We see ourselves as an object of pity and talk much about the struggles and failures. We want to move ahead in life but couldn’t do that because we always look backwards. We carry the medals of being unlucky throughout our lives. We look at ourselves in the mirror and count the negatives rather than positives in our personality.

 And in the process, we magnify our problems……!!!!!!!!

I always believed in the fact that happiness is the choice we make and hence, we never look at the positive side and choose unhappiness as our carriers. You have a job, feel good about your hard work and the proud it brings. Think about giving the best out of you because bucks don’t matter in long run. And if you still feel annoyed by the job in hand, roam around the city with a resume in your hand.

You have a partner, try and create moments out of nothing, feel good spending time with him/her rather than feeling envious about not having a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. Try and catch the intrinsic beauty he/she deserves rather than assuming her to be an object of your personal desires….!!!!!!

You might not be the smartest or macho one in the group of people you belong to, but you can be the one by your deeds. Dwell deeper into the smartness and don’t assess physical beauty, but assess intellectual and moral standards. See the underlying potential and pledge to do justice to it.....!!!!!!

Well, no matter how much we question whatever we don’t have or the problems we face, there is a uniform distribution across the human beings……..and if I am wrong……relax for a moment and analyze…….!!!!!!!!!

Soaked in the awesomeness of the answer he gave to me, I asked: “How you were able to see the positive side of the situation?”

He curtly replied “Everybody of us wears the same glass……. difference is the color of the glass and that’s how we see a particular situation………….”

(P.S: I still believe, most of you, after reading this would be interested to know about the person I mentioned here.......let me tell you.....I love taking anecdotal evidences to give a clear message about whatever i want to communicate......Don't be too naive to dwell deep into who the person is, rather try and grab the message to move ahead in life.)

BENCHGIRIIII.........@IMS.....!!!!!!!

Over one and half years’ of my LIFE@IMS, one of the things that annoyed me the most is students’ obsession with the marks. Let alone everything, they are happy to secure marks which are paradoxical with their basic knowledge of that subject.

A finance student not knowing the meaning of market capitalization is a grim reminder of a battle between marks and knowledge where if one gets the former, he/she considers himself/herself to be equipped with every intricacies of that subject.

Ironically, a majority of students’ love the faculty who distributes marks in largess while hates’ the one who imposes strictness on them to make them ready for the corporate world. They take their self-respect and uncalled ego in between to market them negatively, just because that faculty is stingy when it comes to marking.

Now, as my annoyance faded away by the time since I presumed their obsession with the marks to be an attitude possessed by a “school-going” kid, another striking incident prompted me to laugh and stand in ovation.

As I entered into the classroom for greeting him/her a formal good morning on that Monday morning a few days back, I saw students’ including him/her involved in writing down important points of an answer on bench with a sharpened pencil. That was an internal day and as it was about to begin, he/she was assiduously penciling down the minutes of an answer.

Considering the stature he/she possessed, it was not expected of him/her to be indulged in that trivial act, but since everybody was doing it, he/she followed the footsteps’ of his/her mates. I astonishingly asked:

“What are you doing? Are you writing down on bench?”

He/she looked after me, half busy in noting down the points and nodded in agreement. Sitting on the chair, I started clapping on his/her act and in a moment, stood in ovation for the methods of making it to the top chart of the class. 

Clapping resonantly, standing in ovation, I curtly replied:

“ My 15 is much better than your 20……….” He/she was exasperated, wanted to kill me for the reality that he/she faced but couldn’t do that because the ball was in my court.

Well, to be very candid and not having any personalized wish to expose people around me, the method used was an injustice to the course we are in. From our younger days, cheating is inevitable but to use methods like this tells the standard of individuals and their values.

Why can’t he/she remain happy with a bit of less marks and not use tricks which was not supposed from him/her. Why they applaud movies like 3 Idiots and then acts opposite to the underlying message given by the movie? 

Ppphhhheeewwwwwww………can’t have an answer on their behalf because even they don’t stand by their integrity and moral values.

 NaMo has rightly said “Mind is not the problem, mindset is……..!!!!!!!!!”

(P.S: Proclaiming firmly that try to grab the message rather than asking me about the individual i mentioned above. I don't have any wish to be a WikiLeaks correspondent......)

Conversations with god-4

Annoyed by everybody's obsession with the marks and the percentage............I inquired to god......... 

Why everybody goes gaga over their marks. It’s a mere reflection of someone’s capabilities?

Look, the society has made it like that over the years. People who are respected are people who are toppers in their schools; people who are applauded are people who are gold medalist. In the process, capabilities have dried up, innovation is a forgone past leaving out the exception and interpersonal skills have declined.

This is the reason everybody loves seeing himself/herself scoring good marks and gets applauded. But more important is your attitude after securing those marks.

But why society has made it like that?

See, as a student everyone wants to see him/ her getting appreciation from people around them and this is a benchmark used by them to do the same. Companies use criteria to churn the best minds. Society has no fault in that, faulty line is mentality.

Mind is not the problem, mindset is…………!!!!!!!

It is a mere reflection of your capabilities........syllabus of life has more chapters.........

Can’t we remove this benchmark and come up with something new?

You can try for that but over the years you have also grown up doing that. We are going on a double sided path where at one stage innovation, with the help of technology, has made lives easier but at the same time, has fed human being with a golden spoon.

Everybody is becoming a slave of their own expectations and simultaneously run for fulfilling expectations of people around them. There is no way out right now.

So, should we let the situation becoming worse from bad?

Well, not exactly. Everybody has its own choices and own conscience. They are the best observer of their own capabilities and hence they should decide whether to run for marks or to run for quality. People who run for marks are people who become disabled in the long run.

Because in the long run, money doesn’t chase marks, it chases quality………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!g

Strange but effective.........!!!!!

LIFE@IMS- Interesting, Magnifying, Serene………… yet there are more dimensions to this journey. The journey, destination of which is not yet decided because it is more or less in your own hands, is not only about earning those lofty packages, yearning for the charm of holy bath…….it is beyond that……. It will be transformational, if pursued effectively, but will add nothing to your skills if pursued ineffectively…….

It is a journey of making yourself a good individual at first place, a good leader at second place and a good manager at third………..and hence the journey can be full of surprises, you will come across every sort of people-good or bad but will add to your learning basket, would be eventful, would be stagnant too……… but improvement never stops…….!!!!!!!!!

But how to do that…………..here are some strange but effective advice…………….

Don't run for marks: We live in a society where marks are given preference over skills and therefore i see everybody around me running for marks because we have made ourselves like that. No marks, no gain but the reality is money chase quality, not marks. Hence, maintain a steady pointers, but don't yearn for marks sacrificing the abilities and skills.

A 70% with excellent co-curricular is much better than a 90% with nothing.

“Me engineer hu” psychology: This is one of the most highly found disease among engineers, a barrier which they have created themselves. At one point, they boast of being open to learning but create a psychological barrier of “Me Engineer hu” which limits their potential. Overcome this mental stigma as soon as possible so that you can perform effectively. Nobody is perfect, even commerce students aren’t and therefore fight the battle and cope yourself with the sea of finance, otherwise consequences can be brutal. Remember, when you make a choice, you choose its consequences also.

Remove Xenophobia (Fear of strangers): Over the ages, human being is considered to be a social animal but I see the exact opposite of it. Human being is fearful of strangers; want to live in its own interiors which restrict the growth. As my journey at IMS progressed I realized that not communicating with students from other branches was a mistake as I could have learned a lot from them. Removing another mental stigma, fear of strangers, will give your learning basket a new dimension. Communicate with students from your own class, of other branches and be a social individual. After all, growth is the ultimate result of learning.

Step out of your comfort zones: As we begin our college days, we seek our comfort zones from the day one itself. A zone where we can act freely, can behave as per what we are and a zone where we are not altered. You find 3-4 common set of people which you call a group of yours. Every other outing begins with them, ends at them. It’s good to have a common set of people around you but limit them to your personal life. Step out of your comfort zone and sit with the ugliest guy of the class, to whom you don’t like talking to. Give presentations with a group of people you hate or people you like most. Your perceptions will change and so do your canvas of thinking. 

People who are successful are the ones who perform well out of their comfort zones.......!!!!!!

Opposite gender FORMULA: This is the most strange but highly effective theory to get rid of your hesitation. Propounded by Anandita Mam which I find really well at all times states that “You must sit with your opposite gender every day. That opposite gender must not be the same everyday” The logic behind this formula is that two girls end up in gossiping, become a chatter box to each other and two boys end up themselves doing unacceptable mistakes, sharing adult jokes etc.

You won’t find the same set of people after two years, they will be changing constantly. A girl would be expected to work in shifts in a team and hence prepare for that in advance.

This journey is not about a small destination; destinations are in your hands, so make the journey a learning one and raise yourself. Increase your panorama of where you want to place yourself……….because you become what you think of yourself………….!!!!!!!!!

{Well, some of you might find this advice strange to apply but they are the most influential ones. I have personally tested them and came up with awe-inspiring results.}

5 things to do at IMS.......!!!!!!!!

As we enter into IMS for “pursuit of becoming a manager”, ending up being “Half manager” is a victory. You find new people, search for a new set of friends, new crushes, excitement of making your mark in the classroom so that the one you like can catch you, introductions, inductions, parties, placement related queries………..everything sets on really well, bunks, canteen, roadside parties, selfies, groupfies……..and amid that…..little bit of studies……..

And very soon…….you are in the exam hall giving the exams……a bit angry and a bit confused…..balance sheet doesn’t match, economics still confound you, IT gives a shit, ethics itself promote unethical ways and you see yourself missing the bus…….. Well, don’t worry…….you can still pledge yourself to be good in the next six months……..here are few things you must do in the time to come……..

1. Set your own standards: While you do anything- presentations, assignments, internal exams- it is necessary to set you own standards which will act as a mirror once you find yourself below those standards. It means setting your own benchmarks and sticking to that. In a presentation, if guy next to you is not in formals and you are following him, you are bound to face consequences a year down the line. Analyze your performances, compare with your benchmark and improve upon that. Believe me, it works well. You are here to become something, not anything.

2. Become everything from nothing: It simply refers towards utilizing every opportunity that comes your way. Have participation in activities with utmost interest; be there not for certificates but for winning and learning. Add value to your average CGPA’s by making the most of every opportunity. Being in IMS, a lot of us undermine ourselves in terms of knowledge and skills but recently few guys beat teams from IIM in IIM-Indore in quizzes. If they can do it, why you can’t. They don’t have a different DNA, but possess different aspirations. If you don’t participate, be ready to precipitate.

3. Don’t show off: We live in a novelty, self-created world where we firmly believing in showing off ourselves with second copy of Armaani watch, Wrangler denim and an expensive gadget. Nobody gives a shit to what you wear and those who give a shit actually remain in that shit only. Raise yourself above those fake presentations because circumstances reveal the truth. Wear what suits you and not what suits the eyes of others. Remember, beauty lies in the simplicity.

 4. Ask for feedbacks: This is yet another, but most important thing you must do. I used to take my personality feedbacks from girls and get myself rated on several personality variables. It doesn’t necessarily mean you work on every feedback, but must decide on your own conscience. Because, this is the only way of improving and making yourself a fit product for anybody. Sometimes it can be annoying also but keep in mind; feedback that annoy you are the feedback that you need to work on.

5. Keep good coterie of friends: You will come across a lot of people but keep yourself in good company. If somebody is hugely better than you, be his friend and absorb his/her qualities. It doesn’t mean avoiding other individuals but having good company makes a huge difference as I have met a lot of people who are busy wasting their most of times with their friends who are adding no value to them. Be with people who can add value to your objectives. Don’t flow into a river which is taking you nowhere.

"There is no place for regrets......an opportunity missed is an opportunity denied......"

Conversation with god-III

After few sleepless nights, yet another chance appeared for having a conversation with god…….and it naturally started with few investigative queries……this time on human behavior and psychology………….

I asked: I have seen people not appreciating others efforts by their sole and heart, saying congratulations became a formality for everybody. Why this is so?

God replied: As everybody gears up for clean India mission there is a great need to clean our own souls first as everybody these days is not sad because they are suffering something, but are sad because……others are happy……… and jealousy and hatred erupted as a part of everybody’s daily lives…….!!!!!

I asked: Still for few of them, others’ success works as an inspiration, but when it comes to peer group, this disease is spreading heavily and in the process, who was your friend once become your enemy?

God replied: The problem is, everybody fights for few coveted positions and no matter how much others can display helping hand for you; everybody is selfish somewhere and it breeds animosity which restricts them from congratulating others’ affectionately.

So where do the solution lie? I asked

There is no specific solution or a tablet which can cure this disease, it needs a whole lot of big heart, a resilient mind and a bearing attitude with a thought that………..

Whatever there is in bag for you, it will come catching to you……..the difference is what you deserve………..

My slumber broke as almighty left the conversation saying………….remember my son……..

Others’ failure is not your success………..!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, for most of us, congratulating or thanking others affectionately is becoming a rare art because in the hindsight we are unable to bear the brunt of our failure and others’ success…… and if you don’t agree to my thoughts…………. Do a reality check and internal assessment…….!!!!!!!!!!

The answer lies there………..

A worthy admiration.......!!!!!!!

“Your biggest admirations come from people around you……”

He is someone with whom I am not highly attached yet his positive and candid attitude magnets me towards him. He prepared hard for the campus, we did that collectively at times, yet luck evaded him in the first campus. He was left to survive to bear the brunt of University’s Internet connectivity and he was not able to make it to the next round………!!!!!!

Personally saddened, I went to him for boosting his morale and was amazed to see the positive intent with which he started preparing for the next one….!!!!!!

Later on, when three of us were selected, his bliss was highly admiring for me and in an hour he arranged a perfect holy bath for everybody of us…… In the process I saw his ability to have happiness for others………..!!!!!!!

Next campus, he was highly excited to make it count this time, grossly passionate to have some moment for himself to cheer and was equally prepared to face the brutalities a campus process can have. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it to the interview and this time again I went to him and was flabbergasted to hear his reply:

“ Are chalta h yaar, mjhe bharosa h k ek din mera bh hoga kisi company me……”

Today, when its final results were announced, albeit he had no major stake in selected candidates, his happiness for them, excitement to congratulate them and positive spirit was worth emulating…………!!!!!!

 He is someone who is not my very close aid yet his intent make me his fan, he is not yet placed but is worth full of giving a consideration because those are the moments when you feel shattered, devastated, pessimistic and this guy always had a positive attitude towards others…….. For me whether he is placed or not, he is worth admiring in this regard……. Because when great teams lose, they also show sportsmanship spirit by shaking hands and congratulating the opponent………. And that makes them become great………!!!!!!!

“Well, you aren’t lost till the hope of winning isn’t lost…….”

We call him Pravin Kumrawat…….!!!!!!!!!