Tips from the Tops
About months ago I was confused about my life. I decided that in order to explore my true interest I needed a break from my busy life.
I wanted to explore the opportunities my college life had to offer. The Internet and YouTube were filled with all sorts of noises which made me even more confused. I needed someone trustworthy, a person whom I can look upon as my mentor.
Life gave me a chance, a mail dropped into my inbox, and when I opened it I knew this is what I needed right at the moment. It was a mail from the Institute inviting for an Open house session with Alumni of 1985 batch. Thrilled by the opportunity I quickly marked it in google calendar and eagerly waited to attend the session.
Many of you will be thinking why was I thrilled? Well, that’s because it was a great opportunity to meet with my future 35 years down the life. I always wanted to ask my future self a thousand questions like — What mistakes not to commit in life? How to choose the correct career path? Am I on the right path? Should I work for money or my passion and dreams? I know this is not only my questions but many of yours too, that’s why I am writing this blog to share what I learned.
The session was about to start, I seated somewhere in the middle of the outreach auditorium and was preparing my questionnaires. Panelist started taking their seats on the stage in total 8, right in the front two rows of the auditorium, there were sitting more alums giggling and cracking jokes remembering their college days in a reunion in the same college they graduated 35 years before. The panel also enjoyed the reunion.
I don’t remember the names but the designations — after all this is what defines you. We had IAS officer, Venture Capitalist, Lohia Corp. Chairman, a renowned professor in the USA, Director in SAIL among them.
Now let me list all the question and their answers which I received-
What should I do if I don’t know my passion or my interest?
Work for money, If you don’t know your true interest yet explore different areas and collect money and life skills. The moment you find your true interest your money will help you to achieve your goals.
How to deal with failures in life?
Never deal with failures, accept them. Before starting anything new read failure stories too. Success stories inspire you but failure stories guide you. Success and failures are not in your control, they are controlled by macro factors, something you can’t even understand then how can you control it.
As stated in Bhagwat Gita “Work without desire” or in Hindi ‘’’Karm karo fal ki iccha mat karo’
Learn How to Learn
Before starting to learn anything, learn “How to Learn”. Competition is tough in this age and skills are ever-changing. So, master that skill first which will help you to master all the other skills quickly.
Don’t prepare for Long term
Don’t think about your goals in 10 or 20 years as your ultimate goal. If you do so you will run after your goal without enjoying the process and may eventually lose your interest. Be micro ambitious. Aim for a year or two, ultimately you will achieve your ultimate goal too. Beware, don’t set milestones for yourself, like what is there all over the Internet and magazines “Millionaire at 25” or “Nobel Prize at 30”, these milestones will hamper you metal state.
Always push yourself
Learning never stops, always push yourself to move out of your comfort zone and do that little extra.
Work to fail
Work for it, even if you know that there is 99% chance you will fail. What if you land in that sweet zone.
EQ is more important than IQ
EQ- Emotional Intelligence is more important than IQ. You may be intelligent but nobody will care about you, follow you if you are emotionally weak or unstable.
What are some of the life skills I need to flourish in whatever I do?
Communication skills, Negotiation Skills, a Healthy body and mind, Team centric thinking and Ability to Learn Fast are the most crucial life skills.
