“EXAMS OVER; WHAT NEXT”

We had a servant, named Sahebrao, working with us for six years. He used to stay in the servants’ quarters of our bungalow. I asked him to deliver a note to our next-door neighbor. He was totally blank. During all this period of six years he never bothered to know the name of our next-door neighbor. This is an utter lack of a natural curiosity. He may be acceptable for the Neanderthal society/Stone Age etc. In the present era, where humans are known as Homo sapiens; i.e. thinking human beings; he is a misfit.

Curiosity about what is happening around you is a trait, which is a must for a well-developed personality.


Now you have finished your school/ college exams, and are just relaxing.
A lot of time on your hand. Even after all the movies you had to watch and the evening katta, is over; you suddenly realize that something worthwhile has got to be done which will help you build your future career. Some activity for self-development; improving your personality and what have you. But how?
Frankly each one finds some pastime and just while away the available time on hand. In fact you don't have to do anything special for the TIME, to pass by. IT HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY.
But for those who wish to build up a great career, there are some tried and proved methods.
Let us take our first candidate; managing self.
This implies, how well you are at managing your own self, and involves the following:
• YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. You must know how to have a proper diet and some physical training on a regular basis. One little known fact about the world’s richest man, Bill Gates, is that ever since 1975, when he started Microsoft, with his friend, Paul Allen; he has not absented from work on health grounds even once. No sick leave etc. He has mastered the technique to keep himself FIT AND PRIMED UP, and his enthusiasm never wanes.
• RELIABILITY INDEX

Have you mastered the attitude to develop a sense of responsibility in your activities? There is something known as the reliability index of an individual. You give some task to perform to someone and he will be most times successful in it against that; THERE ARE SOME who are bound to fail, always. Why and how does this happen? There has to be some logical explanation for this. The prime reason is, in the case of Mr. Failure; there is no commitment on the part of the doer. This has to be developed meticulously by everyone who wishes to be successful in life.

• YOU HAVE TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF HUMOR; It helps you develop an emotional stability. You must have noticed some individuals who are able to take on the failures, defeats, rejections; which are bound to occur in one’s life, gracefully; without any tantrums. They are equanimous in victory, too. If one develops a sense of GOOD HUMOUR it is possible to be in the forefront. Most leaders display this rare quality, and don’t allow their effervescence to flag.

• WIDE RANGING INTELLECT

On your intellectual front you have to develop a sense of logic, memory, innovative approach, to be curious about what is happening in and around you. You will pursue till you understand a given subject. Say, why the economy of the world is today driven by OPEC pricing of crude? Do you read daily newspapers? When you are watching the TV do tune to news channels and especially to BBC to learn what is happening in the world and why? The intelligent are able to deduce meanings and messages from the news that they read.

• ABILITY TO TAKE RISKS

In any job situation that you will be in later in life, there will be a need TO TAKE CALCULATED RISKS. Those who are incapable to take on such risks are never going to be successful in life. It is not possible to explain all the parameters of the task that may be entrusted to you. You can’t be tied to the apron strings of the boss.

• AESTHETIC SENSE

You have to develop a sense of PROPER GROOMING, DRESS SENSE. No one wants to deal with a colleague who is uncouth and dirty.

• MEMORY

You must have noticed that the great leaders have phenomenal memory. This can be developed by some special techniques such as mnemonics. Or the trick ,to associate the unknown with the known. You can definitely enhance your capacity to remember things; if you do; then the knowledge acquired can be recalled and retrieved when needed.
• EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Excellent communications skill involves both verbal and non-verbal COMMUNICATION. Some individual have such detestable body language that before they start any verbal communication you have already started disliking them. Your own body language can certainly be improved. Your skill in communicating can improve only when you improve your reading habit. Some regular habitual-writing such as diary keeping on a DAILY BASIS and listening to good talks by knowledgeable persons at various forays. This enriches your knowledge and also the communication skills.

M S RANADE.
mranade@vsnl.com
PUBLISHED IN TIMES OF INDIA; TWIN TOWN SUPPLEMENT ON THURSDAY, 8TH JUNE, 2006