Life : A form of street-smart business

Gone are the days when people trusted their friends more than themselves. Gone are the days when people genuinely wanted to help someone in pain. These days if someone offers help, be assured that 90% chances are that he’s there for fulfilling one of his ulterior motives. After spending 22 years in this world, I’ve finally reached a conclusion : The best way to live life is to take it as a form of business. In a business setup, one needs to be alert 24 X 7. Same is the case in your personal life. The moment you lose guard, you would be doomed by someone or the other.

During my childhood days, I was taught to help others and to ensure that there was no pain or suffering around me. In short, I was taught to be a ‘good human being’. When I stepped into the real world as a teenager, I tried to apply these learnings and principles with a hope that I was doing something good for everyone on a whole. But little did I know that there were animals in the form of human beings waiting out there to latch on to the slightest bit of opportunity. After repeated emotional slaps, I realized that this may not really be the wisest way to live. I decided to change the way I approached situations and people. I decided that before performing an action I would try and ensure that I don’t lose anything in the process. But at the heart of it all, there still existed an innocent kid who had no clue about the selfish world out there. As a result despite numerous tries, I always ended up losing much more than I gained. The intention used to be honest, but the result used to portray me as a dishonest individual.

As time passed by, gusts of harsh winds in the form of selfishness made repeated attempts at changing my thought process. Every now and then I could hear an inner voice telling me “You are a fool. These people would destroy you. Change for your own good else you would be doomed..” Finally after numerous attempts, the voice started making an impact on me. I gradually started to change and now when I finally look back, I feel proud that I made the right decision. Every single incident that happens these days, further vindicates the fact that the ones who think of themselves ahead of others, are the ones who would succeed. At times I still miss that innocent kid who could never think negative about others. But at the back of my mind there’s a sense of satisfaction of having achieved much more than what the innocent kid could have managed.

There are numerous forms of business. Some corrupt, some with very honest intentions and some really ’street-smart’. Corporations that have adopted the third category have been the most successful ones. Same is the case in our personal lives. One needs to be ’street-smart’ to be successful in life. At least thats what I feel at 22.

• A street-smart individual knows whats good for him.
• Knows how to get things done. Talks less and does more.
• Never reveals his intentions and plans.
• Is not an emotional fool but knows how to distinguish between genuine and ulterior emotions.
• Wont harm others but if need arises, would be willing to cover that extra mile to make sure his position is safe.
• Is fast and accurate at the same time. Doesn’t waste time cribbing about his past, rather he’s quick in safeguarding his future.
• Is always on the lookout for something more out of life. You won’t find him satisfied with life.
• Forgets disappointments in a flash and moves ahead instantly.
• Understands the necessity of being practical and is willing to create his own rules if need arises.

Thats quite a list, isn’t it? But then in today’s complicated world, you need to constantly work hard on yourself in order to be ahead of the rest. If you are willing to do so, you end up being one of those whom the world labels ‘cool’. If not, then better pack your bags and try finding the path to the mountains and woods.

Getting things done!

A very common problem that people face on a day to day basis is procrastination and lack of time-management. The consequences can vary from loss of confidence to an absolutely chaotic lifestyle. Management experts have been penning tonnes of books every now and then to help people live an organized life. However, most of the tips mentioned in such books make our brains feel heavy and we end up concentrating more on maintaining schedules and fixtures instead of focusing on the actual work.

In this article I would try and present a few simple steps which I personally feel are very effective in getting things done in a complete manner and on time :

1. Just go for it, avoid over-analyzing

The moment you feel a task needs to be done, just begin without giving it a second thought. Normally when it comes to doing something, people start doing all sorts of analysis like : Should I do it now? What are the other options…What about taking a bit of rest and then beginning…How much time would it take for me to complete…I would start after lunch…

All this analysis simply complicates things for us and we tend to get into a lazy state of mind. To avoid such situations, simply stop analyzing and get going with your task at that very moment, irrespective of the conditions.

2. Avoid looking at the watch

Contrary to what time-management gurus say regarding timing you tasks, I feel that the best way to do something is to do it without any mental time limitations. This way one would be able to concentrate entirely on the task instead of carrying a mental baggage and fear of getting it done on time. In case you do have time limitations, just set up an alarm and then forget about the time. Let the clock intimate you when the time is up.

3. Take it one at a time

When you are involved in a particular task, do not think about the other tasks scheduled for the day. Concentrating on a single task at a time gets things done faster and in a better manner.

4. Do not care about the result

When involved in something, avoid thinking about the end result. Thoughts on whether you would be able to complete the task in the required manner and on time add unnecessary mental baggage and ultimately affect your concentration.

5. When working under pressure, concentrate on the current ’second’

In today’s age of deadlines and cut-offs, the best way to deal with pressure is to relax and concentrate only the present ’second’. Take it second by second and try to feel that you are a part of this very moment. Forget about everything beyond and before that. Everytime your concentration hinders, take a deep breath and focus at your task, ignoring the surroundings. This way you would feel relaxed and would ultimately enjoy your work.

6. Avoid strict task scheduling at the beginning of the day

Time-management experts talk about the necessity of maintaining daily diaries and schedule charts. However, lets assume that you have completed half of your day as per the schedule but due to some reason you end up going off-track in the afternoon. This would put you in a negative frame of mind and for the rest of the day your mind would be competing with itself to be on time rather than focusing on getting your tasks done in the best possible manner. So , its better to give your mind some breathing space and being flexible with your schedule.

7. Inculcate a dynamic thought process

Try taking decisions on the spot instead of getting pre-meditated. Too much of planning leads to over-utilization of your brain (in an inefficient manner). Even our brain needs some fresh air. Allow your brain to relax and pep up at the right time. This would help you extract maximum power out of your brain.

All the suggestions mentioned above have one objective in common : Relieving the brain of unwanted clutter. The lighter we feel in our minds, the more effective we would be at work and a light mind is the ultimate secret to a stress free life.

Smoking your senses away!

Warning : All opinions stated in this article are a matter of personal thought and should not be taken to heart.

Its strange how people keep coming up with ways to harm themselves (and others). I stay at a place where 4 quotidian fools (thats what I prefer calling them) begin their day with a cigarette puff. When I started living with these 20-something so called ‘cool’ (thats what they prefer calling themselves) people, I had little idea that they were so hell bent on self-destruction. Gradually I realised that cigarettes had actually blown their common sense away as well. I have hardly come across people who are so proud of committing stupidity. At times I feel astonished at the way these people back their actions with statements as silly as themselves.Some of them being :

• “A cigarette early in the morning will prevent a headache throughout the day.” – I guess from now doctors should begin prescribing cigarettes instead of medicines.

• “By buying cigarettes, you are helping innumerable tobacco traders run their business and in a way helping the economy grow”….Phew!!!!!!!!

• “Smoking helps you control your weight.” The lesser said, the better…

• And of course, the most common of them all, “Smoking is the ‘in-thing’. Its really cool man. The circular rings that you blow out makes you look so hep.” – Well, seems like blowing away your common sense is pretty hep as well.

Well after hearing all these statements, I realised something very clearly i.e. these people are classic cases of minds gone terribly wrong. One can’t help but pity them. I just hope that someday, sometime, by some means, their senses start working again and they regain something thats supposed to be an individual’s most prized weapon i.e. ‘common sense’.

• Piece of advice to cigarette makers :-

Please change that statutory warning imprinted on the cigarette packets to “Smoking is injurious to health and mind.“