From the Pen of Faculty
Niranjan Bhattacharyya, Faculty,Dept. of ECE, DTU
The Science of Achievement, the art of success
I always noticed my 10 years old daughter listening patiently whenever I was counseling a group of students at home or on phone regarding “The science of achievement and the art of success”. One day her curiosity crossed the threshold and at the swimming pool of the DDA Sports complex, she asked me “Papa what do you mean by the Science of achievement and the art of success which you often talk about”. At that time, I advised her to focus her attention on the floating technique I taught her. When we came back home she asked me the same question again. I started explaining her that from real life experiences, I found out something which separates the ones who top in schools, colleges or in any other field from rest of the people. Immediately she interrupted by asking me:- “Papa, is Science of achievement the same for people of all ages?” That set me thinking. Yes, I do coach the same thing to my 10 years old daughter, students of DTU and few Management Institutes and many professional friends some of whom are more qualified than me, in helping them achieve their goals in life. Some students of class X come to me wanting to get 90% in board exam, some XII grade students for clearing IIT-JEE, AIEEE, PMT exams, Engineering students for good GRE percentile for doing MS from States or cracking CAT and MBA students for good placements. I coach people to be part of an exciting process of Goal setting and working toward it. Actually, the goals are different for each individual only in appearance but the basic principle behind the achievement of goal are same.
Can I be an “achiever”? She asked. Let me assure you, my dear, even an average or below average student in academics can aspire to nurture his dream and achieve what he wants to achieve in life. People who excel in life come from all background and graphical areas. A scientist from rural background could even be the president of India. The backgrounds of Mrs. Kiran Bedi, Mr. KPS Gill, Ms. PT Usha, Mr. Amitabh Bachan, Mr. TN Seshan or Prof P B Sharma are all different. The one thing common in their DNA is the burning desire to succeed. Aspiring to succeed is one’s personal decision and my column is to inspire to make you aspire. If you allow yourself into believing that you cannot make it to what you aspire to achieve, I would whole heartedly agree with you. You definitely cannot and no one can help you either. Perhaps you should keep this DTU Times aside and continue doing what is less taxing and remain in the comfort zone. All the SMS and calls you have received for a happy and prosperous New Year 2010 have no significance in your life and 2010 will be just another ordinary year like 2009. But if you have a small spark glowing in some corner in your heart that says “I can do it” – my sincere advice to you is: Don’t let this spark die. If you have ever failed to achieve something in life, like scoring 90% in a semester exam or winning a competition in TROIKA or even proposing to a classmate, you failed only because you were not determined to succeed. There was no PASSION to achieve it.
Success is the combination of many factors – determination, hardwork, positive self assertion, time management, being in a positive environment, associating with selective successful people, getting good mentors for motivation and encouragement, balanced diet, proper sleep, exercises and most importantly to love and being loved. It has nothing to do with the shape, size or quality of the brain which one possesses. As a matter of fact human brain is made up of exactly similar neuron cells in all individuals. While I was in Engineering, I use to think how Carpentry in my first semester could ever be of any help in Electronics Engineering. The instructor use to tell us at the carpentry shop that if you want to hit the nail using a hammer, focus constantly on the nail and the hand holding the hammer will automatically get guided and the hammer will fall only on the nail. A simple, but very powerful lesson for life .It means if you wants to reach a goal, all you needs is to focus constantly on the goal and your action gets automatically aligned to take you there.
Your goals may be diverse starting from getting a good job, quit smoking, cracking CAT, GRE or may be simple but most significant goals in life like being a good son or daughter to parents or just being happy in every moment of life. I am not interested in teaching something which would help you in achieving your goal but to embed the success principles in your nerves. It is to be ingrained in the nervous system as long as you choose to. The process of goal setting is not a static process but a dynamic one as stated below:-
Step1:-Decide what you want. Crystallize your thinking.
Step2:-Write it down. Read it once in the morning and once in the evening.
Step3:-Develop a plan for accomplishment
Step4:-Review the reward for attainment. Potential rewards keep the heart excited and mind focused.
Step5:-Set deadlines. Dates have got to be set for each step.
Step6:-Set check points. Keep a track on the progress.
Step7:-Surround yourselves with motivators. Motivation helps to visualize the goal.
Step8:-Use positive affirmations. Keep saying “I will do it”.
Step9:-Celebrate when a step is achieved and simultaneously replace it with the next step.
Step10:-Ask the ultimate question to yourself:-Am I willing to pay the price?
