You cannot ignore these - Journey from Good to Great

From good to great

The recently concluded IFA Galaxy Annual Summit this year had the theme – From Good to Great. My piece was published in the Annual Souvenir. Sharing the same here.

There is a wonderful series of instructions in the Veda starting with the words - Na Pramaditavyam/ Ma Pramada (न​ प्रमदितव्यम् / मा प्रमद:​)  Simply these mean – DO NOT NEGLECT the few things listed. These injunctions are meant to ensure we live a fulfilled life. In the list, the Shruti has even mentioned – Do not neglect your well being and prosperity!

There are some traits common to every person who has achieved greatness A few things they have not neglected in life’s journey – a few things that has made the difference between good and great. These few are mentioned in the list I mentioned above and I enumerate the same here.

Do not neglect basic values – Build your profession around values:

The great stand by some values and principles. “To be truly rich, regardless of his fortune or lack of it, a man must live by his own values. If those values are not personally meaningful, then no amount of money gained can hide the emptiness of life without them.” John Paul Getty.

The basic principle around which every action is built is, “Do as you would be done by!” When you are in a position of an advisor, mentor and have relationships built on trust, there is a great responsibility to uphold that trust – at the cost of business. Have a code of honour and live by it. If you cannot be great in your own mind, it does not matter what others think.

Where there is choice, there is conflict. In such cases, your values should decide your choices as a professional.

These values should not just be taglines to our business names. They should be the principle(s) around which our entire profession is built.

Do not neglect your contribution to society:

Everyone who has achieved greatness is a contributor, more than a mere consumer. In the balance sheet of life, ensure that the contribution side is far greater than what you have received and consumed. Be intensely aware of the entire cosmic infrastructure that has supported you in life’s journey and you will feel the need to take care of it.

Contribution need not be financial only. It can be in the form of teaching or giving your time to some cause etc. Look at the world around, everything is cyclic. You receive-give, receive-give, receive-give. Let the cycle not be broken.

Contribution as a professional, is also giving back to your employer, employees, your principals and clients more in value than you receive.

Do not neglect your health - Physical, mental and intellectual health:

“The foundation of success in life is good health: that is the substratum of fortune; it is the basis of happiness.” — P.T. Barnum

When I speak about health, I refer to physical, mental and intellectual health. Everyone is aware of the need to have good physical health. My focus here is on mental health.

Work environment is competitive, ever changing and challenging. Invariably during waking hours, the mind is filled with stress, indecisiveness regarding choices and preoccupations. Mental fitness refers to calmness of mind, an ability to focus and to see things objectively. It means enjoying a mental detachment and not letting emotions rule, create havoc and affect decisions. Unchecked, powerful emotions subdue the intellect.

Every great, successful person has this mental fitness – ability to remain objective and enjoy relative calmness amidst action in the ever changing environment. He has this ability to remain in control and let the intellect work.

Some suggestions:

1.    The breath and mind are connected. Watching one’s breath is a great relaxation technique when one is stressed. Works immediately to help one calm down

2.    Take time out to watch nature and take a walk alone. This will ensure that you develop mental leisure that is so important.

3.    One trick that is useful, is to learn to “neighbourize” any situation. At times of  conflict and indecision, it would be good to watch your mind / the situation as if it were a neighbour and then respond.

Intellectual health refers to a well informed, thinking intellect. Please do not restrict learning and reading only to investment related stuff. An intellect continually sharpened by going deep into a subject, learning new things and ideating makes the difference between good and great.

While those who have achieved greatness in their fields have several other traits, I thought it fit to emphasize the above. Be mindful of the above and see  difference it makes. Wishing you greatness in your chosen path.