BENGALURU: “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me” is a wonderful mantra.I recently read in a newspaper that fully 10 per cent of the population is betting they will win the lottery to finance their retirement. Too many people are leaving the quality of their futures to chance rather than to choice. It reminds me of the habit my brother had as a kid. When he saw that a glass was about to fall off a counter, rather than rushing to save it from falling, he would cover his ears wit his hands so he could not hear it smash. (He has since grown up and become a Harvard - trained eye doctor, so his unique habit does not appear to have held him back all that much).
This anecdote’s point of wisdom is simply this: we need to keep our ears and eyes open to the realities of life. If we don’t act on life and take action to make things happen, it will act on us and give us results we might not want. This is one of the natural laws that has governed humanity for thousands of years. To become more proactive during the weeks ahead, begin to see yourself as the chief executive officer of your destiny, the CEO of your life. All effective CEOs realize that “if it’s going to be, it’s up to me” and act as the catalysts of their own dreams. Similarly, if you want something done, rather than waiting for luck to look your way, take steps to get it done. If there is someone you know could help you solve a problem or seize an opportunity, pick up the phone and call him or her. Remember, you can make excuses or you can make progress, but you cannot do both.
When I was practicing law, I would make a 45- minute journey on a commuter train to my officer in a downtown tower. Every day, a man would sit in front of me who I came to see as a model of the become the CEO of your life principle. Instead of sleeping or daydreaming like most of the other people on the train, this man decided to use his forty - five minutes to exercise. From the moment he sat down until the moment we arrived at the station, he would do arm stretches, neck rolls and a series of rigorous exercise to improve his health. Rather than joining the legion of people who complain they don’t have enough time to work out, he took matters into his own hands and took charge of opportunity. Sure he looked a little silly. But who cares what others think when you know that what you are doing is the right thing to do.
Seeing yourself as the CEO of your life can create a fundamental shift in the way you perceive your world. Instead of sailing through life as a passenger, you become the captain of the ship, leading things in the direction you choose to move in rather than reacting to the whim of the changing tides. And as you take greater control of your life, reflect on William James’s inspiring words: “Humankind’s common instinct for reality has always held the world to be essentially a theater for heroism.”
— Excerpt from Who Will Cry When You Die by Robin Sharma www.robinsharma.com