The end of the year is a time for refl ection. A time to relive or reminisce over our successful moments, whilst refl ecting or analysing our mistakes. The beginning of the year, however, holds great promise – it’s the time to plan, dream, and be optimistic about the year ahead. Incorporate the following factors into your life and you would be well on your way to realising your dreams.
Aim high
Be audacious when setting your targets, never set your goals based on your present capabilities. Decide what you want, and then build your capabilities around that. Take the case of N Chandrasekaran, educated in the Tamil-medium school close to the town of Namakal. He joined TCS as an intern in 1987 and thirty years later is named as the Chairman of the iconic Tata Sons, the holding company of the $103 billion group. This most certainly would have been an audacious goal for him way back in 1987. So never set limits to your dreams. Remember, the only difference between your dreams and your goal is the written word, so write down your dreams on paper, and convert it into a goal.
Gain Expertise
Become extremely competent at what you do, learn everything about it, become so good that nobody can ignore you.
Manage your time
Learn to prioritise and do what is important, don’t confuse urgency with importance. What’s urgent need not be important. Remember, any activity that gets you closer to your goal is good time management, so do more of that and less of unproductive activities.
Be Proactive
Always plan and be one step ahead. Never let external factors control you. Don’t react to situations, but take charge of them by being prepared. Believe that whatever happens in your life is only a result of your own actions. If the consequences of your actions are not desirable, you have the power to change them.
Network
It’s important to meet people. If you want to get ahead, then relationships are key. You will never know who will open doors for you. The more people you meet, the more opportunities you have. Dress
Appropriately
Don’t underdress or for that matter overdress. Your attire should be suitable for the occasion. At work, always remember to dress for your next position. Luck If you set high goals, become extremely good at what you do, manage your time and activities effectively, and constantly meet new people while being well attired, then you will be surprised at how lucky you get.
R A Nadesan is an executive coach, behavioural and soft skills trainer with a pan India presence. He can be reached at ranadesan@yahoo.co.uk