Success in achieving a cherished goal is the most important source of happiness in one's life. But succeeding is not easy for two reasons - our own attitude, and our circumstances. We can surely orient our attitude towards being a better performer but can do little about our circumstances. But still, an attitude oriented for success overcomes evil effects of circumstances in many cases. This derives to our first axiom of succeeding - do only what you can make a difference with and leave the rest.
1. Act to Make a Difference
I have often seen persons with problems discussing these with others having the same problems and forgetting thereafter. This does not solve the problem but the persons feel relieved just by knowing that there are others also with the same problem. Such persons develop an attitude of 'whatever shall happen to others, same shall be their own fate'. This attitude is not only damaging to the self but to the whole social network of the person.
Another non-consequential attitude is to bypass the main issue through some superficial talks. I have a friend who, when posed with a problem, take to narrating in great detail a past incident to a point when the main issue becomes out of focus.
The right way of dealing with a problem is to do something that will make a favorable difference in magnitude of the problem, and spare yourself from non-consequential actions in this regard.
2. Break-up the Actions into Smaller Segments
It has been established that a person does his/her best at the most for 4/5 hours a day, and continue to focus on a task for 60/90 minutes at a time. These psychological parameters dictate that every action program be divided into 60/90 minute strokes. Every huge problem creates a fear psychosis in the mind of the person facing it and this prevents him/her from making a beginning towards the solution. Breaking the solution into 60/90 minute strokes reduces the fear and the solution appears easier than it was before. And this makes the beginning a reality through small steps for big achievements.
3. Sandwich Routine Actions with Variety of Actions
Actions that are of repetitive type are done easier as routine activities and are more productive than actions of varied nature. But routine activities cause boredom, hence, can not be continued efficiently for more than 4/5 hours at a time. Conversely, tasks of varied nature are done with more pleasure but are low in productivity. This takes us to conclude that routine activities need be sandwiched with jobs of varied nature to keep a balance of high productivity with pleasures of working.
Routine actions do not use mental faculties, hence the mind remains free while performing in a repetitive job. Conversely, jobs of varied nature need less of physical actions but more of mental faculties. By planned sandwiching the two types of jobs together, both the physical stamina and the mental faculties get optimally utilized. While a routine activity is going on, the brain keeps on working on the non-routine job, and while a non-routine job is being undertaken, the body gets a much needed rest for performing on the scheduled routine job later.
4. Have Time for the Important
Important things are often more important to the future but for the present, urgent things matter more than the important. This causes for the person getting busy with the 'urgent' and forgetting the 'important'. For example, I am on my way to prepare a huge manuscript as an important task, but my online tasks - looking and answering my emails and writing on my blogs, remain urgent for me, and take most of my on-desk-time of 6 hours a day, leaving little to the important. As a solution, I limit my online activities to 4 hours with 2 hours reserved for the manuscript.
In view of point 3 above, I sandwich the non-routine manuscript job in between two sessions of routine online activities. This way, I get time for my important task while justifying with my online engagements.
5. Know Your Weaknesses
Most of us, particularly the intellectuals, know their strengths well and keep on focusing on them. It is the dictum of wisdom of life. In this process, we often ignore our weak points and get caught unawares in our black holes. This causes morale to go down adversely affecting our performance even in areas of strengths. So, know your weaknesses well for two reasons - for eliminating those, and for avoiding involving in those.
1. Act to Make a Difference
I have often seen persons with problems discussing these with others having the same problems and forgetting thereafter. This does not solve the problem but the persons feel relieved just by knowing that there are others also with the same problem. Such persons develop an attitude of 'whatever shall happen to others, same shall be their own fate'. This attitude is not only damaging to the self but to the whole social network of the person.
Another non-consequential attitude is to bypass the main issue through some superficial talks. I have a friend who, when posed with a problem, take to narrating in great detail a past incident to a point when the main issue becomes out of focus.
The right way of dealing with a problem is to do something that will make a favorable difference in magnitude of the problem, and spare yourself from non-consequential actions in this regard.
2. Break-up the Actions into Smaller Segments
It has been established that a person does his/her best at the most for 4/5 hours a day, and continue to focus on a task for 60/90 minutes at a time. These psychological parameters dictate that every action program be divided into 60/90 minute strokes. Every huge problem creates a fear psychosis in the mind of the person facing it and this prevents him/her from making a beginning towards the solution. Breaking the solution into 60/90 minute strokes reduces the fear and the solution appears easier than it was before. And this makes the beginning a reality through small steps for big achievements.
3. Sandwich Routine Actions with Variety of Actions
Actions that are of repetitive type are done easier as routine activities and are more productive than actions of varied nature. But routine activities cause boredom, hence, can not be continued efficiently for more than 4/5 hours at a time. Conversely, tasks of varied nature are done with more pleasure but are low in productivity. This takes us to conclude that routine activities need be sandwiched with jobs of varied nature to keep a balance of high productivity with pleasures of working.
Routine actions do not use mental faculties, hence the mind remains free while performing in a repetitive job. Conversely, jobs of varied nature need less of physical actions but more of mental faculties. By planned sandwiching the two types of jobs together, both the physical stamina and the mental faculties get optimally utilized. While a routine activity is going on, the brain keeps on working on the non-routine job, and while a non-routine job is being undertaken, the body gets a much needed rest for performing on the scheduled routine job later.
4. Have Time for the Important
Important things are often more important to the future but for the present, urgent things matter more than the important. This causes for the person getting busy with the 'urgent' and forgetting the 'important'. For example, I am on my way to prepare a huge manuscript as an important task, but my online tasks - looking and answering my emails and writing on my blogs, remain urgent for me, and take most of my on-desk-time of 6 hours a day, leaving little to the important. As a solution, I limit my online activities to 4 hours with 2 hours reserved for the manuscript.
In view of point 3 above, I sandwich the non-routine manuscript job in between two sessions of routine online activities. This way, I get time for my important task while justifying with my online engagements.
5. Know Your WeaknessesMost of us, particularly the intellectuals, know their strengths well and keep on focusing on them. It is the dictum of wisdom of life. In this process, we often ignore our weak points and get caught unawares in our black holes. This causes morale to go down adversely affecting our performance even in areas of strengths. So, know your weaknesses well for two reasons - for eliminating those, and for avoiding involving in those.
