6 Steps to Greatness

Here is a summary from Prof Rajeshwar's class:

Step 1: Reverse the way you get out of bed

Step 2: Look for good in other people

Step 3: Learn how to greet people

Step 4: Establish Symbols

Step 5: Take care of your physical health

Step 6: Feed your mind

Here are the steps in details.

Step 1: Reverse the way you get out of bed

What this step really means is that you should challenge your comfort zone. You come out of your bed in the same way everyday, without consciousness. This is like a metaphor. You should seek what you really aspire. This should not be constrained by what you feel is realistic, because the limits are only in your mind. Of course, there is ambition and then there is over ambition which is when your ambition exceeds your capability. But when you live a dream, you only will know whether the goal is achievable or not. Give it a chance. Change after you have lived it for some time. Because if you would not look out for it, you would not get it.

This also suggests that you should be impractical, irrational while setting your aspirations. You should write down your aspirations and repeat it to yourself everyday. Everyday in the morning, as soon as you wake up say to yourself as if you are what you want to be. Last thought that you have at night, is the first thought in the morning. e.g. if you put an alarm to catch at flight at 4 AM, you would wake up 5 minutes before that. Your mind gets tuned to it. So, write a script and chase it. Stay focused!

There was an experiment done where a few flies were put in a glass tumbler and the glass was covered with the book. The flies tried a lot to come out of the glass, but their struggle failed. After some time, they were hovering near the top of the glass. Then the book was removed. None of the flies, flied out. From their experience they knew they couldn't come out. But they were so wrong. So, don't let your experiences limit you from chasing your dreams. You never know when the passage exists. Keep looking out for it.

Step 2: Look for good in other people

Consciously look for what is good in other people. Admire them for their good. Don't look at their shortcoming because that humanizes them. Look for the gold not dirt. Gold is difficult to find and you have to neglect a lot of dirt to find gold. Darkest hour is just before the dawn. If you see bad, good is just around the corner.

Praise is always acceptable. If you praise someone, there will never be a time that a person will be offended by it. This is a great tip for networking. It can be very uncomfortable, but still needs to be done. You should always look for good and develop others.

Step 3: Learn how to greet people

You should always greet others with energy. A cold Hello is just not enough. Show enthusiasm. Stretch yourself to show the enthusiasm if it doesn't come easily. Differentiate yourself.

Step 4: Establish Symbols

This one is a little tricky. You should develop your anchor. e.g. your calmness could be your anchor or symbol. And it should be one. Its like God. Whoever it is, doesn't matter. It should be someone and should be only that.

Step 5: Take care of your physical health

Would you sell your eyes if you were paid a million dollars? If not, then value them accordingly. Take care of your body and physical health. The old adage that if health is done - something is gone is very true. A health body only can have a healthy mind. Only mind and body are your own - develop them!

Step 6: Feed your mind

GIGO - Garbage In, Garbage Out works for the mind too. Don't feed garbage to your mind. Feed it healthy content like Classics, Motivations, Heroics, Good literature and Good thoughts.

Try to follow these six steps and greatness will be yours!