SUCCESS IS WITHIN YOU!
“Sir, Sir, Ashfaque Sir….”
I stopped my motor cycle and looked behind.
Oh! Hi Jagdish, what a pleasant surprise!
(He was one of my students at Dr.Baba Saheb Ambedkar College, where I was a short term visiting faculty for Programming Techniques and Practices in the year 1991.)
Jagdish got down from his car and smilingly came running towards me. He was looking very excited.
We decided to sit at a restaurant. At first he started telling me everything about myself. I was working in Qatar as System Controller, I have two sons, I was married in 2000, etc., etc.
I was really curious to know how he had all my personal details! I started asking him, “So Jagdish what about you. What are doing now?”
“I am working in Sudarshan Chemical as a Data…..” Suddenly his mobile rang. He excused and attended the phone. I thought he must be working as a data entry operator. While talking on the mobile he took out his pouch and gave me his visiting card.
It was really surprising, he was working as a Database Administrator & Programmer for his company also he was an Oracle Certified Professional (OCP).
When he finished his talk on phone, he explained “Sir your teaching techniques of programming inspired me to become an OCP and they are still useful in my job, sir, 99% credit of my successful career goes only to you. Without attending your lectures I would have never thought of entering into the Programming Profession. I was eager to meet you to tell you about my successful career and so I used to take information from your relatives and friends I meet.”
Toastmaster of the Day, fellow Toastmasters & dear Guests.
A Very Good Evening!
I was literally floored by his love, affection and respect!
I took a long breath and asked him “Jagdish, how many students were attended my lectures?”,
He recollected and answered “Twenty five”.
“As of today I have met you as the first person who has reached at this level, if my lectures were really motivating then all the other 24 students had to become successful programmers and OCPs.
However, this is not the case, you made your-self motivated through my lectures and you decided to reach at this level. Your ambition and hard work only made you to reach here. According to me, 99% credit goes to you and because you wish the remaining 1% I will readily accept.”
Hannah More, the British philanthropist, “It is not so important to know everything as to appreciate what we learn.”
How true! Jagdish you appreciated what you learnt & so are successful!
I saw reluctance on his face and so I narrated another incident of mine.
Once in my village while roaming I saw a shepherd with 15/20 goats. Suddenly I noticed among the goats there was a deer, but the style of walking and eating leaves of the deer was exactly like a goat.
With curiosity I asked the shepherd, “how come this deer is acting like a goat?”
“About 2 years back I found a small baby deer near her dead mother. Perhaps the mother died after delivering the baby. I brought the baby deer and kept with my goats.”
“Well you have done a very good job of saving the life of this deer; but you are now spoiling her life keeping her with the goats. You should have let her go in the forest to enjoy the nature of the forest and to enjoy the river side and let her be the part of the deer family.”
The shepherd smilingly said, “I have already tried all possible things, leaving her in the forest, near the river but nothing works and she comes back. So, I decided I would just let her be a goat until she decides to change."
"But what if she never decides to change? What if she stays a goat all her life?"
"Well, it would be sad," the shepherd said. "It would be a waste of her life. But, if that's what she wants to be, there's nothing I can do about it."
I learnt two valuable lessons:
You can't force a person to change. A person will not change until he or she is ready to change.
If you want to make a change in your life, you have to motivate yourself. Don't look to others to force you to change.
So I appeal to you, look into your inner self, know your strengths, decide what you want and then JUST DO IT!
Today when I am giving my Competent Communicator project, I recollect my joining the Toastmasters more out of keeping my boss happy!
BUT within a few meetings I realized the potential in this unique program, applied myself and today I can proudly say, it is not only myself but my 2 sons & wife who have also benefited from the Toastmasters!
Realizing this I have convinced quite a few of my friends to join the Toastmasters.
I am sure that they have no regrets BUT the important thing is realizing the potential on your own and NOT BEING FORCED TO UNDERSTAND!
We have members who regularly pay their membership fees but hardly ever attend a single meeting.
WHO IS THE LOSER???
We have members who attend but do not get involved in taking Roles or giving projects!
WHO IS THE LOSER???
I sincerely appeal to you; your success is within you.
It is just a matter of reaching out & grabbing it!
I recollect what Dr.Albert Schweitzer Philosopher, Physician & Humanitarian said,
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”
Over to the Toastmaster of the Day!
