Let me share a personal incident from my school days. From class V to IX, I used to score poorly in mathematics, only occasionally the score crossing the 30% passing requirement. However, I used to get promoted to the next class based on aggregate percentage. On the contrary, the unchallenged regular topper in the class used to score more than 95%, hitting cent-percent many a times. No body knew the difference between two of us better than our math teacher. With some hard work under the guidance of my elder brother, I managed to score 45% in math for the first time in my life in class X half-yearly exam in the back-drop of a tough math paper. Incidentally the regular topper scored the highest score of 85%, which probably was one of his lowest scores in math.
On the day of the results, our math teacher openly congratulated me in the class with lots of kind and motivating words, but was conspicuously silent for the topper. Needless to say, this act of our teacher confused the topper as well as the entire class including me. After the class, the topper went to teacher’s chamber, sobbed and begged clarification for the differential treatment meted to him in the class in spite of he getting the highest marks and that too far ahead of the second-best. What the teacher told him in simple words has been my guiding principles of defining success for my entire life since then.
The teacher explained to him that he was a case of 95% plus and I was a case of 30% minus. Since performance-wise mine was better than him, I got the applause from him. One was a case of letting-him down and the other a case of pleasant surprise.
What’s the difference between success and failure, winning and losing? That depends on what software we have loaded in our mind. One idea about winning which is simply not true is that winning means excelling above all other humans in the world. Winning simply means ‘being better than you were yesterday’. It means improving and breaking your own records, not somebody else’s. Success consists of being, becoming and achieving the best you can – in every moment of your life.
Circumstances and environment play a major role in the success of a person. Everyone depends on other people and conducive environment to make their dreams a reality. Bill Gates would be nothing had he been born in Chad or Congo. One billion people of India would be even more successful than those living in Japan today, had our leaders not failed them to provide quality education after independence.
Circumstances must be taken into account if we are to make fair and unbiased assessment of a person’s achievements. Assessing in isolation of one’s environment creates serious distortions. It this distortion which in many people creates a feeling of inferiority, of being a loser and failure. Millions of people today are afflicted by such unfounded and illogical thoughts, fabricating their own distress and depression. We need to discard these unrealistic notions and decide to be happy with our own achievements. Be the best you can, possibly in the present circumstances, and you can legitimately consider yourself one of the most successful people in the world.
On the day of the results, our math teacher openly congratulated me in the class with lots of kind and motivating words, but was conspicuously silent for the topper. Needless to say, this act of our teacher confused the topper as well as the entire class including me. After the class, the topper went to teacher’s chamber, sobbed and begged clarification for the differential treatment meted to him in the class in spite of he getting the highest marks and that too far ahead of the second-best. What the teacher told him in simple words has been my guiding principles of defining success for my entire life since then.
The teacher explained to him that he was a case of 95% plus and I was a case of 30% minus. Since performance-wise mine was better than him, I got the applause from him. One was a case of letting-him down and the other a case of pleasant surprise.
What’s the difference between success and failure, winning and losing? That depends on what software we have loaded in our mind. One idea about winning which is simply not true is that winning means excelling above all other humans in the world. Winning simply means ‘being better than you were yesterday’. It means improving and breaking your own records, not somebody else’s. Success consists of being, becoming and achieving the best you can – in every moment of your life.
Circumstances and environment play a major role in the success of a person. Everyone depends on other people and conducive environment to make their dreams a reality. Bill Gates would be nothing had he been born in Chad or Congo. One billion people of India would be even more successful than those living in Japan today, had our leaders not failed them to provide quality education after independence.
Circumstances must be taken into account if we are to make fair and unbiased assessment of a person’s achievements. Assessing in isolation of one’s environment creates serious distortions. It this distortion which in many people creates a feeling of inferiority, of being a loser and failure. Millions of people today are afflicted by such unfounded and illogical thoughts, fabricating their own distress and depression. We need to discard these unrealistic notions and decide to be happy with our own achievements. Be the best you can, possibly in the present circumstances, and you can legitimately consider yourself one of the most successful people in the world.
1 comment:
Bada Kaku....I liked this instance....i could remember we all at Sankroda.....we small kids listening to your young age ordeals....& of course I know who was the elder Brother!!!! Really a good one.....
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