Personal Ingredients for Excellence

1. My 10 PIEs (Personal Ingredients for Excellence)
 Prayer - Pray - There is immeasurable power in it. I begin my day with a short prayer –
"Lord, thank you for this life. My wisdom and understanding are nothing compared to
yours. Lead me in your light. May your will be done and not mine”. He might not give you
want you want, but He will provide you with what you need
 Optimism -Seems and sounds clichéd, right? It's not. And it doesn’t come easy as well.
People might have hurt you, or you might have had a bad day at work or worse still, all
your plans and aspirations might have trashed in a split second. In such situations, how can
one afford to harbor positive thoughts? It helps to spend some time in introspection. I have
programmed my mind in such a way that when anything negative strikes me, my mind
automatically trashes such thoughts/memories in the self-created DNE (Does Not Exist)
basket. It’s a mechanism through which I do away with anything negative or depressing –
Be it people, situations or thoughts. In a matter of seconds, I am back to being a live wire
and ready to inspire!
 Planning - I think, I analyze and I strategize. Got a problem at hand? Sit down and attack
it like a chess game. Plan the moves - every step. I need time to build my vocabulary, read
stuff, plan my work-out regime, connect with people, travel places, and learn about things
happening around. I plan for the day, for the week and if possible for the month or even 6
months. Instead of keeping a time for each activity, I prefer to jot down the tasks to be
accomplished for the day. In that way I get enough flexibility to switch between tasks
according to my convenience. I maintain a daily, weekly and monthly planner which gives
me a clear picture of where I am headed to and what things I need to accomplish in a
specified time frame.
 Tenacity - On June 14, I ran my first mini marathon (8 Kms.) It was absolutely exhausting,
but I somehow managed to cross the finishing line and was over the moon. Since then,
every Saturday, I wake up at 5 A.M. and go running with my team. It isn't easy to jump off
the bed on a Saturday morning after having had a rigorous week at work. When everyone
around is busy sleeping on a weekend, it might appear crazy to hit the ground running,
with a long-distance monstrous run. It isn’t a necessity, but a deliberate attempt to test my
resolve – the willfulness to push myself and set new limits. Learn to embrace the pain and
discomfort that life throws at you. You will realize that you are capable of much more
endurance than you actually think.
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2. My 10 PIEs (Personal Ingredients for Excellence)
 Physical fitness – A very important ingredient of my excellence recipe. It involves
working-out at the gym, swimming and long-distance runs during the weekends.
Swimming strengthens the heart and is one of the biggest calorie burners around. Running
helps lower blood pressure, keeps lungs’ strong and powerful and is a natural tranquilizer
to alleviate tension, depression, fatigue and confusion. Working-out helps me stay in
shape; develop strength, flexibility and self-confidence. It gets me out of my house and can
be a positive social experience.
 Professionalism - The way you talk and the way you walk, speaks volumes about your
demeanor and personality. Strive to give your 100 % at work. I try to keep an open mind
and learn from my colleagues and seniors. Learn as much as possible about your craft and
also give freely what you know. It makes knowledge sharing joyful and mutually
beneficial. I love what I do and take pride in my work. Dress appropriately as per the
organization’s culture and wear a smile at all times. I have seen that a smile can be really
infectious and light up the environment at the workplace. People tend to perceive you as
more approachable and genuine
 Never-Say-Die - After running non-stop for 2.5 Kms, when my heart pounds hard against
my ribs, a voice echoes -- It's enough! But I tell myself, “DON’T STOP - run a little
more”. When the alarm rings at 3:00 AM in the morning and reminds me to start studying,
my body craves for 5 minutes of extra sleep, but then the heart wags an admonishing
finger at my brain saying, “Shut up and get up”. You feel like giving up and that’s exactly
when you must tell yourself – “This is the beginning - it’s gonna be fun!
 Good companionship - I feel fortunate to have a handpicked circle of close friends across
continents with whom I connect on a regular basis. Distances do not matter when hearts
connect. People who are compatible with your value and belief systems can push you to do
great things. A fun-filled conversation or a genuine casual chat with a loved one is a
wonderful refresher in the everyday monotonous lifestyle
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3. My 10 PIEs (Personal Ingredients for Excellence)
 Motivation 24 x 7 – I derive my daily dose of motivation from the people around me.
The dhobi who works tirelessly in the scorching heat without a fan or a proper shelter or
even a stool to sit, inspires me. He doesn't complain and when I greet him on the way to
my office, he reciprocates cheerfully. The 21 year old poor young lad in my housing
society struggles to nurse his ailing father, working day after day - cleaning cars and
delivering water cans to different houses to support his family. During our occasional
evening strolls, we discuss on a variety of topics related to life, scriptures, family, and
importance of education. He listens with rapt attention and has now started learning to
speak English. The spark in his eyes, in the midst of a chaotic life inspires me. At the end
of the talk, when he says, “Thank you, brother - You give me hope”, it’s a surreal feeling
that nudges me to become more compassionate and competent
 Character - Finally, never compromise on your character and integrity. These are the most
valuable assets which will hold you in good stead at all times. What defines you as a
person? At the end of the day before going to bed, while I look at myself in the mirror – I
must find my head firmly placed upon my shoulders feeling like a righteous man on a
mission.
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