The document discusses examples of positive attitude learned by the author during their time in the National Defence Academy, including: [1] Jumping obstacles and taking leaps of faith with the end goal in sight; [2] Jumping into problems with enthusiasm and then swimming to solve them; [3] Lasting through difficult tasks as a team without leaving anyone behind. The author reflects on training exercises that taught endurance, discipline, never giving up hope, and being a gracious competitor.

1. BUILDING POSITIVE ATTITUDE
BY LT COLONEL (RETD)VIKRAM BAKSHI

3. What are some examples of positive attitude in Army
Parlance related to also Corporate and personal life ?
 Cross obstacles with result in sight
 Jump and Swim in sea of problems with Josh and Hosh

 Last out the process with endurance and as a team without leaving any
stragglers
 No wastage of resources
 Train your team and not humiliate them
 Run for miles and not in yards
 Discipline and Punctuality
 Never lose hope
 Give a tough fight to your competitor
 Take Strong medicine on your chin
 Celebrate success

4. Where I learned positive attitude
NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY
• In my case when ever at age of 45 years old now, if I am in doubt over changing to a
negative attitude I go for a memory trip .
• Being in Pune, I always go back for a drive to Khadakwasala National Defence
Academy and spend time there reminiscent old days in this fine cradle of leadership.
• The course mates and instructors all come back rushing in my memory lane as if it is
happening now

5. Where I learned positive attitude
FLASH BACK
28 YEARS BACK

6. Cross obstacles with result in sight
• There used to be many Physical tests that were mandatory to
pass before going to next term. I was good and ok in most of
the Physical test against many of my course mates who were NEVER SEE THE
excellent. Anyway there was one Test I encountered in my BEGINNING NEAR EDGE OF
third or fourth term which was 9 feet ditch. I crossed and AN OBSTACLE
jumped over comfortably initially like others despite many
were hesitant .
• Anyway one day I slipped over and twisted my ankle. When
I recovered in realized I was not able to cross over due to
some mental block of hurting myself again. I had a full battle
gear on me with a rifle and we were all suppose to jump in air
and cross that 9 feet width ditch which was also 4 to 5 feet
deep. I realized if I missed the far edge or did not take the
leap from the initial edge of ditch in time I would go hurtling
down an break my leg again .
• I felt ashamed of my fear also and decided to come later in
evening on my own and overcome that fear. In evening I
was all alone and contemplated how to overcome my stupid
fear. There was my PT teacher who was cycling home and he
stooped. I told him sheepishly that I was sacred of the
obstacle and how to overcome that fear.
• He told me something that has been with my attitude rest
of life. I was doing the mistake of watching the initial
edge where I was suppose to take the leap of faith in air ALWAYS JUMP OVER AN
and was stopping before it as I was not confident that I
would land in far edge after flying in air for 9 feet. The OBSTACLE WITH FAR EDGE IN
trick was to see the far edge as I ran with speed toward
the ditch with my rifle . SIGHT. TAKE THAT LEAP OF
FAITH THAT YOU WILL NOT GET
• I did that not bothered when and where I tool the leap of faith
in air and wow…I landed much ahead of 10 feet also and I HURT TO FALL IN DITCH BUT
ran back and did that again and again never bothering what
and where was the obstacle starting, just took the leap of faith CROSS OVER
in unknown and landed safely across the obstacle.

7. Jump and Swim in sea of problems
but with Josh and Hosh
• We had a 10 mtr jump in swimming pool
test and as usual it was initially bit fearful.
• It's like 5 stories high to give you goose
bumps
• It was not bad to fear but aim was to over
come the fear.
• Anyway I devised a plan to overcome my
initial hiccups, I avoided standing at
jump board 10 mtr above water like a few
and see the depth and then trun back in
fear.
• I used to run with speed on the diving
board with Josh and take that leap of
faith in air without much thinking and
jump into the pool
• As soon as in entered depths of pool
water….my josh was over but due to cry of
my lungs gasping for oxygen, I switched
over to being conscious of danger and
swam upwards for my lungs to get oxygen JUMP WITH JOSH IN SWIM WITH HOSH
ANY PROBLEM

8. Last out the Endurance March of
a challenging work as a team
In work also , carry all weak and non
• We used to have 20 to 30 km cooperative team ,members against
endurance run competition over their curses but bring them close to
wild terrain and mountains with full end of a project with as a team .. You
battle gear and rifle in hand. will be hated also at times but do it
carry all especially those who crib
• The team that won where I was against their wishes
party to such wind in my my sixth
term and also fourth term was that
we carried our weak runners also
with us.
• We all closed in as a team and
did not allowed any stragglers.
• The team that comes as a
combined with least amount of
time taken was the winner.

9. No wastage of Resources
• I remember the words my firing One Shot One Kill .
instructor used to say…Hold the
trigger, steady your breath , watch Get results first time
the target and unleash a single without rework
shot of death.
• This learning was save your
resources and use it economically
and for effect to its completion.
• You may never get a second
chance again.
• Same was in project execution,
use your resources economically
and timely and for its aiding in
completion.

10. Identify the limit where you can train
your team and does not break them
Such training was very much required
Training discipline go hand in hand as it made all mentally tough to endure
With welfare and fun physically pain
TRAINING
FUN

11. Run for miles and not in yards
Be the guy who builds and preserves his
stamina to speed up in end and mental
• Cross Country 14 KMs. toughness to last the whole race, when
The whole academy breath is failing you, till end come up in
takes part with inter early finishes of work completion in life.
squadron competition.
There also team work
matters.
• The squadron that closes
with all its cadets in early
timing enclosures with
less stragglers is the
winner.

12. Discipline and Punctuality Matters
• Discipline in Drill at drill square • life is all about that in same
and synchronized movements . context of doing work in
or in academic classes means time with synchronized
to be in correct time and in related activities
correct place with a perfect turn
out dress.

13. NEVER LOSE HOPE
GET BACK TO YOUR FEET!
• I fell sick in my fourth term terribly • Medical illness will come
sick and had to undergo a life
saving surgery against a tumor and go, let it not defeat
you till you can breath .
• All had lost hope on my career
also if not life even in post
operative rehabilitation as there
was too much work to do on me by
physiotherapist
• I worked back to my fitness and
was shape One for next 20 years
in Army life despite losing my
kidney in that operation in NDA
• I served in all parts of the country
and was at fore front of all activity
and still kicking alive.

14. Give a tough fight to your competitor
Be Gracious and Sportsman ship
in losing to a better guy but after giving it all in own efforts
• I was not the boxing kind but was • Feel Happy for a better guy who
pushed into Boxing ring by fate. may have worked harder and
• There was a senior called as nick beaten you squarely .
named Junior Mike Tyson famous • Be inspired and encouraged to do
for knock outs. better next time
• Unfortunately I met him in finals,
he could have won easily on
technical points but he had a point
to prove to knock me out.
• I lost out to a better guy but lasted
the rounds with swollen lips and
broken tooth and closed bruised
eyes.
• Both of us went to hospital later
but we became friends . I beat him
next year.

15. Take Strong medicine without any
problems if done something wrong

16. Celebrate success after going through a difficult
journey to get your goal
The first passing out Parade

17. Karmanevadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachina
(Your duty is action with no eye on the fruits it will bring)
This ideal has guided the noblest of men, such as Gandhi and Lincoln.
It is important to remember that this ideal
does not remain confined to a few specific kinds of action;
it stresses that in thought and deed in every sphere of life
the self has to be subordinated to a higher end, a nobler purpose.