A diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled competition and pressure exceptionally well.
Competition today is this inevitable, in your face fact of life which is here to stay. And if one has to succeed and achieve something, no doubt he has to be at the top of it all. Earlier, students and young people were advised to think of the competition very objectively. It was there always, but people never prioritized it at the cost of their life, relationships and happiness. But after the advent of technology and internet, it has today become a reality which has engulfed the entire existence of our lives. Right from the play school till the end of our careers, from within our close friends and family to distant relatives its everywhere and its unavoidable. And one just cant advice our children to stay away from the rat race. Because today, out of sight is out of mind.
So when you cant avoid it, you have to win it. But its better said than done. Many a times, even if one is aware of the path to take, one does not have the resources to trudge the path. Confusions, doubts and stress always cloud the thoughts. In such a situation, its always better to have a guideline to know what to do and how to do. Below are some of the points listed for youngsters to follow when in doubt or confusion.
Know your strengths
This is basically the most important and the basic step to master if one wants to be at the forefront of the competition. One can perform the best of his/her abilities if he/she likes what he is doing. Also, the level of understanding for the subject and the work increases many fold if the person is deeply interested in it. So think about what you love the most and only then chose the field of your work.
Know what is currently happening in the world.
If the entire world is using an android phone then there is no point in developing a windows phone. Its very essential that you have an idea of what is currently happening in the world. What might work in the future and what will get outdated. Keeping yourself updated and active in the present world is the best preparation you can do to win the race. Once you get a good idea about the trends and formats of the world, it becomes easy to decide your path based on the resources and choices.
Always be consistent in your efforts.
It is observed that many of the young people become easily complacent after achieving little success. Always remember, its always easy to climb that first mountain but always difficult to keep on doing it regularly. So many talented people have lost their accomplishments falling prey to their own pride and over confidence. Think about Vinod Kambli, who was more talented than Sachin Tendulkar but couldn’t have the consistency which cost him his entire career. So even if you are at the peak of success, keep practicing, keep performing and be consistent.
Do not over estimate or under estimate your capabilities
Over estimating something is as dangerous as under estimating. You cannot defy the competition if you are not correctly aware about your strengths and weaknesses. There might be situations where your capabilities shine more than normal or they lose the luster due to some temporary obstacles. But that does not mean that you should take the results based on temporary situations to your heart. Always remain vigilant and keep introspecting about the situation. This is how you would know where you stand.
Keep a watch on your competitors.
This comes without saying. Of course you should know what your competitors are doing. But this does not mean that you should stalk them and try to extract information at the cost of losing your dignity. If you are intelligent enough, just some basic homework and digging of information here and there can give you a clear view of what your competitor is up to. The basic idea is to be aware not to steal the others idea. There is a saying which says that a person should have more concern about his enemies than his friends to succeed. Keep that in mind.
Always work legitimately.
Yes. You have to be a true sport and competitor. No one is putting you in jail if you come second. But you might get there if you depend upon some wrong or unlawful activities to win the race. Like cheating in the exam, illegally getting the data from the competitor, etc. All these things are really petty and might put you in a grave and disrespectful situations. Be a man. Be dignified and play a right game. Believe in your capabilities and give your best. Its absolutely alright if you don’t win after that.
Believe in yourself
Whatever happens, you have to have this basic quality to sustain you through the up and downs of the competition. There is no fun in always succeeding. Same way no person who is the master of the game and not experienced failure once in his life. Failure teaches you more than what success does. And like its said, a charcoal has to go through a lot of pressure to become a diamond. So be confident always even in the face of failure and know that this will pass. If you maintain your sense of balance and confidence even in adversity, it’s the best you can do.
