If you ask yourself regularly – “is there a better way?”, you can create a unique space for yourself in whatever area you work in. It works irrespective of your role or area of work. Why it works? Because, not everyone does that; people are too busy running. They prefer running aimlessly – than to stop and think about improvement.

Let us see how people can use this question.

Entrepreneurs (can ask): Is there a better way to deliver a service or design a product? This may have been the question Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs asked themselves – when they started working on what later became a Mac. Google may have asked this question when search-engines like AltaVista ruled and they were just a small entity trying to create better search in a university lab. Established players need to ask this question on a regular basis if they want to stay in the game.

Teachers (can ask): Is there a better way to teach – something that teaches them to question the status quo at an early age. They can share a story or a movie that teaches the value of virtues like truth, humility and compassion. They can use drama to teach the art of better expression.

They can ask themselves – can there be a better method of teaching than just asking students to read the chapters and the answer the question. What if the students start with questions first and find the answer in nature and through fun and interesting discussion.

Writers (can ask): Is there a better way to tell a story – in a way that it touches the heart of the reader, sparks an idea, or simply amuses and entertains.

Father or mother (can ask): Is there a way to a better parent? Ask yourself – what is the way to strike a balance between being overly possessive and being indifferent to the demands of your child? Is there a way that can help you know your child better? Can you create a better environment of growth for your child – by creating a balance – where TV, internet, outdoor activity, spending time with friends, reading, and healthy eating all are part of your child’s life? How to help your child grow by setting an example through your own life? How to help your kids unleash their full potential by not pushing your own desires and unfulfilled dreams on them?

Marketer (can ask): Can I be more truthful in communicating with the target audience. Can I drive my products, service or business by delivering quality, being innovative and inducing trust then by pushing products and spamming people with promotions at odd hours?

The question each one of us can ask?

Is there a way I can become a better human being? By speaking less and doing more; by trying to be more understanding, considerate of the need of other person, by active listening, by giving with an open heart, by being truthful, by helping people and reaching out to those in need; by complaining less. When you ask this question chances are that improvements will touch each and every part of your life. It will help you become a better father, husband, son, friend, marketer, entrepreneur and every role you play in your day to day life.

So if you want to be unique then ask yourself today – Is there a better way of doing it?

Thanks for asking this question. I am thanking you because I want you to be better at what you do.

To your success and growth.

Photo Credits

I am sure you have some view point about this website. Either you think it is a valuable free personal development resource or you take it as a waste of your time. Probably, some of you are waiting, to see where it is headed. Rightly so, the content is very less at this point in time to create an opinion or view point.

But I am sure in coming months you will find interesting content in this space. Then, for some of you it may become an inspiration to start your own website. I will be happy to see that happening.

I see this website as a passage to future. A future where there will no crime, no hunger and everyone will live life to the fullest and live up to one’s true potential.

If you want to live life to the fullest, an understanding of relative nature of time will help. What is future in the current moment will become present tomorrow. Similarly, the very next moment, the current moment will become past. At the core is the moment we are living in. This moment some time back was future, now it is present, later it will be past.

So if you want to glorify your past or desire a shining future; focus on the current moment. Give your best to the present moment. If you are living present moment to the fullest i.e. you are giving your best to it; you are building the foundation of a great future.

For example, if you are trying to loose weight in order to become a model; sometime you will fancy yourself walking on the ramp. This will only happen if we you will focus on proper diet and exercise in the present moment.   

Rather complex introduction for simple facts that I am going to share with you. In the following lines you will find a review of the past month (July 2006) and plans for the current month (August 2006) in terms of my personal development goals.

This type of entry normally goes in my personal journal. Then, why I included it here? Probably, it can help some of you if you are contemplating similar pursuits. That said, such entries will be far and less between as I plan to write mostly timeless essays and articles here.

July 2006 was an exciting month for me where I tasted small success on many fronts.

Success

Website Launch: July was the lucky month when I was finally able to launch mohitpawar.com; a move which I had been contemplating for many months. The motivation behind this website is to give a vent to my thoughts, bring regularity to my writing and create a single window for all my current and future projects.

Fitness: I managed to stick to a fitness schedule for more than 30 days. I am still on it. Starting June 28, I started a morning fitness routine which includes basic warm-up, stretching and strength training. During past 40 days (June 28 to August 8), I went from 0 to 80 sit-ups. I further plan to add push-ups and chin-ups to this schedule in a phased manner.

Meanwhile, for cardio-vascular fitness I started walking regularly. Currently I am averaging at 5kms per day. Most of the days, I walk for 5-6kms; on some days I walk for 3kms with an occasional rest day. The maximum distance I have covered recently is 12kms.

This combination of cardio and strength training is doing a lot of good for me. I can feel the increase in energy levels which results in increased productivity at work.

Flip side is that it leaves me with less time for writing, reading and pursuing other interests; but I do not mind it because fitness is my top priority these days.

Restarting a regular exercise schedule is like homecoming to me.  As a kid, I used to run long distances. I used to get up really early then, mostly at 4 am or latest by 5 am depending on the weather. Soon after, I used to be out for a jog. Currently I am not focusing on getting up early. My current normal wake up time is 6:30 am.

Plans

During August, I plan to focus on improving my fitness level and writing skills. I also plan to be regular on reading front.

Fitness: I currently weigh around 97 kg. I want to reduce it to 91 kg till October 28, 2006. This suggests a reduction of 6kgs over a period of 3 months. It leaves me with a weight-reduction target of 2kg for August. I am sure of achieving it.

Reading: Some wise person has said if you want to write better, then you should read more than you write. I totally agree. That is why I plan to read following books during August.

1. Getting Things Done – David Allen (259 pages)
2. The Quick & Easy Way to Effective peaking – Dale Carnegie (221 pages)
3. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (136 pages)
4. Elements of Style – William Strunk., Jr. (40 pages)
5. The Tipping Point – Malcom Gladwell (272 pages)

In all 928 pages are to be read. I will have to finish reading these in 25 days if I want to be on target. It calls for average 38 pages per day. Given my current traveling schedule, I will have to read at least 65 pages on the days when I am not traveling to achieve it. Looks like, it can be done.

Writing: I communicate to you through my writing. I want this communication to be simple, something which you enjoy reading and which is capable to bringing value to your life. It needs to be practiced to be perfected. Hence, I will be writing 500 words on the days I am not traveling.

I will also like to share with you, my intention of writing 6 articles or long posts during August 2006.  

So now, I have shared all my plans with you and this leaves me with the responsibility of being on target. Hopefully I will be able to do so.

To know the results, we will have to wait till the first week of September 2006; that’s when I will post the review of August and plans for September.

Meanwhile, regular articles will follow.

Until next time, peace.

If your answer to the above questions is yes then you are not alone. Most of us have experienced similar feelings at some point in our lives. I agree, more money can give you power to buy stuff. This stuff may result in short-term happiness for you; but this, at best, remains a temporary solution.

If you need eternal happiness, you need to take a different route. This route is known as a purpose-driven life. To get started on this route; first you will have to realize the purpose of your life.

Now, we arrive at the ultimate question. What is the purpose of your life? The best part is that you already know the answer. This answer is buried within you and you will have to dig it out. How will you do that?

Simply ask yourself, what is the purpose of my life? If this question is too complex for you; simply ask yourself what is it that you like doing;

• Do you like reaching out to people?
• Would you like to add more colors to the lives of people as a fashion designer?
• Do you want to shape the lives of children of the world as a teacher?
• Is it to serve and heal people?
• Your purpose can also be creating wealth for self and members of society as an entrepreneur.

Most of us find these things by trial and error as life naturally progresses. But this process may be too long and sometime one’s life may end with unfulfilled desires. An ideal situation will be where you follow a proactive approach in finding something that you are passionate about.

So where do you start? Give yourself 20 minutes when nobody will disturb you and write every single thing that you like doing or would like to do in life. While you are writing, do not think about the money or effort it will take you to accomplish all that you are writing. Just write what comes to your mind.

Once you are through, select 10 things that interests you most.  Now think about your natural talents and finally pick 3 things that can be accomplished with the help of your these talents. All this while, please be aware that you should not think about the job or market potential of tasks you are writing. Just write because you think you have a natural talent to do it and you like doing it.

Now you have arrived at a list of 3 tasks that you like doing. You feel that you have some natural talent required to accomplish these 3 tasks. Now what? Give these tasks your 100%. Do justice to your final choice by nurturing it with time, money and other resources.

If you are working at a day job or studying at college; set aside a specific time of the day to work on these tasks. Devote this time regularly. If 3 tasks look like too much to manage, narrow it to 2 tasks.

While you are doing this realize that finding the purpose of your life is not an instant result exercise. It may take months or even few years before you can find your life’s purpose and devote all your energies to it.

On this path of discovering the purpose of your life, a time will come when you will be ready to make you life’s purpose as your full-time career. Once you know your purpose you are on the path of full potential. It is simple, when you do what you love doing, your energy levels are high and you are enthused to give your best. At this point, you will be able to create the magic, living a life that you love.

You may not get it right the first time but ultimately you will get it. When you will look back after few months or years you will be glad that you started on this journey of finding your life’s purpose. Consider yourself lucky if you can find something which you love doing early in your life.

Most of the times; we do not undertake such exercises because we fear that we may not succeed. But you will loose nothing by trying. After one year of practice you may realize that playing a piano is not your forte but this practice will give you enough skills to entertain friends and family. You will be satisfied with the possession of a skill that was not there with you earlier.

So what are you waiting for? Pick up a pen and paper or reach out to your computer and start on the exercise of finding your life’s purpose.

Hope you attain a life that you deserve. My wishes are there for you.

Peace.