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OK You Want To Be An Entrepreneur But Are You REALLY Ready For It?

Mohit Pawar — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 06:30:12 +0000

Some readers may find the title strange; but truth sometimes is strange. The truth is that you need a certain degree of readiness before you jump on to the entrepreneurial bandwagon.

By readiness to become an entrepreneur I mean - whether are you disciplined, motivated and organized enough to become an entrepreneur.

Next obvious question will be how to assess the readiness to become an entrepreneur? Try asking yourself, following 4 questions. (Be frank and honest when you answer these questions. I have assumed that you have the necessary skill set required to set up your enterprise.)

1. Are your ready to slog?

If you want to create a successful enterprise, you should be ready to work for long hours.

You may have to slog it out in front of your computer, waiting at the office of a potential client and writing proposals to potential partners. Till the time you attain the size to afford a facility manager you will have to run errands yourself. These are what I call the Perils of being the master of your own destiny.

You will have to work hard to make a mark. And once you succeed, you will have to slog hard to maintain your position against competition.

Entrepreneurs hanging out in Page 3 parties, going to expensive cruises, owning a yatch may not become a reality for you any time soon. (In fact owning a yacht is not suiting Oracle honcho Larry Ellison too much). Going to hip parties, and getting interviewed by media, all may happen but not when you start. It is possible after you have done your bit.

2. Do you have the energy levels to pursue entrepreneurship?

It calls for high energy levels. You need the energy to sail through long hours of brainstorming. You need to think about new ideas and create plans. There may be instances when you will have to greet clients with a smile even when you are tired.

If you plan to take a bootstrapped approach in building your business then you will have to wear various hats (strategy, sales, PR etc.) Better if you can find a partner who compliments your abilities. If you are a good hacker then find somebody who can do customer interface or somebody who can evangelize your product.

3. Are you a good finisher?

People start business because they feel strongly about what they are planning to do. At that point motivation is high and mostly the bright side is visible. But there can be times when going gets tough. In such situations, more than motivation the discipline and commitment to face complex situations is required. Such attitude is called the finisher attitude. It goes beyond the initial level of excitement which prompts one to start something new.

Realize one thing – “For an entrepreneur the expenditures are most likely to be more than expected and profits will always arrive later than expected.”

When you start an enterprise on the above footing, you will stick to it and eventually succeed. This is a very important trait if you want to succeed in any part of the life. As somebody has said – One needs to stay long enough on course to arrive at the destination.

If you doubt about your finishing skills then find a partner who compliments your skill-set and who is a good finisher.

4. Are you motivated enough to do it?

What is your motivation to become an entrepreneur? Do you want to become an entrepreneur because a young Haravard drop-out is being offered a reported $ 1 billion for a company he started 2 years back or because you saw somebody on the cover of Business Week magazine or a young boy with a simple idea made a killing in a short span of time? Is it because one of your distant relatives made a little fortune as an entrepreneur?

Ask three gentlemen (Mark Zuckeberg, Kevin Rose, and Alex Tew) in question above, did they do it because they were aware of the market potential of their respective ideas. I doubt. They did it as a hobby in one case and as a small gig to make some money in another. With some luck and lots of slogging they became what they are now.

These are good examples for taking inspiration; but chances of you success will increase if you are doing something because it gives you satisfaction to create. Another scenario that has chances of bringing success - you realize that What you did last summer (the project work… I mean) can be a potential spin-off and start working on it. Now let’s move to what arguably is the most popular reason of people wanting to become entrepreneurs. Don’t you hear so many individuals showing their distaste for taking orders from their boss? They cite this as the primary reason of their willingness to become entrepreneurs.

Are you doing it because you do no want to take orders from your boss? For a change think about taking orders from a client. What about taking order from an advertiser if you are a media owner.

Learn to take orders early in life without compromising on your self-esteem. When the time comes to take order from your clients towards the success of your enterprise, you will be ready to serve them happily. This will pave the way for a grand success.

So now you have answered all questions. Hope you found yourself ready to take on the next opportunity. Even if you realize that you are missing some ingredients from the list and your heart asks you to go ahead; then my suggestion will be to just do it. It is better to play in the field and loose than to be a fence sitter thinking that you could have won the game if you were in it.

Who knows you will defy all rules to win the game. This is the best situation to be in; because the satisfaction that a win against odds brings, is immense. This can become one of the most cherished memories of your life.

So, whether you start today or take you time to get ready, my wishes are with you. Let the success be yours. Stay tuned for more.

13 Ideas to Start a Task and Finish It Successfully

Mohit Pawar — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 10:51:32 +0000

How many of you believe that success depends on good ideas? I think most of you believe this. Now if I go a step further and ask you whether success depends on good ideas or right execution of good ideas. Hopefully you will find yourself agreeing more to second statement as compared to first.

So you already know the mantra of success which is simple – generate good ideas and execute these ideas to perfection.

If attaining success is so simple then what stops a majority from achieving what they dream of. The primary reason is that most of us ideate but only a small number execute.

Those who execute and finish the task obviously stand a better chance to succeed that those whose ideas die on the ideation stage itself. If finishing takes you one step close to successes then why not to finish every task that you undertake. It is simpler than you think.

Here are 13 simple ideas that will help you blossom into a great finisher;

1. You need to start something before you can finish it.

Go start it, don’t wait for that perfect moment. Don’t sit on the idea for long, just get started. To put in a different way Just Do It as the Nike slogan suggests.

If you want to write a book, start by deciding a working title and writing that first paragraph. You can also choose to write a one page outline. If you want to start an online store, decide on the product line and book a domain name.

If you need to submit a report to your boss or to your class-teacher (depending upon what age group you are in); start by collecting information from web, books and whatever other sources you choose. If you are an (aspiring) entrepreneur, start by building a demo (prototype) and go out to take feedback. If you can create a demo, sell and build in typical bootstrap fashion, who knows you can be tomorrow’s Michael Dell.

The idea is not to think too much before you start if it is not a high risk decision.

2. See that you starting with a worthwhile idea.

One word of caution before you start. Make sure you are out to live your own dream and not somebody else’s. See that you are really keen and interested in the work that you are taking up. Do not start just because doing it is very cool.

You should have a genuine inclination towards pursuing it, should have skill-set to execute and the resources (physical energy, availability to time, investment if required).

Do not invest in stock market just because your friend made a killing investing in equity. Nothing to doubt intelligence of your friend; it is better to be inspired by legendry investors like Warren Buffet. He chose not to invest in technology stocks during the boom before internet bubble; because he did not understand technology. Lesson to be learnt here - venture into a field that you understand.

Start something because you are passionate about it and you possess some skill set relevant to the task that you are taking up.

3. See that there are some rewards for you.

Start something which will provide some gain to you. It need not be monetary gain. The gain can be physical (better health through regular exercise); financial (wealth creation through regular saving); mental (clarity of thoughts through regular meditation); emotional (satisfaction due to having a romantic life that you desired). When you will see gain you will be motivated to take action.

4. Convert your task into actionable chunks.

If you want to finish a task successfully just break it into manageable chunks. Think of eating a big watermelon in one bite! What about finishing it one bite at a time.

Convert your task into goals or milestones. It can be done at ideation stage itself. Remember to create SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Tangible) goals and you will inch closer to success day after day.

It is good to get into habit of reviewing your plans and actions. It helps you keep on track. Sometimes en route the finish line you may miss some targets. Do not panic. Just relax for a while and speed up the accelerator. While speeding up just do a small check that you are headed in right direction. Further do not fear to change tracks if you feel that you are not moving in the right direction.

5. Make sure that follow-through is not too complex.

Promise of future gains and goal-setting can take you some distance; but if you want to keep on working make sure that follow through is not too complex.

If you are starting an exercise regimen to maintain good health then there is no point beginning with the most difficult form. Start with basic stretching and gradually move to more complex sets. What is complex today will be simple tomorrow. If exercising calls for extreme sacrifices you are least likely to sustain it. If good health calls for exercising then you should choose a regime that is practical and can be pursued day after day.

6. Focus on productive action.

It is important to note that your majority of your actions are productive. You do not need to be bound by any rules here but just see that your actions are taking you in the direction of your dreams. While you are focusing on productive action, keep allowing yourself regular fun time – time to spend with friends, family and with self (if you like it that way).

7. Celebrate small victories.

Celebrating small victories work wonderfully to take your closer to the goal. Firstly, it helps you realize that you are reaching there. This feeling helps a lot when you are pursuing a goal which is taking some time to achieve. Secondly it makes sure that follow through is not looking too-complex to you, further lowering your chances of quitting.

In most cases people leave a task unfinished when they see no success in sight. There can be other reasons also but this is the primary reason. Some of you may cite dog fight between stakeholders as one reason; but such fight appears when success looks far. If you smell success coming your way you are most likely to stay on track. Celebrating small victories help you realize that success is not very far from you.

8. Stay away from distractions.

It today’s world of excesses it is easy to come across various distractions. Most of these distractions will come in disguise. Internet comes in disguise as a source of useful information but can suck your time like a leech sucks the blood. Outings with friends come in the veil of fun and relaxation; but if done in excess can become a major hindrance and keep you away from your goal.

A useful gadget like TV remote control can take hours of your valuable time; if you choose to sit in couch and continue flipping channel one after another. Food which satisfies hunger and gives you energy to pursue any task can become a distraction if you choose to indulge in eating too much.

Best idea is to stay away from objects, gadgets and individuals that take you away from your goals. Avoid going to extremes with food, sleep and other essentials for life.

9. Make knowledge your friend and not your shield.

Many a times, people keep continue reading and act little. Their logic is to have perfect knowledge before they can start. In these fast changing times, better if you learn the basic stuff and get started.

Books and literature can be a big boost but they should not serve as a shield to keep you away from working on your real target.

When I started this personal development blog the idea was to create a resource where people can find pointers to make a positive difference in their lives. It need not be a big change but just a small idea, a little help.

I could have read 1000 more books in addition to a big chunk that I have already read. It would have provided me with more ideas and perspectives but by the time I would have finished reading my inclination to write may have been lost. It is just a scenario but highly possible one.

I felt that I possessed the skill and life-experiences to share some unique insights with you. There was no point in waiting till tomorrow when I may not have same excitement towards sharing these thoughts with you. I still read books and continue to learn from people I meet. I understand that learning is an ongoing process. There is no full stop in it.

The core idea here that make books and other resources (web) your friends – something that takes you forward on the path of action. How you can do that – read, learn; act to apply what you have learnt.
Yogi Sivananda’s words explain this best – “An ounce of practice is better than tons of theory.”

Somebody has said. “Knowledge is Power”. I say knowledge become power when acted upon. So choose to act and you will stand to gain.

10. Be in touch with your inner self.

Solitude will keep you on track. Find some time to be with your inner self wherever possible. During this period meditate, read out your intentions loud, make and review goals. It will be great if you can just sit silent and feel your breath going in and coming out. Initially this time of solitude can be a bit tough on you but later you will tend to enjoy it as it will be the time of recharge for you. You will feel like being plugged into an energy reservoir and getting charged.

An energized fresh human brain works like a fully charged mobile phone battery. It receives the ideas clearly, processes these ideas to perfection and provides clear output. The (solitude) recharge should provide your brain enough energy to perform its duty effortlessly.

11. Let go.

There will be times when things may not go as you like them to. In such a situation, the best strategy is to keep your cool. Realize that there are certain things we can not control. We can control our actions, our speech, our association with people; but a natural calamity, unfavorable market condition or death of a loved one is beyond our control.

This understanding will keep you on path when things are not going your way. Be courageous to accept the reality if such a situation arises, do the best you can in that situation and march ahead with faith. I love - Prayer of Serenity – for the message it conveys. It can be your guiding light also. Here is the prayer;
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.

12. Seek advice when required.

Go out and seek advice when you need it. Make sure to check who you are seeking the advice from. The person should be someone who has already lived a dream similar to yours. Such a person will be in the state to answer your queries, clear your doubts and mostly likely will point you in right direction.

If you want to become a swimmer go ask somebody who have excelled at swimming. Similarly if you want to be the CEO of a fortune 500 Company go talk to a fortune 500 CEO – current or past. With today’s means of communication you can reach just about everybody. It is best to start with an email as it is less obtrusive and can be responded to at the receiver’s convenience.

You may say why a big time professional will respond to your query. Make a strong case, show your passion for the work you are doing and most of them will respond. In such situation it helps if you have a strong personal brand.

If you cannot talk to a fortune 500 CEO, go to somebody who is accessible. Go to a person in your town or city who runs a small enterprise or CEO of a small company.

13. Stay on course long enough and you will succeed.

This point as per me – is make or break – when it comes to successfully finishing a task that you have taken up. Make sure that you are in it for the long haul. “Long enough” is the key here. Go on till the time you achieve what you want and success will be yours. I would love to hear if you are able to use the above ideas towards your pursuit of success. Let the success you deserve be yours.

7 Habits for Perfect Health

Mohit Pawar — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 11:28:48 +0000

I do not know most of you personally but I feel connected to you while writing. Given a chance I would love to hear from you – about the work you do, your thoughts about life, what you want to read here. Till then I will try to write articles to benefit all readers whether they are 6 or 60.

You may be a student, a working professional, an entrepreneur or a retired lawyer. Whatever your profession or ‘karma’ (the divine duty) is; the fact remains that every one of us wants to be happy, healthy and successful.

You rush to your workplace in the morning, do a lot of grunt work throughout the day and sometimes work late in the evening trying to meet deadlines. While you are at work you somehow manage a hurried bite.

Day in and day out you follow this routine; to realize one day that you have gone out of shape. Chances are you will be affected by one of that deadly or not so deadly disease, if you follow the same routine for long.

These diseases can be avoided and you can be in state of Perfect Health. It is very simple, simple but not easy. It is not easy because it calls for breaking the moulds of old habits. Further, you will have to be friends with some new habits.

But before I share these habits with you, you should understand what Perfect Health is. Perfect Health means a state where you are free from all diseases physical or mental. When are in a state of Perfect Health, you have fair degree of enthusiasm towards life and ample energy to undertake your day to day tasks.

Now let’s get started on the journey of Perfect Health with 7 “golden” habits:

1. Eat Properly – “You become what you eat”, is an old saying and it is worth its weight in gold. So take a look at what you are eating. Eat properly. It does not necessarily mean eating rich food. Right food is the one that is prepared with clean ingredients and in hygienic conditions. One must have ingredient is the love of the cook. Home cooked food tends to have all these ingredients – it is made with clean ingredients, in hygienic conditions with lots of love sprinkled (the cook here is mother or wife in most cases).

If you are eating outside you can say following prayer before you start eating.

“I thank you Mother Nature for giving me the best food on the planet, sprinkled with the love of people who made it. With your blessings, it will give me a clear mind and healthy body.”

This prayer is important because the cooks in restaurants normally serve their duty and chances are they are tired when they are cooking for you. Add to it the meager salaries that are a norm in industry at all levels and you can be almost sure that the food you eat at a restaurant will be lacking the major ingredient of love. The above prayer may pacify that effect to some extent.

After the prayer, relish your food. Chew it properly. Better if you can avoid talking while you eat. Make sure that the restaurant you choose to eat is clean and provide a calm setting. Also remember not to overeat.

2. Take Proper Rest – This is very important if you wish your body and mind to be energetic. You should ensure proper sleep daily for yourself. 7-8 hours is fine. I suggest rising early and there is no denying the benefits; but use your common sense while practicing it. If you slept at 3:00 am then it does not make sense to get up at 5:00 or 6:00 am. The idea is to rise early but not at the cost of adequate sleep. Best strategy is to create a schedule where you can go to bed at a reasonable time (10-12 pm) depending on your situation and practice getting up early every day. A properly rested brain and body will result in increased energy levels, clarity of thoughts and ability to concentrate for longer duration. This will result in better academic performance for students and increased productivity and better results for professionals at work.

3. Exercise Regularly – Proper exercise is of utmost importance if you want to keep a healthy body. The logic is simple – exercise heats the blood, the heated blood is thinner and circulates freely in the body. Freely circulating heated blood creates sweat. This sweat helps eliminate toxins through skin. The best time to exercise is in the morning but you can choose time as per your convenience. Avoid eating a big meal at least 3-4 hours before you start exercising.

A combination of cardiovascular exercise and weight training is considered to be a good program. If you are planning to take up jogging or running, invest in a good pair of shoes. If you want to pursue Yoga then find a good ‘guru’ (teacher) and start learning.

A rule of thumb in all above suggestion is to practice moderation. Moderation means stop before reaching the extreme.

Say if you are a body builder and are capable of doing 100 pushups, then go for 90. This doesn’t mean that you should not strive to achieve bigger goals. Later when you become capable of doing 110, go for 100.

While eating stop before you feel you are completely full.

Similarly oversleeping does not help. There are some exceptions. You can sleep for longer hours if you are sick or have returned from a long journey.

4. Possess Proper Thoughts – Let’s start with the meaning of proper thought. A proper thought is positive energy personified. It has the good of the society and the self at its core.

How can you possess proper thoughts? Train your mind to ask right questions. If you have a task at hand; do not say why, say why not? Do not crib about others. To practice this is very simple – do not talk about somebody who is not present, if you have to talk then only talk good things about that person.

Stay away from emotions like hatred and anger. If you have problem in controlling your emotions then physical exercise will help along with regular meditation.

5. Be In Touch With Your Inner Core – First step here is to spend some time in solitude every day. This aspect of life is overlooked by most of us.

Teens and youth of today are too much engaged in studies and having fun. Same is true of working professionals. They are busy in working, moving up the corporate ladder and giving their families lives they could not enjoy. Senior citizens are busy lamenting their past and discussing what is not good about the current generation. They turn to meditation only when pushed by state of depression or ill health.

Best strategy is to proactively choose meditation and solitude as an essential part of daily life. It is better than choosing it when pushed by circumstances. You do not need to devote long hours to it. 15 minutes in morning and 15 minutes before bed time is a good start.

Simply sit with an erect posture, either on a chair or on the ground with folded legs (better to keep a folded blanket under you) and focus on maintaining this posture without any movement for one minute. Once you have attained a still posture, focus on how you are inhaling and exhaling.

If you are too tired to concentrate, just lie on your bed without a pillow under your head and relax. This is especially beneficial when you come back from work. Also practice this relaxation if you are feeling anxious for some reason.

This daily ritual will help you regulate the movement of your breath. Relaxed breathing will bring harmony to your thoughts and ultimately to your life.

6. Be In Touch With Your Loved Ones – If you want to achieve perfect health, you should be in touch with those who matter to you. Find quality time to communicate with them - quality time means no distraction like watching TV or talking on mobile phone to somebody. Talk to your kids and wife (if you are married) every day. Talk to your parents even if you do not stay with them. Once in a while write to your friends; better if you can talk. By caring for your loved ones you create a “love deposit” which will come back to you in multiples in forms of blessings and good wishes. This is a deposit worth making and the returns are in excess of what any bank can offer.

7. Give Your Best to Your Work, Every Day – This point may not look very important when we talk about creating a healthy body; but it no less important than 6 habits that we discussed above.

The logic is simple when you finish the day’s work as planned; you get a feeling of immense satisfaction. You end your day without any burden. This results in high energy levels. With this energy you can relish your food and enjoy quality time with your friends and family. The result is increased satisfaction in life. Thus a virtuous cycle of happiness and health begins.

COMPANION HABIT: Take Care of Your Financial Health – Believe it or not your financial health is linked to your physical health. This is not to suggest that a sound financial condition alone will make you healthy. You need regular practice of above mentioned 7 habits and good financial condition to keep you physically and mentally healthy.

It is easier said than done. Again like good health, simple but not easy. Simple because if you keep your expenditure less than your income; your financial health will be taken care of.

Assuming that you are already have a source of income; a little budgeting and investment planning will go a long way in keeping you financial healthy.

Add good financial health to the 7 habits of proper eating, proper rest, regular exercise, proper thoughts, maintaining connection with the inner core and loved ones and giving your best to your work; and you have the recipe of creating perfect health for yourself.

It may not look easy to incorporate all these habits into your lifestyle. But it is worth a try. Best part is that they do not cost a dime. The only investment is your time and a healthy dose of discipline to do it regularly. Then the fruits of labor will be yours to enjoy.

Start with one habit you feel is easier to practice and add the rest later. Also do not expect the state of perfection very soon; it may be some time before that state is achieved.

Today is the best time to do it. Take that very important first step by deciding that you want to do it. Your decision will take you closer to your ultimate goal. It is better than not doing it at all, thinking that you may not succeed. Remember first step is the most important step of the entire journey.

Wish that you reach your destination soon. Once you reach there, new summits will be waiting to be scaled by you.

Best Wishes.

A Strong Personal Brand - Your ticket to Success

Mohit Pawar — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 08:29:54 +0000

Power of a strong personal brand has never been more potent than in current times. Individuals are making efforts to create a strong personal brand more than ever. This effort is the result of a need to differentiate oneself from other talented individuals.

Talking of a personal brand, the first question that arises is – what is a personal brand? Simply said, it is how others perceive your value. It is the spark which lets you stand apart from the crowd.

The importance of a strong personal brand becomes more evident when you associate it with the degree of success one can achieve. Your success in today’s world depends on what value people associate with the work you do.

A strong personal brand puts your life on fast track. This is irrespective of nature of work you do. You can be an entrepreneur, a student or an employee.

Similar to a product brand, the final verdict for a personal brand lies with end user. The end users here are the people whom you interact with on a regular basis – your family, colleagues, friends, customers, and clients. They are the ones who ultimately decide the value of your brand.

On the journey of creating a personal brand you should always remember what Rajesh Setty, author and personal branding evangelist once wrote, “You already have a personal brand”. Whether you like it or not people already see you and perceive your value in a certain way.

You unconsciously created a personal brand in school. Your teachers and friends either saw you as a sharp, intelligent kid or one less inclined towards studies but more inclined towards music or sports. Some kids also become notorious for their acts of mischief.

Similarly you create a personal brand at workplace with the way you carry yourself, the way you pursue the tasks assigned to you, and through your interactions with colleagues.

Whatever stage your personal brand is, you can improve it if you practice the following;

Walk the talk
Deliver on your promises
Work on your appearance
Be an expert in your chosen field, a go-to person
Express yourself through public speaking and writing
Join relevant communities, clubs and associations
Volunteer for a public cause

Creating a personal brand looks tempting as an idea but it is easier said than done. Creating one in real life calls for a lot of hard work, perseverance and planning.

It is the same as creating the brand for a product. Once you take a product to market, consumers give the verdict based on their liking for the product and how it fulfils their needs.

In case of a personal brand one gets a lot of chance to improve upon first offering which is not possible for a product brand without substantial investment.

You have an added advantage as a living human being. Here “You” are the product and you need not hire anybody else to endorse your personal brand.

For a product its quality and consumer need fulfillment are very important for its success. Similarly in your case you need substance i.e. original ideas and detailed knowledge in your chosen field if you want people to take your brand seriously.

Along with substance you also need to ensure that your audience notices what you want to convey. You can ensure this by proper packaging.

If you feel that you have something of value to offer to your fellow human beings; start working on your package and presentation. In your case packing means, how you look, how your smell, do you shave regularly (not suggested for ladiesJ). What is the size of your waist? What clothes you wear.

This is not to suggest that only people with good looks can create a strong personal brand. The idea here is to project you the best you can. For a perspective, think of Earnest Hemingway, Beethoven, and Steve Wonder; have you seen them? What about Michael Jackson?

Chances are you love their work more than you care about how they look or looked and all of them are pretty big brands.

Some of you may say I am fat, I am not good looking. How can I create a good personal brand? Sure you can. Probably you can do it with greater ease now.

When and where to start on your pursuits towards a strong personal brand, is the next logical question?

When should you start working towards creation of a strong personal brand? Earlier you start, better it is. Start working at it while you are at school. Do it in graduate school or in your first job. Do it irrespective of your current situation and years later you will be glad that you did it.

You may be apprehensive about the importance of a strong personal brand if you are in a job, thinking that this is only meant for entrepreneurs, industry bigwigs and celebrities. The contrary is true. It is meant for all those who wish to stand for what they think is right, who need to be listened to by their peers, who want to have the best life and want to move ahead without participating in proverbial rat race.

Your social and professional environment is the best place to start. If you are still in school, volunteer to undertake organization of annual day celebrations and other events, give your best to academics, and participate in extra-curricular activities.

This is not to suggest that only extroverts can create a strong personal brand. If you are not a vocal type let others know your thoughts by writing for school newspaper. As always, action speaks louder than words, at least in long term. Though being a better communicator always helps.

Ask for help when you need and somebody is willing to provide it. When you ask for help more often than not, people are willing to extend it to you. Further, it also prompts others to ask for help from you as well.

The choice of medium to promote your personal brand is up to you. Web is an amazing place to start your pursuits if creating a personal brand. It is fast, cost-effective and gives you reach to ears, eyes and senses of entire world.

Action is of utmost importance. Do not wait too long to start. Start with whatever resources and time you have at your hand. You will improve as the time passes. Remember not to make any false promises. Share all that you have.

All this while keep working on your packaging. You will need a good package when your brand is established in the world where you operate. Then people will invite you as a keynote speaker or as a chief guest. Such opportunities work as a catalyst to take your personal brand to the next level. Onus of making the best use of such opportunities lies on you. You better be ready for it.

Very important, Personal brand is not a tool to undercut others. It is a mean to project you in the right light.

I suggest you to ask “why” before taking any action? So “why” invest in a personal brand. Simply because this is the best investment you will ever make. This is something nobody can steal. This is an entry barrier for somebody trying to compete against you.

You may have different reasons to put efforts in creation of a strong brand. It may be the need for better job, the opportunity of being listened to at work and among friends. Whatever be the case always follow the saying – Dig the well before you are thirsty.

Start working on it before it comes to your rescue in finding a better job or help you increase the rates your command for services as a “knowledge-preneur”.

Whether you agree or not, the need to create a personal brand and strong “YOU” is urgent. You should start working on it now. Start writing and sharing your mind space with the world if you think you have something worthwhile to share. Speak your mind whenever an opportunity is there.

Hone your writing and speaking skills. Writing 500 words daily is a good practice. If you intend to become a public speaker, join a toastmaster’s club. If there is no toastmaster’s club close to your home or you have paucity of time, stand in front of a mirror and practice speaking loudly.

Get into habit of reading good books. Get some good books to start with. Do not buy a pile. Finish what you have first and then buy new ones. Learn the optimal utilization of your resources.

If you do all this consistently, soon you will start enjoying the sweet fruit of labor and will be the proud owner of a strong PERSONAL BRAND.

Wishing you best in your pursuits.

Peace.

Past, Present and Future

Mohit Pawar — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 18:13:04 +0000

Different people have different views.

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.

Getting Things Done - David Allen (259 pages)
The Quick & Easy Way to Effective peaking – Dale Carnegie (221 pages)
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (136 pages)
Elements of Style - William Strunk., Jr. (40 pages)
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.

What is the purpose of my Personal Development Blog?

Mohit Pawar — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 20:06:36 +0000

This blog is aligned to the purpose of my life. The purpose is to take the message of personal development far and wide. This blog is the medium to take my message to you, my fellow human being on planet earth. This blog will possibly prove to be the first step in a communication which later can possibly take shape of a conversation, reader comments or a book.

But before the communication begins, it is my responsibility to create content that is worthy of a conversation, of getting comments by you or being converted into a book. I will try to do this by synthesizing the best practices in the field of personal development and share the same with you. It is likely that some stuff I write here will overlap with what other credible writers have written. At the same time you will find unique thoughts also.

Hopefully through this blog I will be able to touch the lives of millions of people and share thoughts which can create a positive change in their lives. My intention is to provide you with principles, ideas and tips which will help you in embracing change one step at a time and take you closer to your ultimate aim.

Hopefully in our life time, each one of us will start living a purpose driven life and hence live it to the fullest. I dream of a world where there will be no crime, no wrong doing, where rightful means of livelihood will be available for all of us, where nobody will die of hunger.

You see the intention is grand. So my task is cut out in terms of writing content which will convert intentions into reality. I will need your help along the way. You can help me by telling what is that you like, what it is that needs to be improved, what it is that you would like to read about. You can also share some real-life experience which had a profound impact on your life. While you share all this with me, I will write about the topics which create the core of personal development like values, character, integrity, truth, self-esteem, determination, perseverance, hard work, time management etc.

Time to time you will also find ideas which are meant for short term gains but are aligned to your ultimate aim. One such idea is having your last meal of the day before 8:30 pm. As a result, you will be able to get up easily the next morning and will feel light throughout next day. These are the short term gains. Long term benefits are better assimilation of food, less toxins in your body and better health throughout.

Here health is not the end. It is the means to an end. The end is to know your purpose and devoting your energies to this purpose. This needs your mind and body to be in good health. Hence the small idea of eating your last meal of the day early is aligned with finding your purpose.

Let me know your views on this approach.

Going back, this blog is also an experiment for me. I work in a day job. I want to find out the secret to succeed as a professional blogger while working at a full-time job. A few bloggers have already done that but nothing like checking it out myself.

The main website will serve as the gateway to this web log and other ongoing projects in my life. So now you know about my intentions? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Peace.

What is the Purpose of Your Life?

Mohit Pawar — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:12:11 +0000

Do you feel overwhelmed sometimes, wondering how to cope up with the pressure that your job and life puts on you. Are you thinking of changing jobs to find interesting work and more money, hoping that more money and different work will bring happiness to your life?

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.

First Post and Sense of Gratitude

Mohit Pawar — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 16:21:37 +0000

This is my first post on Mohit Pawar’s (that’s me) personal development blog. This post is dedicated to the people who have shaped my life so far.

I can’t owe my learning to one single person. I owe it to the parents I was born to, the society I live in, my friends at school, and the people I come across and interact with, on a day to day basis. Everybody has taught me something, some through their love, some through their advice, somebody by sharing and others by asking for help. They have pushed my thoughts into a new territory and I end up interacting with them and interpreting things in a certain way. That’s learning for me.

This blog is also dedicated to you; the reader who is reading these words now and who is most likely be an important force in shaping the future course of things here.

That means if you like what is written here you will share it with others. Hopefully you will like what I write here. Not because it is beautiful prose; but because it will help your life in a fuller way and take you closer to your dreams. My best intention is to help you achieve all your goals and desires which are in your and the planet earth’s best interest.

Some of my goals of reaching out the world through this blog may sound lofty. But that is what my ultimate intention is. Hope you will be with me on this journey of reaching out to our fellow beings.

My aspiration through this blog is to take my personal development experience to new level. Throughout this journey I will share my experiences and learning so far with you. Hope you will find them useful.

Here, I would like to make a special mention of two individuals who have been a major influence in my personal development journey - Tony Robbins and Steve Pavlina. Tony’s books have been my constant companions during my days at Graduate School and Steve’s writing has been inspiring me to be a better person. He has also been an inspiration for me in starting this blog.

They say a journey of 1000 miles will begin with a single step. Hope that we will all learn as we move ahead; because as I write, the journey has already started.

Peace.