posted by Anil Vaidya
To Dear Students
Each specializes in a particular field. This field is the foundation to build upon, in almost all cases it some sort of technical layer. Such a competency provides you an opportunity to raise your dream architecture on top of it. Consider it as a Roman construction with three pillars, a foundation and top sloping triangular roof. The top where you want to be, in any field, social, commercial, political, religious whatever your choice. I have observed people at various levels in last few years, firstly management layer in India, then in region then at global level of a function. Member of each layer is seen performing at the higher and higher capability, truly amazing. Some day I will describe you differences.
For the time being I want to make these suggestions:
1. Every time you travel, buy a new book at a shop in airport or at train station - it could be a novel, may be a scientific book, a religious/social/political book or a magazine copy you have not seen before
2. Subscribe to a newspaper - let a hardcopy be delivered to your place every day (even if you get on internet or at office), may be Wall Street Journal, Financial times, Economic Times or whatever is appropriate
3. Subscribe to a magazine like Business Weekly, Time, The Economist
4. Keep a good dictionary handy and refer to it regularly
5. All these that you buy and subscribe keep them visible on your tea table, on your desks, on dinner tables, on beds - do not keep them neatly stacked in a rack or in a cupboard - let these be spread over all over the house - the only thing that can be untidy in your homes. The utter visibility will force you to pick up and glance thru from time to time.
You may read less than 20% of this material and you may retain less that 10%, but this 10% will make a big impact in your attitude and aptitude. Use this material to frame your thoughts, presentations, answers, essays, reports…whatever. Also share your thoughts, ideas with all, talk to anybody and everybody, go on writing spree, respond to every mail you get. Each small activity will help you build yourself.
Consider all above purchases as ‘investments’ in your ‘future’. they will yield extreme high returns in times to come.
Anil Vaidya

