Managing you, by Thinking beyond the Ordinary…….

Hi folks. Have you heard people like Stephen Hawkins, John Nash, Sudha Chandran or Nick Vujicic. They are not ordinary people, but they all did extra ordinary things. Things beyond the usual, beyond their subject. They all have some or other disability. It is a great success for any man to perform extraordinary acts – but it becomes even more so when this is done despite an awful disability. They did it only by driving their thought beyond the subject. They deleted the gap between their disability and performing something big. Extra ordinary things require passion, drive & knowledge; and Knowledge on a subject requires little extra drive. One’s adaptability to knowledge should be beyond our studies or the college. And Should not our learning be actually above, than getting good marks or grades in the college or at our School? Must think beyond! Think beyond the subject, beyond the ordinary. Be the part of the subject you are looking at, be the part of the community you are living with, be passionate about the thing you are doing & simply deep dive. I bet, its tough. Coz, crossing the “little” gap between the “subjective knowledge”  and the “Knowledge on Subject” is quite “big”, if not attended to – properly.

This blog of mine, talks about the little drive which helps us to cross this gap to get knowledge to become extra ordinary. I suggest the readers to keep the Blue print ready, not for you but for your kids as they, must have this. Otherwise also its Summer time folks, you and kids have enough time to have fun, event and invent. Summer presents the ideal time to get kids thinking outside the box in terms of how they can come up with some creative ways of fun, art, play and even to make their own money. Kids can do a lot, in the upcoming summer holidays – They can brainstorm small ideas like – reaping tomatoes, planning to have fun with the friends in their own way keeping one friend one day theme, Generating their own drawing or skating competition in their society. Its innovation for them. Just we have to pull our belts, and give them enough time and infrastructure, so that they can simply think beyond the ordinary. Isn’t it? Have you ever thought on this? 

How to stretch a little & do beyond the ordinary, by going out of Comfort Zone. Its seems tough, but a start will surely make it easy. I recall a Chinese proverb “Journey starts with the first step”. I have seen some of my colleagues growing up & high thru in their knowledge base & social circle by doing little extra with Toast Masters, that too only on week ends. It’s just a decision which pushes you to do something extra, some more, if this – if not, what then……and go on. They simply went Out of their “Comfort Zone”. We all know about Gandhi, Lincoln or Mandela. They revolt into system & went beyond the normal human being. How and Why ? I am not giving Global Gyan here. But driving you to open the net and show these examples to your kids. Invest in a cause or a dream, rather than just talking about the subject. Many of us might be wanting a change in our jobs, but I bet 50% of them might not even have CV prepared. Better inform, connect and communicate with all stakeholders with in the surroundings and system so that you can be a catalyst for you itself and a more for your kids. Just debating below my own thought process, as how can we go ahead on this (with no copy rights) –

 

Pursue the subject– Its important to ask, ask, ask; Search, search, search and know, know, know about the subject. Then only one will do the things beyond thinking. I believe this could be the reason, that in older times back India – It was always told to learn an extra art or subject; Other than what you are studying. Is not this an Out of Box thinking from Great India? Have you ever heard of Chocolate Art? Ha ha, you didn’t even think of it !! True?? Someone did it. It simply a persuasion on subject & the out of box thinking. (If interested, then Al Bustan Palace Hotel – Muscat is hosting a Chocolate Art Auction and Exhibition starting May 20 this month. Buy but just Don’t lick it please!! ) 

Push to Learn something New – Keep a child like sense of speculate about the World. Be thoughtful, be curious, be probing and ask questions. Come out of your “Comfort Zone”. Involve in Knowledge Clubs like Toast Masters, Lions’ Club, Social Clubs etc. Enhance your education, you are never late.Particularly for our kids, let them (or push them) to watch Education TV, play curious games / puzzle, or Knowledgeable and controlled websites. Learn from every aspect of life, this is the basic step towards discovery – Last but not the least, Can you cook at home what you liked best in your favorite Restaurant? I bet, you can’t.  

Driving thru the repeated Practice – At start things are not accepted or adapted easily, So you need to push it on yourself, your kids or your team (whosoever). Slowly and daily doings – it becomes the part of life, eg. – once you push your kids to brush at night, I am sure at start they tend to resist it, but slowly & steadily it becomes their way of life. It’s like demand – supply equation. More you push, better it gets adapted. Recall the school days – What was the process of Remembering the things. Its like Teacher gives a chapter (1^stPush) – We Learn & Understand it – Memorize it (2^nd Push) – Recognize it – Recall it. Its now part of your brain, a part of your life. Understand it that remembering is function of Mind, but the sluggishness of our body many a times do not allow our mind to do and adapt the things. Hence a Push with Practice works. 

 

Direction and Purpose – Guide your kids (or your Team) what is the best method or process to do a new project or a job and why he / she needs to do it. Better understanding of subject will actually motivate him to go an extra mile, to show results beyond expectations. For example kids must approach college with burning questions based on real world experiences and ask the direction and reasons.  

 

Passion and Ownership of Your Learning – Find your Or your kids’ passion for learning again before starting anything. Same way, for a job holder – its actually to get passionate about his job by taking ownership and accountability towards a positive goal that I can attain the next level, within a stipulated time. Only ownership of your learning will take you up and drive you to do things differently.

 

Be Connected to a Community – Community teaches a lot, be it religion, a group, a society, a circle or group of Peers or a club like Toast Masters. Community Heads or Program Leaders who share your drive and commitment with others & vice versa will actually drives you (& others) to do more.   

 

Don’t be the part of “There is a problem” Team – Generally, either to your kids or to your office team, when you tell a new project, process or a new Way – they often comes up with the “probable” problems or difficulties. Isn’t it? Do they actually know the problem or just creating a “fear factor” around, without even doing the project or rather even thoroughly knowing the subject. Its actually the fear of going out or their “comfort zone” or doing beyond the ordinary. And believe me, once the problem arises after or during the project, it rather becomes your “experience”, as our brain automatically search for the solution.  
 

Above ideas are just my personal thoughts, but I feel it will work. And at last I would add, that our kids are our future. Showing them right path is our responsibility, as they are the nation – they are the way. Parents can start with even good & informative gaming or puzzles; as a first step towards “thinking beyond ordinary”. Puzzles and; Games are important because they help our kids think beyond the subject and solve problems in a monstrously fun way. Somehow, It is better than TV. It offers heaps of fun, mystery, gathering of information, analyzing a problem, search of solution and moreover, excitement in the kids. Is it not good? Let them Keep it  up, but always keep an eye, ‘coz there are games those can also make them just “busy”. Put them thru the right games & rather involve them with you in puzzles & when they ask questions. Let them even do create their own “thought” model of what they like or what they want to become. For that matter, if they want to become a pilot & make a plane with card board or clay, let them do this. Its creativity! Encourage them, this is the first step beyond imagination. Play a game or puzzle with them and kids will tell you that they are never lonely. Involve them in various other activities this summer. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Mind it, Thomas Edison never thought he will invent a bulb, but he always inspired to create something new. He planned extra ordinarily to become an inventor, from his childhood. For many of his school years, he was selling newspapers & candies, and do you know he printed the first News Paper in the train. This is not an invention? If not invention, but a fresh idea & new thing. And do you know that his first invention was the Automatic Repeater (a kind of Telegraphic device) & then a lot others, before a successful commercial Electric Bulb. Edison, didn’t stop here & stretched little more by patenting his almost all inventions. I quoted Edison here to inspire all of us (including me), that its very much possible to think beyond ordinary subject. 

All the best……………………Mp / pathaksaheb10@gmail.com