How Far Have We Come In The War Against Racism?

By Ahsan

O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female, and We have made you into tribes and sub-tribes that you may recognize one another. Verily, the most honourable among you, in the sight of Allah, is he who is the most righteous among you. Surely, All is All-knowing, All-Aware. The Holy Qur’an Chapter 49 verse 1

Just like you, I have been following the outrage concerning the needless and tragic death of George Floyd. The image of the police officer’s knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck will never be forgotten.

What happens next in terms of the worldwide acknowledgement of Racism and protest against it remains to be seen.

I have witnessed Racism having grown up in Toronto during the 70s and 80s. I have been called Paki and told to go home. I have also been looked at with disdain. The ideals of being equal may be preached by society at large but not wholly followed and may well never be, unless we move decisively towards a solution.

I am not sure what the overall solution should look like; however, I have a good story to share that may point the way.

In 1990, I visited Los Angeles to see my cousin. During that visit, I met Mr. Rahmat Jamal, the Vice-President of the Los Angeles Muslim Community. He was a 75-year-old black gentleman.

I mention his age so that you know what type of environment he grew up in. He lived through the 1920s as a child, the 1940s as a young adult and the 1960s as a middle-aged "black man in America."

In other words, Mr. Jamal lived through all the atrocities of segregation, whites-only restaurants and water fountains, unquestioned discrimination, sit at the back of the bus because you are "black" rule and the Civil Rights movement. When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali were making their mark, he was there.

My cousin and I met him on a beautiful sunny day for lunch. As we parked the car and were adding some coins to the parking meter, I asked him: “How many black brothers do we have in L.A.? He immediately answered, “none.”

I was confused for a moment and then realized I must have said something wrong. "None?" I replied. He then told me, pointing to the tire of the car. Have you ever seen anyone who’s skin colour looks like that tire? That tire is black. For that matter, have you ever seen anyone who’s skin is the colour of snow? That is white.

Mr. Jamal went on to say: “that people need to stop referring to colour and labels like black history, black pride and being black or white.”

 In his opinion, this only further divides people and makes the problem of Racism permanent.

According to Mr. Jamal, the best way to address a person is by his name. If you don't know a person's name, you might refer to historical origins, for example, Greek or Pakistani or African. There is no need to use the label of colour.

I, for one, agreed then and do now.

We will need a multi-faceted solution to Racism, and we must continue to make this a global initiative. Hopefully, the death of George Floyd will not go in vain and will begin the same enthusiasm as the rush to find a vaccine against the current worldwide pandemic.

All men and women are humans first and created in tribes and sub-tribes, so that we may know each other. The only “best” people among us are those who excel each other in goodness, especially as it relates to helping other human beings. 

Would you agree? You don’t need to be religious to appreciate this wisdom.

We have a long way to go to eliminate Racism. It is not an ideal that we must strive for; it is an absolute imperative—shame on anyone who harbours superior feelings based on their race.

We also need to be respectful of all human beings¾ not be racially tolerant. Tolerating someone based on their race is still a form of saying, "I will put up with you." How does that make sense or solve Racism?

We must personally become the best version of humanity that we can be, and want for our fellow beings what we want for ourselves.

Above all, society at large and governments, in particular, must uphold justice in their mutual dealings. Or else, they will lose this war. 

So, how many black people live in your city?

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ABC - Always Be Curious

By Shazad

I am nearly at the half century point in my life and I am still curious. I want to know more, learn more and become more than I am today. I’m curious how people who lived before me handled stress, leadership challenges and every day life. I think some of the most brilliant people in the world have been the curious ones.

Curious people ask questions like, “How can this be better?” and “What would happen if I did things this way instead of the way it’s been done in the past?”. Curious people challenge current thinking and break out of the mould that many others have been stuck in. Children are curious and they learn much as a result of this. To be fascinated by the possibilities of what could be drives the human spirit forward. Curiosity leads to investigation, research and solutions to many problems in business, science, and many other aspects of life.

When did you stop being curious? That was the point you stopped growing. Get back to that place where you believed in a better way and better life for yourself. We will all benefit when we are more curious.

Recognize That You are an Essential Person

By Shazad

To be “Essential” means to be absolutely necessary or extremely important. We are all important in lives of someone else. Perhaps it’s. a number of people in our family or maybe it’s the team we lead at work or in our community. The point is that we are essential to at least one person out there so take care of yourself and fulfill your responsibilities to them every day. They are counting on you.

What Got You Here Is Not Going To Get You There!

By Ahsan

Have you ever seen a fly trying hard to escape a room by hitting a window? The poor fly tries again and again, while just a few feet away from the window is an open door. All the fly has to do is change course and be free. Silly fly. All he had to do was try a different way, and he would be free! 

I suppose we can't fault the fly because after all, how smart can a fly be. On the other hand, you and I are humans but sometimes we act no better than a typical house fly. We bang our heads over and over again, expecting to get good results from life by following the same path repeatedly.

The number one reason people do not achieve their goals in life is that they fail to adjust course! Don’t let this be you!

Let’s examine 3 crucial concepts to overcome so that we can get from here to there.

1.    Take a good look at what got you here. If you start to analyze this, you should recognize that your mindset (positive) and habits (helpful) had a lot to do with it. However, to go further than you are now, you may need to strengthen or even change your mindset and habits. Build on what you have, but don't say you are done improving.

2.    Consider getting rid of a few things. We all have limited time and resources. You cannot afford to hold on to thinking, or activities or even people who are slowing your progress. In other words, don’t waste time! You may need to jettison some sacred items in order to move ahead.

3.    Never stop thinking about growing and improving. Your life will improve only after you improve yourself. This mindset of lifetime learning and growth will pull you towards your potential. We can and should have the goal to keep growing right up to our last day.

Your life may be going very well. You may be firing on all cylinders. However, we are talking about moving beyond what you have achieved already. Don’t bask in the glory of your recent achievements. You climbed the mountain and reached the summit, but now you must get off the mountain and find a new mountain. Today it was Everest, tomorrow it should be K2 and beyond!

Here is how you might go about doing this:

Take some time for solitude and contemplation. Ask yourself, what shift in mindset and what added habit will help me go from here to there? Only by asking will it be revealed to you. Be honest and get real with yourself. You might be the most qualified person in your life to tell you what your next steps should be! Find the opening and make your move!

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Hindsight in 2020

By Shazad

“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.” Pema Chodron

The whole world has been infected and is experiencing some kind of shock, anxiety, and pain due to COVID-19 pandemic. Many people consider this health crisis to be a “black swan” type of event. This term was popularized by author Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his 2007 book, “The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable”. Taleb and others have defined a black swan as an unpredictable or unforeseen event, typically one with extreme consequences. But was this health crisis REALLY unpredictable? Were the business disruption, economic decline, and social isolation something people and businesses had no way of predicting or preventing?

For the longest time, I have been hearing so many people offering sage advice about how to work and live well to prepare for whatever the future may bring.  Many of us have at least one wise philosopher practitioner we call “Mom” who repeatedly tells us what we know to be true.  Business professionals also have access to Thought Leaders and Trusted Advisers that keep whispering in our ears and nudging us towards best practices that we want to hear.  Below is a list of all the advice I’ve been hearing in my personal and professional life which would have certainly helped to prepare for the current pandemic and its related impact. How many of these things have you heard, and more importantly, been practicing before this health crisis?

Have 3-6 months savings that you can fall back on in case of an emergency.

Live below your means and have little or no debt.

Think long term and not quarterly.

Exercise regularly and keep your immune system healthy all year round.

Wash your hands before eating and after touching things in public places.

Get enough sleep each night.

Digital Transformation is not a fad – it is a necessity for all businesses.

Make time for important things and cut out unnecessary time wasters and money drains.

Plan for the worst-case scenarios before they happen.

Cover your face when you cough or sneeze.

Go to where the puck is going to be not where it has been.

Reduce or eliminate single points of failure in key business functions.

Good Cyber Security is not just for large organizations.

Develop a Business Continuity plan and test it regularly to make changes.

Develop and practice critical thinking with everything you read and watch.

Maintain a stockpile of some food, water, and essential items all year round.

Keep working on your communication skills – verbal and written.

Learn how to effectively use video collaboration tools.

Create a team of leaders instead of followers.

Embrace discomfort on a regular basis so you can develop patience and endurance.

If you are sick, stay away from large gatherings and avoid physical contact with family/friends.

You don’t need a lot to be truly happy in life so focus on the essentials.

The best time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.

Learn from the past and don’t repeat the same mistakes.

The right mindset in business and life fuels your success in both.

Be grateful for whatever you have since you will miss it once it’s gone.

Invest time and money in people and tools that enable people to become better.

Nobody really cares how smart you are. Show them how much you care.

Take the time to meditate, pray, or generally reflect on your life every single day.

Healthy personal and professional relationships determine our happiness in life.

Be the change you want to see in the world. 

Rather than be shocked and caught off guard in the future by events in the world, we all have the golden opportunity to transform ourselves and businesses. It’s not enough to simply survive or endure the next crisis situation. We must go beyond thinking of people and organizations as Robust/Resilient vs Fragile. Taleb’s other book, the 2014 “Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder” offers a 3’rd mode of living. The author explains that there are some things that actually benefit from shocks and uncertainty and these are described as Antifragile. They thrive and grow when exposed to volatility, randomness, disorder, and stressors and love adventure, risk, and uncertainty. Isn’t this a better way to respond to life’s challenges and uncertainty? Wouldn’t you rather be antifragile instead of just robust? This could be the difference between a successful transformative business that survives an economic downturn or change in consumer behavior vs. one that doesn’t.  Individuals that embrace the antifragile mindset show up and adapt to their new circumstances rather than being reduced or destroyed by them.

Do you want examples of how to be antifragile? Take your gym workout which causes stress (hormesis) to your system when you push your body. The results of regular exercise are that you become stronger over time because your system is adapting and improving itself to go beyond endurance to that stress. Ironically, I’m writing this as I observe the Muslim month of Fasting (Ramadan) which means abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset along with dropping all non-essential activity to focus on prayer and reflection. This is another kind of hormetic stress which can be classified as Dietary Restriction. The benefits of this include better metabolic function and reduction of possible future health issues along with developing patience and compassion for those who are less fortunate. I also gain the benefit of greater concentration and focus which brings clarity in times of anxiety. Hormetic stressors are accessible to all of us to enable us to rise up during times of extreme uncertainty and anxiety. Let’s listen to and follow the wise words we have been hearing and let us also find ways to make ourselves, our businesses, and our societies more robust so we are never caught off guard with what the future may bring.

3 Skills To Develop and 3 To Avoid

By Shazad Ahmad

I can’t predict the future. No one can and anyone who says then can should be avoided! What I can do is understand history, trends and how businesses operate over time. I can take this understanding to come up with some very likely skills everyone will need for success as an employee or leaders in their own business.  There are 3 key life skills I have identified as absolutely critical for success in the future.

The first necessary skill that is in demand now and will continue to be in great demand will be Critical Thinking.  The ability to analyze a situation and use rational judgement combined with unbiased decision making to address it, is powerful!  The best leaders are those that can see and solve complex problems using this skill while others either ignore or run away from problems. Many organizations will seek out leaders who possess the ability to think critically. Be the person who others are looking for to lead them.

The second necessary skill is Effective Communication in print, on a microphone or video format. Communication is a core human skill and It should be obvious that effective communication will always be important to human life. No great person ever existed who was not able to share a vision, idea or product with someone in such a way that they understood it. Many people focus on just one way of sharing ideas such as in writing or through verbal discussion. To truly become a great leader and successful professional, we must all become comfortable with and persuasive with all kinds of formats. We need to be good on video as well as on a microphone on a moment’s notice. We should be able to write short or long form content with little preparation and always using proper grammar and punctuation.  Such people are the ones who change the minds of people with their words. Don’t ever underestimate the power of your words.

The third most important skill for a successful person in any field is the ability to keep learning how to learn regardless of age, language, ethnic background or anything else.  This is another key human ability and one that is fundamental to the human race.  It’s also an essential part of having a growth mindset in your professional field. Our potential and ability to keep learning for our entire lives is what you must take advantage of. By always learning about your industry, related fields and also about your own self, you ensure that you are staying current and developing self-awareness.  This powerful combination goes beyond just surviving in the future. You become an influential leader people want to follow and learn from.

In addition to the above, there are also at least 3 attitudes or bad habits that will most certainly keep you stuck or worse, cause you to be out of work now and in the future.  The first is to think you have mastered your field and there is nothing more to know. You are satisfied with your knowledge from 10+ years ago and think everyone should just accept what you say from now one without questioning you. This attitude is harmful for obvious reasons. Never stop learning and staying humble. You don’t know everything and you never will. That is ok and gives you an opportunity to keep learning.

Another way to ensure failure is to simply take courses everyone else is taking because it’s popular and you heard some good jobs need a certain course.  You don’t really understand the course material and barely pass the exams but you continue taking courses that everyone says you should take in multiple categories in the hopes of trying to make a career or start a business with this information.  This approach often fails because the person doing this doesn’t have a vision for their own career and often lacks enough interest in the topics so they never develop the required knowledge to practically apply the information gained from the various courses.  Each person taking a course needs to understand the context of their training with other things they already know and their desired field of interest. The student must be able to have a general idea of how things will connect with other information to become something more relevant. Courses should be taken for the purpose of building upon some level of knowledge combined with interest in a topic.  Whenever a course is completed, the student should make a habit to restate key ideas learned in the course. The student should also identify where this knowledge can be applied to solve a problem or improve an existing business opportunity.

The third of many bad habits to avoid is trying to blend into a group or market segment and just be another person with a similar service or product.  Those who do this become an average cog or part in a big corporate machine. Such people and businesses are no better than the average in a sea of average people and businesses, so nothing about you stands out.  This is perhaps one of the most common things and most dangerous things that may professionals end up doing.  it slowly kills them and keeps them stuck in something they don’t even like doing. Many such people and businesses will get replaced by automation and offshoring of jobs where routine tasks and average work can be done by someone else.  A business professional’s goal should be to stand out and become unlike the rest of the workers or businesses.  By focusing on quality over quantity of work, you can achieve this. A person of high standards, great self-awareness and a passion for doing the right things will always be recognized as someone to watch and listen to.  The average person and companies will be lost in the crowd and easier to ignore. They will be replaced by something or disposed of like an unnecessary commodity item by decision-makers.  By investing our time and energy to improve our skills to be among the best employees or businesses, we ensure we will be heard, followed and even remembered after we leave the position or business role.  The goal of all professionals should be to create a personal success brand that reminds everyone of who you are and you believe in. Constantly developing and refining your personal brand makes you a better professional and person. Until you can become memorable for some great human qualities and skills, you won’t be fully appreciated which means you will not find fulfillment in your life because you know you have more potential than what you are showing to the world.  At the end of the day, we all need to find purpose, fulfillment, and happiness in our working life because we can spend 2/3rd of or adult life in this mode. Success is the outcome you get when you figure these things out. Don’t chase success as your goal. Review the qualities of successful people and those who fail so you can learn from them.

The successful people of the future will be those that can understand and apply the required skills and avoid all the toxic beliefs, bad habits and limited thinking of the majority of people who only wish for success. Don’t be like the people who don’t actually do anything to achieve their personal best. Success can be yours if you are ready to work for it!

It Is Always Darkest Before The Dawn

By Ahsan

As we go through this global situation together, we are concerned on multiple fronts. Our health, wealth and way of life are facing a challenge we did not even imagine. No one would have believed a few weeks ago, that every country of the world would be in the same predicament and in a state of defensive war.

On top of it all, there is no shortage of scary headlines and constant news reports. 

Where are the commentaries of hope and resilience? 

What’s next?

Perhaps, understanding the history of virus impacts will give rise to hope for the future. Humanity is a lot smarter than you might give it credit for. Some adjustments will be made, and a new normal will probably take birth.

Viruses have come and gone. The difference in today’s world is that we are collectively sharing the best ideas and tactics to keep the negative impacts to a minimum. Even prayers are being done together by all faiths in unison. 

Indeed, it is always darkest before the dawn. Things will get better, and we will learn valuable lessons. Some of those lessons will be at a global level, and many will be on a personal level.

Globally, it may make sense to be prepared should a pandemic ever erupt again. Globally, nations may remember this pause for humanity. Perhaps, finally, we will understand that we are all one people and need to work towards mutual benefit and peace.

Personally, here is what I am learning:

I will forever be more in love with life! I will enjoy going for a walk in the shopping mall.  I will look forward to striking up a conversation with a complete stranger rather than move 7 feet away. I will enjoy going to the grocery store to buy eggs on the way home. I will enjoy going to a restaurant to celebrate a family occasion. I intend to enjoy everything…big and small.

How about you? What’s next?

The sun will come up tomorrow and winter is always followed by spring.

This too shall pass.

Remember, it truly is darkest before the dawn. 

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Prepare for the New "Normal"

By Shazad Ahmad

Every major and even some small shocks to the system changes the system in some profound ways. The spread of COVID-19 around the world and all the measures taken to address this disease are indeed a shock to the global system. It’s impacted the environment, the economy, politics and the social habits of Billions of people. More impacts will come soon. So what’s next?

No one is sure how lock the lockdowns and social distancing measures will last. No one knows how many people will get sick or die and when the virus will peak. There is no certainty on when an effective vaccine will be made and distributed to all the ones who need it. One thing that is 100% is that things will NEVER be the same again. That is as it SHOULD BE! This is a major pandemic and global crisis that has changed the lives of everyone in some way. We should not expect things to return to the way they were after some months have gone by and a vaccine is found. What is needed now is acceptance of the failures in the system that caused the shock to be felt more severely than required. We also need to review the success stories and why the plans worked. We need more foresight and planning as well as testing of procedures. We cannot take essential services or simple pleasures of life, for granted.

Most of us will live through this latest crisis but some precious few people will be gone forever and that will be felt severely by friends and family. We need to Love those we say we care about while they are still with us. We also need to STOP DOING all unnecessary things that waste our time and resources. This is a time of reflection to focus on what is TRULY IMPORTANT. I cannot stress this enough! STOP BEING BUSY and START LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE. Time is always running out. It’s not going slowly or speeding up. We all have the same 24 hours a day so spend the time adjusting to this reality we live in.

Whether it’s a few weeks or months from now, a New “Normal” will emerge. Be the person who has become stronger during this crisis. Become wiser and more grateful for all that you have and all that you are in life. Become even better going forward and prepare yourself for all of life’s challenges. This was not the last one you will face so always be prepared and willing to do what is needed. Be the Awesome Ones who anticipate the next shock to the system and who demonstrate the Best Leadership to guide others when they need it the most!

How To Be Serene In A Storm

By Ahsan

Controlling your mind is not easy. 

What if you could, so that you feel relaxed and resourceful whenever you want? 

What will it take other than knowledge of how the mind works and the practice of a specific technique?

Elements of the technique include understanding that you are what your thoughts are.  

Bad thoughts create bad feelings; just like overeating at a buffet will create an upset stomach.

Don't reach for mental antacids; just don't feed your mind with bad thoughts!

Understand how you think. This will help you to manage your feelings that are always the result of what happens to you and how you interpret what happens to you.

To be mentally stable and serene is its own reward.

Once you attain this prize, others around you will become attracted to your light and want to have their battery charged by yours. You become a tree under whom others will come to sit near for shade and inspiration.

Whether you are using this technique for personal, professional or business gains, the goal of controlling your mind and, therefore, your life will pay you in ways you can't imagine right now. The compounding of goodness alone is astounding.

A balanced life and peace of mind is your birthright. The only thing you may lack is the knowledge that parents, school or society did not teach you. Acquire that knowledge now. Take matters into your own hands. 

Be your own teacher.

To be calm when there is a storm passing over you is something you can have if you want to.

Too many people are living a life of disarray with fleeting moments of serenity. The peace of mind they crave is elusive and temporary. However, we all meet people that are the opposite. They have command over their thoughts, and their feelings are not manipulated by others, nor by events, news channels or social media. 

All of us want to feel happy. 

The happiness you seek is not something that cannot be yours. Be positive and resourceful and find the means and ways through understanding and knowledge.

Action Steps:

1. The answer lies in one word: Think. 

1. The technique lies in four words: Think About Your Thinking.

1. The lifetime guarantee lies in three words: Practice, Practice, Practice.

1. If you find yourself feeling "off", go back to how you are thinking at that moment. See if you can isolate the “negative thought”.

1. Now steer it in the direction of “powerful thoughts” so you will feel "on".

1. It’s that simple. Please try this and let us know how it goes.

If you liked this article and know someone who is goal-oriented and should read this, please share it on your social media and suggest they visit www.awesomelifebook.com to subscribe to our email list.

Now Is the Time!

By Shazad Ahmad

“I Don’t Have the Time”. I’ve said it many times in the past and I’m sure you have too. We say this whenever someone tells us to read something useful or to do some exercise. We also say this whenever we are told we should plan for a rainy day, clean-up something at home or at work and in general when we are supposed to think about our future. I know you understand what I'm saying at a deep level that cannot be denied or disputed.

Well, NOW we ALL have some TIME! We have the time to think, plan and improve ourselves because we are in physical lockdown. We can choose to use this time to make ourselves mentally and physically stronger or we can stay the same. We can choose to fix, repair or clean up something that badly needs it or just ignore it. We can also choose to plan for the next shock to our work and life in general…or we can pretend there won’t be any more disruptions to our work or home life. The only certainty is that there will be more disruptions to come and the prepared individuals and organizations will get through to the other side. Will you be among those or will you become a memory for history books and family discussions?

What you do from now on with the time you are given is up to you. It has always been up to you to make yourself better so you can respond to life’s challenges in the best way. Will you take the TIME and do what you KNOW YOU NEED TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW?

Unlimited Vision For The Next Generation

By Shazad Ahmad

I am a dad to a little boy and it’s a great feeling I have been waiting to experience my whole life. Many family and friends come to visit and tell us who he looks like. Many people also pray or otherwise wish him to be like my wife or myself or some other person they believe has a good character. I appreciate what they have to say but I have a greater vision for my son.

It’s natural for parents to want to mould their children to their lifestyle and follow their track. This is a good thing in principle but we must be careful. Our children should not be limited by our potential or capabilities. I wish my son to achieve HIS personal best in life by fulfilling his OWN potential in life to the maximum degree. I don’t want him to be limited by my skills or those of my wife. Don’t we all want this for the next generation? Of course we do!

I would love it if our son had the generous spirit and kindness of my wife but why limit him to that? Why not wish and enable him to go to an even higher platform of generosity, goodness and love? That is the way we should be thinking for ultimate success and happiness of our children. I want our son and everyone in the next generation to take humanity to new heights of co-operation and achievement that are beyond my ability to imagine.

Let’s help our children and everyone who is not yet an adult, pursue their Personal Best in Life whatever that may be. Let’s empower them to go higher and farther than we have done so that we can face the challenges of today and solve the problems of tomorrow. All of Humanity is counting on the new generation to STEP UP and take civilization to the next level. We cannot be bound by our parents or grandparents abilities and opportunities. Let’s raise Generation Awesome!

Hurricanes, Earthquakes and Pandemic Virus Advice

By Ahsan Khan

Dear Friends,

If you want to scare yourself real good, you should scour the internet for news releases on the Virus.

I assure you, this will ruin your peace of mind and make you wonder why you should even try at life, the way you used to a short month ago.

The message of mayhem and misery is going to bring you down, if you let it.

Let us be among the first friends, to remind you that now is not the time to retreat or give up hope!

Now is the time to double down!

Double down on being brave and courageous.

Double down on being supportive to others who are scared.

Double down on working hard at your goals. When this crisis time is over, you will emerge stronger.

Double down on staying positive and resourceful as a leader for your family, friends and co-workers. 

Be smart. Wash your hands, don’t touch your face.  

At the same time…..

Wash your mind of negativity and don’t let fear overcome you either!

For all our Awesome Life Email subscribers, we will send you a *FREE* special guide that we hope you will find helpful, that will show you how to get more peace of mind and help you to achieve your goals!

It is a longer read, but just in time for the moment we live in! Please share your feedback with us and make sure you share this post with everyone you know that could use some perspective.

If you haven’t done so already, subscribe to our email list at: https://www.awesomelifebook.com/

You are Awesome and You Can Get Through This!

A Perspective on The Crisis

By Shazad Ahmad

"Come what may, all bad fortune is to be conquered by endurance." Virgil

We are in the midst of a pandemic that has shaken the world like none before it.

Many are fearful and some are feeling hopeless. But this too shall pass.

Humanity has faced many trials in the past..and moved forward. We will do so again this time. We need to keep our focus on enduring the day and planning sensibly for the future. We are not individuals wandering this existence alone. We are a global community of intelligent, rational and compassionate beings that will work together to solve this latest crisis.

I believe in humanity and ask you to do the same. People are working together and will continue to do more of this because they realize what is at stake. It will take all of us to make things better.

If you are a subscriber, coming soon to an Inbox near you is our Ultimate Guide to Perseverance in Hard Times.  Stay tuned for it.

I leave you with one of my favourite Stoic Quotes that captures the moment for me:

“Objective judgment, now, at this very moment. Unselfish action, now, at this very moment. Willing acceptance – now, at this very moment – of all external events. That’s all you need.” Marcus Aurelius

With Best Wishes for Patience and Fortitude.

Why Do We Train?

By Shazad Ahmad

Many people workout their physical bodies. Some are also practicing mental fitness and resilience.  A few people are regular in spiritual practice and achieving higher stages of enlightenment.  But what is all this for? Why bother trying to develop mind, body and soul?

I believe we do this because we know that through  such struggle, hardship and focus, we become better versions of ourselves.  

By training the body for strength and endurance, we obviously  look good and feel better. We are also ready to bear the stress of life with more courage and stamina. 

The practice of mental training to calm and focus the mind is a requirement for effective decision making, problem solving and creativity.  We become more productive as well as more empathic though exercises of the mind.

The soul or spirit is the third aspect of our being that needs to be trained to be a complete human beings. When we ponder on the divine and what it means to be a good human being in context of other living things, we find purpose, fulfillment and peace.

There are many people who train one or two aspects of their being but I challenge every one of you to be the  Awesome ones who train all three - your mind, body and soul.  In my personal experience, this is the only way to become a truly happy and effective human being.

Action Steps:

1. When you train your body, think of your loved ones and how you will be able to help them by becoming stronger.  Imagine the kinds of strength you need to possess to carry the physical burden of your role including security of your family in times of danger. Develop the physical fitness you need with these things in mind.

2. When developing better mental fitness, think of all of your important roles in life. How can you perform them with excellence and the best decision making. Create a plan to figure out what your mental fitness needs to be so you can lead your family and community.

3. When you consider your spiritual state, review how  you feel today and what your perspective is for all living beings. How do you fit into this world and what kind of relationship do you want to have with every other living things starting with the most important people in your life.  Demonstrate the kinds of habits, words and actions you would like to see more of in the world as part of training for the soul.  This will give you more self-awareness and also respect for life.

Is Pain Necessary For Goal Achievement?

By Ahsan

When you are out to achieve a goal, you will try to avoid pain, and this can become your main problem.

Everyone wants to live a life of ease and pleasure. No one wants to end up with no rewards after putting in an effort, either.

Even our biological makeup seems to promote the desire for ease and pleasure.

After an intense effort, we crave rest. 

Similarly, when we eat our fill, we enjoy the bliss of a full stomach and are tempted by dessert!

In the pursuit of our goals, we seek pleasure and avoid pain.

Most humans seem to have a default setting that wants maximum results for minimum effort. And yet, when we truly achieve a goal of any importance, we usually do so with significant effort, sweat, tears, and scraped knees. 

The best results come from hard work!

The benefits of hitting our goal exceed the achievement of the goal: they include a sense of personal confidence and the belief that other goals can likewise be achieved.

Let’s take a look at the fascinating methods of a gold medal producing swim coach:

Mark Spitz, who in 1972 won 6 Olympic gold medals, went to Indiana University, and his coach was a guy named Doc Counsilman, the greatest swim coach in America’s history.

The first day of practice every fall, Coach Counsilman would take all the guys going out for the swim team out on the swim deck.

There was a little banner that hung over the pool, and the banner only had three words on it: Hurt, Pain, Agony.

The coach said, "Okay, we're going to spend a lot of time together this year, and if you want to be a part of this swim team, every afternoon, you have to come here for a couple of hours and swim until you hurt.

But if you have higher goals and you want to be a national champ, you have to come here every afternoon and swim until you're in pain."

"If you have still higher goals and you want to be the next Mark Spitz, you want to be a world champion or an Olympic champion; you have to come here and train until you're in agony." He said, "So it's your choice. Hurt, pain, agony." He said, "All of you, I wouldn't have recruited you unless I knew each and every one of you had world-class potential inside of you."

Here's the interesting thing. Whether you choose hurt or pain or agony, by the time you take a shower and go home for dinner, everything is going to go back to normal, so it's how much are you willing to give in that 2, 2-1/2 hours every day that's going to determine your destiny.

What's it going to be?

Hurt, Pain, Agony.

A little pain today will offset a lot of pain tomorrow. 

I hope you will agree. Your most awesome life depends on it!

Action Steps:

1. Commit to seeing your goal being achieved regardless of how much pain may come your way.

2. Hone your skills that will be needed to achieve your goal. Spend the time, hire the coach, put in the hours. Get wet.

3. Give yourself a deadline. Otherwise, you will never see the finish line.

4. Have a strategy for getting back on the horse when you get bucked off.

5. Remind yourself of the pleasure of the pain⎯achieving your goal.

   
   If you liked this article and know someone who is goal-oriented and should read this, please share it on your social media and suggest they visit www.awesomelifebook.com to subscribe to our email list.

Influence vs. Manipulation

By Shazad

We live in a world of millions of self described “influencers” and just as many manipulators. They are all over the Internet, TV, Radio and in our workplaces, schools as well as our families. Influence is the kind, helpful and necessary act of helping another person change for their own benefit. That could be through better eating, exercise or simply sleeping more. Real Influencers are necessary parts of human society.

Manipulators are those people who try to confuse, scare, insult and even force us down a certain path. The decision they are seeking from us is for their material, political or some other gain. It doesn’t have to do with our well being even though they might try to convince us that we somehow benefit from it. Manipulators are often pretending to be influencers and that is the danger. Knowing who is who and understanding who truly benefits from your change of action, thinking or purchase is your power.

We will always have Influencers and Manipulators in society so learn to tell them apart from now on. Don’t be manipulated by an influencer ever again.

How a Little Boy Fixed The World

By Ahsan

 I want to tell you a really cool story today.

A father and his son were sitting together in their living room on a peaceful Sunday.

The little boy of seven years old was not interested in the nature documentary his father was watching. He kept asking him when they would go out to play cricket, as promised.

The father wanted to finish watching his program and came up with an idea to keep his son busy for twenty minutes. Or so he thought.

He grabbed a nearby magazine that had a map of the World on it. He then ripped it into tiny pieces and jumbled them up in his palm and put it on the coffee table. He then asked his son to put the picture back together again.

The little boy was done in five minutes and showed his father, his reconstructed picture of the World. The father was astonished and asked his son how he finished the puzzle so quickly.

The little boy replied, "It was easy, on the other side of the paper was a picture of a man. All I had to do was fix the man, and the World took care of itself!"

The father was proud of his son's ingenuity, and at the same time, he was taken back by the deep wisdom, imparted by his 7-year-old son.

We all need to take care of fixing ourselves. The work needs to be done from the inside out. If we work on ourselves, our outer world will take care of itself.

And that’s the end of the story.

If you liked this article and know someone who is goal-oriented and should read this, please share it on your social media and suggest they visit www.awesomelifebook.com to subscribe to our email list.

Becoming vs Getting

By Shazad

Life is a process of change. We are in the constant  transformation from who we are today into who we could be tomorrow.  What you get in life is tied to the kind of person you become. With this in mind, stop focussing on what you get or have in life. Make a conscious effort to realize what you are becoming. Do you like the person you see in the mirror each day?  Do you have a vision for the kind of life you want to be living?

If you want to become better person and have more quality things in your life, make a plan to transform yourself a little bit each day.  Make the necessary changes gradually and watch how Awesome you can be!

Awesome Things People NEED To Hear

By Shazad

We play many roles in our lives. Parent, Child, Employee, Friend, Manager, Neighbour, Leader, Follower and so many more.  In each role we have, there are some words and ideas we need to know about that makes us better in these roles. Below I will share some thoughts about what I think are the most Awesome ideas we wish others would say.

As a child, we want our parents to say they are proud of us and love us no matter what our grades are. We also want them to help us become the best version of ourselves whether that is a Doctor, Lawyer, or something less traditional like a plumber, carpenter or mechanic.

As a parent, we want to hear our children say that they are grateful we raised them up despite lack of money or resources. Parents need to hear that they did their best with what they had and their kids don’t think anyone else could have raised them any better.

As a spouse, we need to hear that we are important in this relationship and that decisions are made with both of us in mind.  Each spouse needs to hear that disagreements don’t mean we don’t care about each other but rather, that we need to work things out together.

As a friend, we need to hear that we chose this bond with each other which is beyond blood relations. Friends need to hear that their opinions matter and that this relationship is strong for life.

Neighbours need to know that they are in a friendly environment where they will be safe along with their property. If they ever need help, they need to hear that their immediate neighbours will be there to offer help.

As an employee, we need to hear that our work has value and is part of a larger goal. Employees need to know they are not commodities that can be easily let go or be overwhelmed with work no one else will do.

As a manager, we need the whole team to know we are working in the team’s best interest to achieve some larger goals. Managers need the team to know that they are Leaders of the business and chosen for their ability to successfully manage groups of people to take them where they need to go.

Finally, as a human being, we need other people to know that we are more than our race, skin tone, nationality or gender. We need to hear other people value our opinion and ideas in an objective way. We all want to be heard as individuals and not grouped together with others we look or sound like.

If we want to be appreciated more, we need to become more aware of our relationships with others. Wouldn’t it be Awesome if you heard more of the above things and applied them in your life?

How To Be Happy: An Overlooked Technique!

By Ahsan

What is your experience with being and staying happy?

Are you able to stay happy once you feel happy? Is being happy your natural state or something you have to work at?

If you wanted to be happy in an instant, what would you do to be happy? 

Take a moment to think if you need to.

The best thing to be happy is to do the things you enjoy and to make time for it in your daily schedule. A few examples might be things like reading, listening to some music, spending time with your friends, playing a video game, writing or volunteering. These are all excellent ideas.

How do you know when you are truly happy after volunteering or playing a video game? Is it because you feel a warm giver's high or the dopamine hit from going to the higher level in the game? Are these forms of happiness long-lasting? I think you will agree that these are only temporary boosts and not long-lasting.

To have a long-lasting form of happiness that stays with you and is easy to replenish is available anytime, you do a bit of prayer. Yes. Prayer. If you are spiritual and believe in a Creator, don't forget to add this to your list of things to do every day.

There is no way to know if this works unless you try it. To maximize your prayer, you can try three things as a reminder. Before starting your prayer, try to erase your mind of its thoughts of the day. Once you start your prayer, don’t forget to show gratitude for the big and small things in your life. During your prayer, let all your questions, complaints and concerns come out; remember that you are having a private and personal prayer⎯don’t hold back. 

Prayer is the overlooked technique that very few people are talking about. Your mental peace comes from doing a lot of things, but if you pray for success in what you are aiming for, don't be surprised if you start feeling happy in the very core of your heart. If others start asking you about that light you keep shining, don’t keep this technique or this short article a secret either!