A defeat teaches you more than a victory does

Today, I reached finals in our org's pool tournament. I played well to lead 2-1 and just when I was about to win it 3-1, I did a stupid defensive act which resulted in my loss of championship 2-3 to my opponent, a deserving winner.

There are times risks ought to be taken. There are times caution is required. But risk with caution often wins. And when you have the advantage of a lead, and presented with an opportunity, you better go for the kill. I displayed this attitude in quarter-finals to make it to semis, did it again in semis to reach the final. But, when it mattered the most, my mind displayed a shadow of weakness and I missed the limelight.

I have learnt a lot of things by playing a tournament like this. This helped me in many competitive ways for I have learnt a lot of lessons from my wins & defeats.

• You have half-won the match, if your opponents fear you.
• In a game, skill is just 20%. Rest is all mind. Patience is the key.
• One at a time. One after the other. Don't bog your mind by too many targets.
• Planning is very important. But don't stick to it so much that you fail to see a better opportunity that comes on the way. Watch it! Keep your mind open, always.
• Luck will not win you everything. But it can certainly create great opportunities. Rest is in your hands.
• When you have the advantage, go for the kill but with caution. There is a thin line between being aggressive and being rash.
• Play to win. But accept defeats. A defeat teaches you more than a victory does.

When you have the gift, use it!

Today I accidentally opened my own story "The Legend of Cepheus", and I felt like reading the last episode after I found that there were some new comments to it. So I did and I was thrilled. Honestly speaking, I never looked back at the story after I penned it and even after the comments and reviews from its followers and my friends. But when I did today, I went back into the imagination that drove me wild in writing that bloody, gory last battle, the adrenaline involved, the emotional content before the very end and I was living it again. I mean, I know I am not a great and seasoned writer but I should honestly say, probably, I enjoyed the story the same way as its readers did! That really made me rethink about the writing skills that I have but not so well employed these days. I got the gift I believe. I got the imagination it takes to produce such pieces of art. I should put them to test. Shouldn't I?

What use when you cannot use the god given gifts. God gave me the voice. God gave me the dexterity. God gave me the brains. Its my turn now, to make full use of them.

Engage the gift. Reap the fruits.

Live The Moment

No. This is no Ritz ad. This is what I feel, in retrospect, of my days of schooling & college. I feel, I missed a lot when I attended my school. I feel, I should have studied well & hard and should not have forgotten all those basics of physics. I feel, I should have remembered all those significant episodes in Indian history. I feel, I could have done better in computer algorithms & data structures in my college. Why? I did not know how I would miss it today. I was busy playing games & had fun. Nothing wrong in it. But nothing right in not doing what I was supposed to do either - Study! If only, I had given the time each subject deserves, probably I would have been more knowledgeable today. Yes. I have learnt it. One should do the right thing, at the right time, in the right place.

Yesterday is a history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why, its called present. So, Live the moment.

Focus. Concentrate. Execute.

When I play pool game, one thing that I have noticed quite often is that, when I talk less during the game, I play well. Once I start speaking, plans are exchanged with my fellow partners and spectators. I am instructed by everyone around some piece of their idea. Just like the way I do when others play their shot! You tend to get to analytical mode, become a critic of each shot played. Now there is the problem. More energy is spent in this thought process than the actual task in hand: WHAT SHOT TO PLAY? HOW TO PLAY? WHAT NEXT? Thoughts are scattered. Focus is lost. Shot fails. I am left frustrated. End result is that I might lose the game. Angered. Disappointed. Laugh at myself. All depending on my mood. Not that I hate to lose, but I don't like to lose a game that I have in hand! No one does!

When you are executing something with an idea, stop listening to others. If you want to listen, then stop executing. Take a break. Listen. Decide. Then - Execute.

What if people keep talking when you are playing? You have to stop listening. Simply difficult. But that's the game! Focus.

During execution, don't worry about the result. That's one big distraction. Internal distractions are as troublesome as the external ones. Fear of losing or worrying about mistakes makes even a strong one weaker. One shot at a time. Concentrate.

Lessons learnt may be from a game. But aren't these applicable to everything you do?
Indeed. Cutoff the external disturbances - TURN YOUR FOCUS INWARDS, subdue internal commotion - CONCENTRATE ON THE PRESENT TASK, and play the shot - EXECUTE!