How To Achieve Your Goal

By Joginder Singh

This book is a masterpiece by Mr. Joginder Singh (IPS), Former Director of CBI, who is also an eminent author and motivator. Hailing from a poor farmer's family, he scaled the pinnacle of success through sheer motivation and hard work. The saga of his success is worth emulating for any young aspirant to achieve his desired goal and be successful in life. Excellent suggestions with suitable examples have been cited in this book which will guide everyone to fulfil his most cherished dreams. So, set your goal, plan accordingly, march ahead, and write your own story of success.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diamond Books
• Release date: Oct 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9788128822742

Book preview

Routine?

1

How To Transform Dream Into Reality?

Satisfaction and ventures in life lie in doing your best and enjoy what you wish to do or are engaged in doing. Some people just do enough to get by. It would not do as all life’s prizes are earmarked for those who do their best and not just good enough. Being the best means that you have to be better than the number two. Quite often, we forget that being the best, means you leave all others behind.

We all want to be the best. The trouble arises when a vast majority of people are just satisfied with much lower ranking like the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and do. Being the best means that you can challenge anybody achieve anything in your life and have the nerve to do anything in your chosen field. Our motto should be to become and be the best and nothing else.

Being financially well off is a reward for our achievement. But they follow our triumphs and not before it. Nobody can do it, all by himself or herself or transform a great idea into a reality. First of all, we need to assemble a first rate team to translate any of our intents into a reality. However, great an idea it might be just dreaming about not transforming it into a reality is both pointless and fruitless. It is this ability to successfully execute any idea which separates the dreamers from the doer.

The real problem is that we expect things to fall into our lap without working for them. Nothing is free in life and we have to pay the price in the form of dedication and hard work. The biggest irony is that we all want first-rate things of life without paying the price. Most people work without an aim and so live a hum-drum life.

I have gone around our country and addressed numerous meetings and attended discussions with the students and others. Whenever I have inquired from individuals about their goals or aim in life most of them reply is to get a good job. But what that job should be whether a civil service or in any other organisations, nobody is clear as they have no goal.

I tell them that unless they know where they want to go, how will they reach there? Last week I met a student of 10th class and asked about his aspiration. He fumbled and said, Anything good.

First, you have to decide as to what you want to do as well as why and what rewards you want to get. I read an interesting story where a person kept on praying to God asking for promotion, prosperity and the top most position in his organisation. God ultimately appeared and said that Take anything, My good Man but pay the Price. The price asked for was in the form of enthusiasm, ardour and devotion to his work.

The impediment arises in the sense that we take the easier course and not of steadfastness to our commitments. There are no shortcuts to any place or goal worth going or achieving. Sticking to your goals entails denying yourself the entertainment either on TV or Cinema or gossiping or indulging idle chit chat and not focussing on what matters to you most.

I have realised that time in life is not only short but limited. For example in my case in search of new ideas or subjects for writing, I go through five English newspapers and read religious books of all religions turn by turn. It takes about 3 hours and one hour for body massage from a masseur and one hour of exercising for trying to keep fit. About eight to nine hours go for resting and sleeping. Another three hours are required for twice bathing and eating three meals, apart from morning and evening tea plus a cup of coffee at about mid day.

Another one hour goes for answering the phone calls and watching the news on TV. Any outing for shopping or even petty purchases takes another two hours. There are demands on my time by the visitors and TV appearances that can take about two hours.

For case in point when I was working on this article there was a phone call from the security at 9 PM that there was somebody who wanted to meet me to give me some invitation card. I have made it an unwritten rule that I would meet people only by fixing prior appointments. The visitors in our country do not bother about other’s convenience but their own. I have seen visitors coming to see me at 6 AM and also at 11PM. This kind of approach does not suit me. I have apprised my Private Secretary to apprise such people my unavailability.

By the above approach I by no stretch of imagination intend to be rude but it is to save my time for doing my writing work. It is a gentle reminder to such visitors to respect my time as I do not drop into anybody’s place without the prior appointment.

Sometimes the above calculation can take more time and sometimes less. I find that at the end of meeting all the commitments I am left with two to three hours as my discretionary time.

Many a time I have to go out of my house for addressing groups or association on various subjects. Earlier I used to drive my car. I have hired a full time driver so that he can take me to the destination indicated by me. I use the journey time for making phone calls or working on my lap top. I am determined not to be idle.

What I have said above should not treated as the gospel truth. It is upto each one of us to devise our own approach and improve on it. However people working full time on a job or a profession have far less time as they have to put in 9 hours in the job and plus commuting which can be anything from one to three hours depending upon their place of residence from the office. Quite often there is no way except the hard way.

Even if I do not feel like working due to some ailment then I try to read something which will cheer me up. This often changes my mood. Never throughout history of mankind any man has lived a life of ease and produced great works. Always bear in mind that with determination discipline and hard work all dreams can become a reality.

2

How To Get The Best Out Of Life?

Achievers have one quality which compensates for many deficiencies. If you ask them as to how they are feeling their answer would be On Top of the World though they might be sick or had a bereavement in the family or recently suffered a financial loss.

They never put themselves down as they are fully aware of the fact that they cannot have a high self esteem if they are undervaluing themselves. They are always on the look out to boost their self esteem which is required for success.

Any success, in any undertaking is not only encouraging for greater and greater achievements, but is also intoxicating spurring the achievers to achieve more and more. Never deprecate yourself, on any aspect of your life, whether it is your appearance or career or relationship or financial situation. Self deprecations and high esteem do not go together.

It also involves encouraging others so that you can build up their self esteem. During my morning walks, I make it a point to say something uplifting and cheerful to others. The other day, I praised the head gardener, for maintaining the park near my flat very well. I could observe the joy oozing from his face. We should be on the look out to build the self-worth and confidence of others.

In the heart of heart everybody likes to receive compliments. It lies in our power to be hearty in our praise and lavish in our appreciation of the people we meet. It is good manners to thank all those who offer you the compliment. Never play it down or reject it by rejecting in words like it was nothing. By using this kind of approach you are conveying the message that for you are being praised was either an accident or just plain fluke or not worth the praise.

If you do not have self esteem how can you expect others to respect you. The least you can do is to thank others for the compliments paid to you. Compliments are a recognition of your achievements or deeds done. They should be taken as seriously, as the criticism heaped on you. There is no harm and infact a positive good in complimenting and encouraging yourself by affirmative statements. Unless we like ourselves, how can we expect others to like us. Nothing appalling and dreadful has ever emerged out of the compliments you bestow on others or on yourself. Pleasing words are always welcome even to the children. They may not return it with words. But I have seen even babies replying with a smile. Happiness and enjoying life is a method and not a destination. It is a way of getting the best out of life. Another way is to live in the present so that at the end of the day, you can have the satisfaction of having done only a few things but done to the best of your capability.

We cannot change what has already happened. But fretting or ruing over them does nothing to help us now. We cannot predict the future so worrying about it is futile. Important and vital thing is to focus on the present.

There is no fixed method as to how you should live or spend your time. It is something which we have to devise ourselves. Our own methods are unique and they may not help others. Do a few things but do them in the best possible way, so that you can have the satisfaction of not only having done your best but also have achieved the best results. We should form a habit of doing less, but concentrating more on the important rather than urgent. This way, you will feel great. This is one way of being less stressed. Less stress means more output for the day. Focus on those things which can have a huge impact on your personality, career and relationships. For this you should determine and select the people and things who and which are worth your consideration in life. Make a positive effort to be in contact with them or spend the maximum possible time, with them. Eliminate or reduce your contact with all others, if you cannot totally cut them off your life.

It is not that you are being selfish by adopting this policy. It is because you must put yourself or your needs first. In the race of life, as well as on athletic tracks, winners necessarily endeavour their best to leave all competitors behind the race of life. Plan the best possible and perfect life you want to have and build your life around it and steps that you must take to make the same a reality. Bear in mind that if you insist on the best and demand of it from yourself and your God you will find it becoming a reality. As often as possible smile even if there be no reason. A cheerful approach rubs off others and makes you and others happy. I was travelling from Delhi to Ferozpore last month. I passed by at least thousands of passengers but found smile on the faces of only 2 persons. The rest gave an impression that either they were going for some funeral or returning from one. Best life and comfort zone do not go together. You have to leave one to gain the other. There are thousands of reasons to rue and regret every day and sometimes they are valid. I recently escaped being run over by a drunken driver who crossed the green light, when it was the turn of the pedestrians to cross over. I forgot it within minutes and did not give it a second thought. It only taught me the lesson, that in India, you have to be extra cautious even when you are on the right side of the law, when crossing roads.

We should never look back at our blunders unless we want to repeat them. Mistake error and slip ups are a part of our life. More often than not we wish that we could undo them. But nature has no provision for the same.

The best life is when we live without Ifs Might have Been Or Could Have Been. There is no ‘Undo’ button in life however fervently we desire that we could undo a few things. It is futile to regret whatever is over and is done with. We have to be clear that nothing is perfect in life. We should never feel or auto suggest that we cannot do anything, about any adverse situation. If one method does not work, it is upto each one of us to route any other alternative technique or route. Rarely any scientists has succeeded without failing or an assortment of efforts. I believe that we should have one clear vision or outlook that come what may you will finally succeed. Many a times with this belief I have found a way out.

We all make mistakes have struggles and even regret things in our past. You are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. We should live a want to life and not a have to life. Refuse to give up on yourself. Always keep your company with the people who are helping you to live a higher and a better life. Everything seems to begin with, as impossible, till it is done and achieved.

3

How To Be A Leader?

There is an innate desire in each one of us to lead and be the best in whatever profession we are engaged in. It is only being the best that you can become a leader in your chosen or selected field. Nobody is born as a leader, though some traits are inherent in all of us. We learn more by being good followers as this is one of the best ways to learn. I joined the Indian Police Service in 1961 within a week after finishing my Master of Arts Examination. I did not know a thing about the police. With the initial training we were groomed in general law parade and other subjects as 40 of us from different parts of India were entrants. But two years of practical training in the State in our cadres we had to do the duties as in hierarchy we learnt and saw at first hand the best and worst practices of Police.

Each IPS officer during the training in the field had to perform the duties of a Constable a Head Constable Head of the Police Station or as SHO, Inspector of Police officer clerks as well as accountants and finally as Assistant Superintendent of Police. Of course each duty was fixed for a week or two and before Posting as the Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO). This was one way of knowing the job on the field. In my case, I had to learn the local language, Kannada and pass an examination in the same, as I had been allotted to the then Mysore State, later on renamed as Karnataka.

Of course this is equally done for IAS, IFS and other services so that we start at a regular job as fully groomed in our jobs. In four years I got my Senior Scales, and became District Police Chief.

Every body has and will have a boss and even the top most officer will have to report to the political executive boss. There is a chain of command which at times requires us to be a great follower and at other times a great boss. Each one of us is not a passive cog in the scheme of things. We all are expected to contribute our best. A quality of the great leader is to remember the eternal law of cause and effect which is inexorable. A leader realises that if he is static and is grooved in fixed idea then he has written the epitaph of his career.

It is exactly like a child of today becoming a parent and father of the children in due course of time. It is only the great followers, who seize the opportunities and if none exists they create it by their initiative. They can put in appropriately to their present leaders in the politest language "This is what I think we should do