The 7 Laws of Failure

To Mr. Anuj Gosalia,

The mind Mr.Gosalia loves to take control and plague your system. You need to slow it down. Anuj, you've mastered the art of failure by now. You've mastered the art of procrastination, instant-gratification, big-talk, false promises and the works. You could probably write a book on how to Fail, Repeatedly .. yeah?

So, on your behalf, i present to you, The 7 Laws of Failure :

1.The Excusez Moi Syndrome - The mind loves to make you feel comfortable. Loves to find solutions to your dilema in the most-innovative ways. It'll tell you that even if you watch a movie (Read : Being Cyrus) before the exam, you'll crack it.. Why you'll have the entire night to study. It will also provide relief in the form of Scientific Research - The human mind functions at its best when it has to meet a deadline : The Flight or Fight Mechanism

2.Instant-Gratification - Whoa! I've mastered this one: Just one more page of the new book, one more song. In the middle of a study-session: i need to check my mail urgently. I have to have that ToblerOne in the refrigerator- It'll help me concentrate.
Mind tells you: Get done with your desire so that you are not distracted. But hey!... that desire itself was a distraction, an excuse to not concentrate, wasn't it?;)

3. The Illusionary Study Approach - Mom, i can study well on the bed you know. It's just a myth that you can't concentrate lying 180* flat on a soft,cozy bed with A/C and a light pillow under your head. I mean.. remember they said 'Study in a comfortable position;)'. The power of music also comes into the picture here... yes (Coldplay blasting, RBD anthems & JAL themselves). How can you not possibly concentrate. Now research says ' Soft alpha music [whatever that is, I guess on the lines of Karunesh, Yanni, Kenny G] promotes quantitative ability and mathematical problem-solving. But RDB, Coldplay? You need to be reeely involved in your math, accounts (some guys manage theory as well - And yes they do score well:for the record) or you need to be doing a subject of your interest to multi-task. Even then, i'd like a word or two on efficiency!

4.The Hoax Reality-Check - We love lying to ourselves don't we? Ask me? Comforting myself has become my forte. I mean why underestimate the time to be take per chapter. If a particular chapter will take 4 hours, admit it! Why pretend to finish or factor in only two hours when you cannot complete it efficiently in that given time. Yes, it happens vice-versa also ... wherein you factor 6 hours and end up doing 15 pages of a 60 page chapter - Lol

5.World's Most Innovative Concentration building techniques - Mankind thrives on creativity & innovation. Monotony is something which i detest. Therefore when mind-monkey happens (restless, unending self-talk on everything on this planet = mind-monkey) i come up with ideas such as The Enigma Meditation, Deep-Breathing, walk on the beach. The idead are all good but no sustainabilty. One fine day when you start meditating, you do not reach Optimimum Performance state. It is a result of relentless, unflinching, gruelling and yes.. monotonous practice. Something which i fail to realize and understand. Concentration is really very simple & very natural. I am writing this in a state of acute focus and concentration. It's just a matter of transcending boundaries and applying it to all walks of life.

6.The Compromise on Goal Behaviour- Now i'm sure, i have company here... How often have I started preparing for an exam with uber enthusiasm, adrenaline rushes, pep-talks... yes, i can do it. I can beat the best. If he can, why can't I - the usual
7 days, 13 hours and 47 minutes into prep-mode and it all goes bust. Deflates, crashes - i have a million synonyms.Yes, i mean how can you possibly prepare a month is advance? It just doesn't digest mahn .... To someone who's been bought up on a steady diet of last minute cramming, late-night rushes and 'I thrive under pressure'and such illusionary behavioural patterns, ideas such as these seem surreal. Hence, the enthu comes down crashing and then after a week a new time table emerges with compromised goals and fake self-beliefs... And this over a period of few years (19, in my case) becomes a habit until one day (like today) you tell yourself that ' Hey this is not what i was destined to beomce, this is not the standard that i set for myself' & emerge triumphant! :)

7. The Final Law - Failure comes to those who don't say 'NO'. Failure comes to those
swear by 'Impromptu Living' w/o keeping its drawbacks in the mind. Failure comes to those who believe that there's a shortcut to the top - Unfortuantely there isn't. Failure comes to those who cannot take the grind. Failure comes to the Indisciplined. Failure comes if short-term pleasures dilute your long-term goals. Failure comes everytime you choose an alternative to your original goal & Failure finally comes if you fall into any of the aforesaid traps of failure.

Some very fascinating quotes that i came across :

Hritik Roshan in Rendevouz with SG - "It's not about how many peaks you climb. It's about that God Damn ride." It's all about the journey :)))

Abhishek Thakore & the Harvard Success Model - Eventually, your success will be determined by your 'Want' - your 'Need'.How badly do you want It? How prepared are you to 'Grit' it out to succeed?

You may ask, why the 7 laws to Failure? Well, i wish i could write on the 7 laws of Success but you see - I am not too good at writing fiction:)

But yes, I promise thay someday I will. Someday, i will live the Success and then maybe share a tip or two;)


All the Best Mr.Gosalia,
Live It Up,
Me