THE ART OF LIVING YOUR LIFE ON BETTER TERMS - Part 3
I pity the youngsters who are caught in this cycle – because, they are surrounded by Fire (having refused the other outlets offered to them earlier – because they were not the Highways they wished to travel in!), with nothing but "oil and ghee" to quench the fire – which is obviously not possible. The Fire comes nearer and nearer every day; if they pour the oil/ ghee on the Fire, it is going to blaze still ominously; but if they hold it in their hands and do nothing, they will still be engulfed, the ghee/ oil being very much on their person! Now, in this desperation, when they begin to look for alternatives, being ready to compromise on everything, they find that life is a cruel task-master which does not wait for anyone, and now, even those offers they were willingly rejecting earlier are not coming their way, and their referrers are avoiding them like “plague” because of earlier bad experiences with these people!
It is not a mistake to have lofty dreams about your life – but it is a mistake to refuse the smaller opportunities that will eventually help you achieve those goals gradually. It is not a mistake to fund your basic degree or foreign university certification through a loan, but it is a mistake to assume that your having got a loan and a foreign degree "entitles" you to ask for salary on your terms without any compromise - because organizations have other ideas about everyone’s worth! It is not a mistake to change jobs – as long as you have viable alternatives and healthy offers that could jump start your progress. It is not a mistake to wait for your right opening as long as you have good plans – like you are a graduate/ post-graduate with the aim of doing well in the Civil Services Examination, or you are an accounts professional trying to make the grade in the Chartered Accountancy field, etc.; but to wait without tangible goals/ opportunities – just in the empty hope that some better paying job will come and the current offers are not worth it – as it will take more years to repay the loans with this salary is a big mistake.
Still greater is the mistake of taking the opportunity with a frustrated outlook, and screwing up your professional reputation, by picking up fights with associates, having unnecessary ego-clashes with superiors at work, etc.
Please remember, problems are tackled by appropriate strategies; certain problems need to be ignored so that they weaken over time, certain problems need to tackled aggressively – as allowing them to linger can be dangerous, while certain problems need to be tackled as and how you get the grip over them – like capitalizing on minor opportunities and building upon them – rather than waiting for the "right grip" to come your way.
It is best to wait for the best opportunities while you are already working on the smaller opportunities – rather than waiting for the best with nothing in hand. And – always give your best to any job you do – no matter how less paying or high paying it is…There is no short-cut to a good professional reputation. Those who begin on humble notes in life have often done well in later years mainly on the strength of sustained efficiency and spotless reputation.
Hope this will be an eye-opener to the young adults who find themselves caught in the vicious cycle of life as discussed in this article…it is never too later to change to a positive mode of living!
Click here to read more Part 1 | Part 2 Article by Pandit R DAKSHINAMOORTHI
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