A pinch of motivation
A pinch of motivation
for you when you are feeling low.
Some poems and stories to get you going when you are feeling low.
Disclaimer: All advice is autobiographical. This advice is advice I would have given myself at some point of time, it may not always apply to you. Your Mileage May Vary, Take what you like best and leave the rest.
The One Who Tries Never Fails(Translated from Hindi) - Sohan Lal Dwivedi
You cannot take your boat across the sea If you are afraid of the waves, The one who tries Never fails. The tiny ant carries a small grain in its mouth, Climbs up on the wall, slips and falls a hundred times, The determination in the mind fills your body with courage, Then climbing up and falling down does not hurt, Ultimately, its (the ant’s) efforts do not go waste, The one who tries Never fails. The diver dives into the water of the sea, He returns empty handed a number of times, Not easy it is to find a pearl in the deep waters, But this in turn doubles his enthusiasm, His hands are not empty every time, The one who tries Never fails. Failure is a challenge, accept it, Recognize your shortcomings, rectify them. Till you are successful, shun rest and sleep, Never run away from the battlefield of hard work, You cannot get praise without working for it, The one who tries Never fails.
There is a story of this Indian guy is sitting next to Einstein in a long flight. Einstein says, “You know it's a long flight, why don't we have a competition? I'll ask you a question and if you can't answer it you give me five dollars then, uh, you can ask me a question and if I can't answer it I'll pay you five hundred dollars.”
The man agreed. So Einstein asked “How far is the moon from the earth?”
The Indian thought and thought and then said, “You know what I really don't have the exact answer. Here's five dollars,” then he looked at Einstein and asked, “What goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four?”
Einstein worked through all of his knowledge of science couldn't figure out what he was talking about put his hand into his pocket and gave him five hundred dollars.
It was Einstein's turn again. Einstein said, “Before I ask you my next question, What does go up the hill with three legs and come down with four?”
The Indian put his hand in his pocket and gave him five dollars.
Class of Princeton 1969, an Indian student in fluid dynamics class argued that a theory by Ascher Shapiro was incorrect. The professor offended by the remark and angered by the argument asked him if he then believed their entire textbook written by Ascher Shipiro to be inaccurate.
The student agreed, although hesitantly.
The professor then mockingly advised the student to write to Ascher Shapiro and ask him to correct the textbook. A week later the student entered the class holding a letter which read, “Thank you so much for your letter. You are so far the first one to point out the printing and syntax error in my theorem. I am surprised that it went unnoticed by the professors thus far. But, all the same, I assure you that it will be corrected in the next edition. Thank you for pointing it out, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors Mr. Numbu.”
The letter was from Ascher Shipiro and Mr. Numbu, as he was referred then, is Nambi Narayanan, director Mars Orbiter Mission.
How Long Can You Stop Me(translated from Hindi) - Vikas Bansal
Holding a few dreams in my fist, and a pocket full of hope, the heart desires only to do something , to be something. I do not shine like the sun, but light like a lamp I do not shine like the sun, but light like a lamp For how long can you stop me from lighting up my own boundaries. I am not that tree whose had the best of soil and water. I am not that tree whose had the best of soil and water. I have snatched my life from barren lands. I am the words written on stone, for how long will try you break me with glasses My name is not erasable , for how long will you be able to stop me? Crimes in the world do not exceed our limits to tolerate. In the midst of the noises from taunting I still have the habit to stand by the truth I am deeper than the seas, for low long can you throw pebbles at me. I will pick every one of it and move forward , for how long will you be able to stop me? I bowed 100 times before standing tall , Now I have no desires to bow down again I have made myself what I am today , I do not fear any destruction through you. Whenever you push me in the heat of circumstances , I would come out to glow like pure gold. For how long will you be able to stop me? For how long will you be able to stop me? For how long will you be able to stop me?
There was once a naval officer who after marriage was going for his first voyage with his wife on the ship.
Unfortunately, the ship got caught in a storm on the high seas and it was getting tossed by the waves. Everybody in that ship was anxious except for the officer. His wife looking at his calm demeanor said, “My dear husband, how are you so calm in such a difficult situation?”
He smiled and took out his sword from the sheath and placed the blade on his wife's head. He said, “My dear wife, are you worried?”
“No”
“Why not this naked blade is on your head it can go right through your skull”
The wife replied, “The sword is in your hands and I have faith that you are my well-wisher, what's there to be scared about?”
The naval officer smiled and said “In the same way I have faith that this ship is in the hands of God and whatever he does will be for my best interest because he is my well-wisher.”
This fact freed the naval officer from anxieties of the present and helped him focus on doing our best. Ultimately, by focusing on the things we can control and doing are best rather than worrying about the future, we can simplify the game of life. Do your best and leave the rest to powers beyond.
In 2007, a recent collage pass out applied for a loan of todays equivalent of 7.5 million INR or about 1 million USD. The loan was immediately rejected.
With great reluctance, the man decided to approach the bank manager. The secretary had very clearly told the man that the talk will be in vain, the bank had a policy not to give loans to recent pass outs.
When the man paid no heed to the secretary and patiently waited for the manager.
When the manager entered, the man greeted him and explained that he needed a loan to set up an educational institution.
The manager dismissingly asked him his alma matters.
The man replied, “IIT BHU.”
Suddenly, the managers demeanor flipped 360 degrees. He asked the man to talk with him inside the cabin, offered him tea and assured the loan will be approved within a few days. The loan was approved.
This is the story of Nitin Vijay, the founder of Motion. This story is a real-life proof that powerful people come from powerful places. It is a proof why one should work to enter a reputed institute, after all, the institute’s name will be joint to your name for the rest of your life.
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Thanks for Reading,
Warm Regards,
Arjun Agarwal.