BUILDING POSITIVE ATTITUDE

BY LT COLONEL (RETD)VIKRAM BAKSHI

What are some examples of positive attitude in Army Parlance related to also Corporate and personal life ?

Cross obstacles with result in sight

Jump and Swim in sea of problems with Josh and Hosh

Last out the process with endurance and as a team without leaving any stragglers

No wastage of resources

Train your team and not humiliate them

Run for miles and not in yards

Discipline and Punctuality

Never lose hope

Give a tough fight to your competitor

Take Strong medicine on your chin

Celebrate success

Where I learned positive attitudeNATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY

• In my case when ever at age of 45 years old now, if I am in doubt over changing to a negative attitude I go for a memory trip .

• Being in Pune, I always go back for a drive to Khadakwasala National Defence Academy and spend time there reminiscent old days in this fine cradle of leadership.

• The course mates and instructors all come back rushing in my memory lane as if it is happening now

Where I learned positive attitude

FLASH BACK28 YEARS BACK

Cross obstacles with result in sight• There used to be many Physical tests that were mandatory

to pass before going to next term. I was good and ok in most of the Physical test against many of my course mates who were excellent. Anyway there was one Test I encountered in my third or fourth term which was 9 feet ditch. I crossed and jumped over comfortably initially like others despite many were hesitant .

• Anyway one day I slipped over and twisted my ankle. When I recovered in realized I was not able to cross over due to some mental block of hurting myself again. I had a full battle gear on me with a rifle and we were all suppose to jump in air and cross that 9 feet width ditch which was also 4 to 5 feet deep. I realized if I missed the far edge or did not take the leap from the initial edge of ditch in time I would go hurtling down an break my leg again .

• I felt ashamed of my fear also and decided to come later in evening on my own and overcome that fear. In evening I was all alone and contemplated how to overcome my stupid fear. There was my PT teacher who was cycling home and he stooped. I told him sheepishly that I was sacred of the obstacle and how to overcome that fear.

• He told me something that has been with my attitude rest of life. I was doing the mistake of watching the initial edge where I was suppose to take the leap of faith in air and was stopping before it as I was not confident that I would land in far edge after flying in air for 9 feet. The trick was to see the far edge as I ran with speed toward the ditch with my rifle .

• I did that not bothered when and where I tool the leap of faith in air and wow…I landed much ahead of 10 feet also and I ran back and did that again and again never bothering what and where was the obstacle starting, just took the leap of faith in unknown and landed safely across the obstacle.

NEVER SEE THE BEGINNING NEAR EDGE OF

AN OBSTACLE

ALWAYS JUMP OVER AN OBSTACLE WITH FAR EDGE IN SIGHT. TAKE THAT LEAP OF

FAITH THAT YOU WILL NOT GET HURT TO FALL IN DITCH BUT

CROSS OVER

Jump and Swim in sea of problems

but with Josh and Hosh • We had a 10 mtr jump in swimming pool

test and as usual it was initially bit fearful. • It's like 5 stories high to give you goose

bumps

• It was not bad to fear but aim was to over come the fear.

• Anyway I devised a plan to overcome my initial hiccups, I avoided standing at jump board 10 mtr above water like a few and see the depth and then trun back in fear.

• I used to run with speed on the diving board with Josh and take that leap of faith in air without much thinking and jump into the pool

• As soon as in entered depths of pool water….my josh was over but due to cry of my lungs gasping for oxygen, I switched over to being conscious of danger and swam upwards for my lungs to get oxygen JUMP WITH JOSH IN

ANY PROBLEMSWIM WITH HOSH

Last out the Endurance March of

a challenging work as a team

• We used to have 20 to 30 km endurance run competition over wild terrain and mountains with full battle gear and rifle in hand.

• The team that won where I was party to such wind in my my sixth term and also fourth term was that we carried our weak runners also with us.

• We all closed in as a team and did not allowed any stragglers.

• The team that comes as a combined with least amount of time taken was the winner.

In work also , carry all weak and non cooperative team ,members against their curses but bring them close to end of a project with as a team .. You will be hated also at times but do it carry all especially those who crib against their wishes

No wastage of Resources • I remember the words my firing

instructor used to say…Hold the trigger, steady your breath , watch the target and unleash a single shot of death.

• This learning was save your resources and use it economically and for effect to its completion.

• You may never get a second chance again.

• Same was in project execution, use your resources economically and timely and for its aiding in completion.

One Shot One Kill .

Get results first time without rework

Identify the limit where you can train your team and does not break them

Such training was very much required as it made all mentally tough to endure

physically pain Training discipline go hand in hand

With welfare and fun

TRAINING

FUN

Run for miles and not in yards

• Cross Country 14 KMs. The whole academy takes part with inter squadron competition. There also team work matters.

• The squadron that closes with all its cadets in early timing enclosures with less stragglers is the winner.

Be the guy who builds and preserves his stamina to speed up in end and mental toughness to last the whole race, when breath is failing you, till end come up in early finishes of work completion in life.

Discipline and Punctuality Matters

• Discipline in Drill at drill square and synchronized movements . or in academic classes means to be in correct time and in correct place with a perfect turn out dress.

• life is all about that in same context of doing work in time with synchronized related activities

NEVER LOSE HOPEGET BACK TO YOUR FEET!

• I fell sick in my fourth term terribly sick and had to undergo a life saving surgery against a tumor

• All had lost hope on my career also if not life even in post operative rehabilitation as there was too much work to do on me by physiotherapist

• I worked back to my fitness and was shape One for next 20 years in Army life despite losing my kidney in that operation in NDA

• I served in all parts of the country and was at fore front of all activity and still kicking alive.

• Medical illness will come and go, let it not defeat you till you can breath .

Give a tough fight to your competitor Be Gracious and Sportsman ship

in losing to a better guy but after giving it all in own efforts

• I was not the boxing kind but was pushed into Boxing ring by fate.

• There was a senior called as nick named Junior Mike Tyson famous for knock outs.

• Unfortunately I met him in finals, he could have won easily on technical points but he had a point to prove to knock me out.

• I lost out to a better guy but lasted the rounds with swollen lips and broken tooth and closed bruised eyes.

• Both of us went to hospital later but we became friends . I beat him next year.

• Feel Happy for a better guy who may have worked harder and beaten you squarely .

• Be inspired and encouraged to do better next time

Take Strong medicine without any

problems if done something wrong

Celebrate success after going through a difficult journey to get your goal

The first passing out Parade

Karmanevadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachina (Your duty is action with no eye on the fruits it will bring)

This ideal has guided the noblest of men, such as Gandhi and Lincoln. It is important to remember that this ideal

does not remain confined to a few specific kinds of action; it stresses that in thought and deed in every sphere of life

the self has to be subordinated to a higher end, a nobler purpose.