Small things make a big difference

Kamran Rizvi
Small things make a big difference

Kamran Rizvi

kzr.ca
First published in June 2010
Go For It!

Contents

Acknowledgements 01
Preface 02
Introduction 07
Chapter 1: Life 09
Chapter 2: TAO 12
This simple book is dedicated to my parents,
whose continuing care, guidance and support Chapter 3: Think Your Own Thoughts 16
has made a huge difference in my life. Chapter 4: “You Are the Problem!” 18
Chapter 5: The Essence 21
Chapter 6: Small Steps 25
Epilogue 33
Paint your future 35
Articles by the author 58
Go For It!

Acknowledgements Preface

This short and simple book would not have come Life reveals itself progressively as we gradually
to print without the constant urging and expand our consciousness over the years. With each
encouragement of my friends and colleagues, in new learning and awareness, through reading or
particular, Shireen Naqvi and Sarmad Tariq; their observation, we are born again. We start seeing
lives, generosity of heart, and candor is a great more and we view things differently, every time we
source of inspiration for me. encounter what is new to us.

Three young people were instrumental in ensuring I remember sitting in my pajamas on my bedroom
that the manuscript transforms itself into the book floor one evening in London. I was 15 then. My dad
you are holding now. In this context, I am indebted entered the room, greeted me and asked, “What do
01 to Maryam Ahmad and Syed Nazim, who are you want to become in the future, son?” I 02
interning at Navitus, and to Emran Baluch, the remember telling him, “Something!” to which he
creative guru at Navitus, for taking up this said,
challenge at short notice.
“Beta (son)…'Something' means nothing…it's too
My thanks also go out to all my family, friends and vague. Be specific when setting your direction in
colleagues in SoL, Navitus & Stimulus, whose life. It may take you years, so don't worry. Aim to
continuing dedication is strengthening the learning have a clear vision for yourself. Only then will you
and development industry in Pakistan. live a life you truly want.” These thoughts have
stayed with me to this day.

You will not be amazed to find that everyone wants

to be successful. Yet, when you ask them what it
means to them, they put forward generalizations
like, “being famous”, “being rich”, “being
powerful”, “achieving goals” and so on. When you
pose the question 'why?' the fun starts, as you see
the look of mild shock in their faces.
Go For It! Preface

It should come to you as no surprise that most of Knowledge can be life changing, but only if it
us suffer from the sublime bliss of ignorance. We changes your view of the world. This could be for
know of things around us, but we are mostly better or for worse. Since arriving in Pakistan in
oblivious of what's there within us! June of 1991, I have felt as though I have entered
heaven on earth. This may seem strange to you, as
My life changed for the better when I started I was in London for the previous twenty years of
believing in things uncommon. For example, here is my life.
a fictional dialogue I have had with people over the
years which sums up several interactions: I had a good life in London with all the worldly
comforts you can imagine, a stable job; a cool
Q: What is your permanent address? salary with perks; and with growth prospects in my
banking career. My two kids were going to some of
A: Excuse me! Permanent? Nothing is, at least on the best private schools. I was part of a joint family,
this planet! I suppose it would have to be heaven. living in the heart of London, right next door to the
As for my current address, it is… Royal Albert Hall.

03 Q: Where do you live? There was always a lot to do with my parents, 04

siblings and friends, in my free time. At the time, I
A: Where I am!! Where else could I possibly live? was working as a branch manager in the west end
of London in an international bank which had
Q: Who do you work for? offices in 72 countries. The bank had fourteen
thousand employees, made up of 98 different
A: Myself! I work for my goals at XXXX nationalities. It was the 7th largest private bank in
the world and one of the fastest growing. I was on
Q: Who is the most important person in your life? the fast track and could look ahead to an attractive
career in international banking. As a manager in
A: The person or people I am with at any given such an amazing organization with combined
time! How else could I be sincere to my assets of over $50 billion (1988/89), I felt tall,
relationships? Right now, I am totally with you, knowing that I had access to all the key decision-
body, mind and soul – 100%! Its only when I am all makers in banks' global operations.
by myself, that I think of those close to me, like my
wife, my children, my parents, my siblings and my Now, back in Pakistan, having resigned from the
friends and colleagues. bank a year earlier, I had nothing to my name other
Go For It! Preface

than my knowledge, skills, attitude and of course

my dreams…but very abstract at the time.
I discovered that I was pretty egalitarian in my
views and enjoyed the simple things in life.
Q: When everything was so
I was pained by the disparity in incomes and
perfect in London, why did you
opportunities for people in this part of the world. I
come back to Pakistan?
just could not stand the idea of elitism and the
class-divide. Somehow, I was drawn to Pakistan as Ans: I was in the UK for all practical and material
I was born here. There was much to be done. I considerations, but all this while my heart
started feeling that I could be useful and finally remained here. Maybe this was because I started my
live on my purpose which became clearer in the life here. This is where I belong and perhaps that's
ensuing months. why my soul yearned for my return. I love to travel
and have already lived in Switzerland, UK and
Everyone can make a contribution in a myriad Canada. But nothing compares to being back to
ways. Some become doctors, others engineers, my place of origin on earth.
05 accountants, lawyers or politicians. Some choose 06
to tackle poverty, while others attend to other
sectors in development or emergency relief. I
chose to become a trainer and teacher to impart
whatever I had learned from life till then. What I
knew had worked for me and for many others
who had achieved the kind of life they were
looking for.

It is not for me to say what people should aspire

to, that's solely their preserve. My only interest is
to bring greater awareness to people of their
infinite potential and that they could get what
they wanted out of life, if only they knew how!
Go For It! Introduction

Introduction This is a simple book about life and how you can
make it better for yourself and your loved ones –
Whether you are young or old; male or female; those with whom you enjoy trusting relationships.
student or a teacher; married or single; a They may include members of your family
professional or an entrepreneur; a social worker or (immediate and extended), your colleagues, your
an artist; a civil servant or a soldier; an athlete or a friends, your neighbors and all others who matter
musician; a scientist or a philosopher; a politician in your life.
or a civil society activist; a
theologian or an inventor; You can achieve nothing alone. You need strong
regardless of your and healthy relationships to make things happen
economic, social or in your personal and professional life. Quality of
cultural circumstance; your relationships determines the level of
regardless of your satisfaction and fulfillment you achieve each day.
vocation; if you can read
this book; this book is for
you. You are alive!
07 08
This book is about making a difference, and you
can make a big one. However, this fact will remain
a cliché, unless you take practical steps to make
the small changes you need to make in the way
you think and see things, starting now!

No matter how well you are

doing in your life at present,
there is always room for
improvement. Everyone needs
to improve daily by making
his/her every 'today' better
than his/her 'yesterday'. If this
is not the case with you, check
your pulse, you may be dead.
Go For It! Life

Chapter 1 The interesting fact is that unless you experience

the 'downs', you will not be able to appreciate the
LIFE value of the 'ups'. The highs and lows we go
through are part of the tapestry of our life.
The few concepts, ideas and principles I am
sharing here are my beliefs and convictions based
on what I have observed and experienced. I have
learned from a variety of sources. These include
my personal reflections on events in my life, real
life stories of people who have succeeded and
1
failed, inspiring works of fiction and non-fiction by
authors from the east and west, thousands of
Without doubt, life is a big and complex subject.
group and one-on-one interactions with people,
To understand life is to understand the universe
young and old, from a variety of social, economic
and all that it contains. I cannot even begin to talk
and cultural backgrounds.
about the immensity of life. However, what I am
09 10
aiming to share about life are the basic paradigm-
Life is what you make it. People are essentially the
shifting essentials.
same deep down, regardless of their culture and
background. At one point or another, everyone
Consider this: Behind all the apparently simple
feels happy or sad, angry or calm, confused or
everyday things we enjoy daily, like the smart
clear. However, the difference between us comes
phones, iPads, air travel, automobiles, electricity,
from how we respond to different stimuli, for
waste management, healthcare, and so much else,
example, what will make you laugh, may cause
there is a whole load of research and science
another to cry; what excites you, may depress
working behind them. Yet the complexity behind
another, and so on. Being more aware of yourself
all things apparently simple, user-friendly and
and others therefore becomes crucial in managing
beautiful doesn't stop us from benefiting from
your relationship with yourself and others.
them. Similarly, you can benefit from life without
Relationships are the main cause of our joys or
even having detailed knowledge of how your body
sorrows, health or illness, respect or disgrace. All
and mind work, let alone how your spirit or soul
of us have experienced this at one time or
work through you!
another. While we seek joy, health and regard in
our lives, nature has its way of introducing to us
moments of grief, sickness and embarrassment.
1
Success and failure are subjective terms. Different people define these in their own
terms. In this book I will be sharing my perspectives.
Go For It!

Chapter 2

Q: So what will you be talking TAO

about, regarding life?

Ans: Life is a huge subject and volumes could be The simple approach I have taken in this book is
written on it. My aim in this book, is simply to called: 'TAO' (Thoughts, Actions and Outcomes).
ignite the journey of self-discovery in my readers TAO is a conceptual tool that will help you look at
and focus their attention on the importance of your life differently. By so doing, you will be able
taking responsibility for improving themselves and to confidently chart your journey into the future –
helping those they care for, along the way. a future that you desire and feel excited about.
This modest publication is just a start. I plan on
writing more books that build on the concepts Ask yourself, are you really living the life of your
presented here and also explore new ground, dreams? Or do you find yourself constrained by
in the coming years. family and societal pressures? Are you doing
things just to manage your day-to-day
11 commitments to yourself and to your family? Are 12
you ignoring your inner voice
which wants you to pursue an
entirely different path that
will give you peace of mind
and contentment? If your
answer is yes, to all or some of
these questions, then I am
happy you have taken this
book in your hand. What you
will find in the chapters that follow, may not give
you all the answers you seek, but will certainly
confuse you, and this is a good place to start,
particularly when it comes to learning and
growing. From confusion comes clarity, just like
light comes from darkness.

The good news is that it is never too late! Whether

Go For It! TAO

you are in your 70s or have just turned Other than your physical appearance, what
eighteen…you can be the person you have always differentiates you from another? Not much.
dreamed of becoming. However, it is thoughts which set people apart.

Our thoughts lead to actions we take. What we If you stand still and express nothing, how could
do, and how we perform an act, in turn anyone make out who you are and what you stand
determines the outcomes we get in our lives. To for? How could you survive without relating to
start with, this is the simple logic that we will others? You need to communicate verbally and
explore. non-verbally in order to engage with yourself, with
others and with your world. It is your relationships
Your thoughts make you who you are. They are in all these dimensions that determine the quality
invisible and intangible. Yet, it is our thinking that of your life. What is of essence, however, is your
provides tangible and visible results, desired or relationship with yourself!
unexpected, that we get in our life e.g., a raise in
pay; a good deal in a house purchase; lousy grades Your physical self has limits, for example, you
in college exams; a troubled marriage; a gold won't grow any taller than x feet; your waistline
13 medal in the Olympics; promotion to the next may expand or contract through your efforts, but 14
level; a life of your choice and so on. Therefore, by how much? You may be able to lift a 25kgs
consider changing your suitcase with some difficulty, but try lifting a
thoughts to enjoy a better carton weighing 200kgs! This is not the case with
life or to recover from a your mind. Your intellectual self is boundless. Your
setback. You need to look only limit is what you can imagine. What can't you
no further. You can do this imagine? Go wild. Imagine
by communicating with whatever you will. Your
yourself and also by having future is a blank canvas,
meaningful conversations draw on it whatever you like.
with others, particularly I can see you wandering off
with those, whom you regard highly - preferably in all sorts of directions in
people who have views on life that are different your mind…At this very
from yours. In doing so, you will broaden your moment, you might be imagining driving your car,
vision and understanding by seeing the world say a Corolla, to work. You suddenly decide to take
from a variety of perspectives. off and head straight for the moon; or better still,
you see yourself as having eliminated poverty,
What is a person without his thoughts? Nothing! improved world literacy rate to 100% and having
Go For It!

found a cure to all the diseases that plague Chapter 3

humanity, including AIDS! Idealistic? But that's ok!
You have just enjoyed your capacity to fantasize.
Think Your Own Thoughts
On a more serious note, sincerely imagine a future
you deeply care for and passionately desire; take Own what you say. Albert Einstein is known to
personal responsibility for making it happen; put a have said that imagination is more powerful than
timeline to it; announce your vision to the world; knowledge. What do you think? I believe he is
and be willing to be held accountable for the right, and I have my own
outcomes you produce. This is the beginning of reasons for holding this
your journey to making your life better. view. You must develop
and have your own beliefs
To imagine your future state with sincerity, with on this and any other ideas
responsibility and by allowing sufficient time for you come across. It makes
the desired results to manifest in your life, takes a huge difference when you
confidence. You can expand your thoughts by first own what you say, rather
15 developing your confidence. This comes when you than merely sharing 16
start believing in yourself and in your infinite impressive quotes and
potential. verses from well known
figures.
You can make a big difference, but this fact will
remain a cliché, unless you take practical steps to When we speak of thoughts, we are talking about
make the small changes in your thinking, starting our values, beliefs, knowledge (formal and
now! informal), paradigms, perceptions, intent and so
much else. It's easy to get bogged down in so
much detail. Please don't, at least not yet.

Change your beliefs. Here is a saying that will help

you see and feel what I mean, “To discover new
oceans, you must first lose sight of the shores.”
There was a time, about five hundred or so years
ago, when it was believed that the world is flat.
For sailors of that era, this meant that they would
Go For It!

keep the shore in view as they sailed the oceans. Chapter 4

They believed that if they went too far out and
lost sight of the shore, they might drift into the “You Are the Problem!”
unknown and maybe fall over the edge of their
flat earth! This strongly held notion (belief, Beliefs are very powerful. So be careful about
paradigm or perception) sounds ridiculous today, what you believe in and why. Your beliefs are
but it took Christopher Columbus over seven years formed based on your experiences. If something
to convince only a few people that our world was didn't work in the past, you are more likely not to
actually round. Message: Change your beliefs, to try that same thing again, because of your past
change your life! You see your world, not as it is, experience. For instance, you visit a convenience
but as you are. This is the key. store near your home at 7am in the morning and
find it closed. You do this a couple of times and
find the same result. You give up trying. Instead,
you choose to go through the trouble of traveling
to a store thirty minutes away! Here is a live
example, I met an entrepreneur once and during
17 my conversation, asked him, “Do you have a 18
dream for how your business will be in a decade or
so from now?” He replied with a smile, “Of course
I have!” I followed up instantly, “How many
people are with you in this dream?” He said,
“Hmmm…no one, and this happens to be the
problem. Thanks for helping me realize this.” I was
puzzled, pointed to the people working in his
business, “Are you saying that these people are
not part of what you are creating?!” “Sadly, no;
they are not.” “Why is this so?” I queried. He
thought for a moment and explained, “I don't
trust any of them…You see, whenever I have
relied on people, and have opened myself up to
them, sooner or later, they have let me down. My
goodwill has been abused far too many times. As a
result, I don't see any value of trusting people
anymore.” Imagine the stress this young
Go For It! “You Are the Problem!”

entrepreneur was under. He out with her friends. She gives no time to her
wanted me to help him identify studies or to her responsibilities at home. Kids are
the problem and suggest a impossible these days. These mobile phones and
solution. My answer was social networking sites are a
simple, “You are the problem! curse. My children just refuse
You don't have to look any to listen to me anymore. I
further.” have tried telling them how
to be responsible so many
When you experience setbacks times, but they just don't pay
a few times, the phrase, 'once bitten, twice shy,' heed. What do I do?!” What
comes into play. To do the same old thing, over do you make of such problems? Do you think that
and over again, and expect different results, is you too may be stuck in such a self-created mess?
sheer madness. For instance, if your car gets stuck When you don't get what you want, it is futile to
in mud by the roadside, you will at first use force, look elsewhere for solutions. It is not others, but
by putting your car in first gear and stepping on you who needs to change. And what you need to
the accelerator. You may succeed in the first alter is simply your own concepts and perceptions.
19 attempt or make the situation worse. Should 20
latter be the case, and you persist in revving the
engine and get all worked up, things will only get
worse for you. Instead, it would be wiser for you
to stop whatever you are doing; scratch your
head; and think of alternatives; and sure enough,
ideas will come to your mind and one of them will
work! Thankfully, most people get wise when it
comes to getting their car out of a quagmire.
Sadly this is not often the case when it comes to
relationships, whether at work or at home.

Here is what I have heard expressed by managers

very frequently, “I have told my shift engineer
thousands of times, not to do this. Yet he persists!
What's wrong with him!?” Can you see the signs of
madness here? Or consider what some parents say
about their children, “My daughter loves being
Go For It! The Essence

Chapter 5 umpiring? You may have thought of other

instances to counter my assertion that there is no
The Essence bad news.

You can change your concepts and perceptions Are you open to changing your concepts and
through having meaningful conversations with perceptions in order to gain from this phrase
people, and re-interpreting your observations and 'There is no bad news?' Please continue reading,
experiences in ways that serve your interest. But but with the intent of understanding what I am
before you do that, there is something that you saying. Resist the temptation to judge. You are not
need to realize. And that is, prepare yourself: obliged to agree with my point of view on
anything.
1. YOU have the power to interpret any
reality to your advantage, and Let me share some thoughts that most of you can
2. YOU have the power to express what you relate to. Our future is uncertain. The world is
want others to see changing so fast technologically, that it is
becoming harder to predict what
21 The two significant points I have shared above are will happen in the next few 22
not to be taken lightly. In them you will find months, let alone the next five
potent ways with which to years or beyond. This is true. But
transform your life. instead of getting stressed out
on account of the tentative
Let's look at the first one, nature of our future, why not focus on the one
'You have the power to thing that is certain, and yet we ignore at our own
interpret any reality to your peril? DEATH. It is certain that death will come to
advantage'. You must be asking how? Install this us. However, when will death come to us? Your
belief: 'There is no bad news'. I can hear you say, guess is as good as mine. Death is both certain and
'But hold on a minute. This is not a feasible idea. uncertain.
There are plenty of examples of bad news
everywhere. What about the victims of the 2005 Talking about death may seem morbid to you. But
earthquake? What about the young couple who hold on. Your conscious awareness of this
died in a road accident, through no fault of their certainty and uncertainty, will teach you how to
own? What about the billions who live below the live a fulfilled life of no regrets. Have you heard
poverty line and suffer each day? What about this phrase, 'Live each day as though it were your
2
Pakistan losing a crucial ODI due to unfair last'? This idea comes from understanding that we
2
One Day International cricket
Go For It! The Essence

are mortal beings, but with the capacity to be context, it helps to know that you have the power
immortal. For instance, through your deeds today, to express what you want others to see. Just
you can leave an enduring impact on this planet meaning well for others is not enough. You need
that resonates through time. to effectively communicate how you feel in a way
that others can see what you mean. And this
Look at all the conveniences we enjoy that were power to engage others is what we all have. It just
non-existent a few decades and centuries ago, needs to be discovered, developed and utilized
namely, electricity, air-conditioning, transportation intelligently and with wisdom.
and communications and advances in the field of
health, education, good governance and so much
else. We owe our thanks to the thousands of
explorers, inventors and thinkers amongst our
ancestors who have made it possible for us to
enjoy the life as we do today. Their legacy lives
through time. Ours will do likewise, if we do today,
what we must. Not to heed this fact, would be bad
23 news of our own creation. 24

Therefore, when you interpret things to your

advantage, even death becomes a teacher and a
guide for life. It helps you to focus on your
immediate priorities and encourages you to act in
a responsible way, every hour, every day.

Now let's turn to the second fact, which is “You

have the power to express what you want others
to see”. Building strong and trusting relationships
is at the heart of enduring success, which I define
as enjoying health, respect and happiness in life.
This is only possible when in all your dealings with
people, whether in family, at work, or in your
community, your intent is to be fair to them and
that you also care for their betterment. In this
Go For It! Small Steps

track the improvements you make

Chapter 6
in each of these abilities. They can
be measured. Barack Obama got
Small Steps to where he is today using these
same capacities that you also have
The way to check your current beliefs for their and use every day. Become more
validity is to keep an open mind, conscious of your behavior and its
and not discount possibilities impact on others. What is the difference between
hastily, as they may exist and you his achievements and yours? Huge! However, the
miss them. Blind adherence to a idea is not to suggest that the scale of your
belief is dogma. Dogma is a sign achievement matters, it is its significance.
of a shut mind that limits your
courses of actions that could Greatness is your destiny. To me, greatness is
lead you to a desired outcome. doing what you want to do, knowing that you
How can you strengthen and expand your could have done anything else that you had put
thoughts to achieve greater ends in life? By your mind to.
25 continuously improving in the following six small 26
things you can do every day! Let's examine one of these skills briefly:

1. Reading (input) Reading

2. Writing (output)
3. Listening (input)
You become the company you keep! Therefore, to
4. Speaking (output)
bring a significant change in your life, you will
5. Observing (input)
need to change some of your relationships that
6. Behaving (output)
surround you. The kind of
company you are enjoying
Your inputs and outputs are processed by your
these days indicates the kind
mind. The more deliberately you act on each of
of person you are. Therefore,
these six keys for self-improvement, the more
you will need to step out of
efficient and effective you will become in
your comfort zone and
everything you do.
choose the company of people whom you admire
for their achievements and vision. Other than
There is no limit to how much you can improve in
meeting people in social gatherings, and
each of these elements on a daily basis. You can
networking in conferences and seminars, reading
Go For It! Small Steps

books is your opportunity to relate to great my first reading of a paragraph I select in it

people – dead or alive! Their thoughts and beliefs randomly!” This unusual approach worked for him
are captured in print for posterity. You can enrich and you may wish to give it a try. Challenge your
your thinking by choosing to read biographies of mind.
people; their essays; and their perspectives. You
will gain far more from books, than by just A family friend invited me to meet their 17 year old
meeting people who are alive today. Libraries and son who was not making any progress
bookshops are packed with knowledge and academically. They were worried for him. His
wisdom of the ages. For example, what is history, parents were concerned with his lack of self-
if not a chronicle of lives of larger than life expression and low self-esteem. He tended to
personalities; the mistakes they made, and the keep his feelings to himself. My dialogue with him
difference they made to the world in which we live one evening at his house will give you an idea of
today? You can enrich yourself from history by the challenge they and later, I faced:
learning what other people did, and the outcomes
they achieved through their actions. Learn from Me: How are you today beta (son)?
other people's mistakes, while also taking lessons Teenager: Fine.
27 from the mistakes you make! Me: What are you planning to do this weekend? 28
Teenager: Not sure.
The habit of reading will give you access to great Me: What do you enjoy doing?
thinkers and philosophers of their time. Make it a Teenager: Nothing really.
habit to contrast your thinking with theirs and
evolve your own theory and a newer …and such short responses continued for a few
understanding of what it means to minutes. It was like trying to extract blood from
live an exemplary life. Also indulge stone. He wasn't opening up to me as I had hoped.
yourself in works of fiction. He was shy and painfully unresponsive. I changed
Authors express their imaginative my tack the next time I met him, a few weeks
capabilities when writing fiction later. This is what happened:
and share their unique perception
of reality. Me: Thanks for making time to see me again.
Teenager: You are welcome.
Feast your mind with good books. I once met a Me: Do you love your parents?
friend in a bookshop. I asked him about the kind of Teenager: Yes.
books he liked. What he said startled me. “I like to Me: Do you care for them?
buy a book which I find difficult to understand in Teenager: Of course!
Go For It! Small Steps

Me: If I requested you to do something that would particular day, I will be cross with you!
make them exceedingly happy, particularly if it is Teenager: [Smiled]
very simple for you, and something which you Me: Do we have a deal?!
could do easily for only 30 mins each day, would Teenager: Sure! I'll start this evening!
you do it? Me: By the way, would you like to discuss with me
Teenager: Hmmm…Yes…but what do you have in the bits you have read on a regular basis – say
mind? once a fortnight?
Me: A book by Leo Tolstoy, titled War & Peace. Teenager: Ok!
Here it is. I want you to spend only 30 mins with it
each day – and you can choose the time of day This young lad made a start. At first, he could
when it suits you. barely manage a paragraph in the thirty minutes
Teenager: What?? Read this fat book??!! I don't like he had. A month later, he was going through a
reading! couple of pages. Each time I met him, he looked
Me: I fully understand and respect how you feel. I more animated and confident and would not stop
also found such a task daunting when I was your talking about some of the passages he had
age. But what I am suggesting is not how it enjoyed. Now, almost two years later, he is
29 appears. You don't have to finish reading all the reading books as a habit and spends at least an 30
800 pages! hour every day. His verbal and written expression
Teenager: Really? What do you mean? and poise have improved considerably. It's a joy to
Me: All I want you to do is spend 30 mins with this see him engaged with life! Small things do make a
book each day, and read as much as you can in this big difference! Just the other day, I learned that
time, even if it is only one line. Just make sure you India beat Pakistan by three wickets in the Asia
fully understand and feel the words and sentences Cup being played in Srilanka. It was a closely
you read, starting from the very beginning. It will contested match. India had two balls remaining
help you to keep a dictionary by your side. Look up and needed to score four runs. Their batsmen hit a
the words you don't understand and on occasions, six in the second last ball of the final over…voila!
even try to see the words you think you know. If
for any reason, you are unable to understand any As you would have gathered by
sentence or a paragraph, as you make steady now, just by developing a reading
progress, just ask your dad, or call me. habit, you will furnish your mind
Teenager: This sounds too easy. Are you sure with ideas. Through the confidence
there isn't a catch to it? you gain, the ideas will compel you
Me: Well yes, there is. If I hear that you have spent to act in ways you would have
more than 30 mins with this book on any thought impossible before. Its only
Go For It! Small Steps

when you try doing different things that you will

increase the probability of achieving the outcomes
you desire. Your writing will improve; you will listen
to people more intently; you will begin to express
your point of view with greater clarity and Q: Are the other 5 steps equally
enthusiasm; your ability to observe will heighten; important to or substitutable
you will start learning from everything you for reading?
encounter; your body language will communicate
poise and you will be on your way to a fulfilling and Ans: Each of the six keys to self-improvement
rewarding life. All this will start happening when are equally important, and can be developed
you make reading a habit – an hour a day, every day through practice. However, developing your
is the minimum I recommend. Make sure that you reading habit is the first and most important step.
select books to read that are different from the Through regular reading, people expand their
vocation you are pursuing. vision by engaging with great minds. It also
enriches their vocabulary, which leads to better
Learning is fun. Make it a habit. It helps you to grow self-expression. Reading stimulates the mind
31 in capability and prosper over time. It improves the and ideas for self-improvement follow 32
way you behave and come across to people. You naturally.
are able to create opportunities out of simple
moments of life that you might have ignored
previously, and it is those small opportunities found
in the simple moments of life that will
lead you to make a big difference.

Go For It!
Go For It!
Epilogue

Do you have more questions now than answers? If

yes; brilliant! Questions are the answer!

Ponder on the ideas I have left you with. It is your

thoughts and intent that will shape your actions;
your actions will most likely lead you to the
outcomes you want. " The most basic and powerful
Be prepared for setbacks along the way and
way to connect to another
remain focused on your goals. You can do this by
not falling victim to either fear or apathy.
person is to listen. Just listen.
Perhaps the most important
As long as you are true to yourself; as long as you
value your relationships; and as long as you take thing we ever give each other
responsibility for your actions, you will increase
33
the probability of achieving results in life that will is our attention…. A loving 34
fulfill you, while inspiring others. By blaming
others and yourself, you become your own
silence often has far
greatest enemy. Adopt a 'zero blame' philosophy.
The power to overcome obstacles lies within you.
more power to heal and to
Believe in your power to be creative and live up to connect than the most
commitments made to yourself and others.
well-intentioned words .”
Learning is a cradle to grave activity. If you are not
making mistakes, you are not learning and Rachel Naomi Remen
growing.

Discover and re-discover your attributes, your

aptitude, and your attitude. Assess them
periodically. Leverage them to live a life of your
dreams.

Go For It!
Go For It! Paint your future

“Your intellectual self is

boundless. Your only limit is
35
what you can imagine. What 36
can't you imagine? Go wild.
Imagine whatever you will.
Your future is a blank canvas...”

The following pages will listen to you...

Go For It! Paint your future

37 38
Go For It! Paint your future

39 40
Go For It! Paint your future

41 42
Go For It! Paint your future

43 44
Go For It! Paint your future

45 46
Go For It! Paint your future

47 48
Go For It! Paint your future

49 50
Go For It! Paint your future

51 52
Go For It! Paint your future

53 54
Go For It! Paint your future

55 56
Go For It! Articles by the author

Having and Using Influence

Influencing is the ability to change the minds and
decisions of others without necessarily having
formal authority to do so. And this capacity lies at
the heart of leadership. The art of influencing and
leading can be learned, much like swimming, but
not everyone can win the gold in the Olympics! The
same applies to leadership and influence.

There are many influential figures in history and in

our present times from whom we can gain useful
insights. Take Oprah Winfrey as a prominent
example. She rose from poverty and a troubled
youth to become one of the most powerful and
influential woman in America. She came to
57 prominence on television and, according to Forbes 58
Magazine, she is the world's most highly paid media
personality. She does what we also do. She reads
and writes; listens and speaks; observes and
behaves, as we also do. So what’s the difference?!
On a qualitative basis there is a lot that can be said,
but in tangible terms the variation is an outstanding
US$ 500 million per annum! And how did she
manage to achieve such a feat? In one word:
EMPATHY. She is world-class when it comes to
using the gift of empathy – an ability we all have,
but most of us rarely use.

Oprah made her mark because she was unafraid to

bare her soul and her own past ...

To read more of this article please visit www.navitus.biz

 Articles by the author Articles by the author

How to Find a Job Building Self

Now the question is, which organization should you Whose responsibility is it to develop the self? Who is
join? Who will hire you? Should your focus be on the going to make the difference? Who will confront
social sector or the private sector? These might be the tough realities of life? Who will rise to better his
the questions you are asking at the moment! To economic and social condition? Who will choose to
start with, I would urge you to find a job on merit be happy and others happy? Who will dream and
alone. I know 'sifarish' is the routine way people dare to make the dreams come true? who will
find jobs in Pakistan. But please do not fall into this cooperate with others in worthwhile endeavors?
trap. Your degree and contacts may get you into a Who will pray? Who will forgive? Who will apologize
job, but it is your attitude and competence that will and mend fences? Who will listen? Who will lend a
keep you there! I would pose the job search helping hand? It is the “I”, the “self” that has to
questions another way. Who should I work for? And perform. The “I” came to this world; the “I” will die
why? to this life; and the “I” will do whatever it takes, in
the interval between birth and death – no matter
To answer these questions, you need to prepare how long this time happens to be! There is no
59 yourself, by getting to know yourself better. Who escaping the “self” 60
are you? What makes you unique? Why should a
company select you, from a choice of 50 others? The realization that it is you, and no one else, that
What are your key strengths? What are your must initiate all thoughts and actions, is what calls
weaknesses? What are your goals for personal for the “building self”. What does it take? Where do
development? Why do you live? What is your you begin? How about starting with “self”
mission in life? Do you have a personal vision for awareness!
your life and set goals for the next five years? What
motivates you? What has been your personal best To understand the self is to understand the
leadership experience in school, college and career universe. It is a very tall order. Whenever I ask
so far? Can you work well with people? Are you a participants in workshops: “do you know yourself?”
team player? What proof, in the form of concrete the typical reply is a spontaneous “yes!” if you think
examples, can you offer from your past in the same way about yourself – beware, your
experiences, that support your credentials as a mind is shut. Know, that you don’t know yourself to
manager and... the extent you...

To read more of this article please visit www.navitus.biz To read more of this article please visit www.navitus.biz
 Articles by the author Articles by the author

Committing to Success Up or Out

With the passage of time we become so familiar Our world is rapidly getting very competitive where
with ourselves and our surroundings that nothing only the ‘fit’ will survive. This oft repeated notion is
amazes us any more. Yet, if we pause to observe life driving many managers and CEOs to high levels of
carefully, we will discover miracles in everything we stress caused by fear. There is increasing
see and experience. uncertainty in the corporate world. A common
consequence of heightened insecurity is mindless
On re-visiting an earlier article, I came to the frenzy. This entails economic and social costs. Bad
realization that we need to press the ‘refresh' decisions, strategic or tactical, made in haste, are a
button frequently to stay alive to the opportunities case in point.
and threats around us.
A quick review of history may help us gain valuable
It is encouraging to see that the corporate world in insights. From the beginnings of creation to the
Pakistan has changed for the better during the past present day, we see stories replete with examples
decade. Appreciation and practice of of survival of the fittest. The word ‘fit’ is deceptively
61 professionalism and teamwork is on the rise. Many simple, yet has pervasive significance for us all. The 62
companies now have vision and values. Mission is random House College Dictionary describes ‘fit’ as:
on the corporate agenda. Learning and growing is proper or becoming; adapted or suited; qualified or
slowly, but surely, becoming a norm. This is competent; worthy or deserving; prepared or
evidenced by the growing number of seminars, ready; in good physical condition or health; of the
workshops and conferences being held in hotels right size or shape – all keys to survival and possibly
throughout the country. Local companies have endurance.
joined the multinationals in big numbers in hosting
learning events and also in sponsoring creative Why then, the hostility in some quarters, to the ‘up
educational initiatives. However, this is only the or out’ management philosophy? particularly in the
beginning and much has yet to be done. underdeveloped and developing economies? This
philosophy holds that the fit stay while the unfit, try
Some day people will be queuing up bookstores, to improve, or go. One factor that explains
libraries and surfing the net in large numbers for antagonism to such a thought is the lack of social
knowledge, to furnish their minds and broaden safety nets in our society for those who are
their vision. I look forward to the day... rendered jobless as a consequence of...

To read more of this article please visit www.navitus.biz To read more of this article please visit www.navitus.biz
 Articles by the author

Kamran Rizvi is a regular contributor to

Blue Chip Magazine. Below is a list of a
few of his published articles:

Leveraging creative talent

Making aggression your ally
Old world, new eyes
Thriving in change
Hard talking
Hard listening
Living with integrity
Developing future leaders
63 Executing change
Attracting desired talent
Cool heads wanted
Good is great
The comfort trap
Call for innovation
Stem the hemorrhage
The critical success factor
The hidden advantage
Strolling up Everest
Upside-down works!
Talk your walk
The vision thing
Distribution of power
Ultimate virtual reality

You can read these and others at www.bluechipmag.com

Transform your life
It's now or never. You have what it takes. Realize this and your success is
now! In this book, you will gain insights on how to take charge of your life
because it is your business. You will get some hints on how to get what you
want without breaking the hearts of those you love.
Gain confidence and poise in your personal, social and professional
interactions
Take the small steps to become what you have always dreamed of
Start leading a fulfilling life
Remain calm and mindful in stressful situations
Bring hope, peace and joy for those you care for

Your journey of a thousand miles will start with the first step you take.

About the Author

Kamran Rizvi has made a unique place for himself in the history of a young nation
straddled with a burgeoning population of over 170 million people, by pioneering
the self-improvement and organizational development movement in 1991.
Through his writings, workshops, seminars and inspiring speaking engagements in
conferences and other fora, in the last two decades, he has, directly and indirectly,
positively transformed the lives of millions in Pakistan. A flourishing learning and
development industry has taken root making education and success an
unstoppable agenda for change.

For more details on the author and his team, visit www.kzr.ca. Here you will find
information on KZR and the organizations it has spawned since 1991.

kamran.rizvi@navitus.biz

kzr.ca 9 780751 312782