An odd question deserved an honest answer....

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Someone "anonymous" asked me an odd question on Quora - "How can one learn Alok Kejriwal skills".

I found the question odd because I don't think I have accomplished so much to deserve a question like this and hence was sure that it was a 'bait' to bully me on social media :)

But I still gave the question my honest answer:

First of all, thank you for the compliment (assuming you are not another Alok Hater posing me a trick question!)

I don't think you should be inspired to be anyone else, other than yourself. Sure, you can learn things from other people.

This is what I have learnt:

- Meditate on WHY

By this, I mean finding meaning in anything and everything. If you order coffee from a Cafe Coffee day, observe how the menu is designed. Which food items are is laid out in the dispenser at eye level and ask yours WHY?

Why do all the Indigo air hostesses have the same hair style (they don't - they wear wigs!!)

Why do you spend more money on your mobile bills than on your mobile phone? WHY?

- Learn from everything

If you listen to ACDC or Pandit Jasraj, learn something from their music. It could be how to last out for 6 hours in a concert or how to become one with music. Then use that knowledge for your own work.

- Connect the unconnected

I studied the Safety Instructions Card in an Airplane recently for 30 minutes and then used the content to write an article for Economic Times on Manmohan Singh. I just connected the dots.

FLING your mind sideways. Jump into a swimming pool trying to understand is the floor painted blue or is it white and why? then connect the dots.

- Respect the lowest of the low.

Talk to a sweeper and find out how he downloads music on his phone. Why does he spend 4 months of his money on a phone? Learn from that humbling experience.

Talk to taxi drivers, servants, watchmen and ask them about their lives, their philosophies and motivations.

MAKE COMMON MEN your professors of life.

- Challenge GOD

There is no God greater than yourself. Start with that idea. Then, use that to challenge EVERYTHING that comes your way.

Why not call the chef in a 7 star restaurant and criticise his food? why not explain to him that green zucchini does not blend with white creamy penne because they are not 'compatible'. (I did that with the senior Italian Chef of The Oberoi Delhi & he couldn't thank me enough)

Once you can challenge anyone and everyone, you become fearless.

- Be Thankful

Keep thanking whoever you look up to for what you have - and dont complain for what you DONT have.

- Be OBSESSIVE

There is no 'weekend' for the 'paagal'. Go to any madhouse. They are ALWAYS MAD.

Be ALWAYS MAD - OBSESSED by what you LOVE to do. Then you will succeed. This means eat, sleep, drink, shit, fart, bathe and have sex with what drives you.

(read the story of Cellini)

- Meditate.

Meditate. It really helps. It works wonders if you want to create anything significant in life.

Check - The 10 reasons you should meditate if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur.

- SHARE - HELP- SHARE - HELP

The only way you will get the energy, stamina, motivation and strength to get better at your job and keep doing what you want and like is by drawing on the positive energy you receive when you help others.

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Try these ideas as starters!!

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Quora link - https://qr.ae/yzROo

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Alok Kejriwal is a digital entrepreneur, based in Mumbai. He currently runs Games2win as his fourth startup and is the founder of therodinhoods.com - India's only social network for entrepreneurs. Connect with Alok on Twitter @rodinhood , Facebook and add him to your circle on Google+

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