How to achieve SUCCESS from humble Roots? A People President / Teacher's Quotes

One of the greatest inspirations for billion plus people in India (and abroad), who graced the earth passed away this Monday (27-Jul), doing what he loved – speaking to students (at the Indian Institute of Management - Shillong), igniting the young minds about excellence, adding wings of fire. He lived a memorable life that will be etched in echelons of history. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, or People’s President or Missile Man or (multitude of brilliant sobriquets associated with him) is a simplification personified. A person who was so humble in spite of achievements that millions can only think or hear of. 

Starting from a humble family doing fishery, getting imbibed about aeronautics by a brilliant teacher he had when he was in fifth grade, his penchant for knowledge and drive to learn, work hard and deliver pinnacles of innovation to the world is just impeccable. 

He had a mission to inspire a million children to inspire them to become the next generation leaders. He was a genius in terms of defense research. He was an impeccable example of living simply in spite of great reach of his brilliance. He was deeply rooted in simplicity when he could reach the heights of sky and minutest of nuclear particle with his intelligence. His teachings and life stories are brilliant examples for management.

One of his experience goes like this – In 1979, SLV 3 launch was a failure post a work that went on for 10 years, for which APJ was the project director. The rocket dropped onto Bay of Bengal. Furious media was waiting for some answers. Prof. Satish Dhawan, Chairman of ISRO  (Indian Space Research Organization) that time, took the ownership of the failure and said he supported his staff, engineers and scientists and expressed confidence that they will succeed next year. In 1980, the team was successful. At the time of press conference, Prof. Satish Dhawan asked Dr. Kalam to run the Press Conference and get all the Glory. This great piece of Leadership on how to support your team when things go wrong and letting them have the glory when things go well. It is the Sunshine and Umbrella concept followed by these two great scientists. You give protection to your team by giving them an Umbrella when it’s a raining day or things not going well and Let them bask in bright light when it is sunshine and watch them enjoy from the shades of a tree.

This is quite evident in how he wanted to be known as or remembered for – a TEACHER. A Teacher always sees their ward learn, grow and reach great heights doing better things for the world.

I wanted to salute this great human being with some of his brilliant quotes!

You have to dream before your dreams can come true.

Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcended.

To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal.

Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success.

We should not give up and we should not allow the problem to defeat us.

Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident.
Life is a difficult game. You can win it only by retaining your birthright to be a person.

We will be remembered only if we give to our younger generation a prosperous and safe India, resulting out of economic prosperity coupled with civilizational heritage.

Those who cannot work with their hearts achieve but a hollow, half-hearted success that breeds bitterness all around.
Educationists should build the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial and moral leadership among students and become their role model.

Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work.

If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.

My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that they must work towards. This is my message to the young people.

His Legacy will go on forever - Like the brilliant lines from A L Tennyson's poem - "The Brook" 

And draw them all along, and flow
To join the brimming river
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on for ever.

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