On Your Mark - Get Set Go

Good Evening Friends,

Does the subject line sound very familiar? Yes it should. For me, I remember my School days, where I was an Athlete with a reasonable accomplishment of winning few prizes and certificates. As a team captain, I have also won the championship leading my team.

In today's context, the above subject sounds different. It is for the school students who keep an eye on the Mark and they go to get that mark.

For me, it was a different experience to address the students at NIT, Trichy last Saturday on "Applications of Smart City and Opportunities" to meeting this students of 10th standard at a School in Coimbatore, this Saturday.

Right from the moment, I got the confirmation message for this address, I decided that I should give a new approach and theme to my speech which was a Cricket Approach.

The Theme I communicated to the students was fully loaded with Cricket and it was made very interesting for them to sit and listen to my close to 90 minute session.

I discussed about Ambition and Performance.

Ambition = Target and Required Run Rate

Performance = Current Run Rate

My simple equation of success to the students was Current Run Rate should cross required run rate or be above required run rate to be successful. Very simple, no cricket match can be won when the current run rate does not cross required run rate. You get the point.

This rule of Run Rate and Success can be applied not only by the students but it can be applied by everyone as a rule of life to be successful. Performance should overtake ambition to be successful. 

PERFORMANCE > AMBITION will lead to SUCCESS

This was the first time, I talked in these lines and the audience including the students, the school management and teachers were excited. Ever student at the end of my speech wanted to increase his/her run rate to achieve their success.

I was so happy for the three questions that came up from three levels of students which make me feel that the spark I gave has caught up as a fire.

1. Sir, I have only 24 days left for the exams and I have been very relaxed till this moment. Can I work hard over the next 24 days and the holidays between exams to pass my exams and score a decent mark. (A Below Average Student). My answer was YES. Go and List Down What you Know and What you do not know. From the Do not know list, pick the easy to learn and score. With this you can touch 70. Then it depends on your Current Run Rate.

2. A student whose aspiration was to do his diploma in a college ranked above 10 suddenly got inspired and asked me if he can aim for the No 1 college. My answer was, increase the Run Rate. ( An Above Average student)

3. A very interesting question from the topper in the School. Sir, All students are charged up today. I have always been first rank holder right through my school days. I have fear if someone will overtake me in the final exams. I have always had this fear, but today after your talk it has increased. (The Topper) My answer was, You Play your Best. India has lost to Kenya and Bangladesh on few days. It doesn't mean India is bad. And Primarily, Not getting First is not end of your life. Do your best.

Thanks to Almighty and the School who gave me opportunity to meet this budding young 150 students both boys and girls. They have loads of energy and we have a big responsibility to guide them to dissipate the energy in the right place.

BE THE REASON FOR CHANGE!!!

Regards,

A K Mohammed Azad

+91 99 44 9 333 05 / [email protected]