Forge ahead, regardless

Most of us in this country, and in the east generally, are inclined to take things easy.  Foreigners often remark on this eastern trait in human nature. During the Second World War, the following  story was very popular.

A group of Americans and Indians, in the Air Force, arranged a contest to decide who could assemble an airplane in the quickest time. Eight hours after the contest had started, an Indian went across and asked the Americans how they were getting on.

“Pretty well,” answered the leader of the American group. “Six more bolts to be fitted and our airplane will be ready.” Then he asked out of curiosity more than out of courtesy: “How is your group progressing?”

“Not too bad,” replied the Indian, “six more chits to be signed and we’ll be ready to start on our airplane!”

I’m sure you are laughing. But if you love your motherland as much as you should, you would also decide to do something for her. In your life, at least, decide to cut out procrastination, complacency and red-tape. And go for action.

Read the biographies of the good and the great and discover the secret of their success. Just three major steps: planning, decision and then action.

When enrolling for a course on leadership, most students raise doubts. They do not realise that confidence must be based on knowledge and proper preparation and planning.

If a boxer enters a contest backed up by boldness, he has little chance of getting an award. He is more likely to get into a ward in the local hospital. All great men and world leaders tell us that they owe their success mainly to reading books that are informative, inspiring or instructive.

Jamshedji Tata won fame and fortune by just three qualities: Planning, pluck and perseverance. His early marriage forced him to give up college and enter into business with his father. 

He made up for this stoppage of his education by reading books and magazines and making notes from them, all his life. Edison did the same. Great people never stop learning. They believe that people who are too old to learn are too old to live.

Pioneers are different from leaders. They must have high degree of confidence in themselves. J.N.Tata was a patriot and an industrial pioneer.

Here is an amusing story about him. When he started the Empress Mills at Nagpur, he had used equipment of inferior quality to save costs. When the yarn manufactured in the mill was of a poor quality, the shares fell to half the market value. For the only time in his life, Jamshedji sat back and waited for his luck to change.

He, who always depended on pluck, now hoped that Fortune would pass by his way and smile on him. But, annoyed with his lack of pluck, Dame Fortune stayed back and sent another in her place. 

She sent her step-daughter, Misfortune, who burnt down the loom shed instead.Jamshedji was forced to act. This time he bought the best equipment and made failure a stepping stone to success.