My father is and will always be my greatest influence. It was right from my very early days that he influenced me with values and principles that have shaped my life to this moment. I grew interested in philosophy and psychology. In spirituality and science. In leadership and fellowship, in philosophy and theology. He would talk and discuss a variety of topics. I would sit and listen to him with great admiration. I soaked up his words and ideas of great wisdom. His influence in my life is and will ever be the most foundational and profound. I have learnt a lot from him. It’s very difficult to pen them all down here nevertheless here are some general an relevant to all people message that I am sharing.
Lesson 1. Be a leader: Develop the leader in you. It’s easy to be a follower. A leader sets the path for others to follow. It’s the hard path and few will want to be in your position. At the top there’s no competition. Inspire others while you perspire. Be a candle, a light for others to see the truth. Be a motivator and teacher. Whatever you learn is not only for you but you have a great responsibility to pass it to others. As you better your life ensure that you also better the life of others.
Set vision and goals not only for yourself but it should also include the good for others. Thinking only for your self and you own benefit is the the perfect recipe to living an unfulfilled life.
Lesson 2. Be an entrepreneur not an employee. Be your own boss. An employee works for himself and his family. An entrepreneur works for the community. He not only feeds his family but also the whole community. He provides employment, creates opportunities so that others can fulfill their dreams. An entrepreneur has a huge responsibility towards the wellbeing of society.
Lesson 3. Live a life with a solid foundation of principles. Walk the path of principles not popularity. Walk the narrow path. The path of principles will always guide and never mislead you. It may seem difficult but it will bring you peace. Your conscience will be clear and you can look in the eye when you speak. You will feel good about yourself.
Lesson 4. Shortcuts and gimmicks never serve you well. It may seem that people who cheat, play tricks, manipulate others are successful but that’s just an illusion. That path is short and the end is disastrous.
Lesson 5. Be a giver. Always give. Giving is living. Those who cast the bread on the waters never go hungry. Contribute to society your talents, time, labour and money. All you give comes back to you many folds.
Lesson 6. Innovate. Be a thinker, you can always thinker on better ways to do things, more efficiently and with greater results. Time is changing everything around you. Pivot or perish. It’s imperative to adapt to the changes by always anticipating change and knowing that’s how life is. When you are ready for change it’s easy and exciting to keep changing without getting upset or complaining. The best way to adapt is to innovate.
Lesson 7. When in doubt pray. The power of prayer is the greatest strength that man has ever known. It’s your communication with your inner self, the God within each one of us. Prayer is not an outward process but an inward process. The deeper and silent you get the better you communicate with the god within you. Magical solutions and answers emerge in that prayer. Prayer has the power to clear the fog in our minds and bring clarity in our thoughts, words and actions. Prayer keeps you grounded. Prayer is not the mumbo jumbo babble of meaningless words that you say from rote. It’s a deep communication from the heart of man to the heart of god.
Lesson 8. Learning is a life long journey. Knowledge is ever expanding by the moment. The more you learn, the more aware you are. The more you know, the more you realise that there is much more to know. Learning creates humility. More you know the more humble you grow. The less you know the more proud you are. Man should learn till his last breath. Cause in the last breath is the ultimate learning.
Lesson 9. Master in your field. Focus on your core competencies. Don’t focus on knowing everything and becoming a jack of all trades but a master of none. Becoming a master in your field takes a lot of patience, dedication and effort. One has to pay the price of becoming a master in any field. Everything people do is honorable and field is superior than another field. Hence whatever is you do, Do it the best.
Lesson 10. Never compare your life with others. The greatest disservice anyone can do to themselves is to compare themselves to some one else. No man ever lives the same life of another. Each person has a different calling which is his and his alone. No one can ever fill his place in the divine plan of how things have to be. Each person has a distinct and special path to undertake to accomplish his calling. There is no way anyone can compare his life with anyone else. Comparison breathes disharmony and destroys peace. Stay away from this disease.
Good luck and god bless.
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Dr. Alfred D'Silva 
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