QUESTIONS RECEIVED IN July/August 2002

Q1 - This has reference to your article in Management Compass in which you have discussed your schedule of publishing the series according to the month. But I want to say that CAT 2002 is on 24 Nov. So can you kindly rearrange the schedule so that the aspirants can be benefited the most.

I m a student of career launcher. I am advised by the teachers to practice meditation 5 min before going off to sleep or after wake up. But as I do so, I feel sleepy. I have been asked to visualize a blue peacock, but after sometime not only that peacock disappears, I feel sleepy and lethargic. Is meditation all about concentrating on only one thing without paying any heed to whatever is going on in surroundings? Please clear my misconceptions – D. S.

PS: " Even a stopped clock is right twice a day."

ANS1 - The schedule of the articles has already been revised and you will know it in July issue. August issue brings you an article on meditation and visualization so wait until then and ask for clarifications if any. A passive meditation is what you need before you go to sleep, so continue with the peacock at that time but for the morning use active visualization. Convert the peacock into a rooster in the morning with an animated ‘doodle do’ and start visualizing that you have actually stood first in your exams and visualize other people praising you for your success and attributing your success to being focused on your goal. Visualize yourself being honored by your institute. After this active meditation shake yourself with a strong affirmation like "I shall actualize this dream by staying put to my efforts".

In order to control your sleep avoid non-vegetarian and heavy diet at least till your exams are over. Reduce on proteins for a while. When you feel sleepy but you do not want to sleep, practice Dhanurasan and Bhujangasan, which will be explained in a later issue.

Though the statement you made in the postscript is true, it is way out of context to this letter yet "YOU aspire to be a clock that is right every moment."

Q2 - Yesterday when I got Management Compass from Career Launcher, I read your Article. It was fantastic and after reading that Article I thought I should share my problem with you. I know my problem is Peculiar (and may be little funny for you), If you have any solution to my problem please reply.

I am M and my age is 25 (26-07-1977).  I have done BSc. with Biology in 1997. After that I did 2-year computer course from NIIT and worked as a computer faculty. I also worked on 2-3 projects but now I want to do MBA from a good institute. So I just joined Career launcher for the preparation of MBA.

I m ebullient, ambitious, confident and bold girl and I had been good in my studies. I know if I prepare with full diligence and concentration I can get selected. But my problem is that my father is thinking about my marriage and he is looking for me. I told my father that I first want to do MBA and then marry, but he is not listening. He says this is your time to get married and not studying any more. These things divert my mind. What should I do now? Should I go for my preparations or not?

My other problem is that all my batch mates are younger than me and I feel I am too late for MBA.

I don’t have any family support, even I don’t have any friends who can support or appreciate my decision or someone who can tell me if I am doing anything wrong. Why sometimes a person needs support? - M

ANS2 - By attaching adjectives to a problem you inadvertently strengthen it. Consider it as a project in hand to convince your father to get admitted to MBA. You have succeeded in the first step when he allowed you to join Carrier Launcher. Now start negotiating the obstacles in your project one by one. Do not think of its futility in case he does not allow you to join MBA. In any case training is always useful. Irrespective of what happens tomorrow, prepare for this CATathon. If you are successful you will have a stronger tool in your hand to convince your father. Everyone knows it is not easy and he also will know when you succeed. After all he is your father, may be orthodox but a father. Play all tricks you played in childhood to make him buy that doll or a balloon. You have still got time because marriages don’t get arranged overnight and may be you could find a boy who would wait till you complete your MBA. Anything can happen in this world my dear, Anything.

Forget about the age problem. With your ebullience you can cover this gap. If anyone calls you Auntie call her Grandma.

As for the need of support, we all need it in one field or the other. There is no weakness in demanding support but there always is victory when you muster it. Admission to MBA means financial support too, which only your father would afford if he is convinced, so work hard at this project. You may win or you may not but you must negotiate without being afraid of failure and put everything you have into this CATathon so that you come out with flying colors and at least from your letter I am convinced YOU WILL.

Q3 - Sir, I recently read your article about a  Yogic exercise,  printed in Management Compass magazine printed by Career Launcher. I found this exercise extremely useful for improving my concentration while studying and staying focused. I am preparing for a competitive exam, which is based on multiple type questions. The duration of this test is 3-4 hours. I have given some practice exams and have noticed that after 1 1/2 hours I am not able to take the test with full concentration and I start making silly mistakes. This is probably due to mental fatigue. Is there a brief relaxation exercise for removing mental fatigue after long continuous work /studies which I can do in the 5 minutes break that I get during the test. Please advise at your earliest convenience – S. K.

ANS3 - Read the Lead article in May issue once again very carefully. Also read the subsequent articles every month in ‘Looking Inside’ column. Practice with commitment the ‘Affirm your Desires’ technique explained in July issue. Take yourself a strong positive affirmation like "I stay committed to my efforts from the beginning to the end; no matter how long it takes" OR "I give everything I have got to everything I do until the last moment" OR both. Also speak these affirmations to yourself loudly during the five minutes break. If ‘Ekagra Tantra’ has worked for you this technique will take you to the top.

Q4 - I am a student of Career Launcher. My name is P. A. I am preparing for CAT 2002 and other MBA entrance exams. I read your article in the June issue of Management Compass. I liked it but after reading this article I could not solve all my mental problems. So, I m writing you this mail.

I want to increase the intensity of my concentration. My concentration is not good. When I study, sometimes my mind is not with me. How can I improve my concentration? I want to give all my attention to my studies. How can I forget the entire world except my studies? Please answer my queries – P. A.

ANS4 - Read my lead article on ‘Concentration’ in May 2002 issue. It seems the worldly pleasures or displeasure whatever they may be are stronger than your motivation for studies. You need to motivate yourself with strong affirmations as the following. "My priority at the moment is Academic Success and all other things can wait for another time opportune" OR "I am always motivated and focused onto my goal, which keeps my mind in a state of perpetual concentration on my studies" OR both. Write these affirmations everyday in the manner explained in ‘Affirm your Desires’ technique in the July issue. You also need to talk to yourself loudly and assertively when alone to keep glued to your number one priority, which is academic success.

While mentioning yourself in the letter, you allowed the ‘I’ to remain in smaller case. Be particular in using only capital ‘I’ when talking about you. You need to be more assertive about YOURSELF.

QUESTIONS RECEIVED IN August 2002

Q5 - Respected sir, I am a science student. I am preparing for MBA. Since in my studies I was related with concepts etc. My ruttafication power is not good. For MBA one has to learn a lot, vocabulary, data etc. I forget the words I learn. Please suggest something – P. G.

ANS5 - I am sure you must have read my articles in Compass including the lead Article on Concentration in May 2002 issue. If not, read that article and all other articles thereafter in my column in Compass. Remember always that memory recall is a side function of interest. There is nothing such as good or bad memory. Every experience and learning you have had right from your birth is firmly recorded on your brain neurons. Only a spontaneous interest or highly motivated interest can help you recall such data with ease. Practice ‘Ekagra Tantra’ and ‘Affirm Your Desires’ technique as explained in May and July issues respectively. Take for yourself a strong affirmation like "I always recall every piece of information from my memory whenever I desire, I believe it and it is so." Take another strong affirmation to motivate yourself for your MBA entrance like "My immediate target is to get selected for MBA and I shall do whatever, whenever and as much ever I ought to do in order to achieve this target." Repeat these affirmations forcefully and honestly to yourself as many times as you can.

Being a person given to concepts rather than mechanical study, you are already a more evolved soul than many. However, persons dwelling more on the concepts rather enjoy very sharp memory recall. It seems that though you have opted for MBA, you are not sufficiently motivated within for the task ahead. So go ahead and talk to yourself often and motivate yourself adequately.

Q6 - I am an engineer. I am fresh graduate and now preparing for CAT-2002[MBA] exam. This is at present my dream. Every activity of mine is now attached with the cat. Going through the compass management magazine i read your article titled TAKE CONTROL AND SCORE. The article is really interesting and worthwhile. Now a days every 8 out of 10 have the problem of concentration, stress, memory and motivation.

Sir I too have a problem of lack of concentration and a little bit of stress. I came across with the article about
concentration level and I really felt ashamed and depressed. During my passage study in reading comprehension section [especially long passages] all of a sudden I forget everything or in otherwise a fear dominates in my mind that I forget everything. Because of this I am now unable to solve the exercise after the passage. I also face problem in studying in small noise [e.g. tape, radio] especially English section.

During my study I think a lot about past and future, this also hampers my study. So sir tell me any instant remedy for that. To let you know more about me I am giving you my daily routine.

Wake up 6 am - Jogging and exercise 6:30 to 7:15 – Bath, newspaper, breakfast 7:15 to 8:30 – Study including small breaks 8:30 to 12:30 with – Lunch, extra reading, rest 12:30 to 2:30 - Study 2:30 to 6:00 – Walk, tea, entertainment 6:00 to 7:00 – Study 7:00 to 9:00 – Dinner, extra reading 9:00 to 10:00 – Study 10:00 to 12:30 – To sleep. Other essential out work, net surfing, mail etc are adjusted in between.

So sir, with great hope I will wait for your reply. Anyway I have to crack cat-2002 and I don't want any thing to stop me from achieving my goal – N. S.

ANS6 - From your letter I feel you are doing the right things in right manner and you are really going to crack CAT 2K2. It appears that you don’t lack motivation. However, you seem to have some other issues that weigh equal or sometimes even stronger than your desire to bell the CAT and that is why you are roaming in the past and future causing the breaks in concentration. Moreover, by saying ‘I have to crack…’ you are indirectly accepting in your sub-conscious that there is some compulsion about it. You do not HAVE to do it my friend, you actually WANT to do it. So take the following affirmations seriously and repeat them loudly and forcefully to yourself. Also write them down repeatedly as explained in ‘Affirm your desires’. "The past is no more here and the beautiful future I dream about can only be quantified if I work for it from the present" and "I WANT to win this CAT race and I AM going to do it".

You have mentioned only the article in July issue. Read every article in my column from May onwards. They are full of tips and techniques. During your time allocated for exercise take up Meditation and Pranayam as explained in the forthcoming August and September issues. When you are reading long passages it helps to break them down in smaller fragments and then connecting them together as a chain of visualizations. With intuition and imagination you can convert almost any text into visualization. If you add humor and exaggeration to it you will be able to recall the info very fast. Also practice ‘Ekagra Tantra’ (July issue) regularly.

Q7– I am a student at CL (south campus, N. Delhi) and I always go through your articles in Compass. Earlier my study pace was ok with CL but I am sorry to say that I am now lagging behind. The pending work further demoralizes me and I become slower and hence my home tasks are accumulating.

What should I do and how shall I increase my concentration while studying? I never study more than 10 minutes continuously. Please help – S. C.

ANS7 - You knew well while opting for CAT that it is not a cakewalk. It is just the beginning and you have developed cold feet. Collect back the scattered fragments and resurrect your confidence. Take the following affirmations seriously and repeat them forcefully to yourself as often as you can. Write them repeatedly as explained in ‘affirm you desires’. "I give everything I have got to everything I do" and "I undertake every task with commitment and finish it to its perfection with total concentration".

Practice "Ekagra Tantra’ every time you begin your study and tell yourself that you will maintain this concentration hours after hours. Practice meditation as explained in August 2002 issue. You will be getting another wonderful technique of ‘Pranayam’ in September issue. Write back to me in a cheerful mood that you have NOW taken masterly control of your affairs. From August issue onwards read my answers to the letters of other students also. You will find something for you too.

Q8 - Sir, I am a student preparing for MBA. I belong to a small town. I want to get some tips to improve my personality. Please help me – T. A.

ANS8 - A personality is the integrated organization of all the psychological, intellectual, emotional and physical characteristics of an individual, especially as they are presented to other people. In other words it is the sum total of such characteristics, which make a person attractive socially. Generally a lot of emphasis is laid on the physical appearance of a person. Albeit, physical attributes are important but most often they are proved secondary. Many a times we see that a man with very average physical attributes shines over others who are far more attractive physically than him. Most physical attributes are a gift of nature but the intrinsic attributes such as the clarity of thought, expression, understanding and the ability to communicate effectively, which form the main stem of a personality, can be cultivated with efforts and awareness.

By the above statement you must have understood that personality is not something that can be altered with just a few tips. You have to first decide whether you need to improve upon your external appearance and mannerism or you want to improve upon those intrinsic values. It is not possible to get both the services under one roof. There are many finishing schools for men and women, which help you with the external side. I conduct courses to inculcate intrinsic values. So, first decide what you want.

Q9 - Dear Sir, I recently came across your articles in the column "Looking Inside" in the magazine "Management Compass" & found them to be very interesting. I would like to wish you all the best for the future articles & hope that you would continue helping & motivating numerous CAT aspirants like me in achieving our respective goals.

Sir, I would also like to have your guidance & help in matters related to stress management as well as personality development. As I mentioned, I am an aspiring MBA, preparing for this year's CAT & my problem relates to my preparation only. Sir, I feel that I am unable to exploit my abilities to the fullest because of which I do not get the BEST of results & hence feel frustrated. I was a bright student in my school, both academically & otherwise.. But within a short span of time, I feel that there has been a decline in my performance, vis-à-vis my potential. Seeing my
counterparts' improvement relative to their past performances frustrates me even more. All this has led to a low self-esteem & self-confidence. I desperately need your help to tackle this vicious circle & in building a strong willpower. Sir, if possible please email me personally. In anticipation of a positive response from you - Thank You & God bless - HKB.

ANS9 - It is indeed a vicious circle. It grows wider and wider in absence of timely action. The best part is that you realized this soon and you sincerely desire to break it. The only way to break it is to trace back the point from where you began drawing this circle. The contents of your letter themselves provide the answer. I did not like the past tense you used while referring to your brightness. Your letter itself expresses your all time brightness. However, at a stage in your life you took upon yourself the role of the hare from the ‘Hare and the Tortoise’ story and that is the beginning point of this circle. If you do not agree on this point think seriously and you may begin to see it. If you see it clearly, accept the mistake and instruct yourself with forceful emotions to come out of it. Do not blame yourself or feel guilty; simply take a vow to compensate all the loss caused to you in this situation. Self-esteem is nothing but your own opinion about yourself and therefore you alone can change it for you. Go pick up the threads of your shattered confidence and resurrect it again but this time be careful not to become overconfident.

1. First of all you need to cleanse your mind of all the negativity you carry at present. Sit quietly and relaxed, preferably alone in your room and think of your present academic status and obstacles you are facing. Put all your emotions into it and if you feel like crying go ahead and do it. Inundate yourself in tears. Think of all the aspects and their repercussions you are facing now. When you have considered every side, wipe your tears and pick up a sheet of fresh paper. Write down every negative aspect you thought about, in short notes on this one sheet (I repeat only negative aspects please). You have already done detailed thinking over your problem. Keep the sheet before you and read it once. Take a thick black marker and cross the sheet on both the diagonals. Tell yourself firmly that this is how IT WAS but NOW this situation DOES NOT EXIST. I AM A CHANGED PERSON RIGHT HERE & NOW. Burn the sheet of paper and observe intently while it fully burns down to ashes. Do not think of the contents of the sheet now and never ever again. From this moment onwards think only of your wonderful qualities, your brightness, bright future, success, the honor and respect you may have received earlier etc. etc. Give a big cheer to yourself, dance if you may like and be prepared for a bright future. If you follow this technique exactly as told, you will discover a beautiful and new YOU.
2. Take the following affirmations seriously and read them aloud to yourself as many time as you can every morning and evening. Also write them down as explained in ‘Affirm your desires’ technique. "I am as bright as sunshine, I have proved it before and I will continue to do so NOW and ALWAYS". "I can overtake all those ahead of me, I believe it and it is so". "I can surpass every challenge with my strong determination, commitment and grit". "CAT 2002 is a God sent opportunity to prove myself".
3. Read my answers to other readers like you in the question-answer column starting from August issue. You may find something or the other for you too especially many different affirmations for different situations.
4. August issue contains article on Meditation & Visualization and September issue brings Pranayam techniques. Sincerely practice them and expect wonders to take place.

God bless you too.