1) Master the "English" language: There is no better medicine for brightening up the future. Enjoy the language. Feel the words. Look at alternative words and enjoy them. Read slow, read well. Do not focus on the objective / gist of the story, feel the execution. Gradually this will grow on you and words will start flowing out of your pen. This will form the foundation for your communication ability.
2)Communication: While English forms the basis, mastering the language is not akin to having a grip on communication ability. Communication is all about empathy. It is more about listening and understanding. It is about speaking well and speaking to the point and speaking about what listener likes to hear. Something that motivates him, something that excites him into taking action and giving his very best. Communication is not about language. Communication is about moving things with your voice. Communication is about giving joy to people with what you say. Communication is about the right blend of eloquence and impact. Without wielding the right impact through perfect mix of exclamations and punctuations, communication will fall short of its potential. The style of presenting facts is another important aspect. Explaining things is the simplest possible form through the use of analogies/examples and branding helps to establish a strong bond with the recipients. Even in a one to many communication, the recipient feels that the communication has been tailor made for him. He feels he is individually being spoken to. That is the moment of truth that leads to magic / resonance whatever you may call it.
Developing the right diction/pronunciation and a good voice helps the effort immensely and should be taken very seriously by young students.
3) Be well read Education does not end on the last day of college. In fact it begins from there till the last breath of your life. Knowledge is vast. If we manage to absorb even the tip of the knowledge iceberg in our lives we should consider ourselves fortunate. While it is nice to read about our subject/function/ domain, it is equally important to read about unrelated subjects such as fiction, art, culture, music, sports.
4) Develop an hobby and love it: Get passionate about an unrelated subject for the disconnect will form the foundation of an entirely new product which you can claim to be your own. The best example I can think of is of Harsha Bhogle. His passion for cricket and commentary has led him to mix it will corporate world as a result of which he has designed corporate programs by connecting them with cricket. Leadership in corporate and leadership in cricket and what one can learn from the latter. Having a passion is the fuel that can catapult one to an entirely different orbit.
5) Behavior - Understanding people - This is the most important quality that can catapult people into the highest orbit in the future. Unfortunately one cannot wait till then. These qualities are to be developed earlier on in one's career. In schools, colleges and at home. This is one aspect which is blatantly overlooked in India. The belief that being a good professional is about being a good doctor, engineer etc. The HR aspect is often overlooked and only those who have these qualities ingrained in them land up becoming able leaders. As a person it is very important to inculcate a great deal of humility. It serves well during times of adversity when you need to fall back on others for help and succor.
6) Personality: Other things being equal, good looking people usually stand a better chance in life. Now how can one become good looking. Is that in our hands? Yes indeed. Good looks is all about perception. It is more to do with how one carries himself. Speaking well, wearing the right kind of clothes, cultivating the right kind of interests etc make you look good in the eyes of the beholder. Hence work on your personality and interests. And lack it all with a good dose of humility and see how you transform yourself into a magnetic person and see for yourself how others get attracted towards yourself.
7) Be a team player: Essentially it means that you should develop the qualities of appreciating your fellow colleagues / friends. Talk about their good points. Encourage them to work on them and get even better. Learn from them and tell them that you are doing so. Thank them for what they are and how they are. Seek not for the negatives of your team mates. Instead unearth every positive trait in them and tell them about it. Perhaps they too may not have known about their virtues and by telling them, you land up enhancing their self esteem. Such acts are usually very contagious and you get back more than you give. Enjoy the success of your team mates. Celebrate their successes.
8) Understand technology and more importantly understand its applications. While core technology is appropriate for scientists, inventors, teachers etc, applications opens the door for creators and entrepreneurs. Check out new technologies and their applications and figure out how it can be connected with your profession to generate additional efficiencies.
While I have covered a few areas that instinctively have come to my mind, I would have perhaps missed some equally important points. I would encourage readers to park such points along with their agreements /disagreements in the comments section and help in my learning and education.
