I’ve truly had fantastic teachers throughout my life. Right throughout school, through religious school, during my association with Toastmasters, at my first job at KPMG all in Dubai and right now in Bangalore I’m extremely fortunate to have got highly intelligent, most sincere and extremely dedicated personalities giving their best to me. Issac Newton had once written, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” How beautifully put. I feel just the same. If I’m anything today, it’s because of God, my family and my teachers.

Looking back, here are a few additional skills that I’m really glad I picked apart from formal education. Many of the below skills have had significant positive impacts, some have even been life-changing.

1. GTD
Regular readers would’ve noticed that we regularly write about GTD on this blog. That’s because GTD is a truly phenomenal system that would greatly improve the performance of anybody. Be it a school going child, an office-going executive or a house-wife.

Which school would be best for my son? Should we invest in that new business venture or use the funds to expand our existing business? Hmm…Should I marry the girl my parents are suggesting or elope with my high-school sweetheart?
When presented with such emotional dilemmas, how do you make the best possible choice. You have not gone through this scenario before. You don’t have complete information on the issue.

Using what you know, is there a way to make a choice so that you are dead-confident? So, then you just march forward on the decision you made, with not even a thought of glancing back. Well, you know what…there is such a way, I’ve been using it all the time. And it’s got a geeky name like, ‘the Natural Planning Model’.

What’s this Natural Planning Model thingy?
It’s the genius creation of David Allen of Getting Things Done (GTD) fame. It’s basically a set of questions that you ask yourself when confused about any matter. The key words here are ‘Any Matter’. The Natural Planning Model can be used for an everyday task like going to a restaraunt or even something as deep as what’s your purpose on this planet.  These questions are so apt and when asked in the right frame of mind they truly provide the solution you’re looking for.

There’s spring cleaning happening at home, because of which once a while a a golden old memory in form a photograph await me, daddy and Ali when we return home from work. Have a look at the picture on the right. That was me 10 years ago, delivering a speech at a Toastmaster club (click here to see a complete picture). I was 76 Kgs+ in weight, with a 36 inch+ waist line and be it motu, fatso or fatty I’ve been labeled it all. The picture of the right is a much recent photo. Today I’m 67 Kgs, my 34 inch trouser falls off occasionally and now I get told again and again “Gosh Arif, you’ve lost so much weight.” and you know what…I can’t get enough of it ☺.

There’s magic in persistence. When the same mundane task of exercise, or learning or teaching is repeated over and over again, those are necessary ingredients of the potion of success being brewed by the gods in heaven.