7 Real Life Lessons I Wish they had Taught me in School

No later than I finished schooling, the academic skills became obsolete and I found myself into real world which was governed by different set of rules. Probably the most important thing that they taught in school which holds good in real life is “Determination can do wonders!”

I wish they had taught life skills rather than uttering a single sentence for 16 years, “Study hard and get good grades which eventually will help get a good job.” Having said this, I do not mean that academics shouldn’t be given importance but other skills should be treated with equal importance too!

Following are the things I learnt the hard way and I’d like them to be a part of the education system:

• Life skills are different from Academic skills: I couldn’t agree more to de Bono “In academic thinking it is enough to describe, to analyze, and to offer explanations. In the real world, there is the action element.” They never use action oriented words in school, they don’t teach how to make decisions or take risks. They think laws, theories, and calculations are worth learning at the stake of everything else. While Real Life has no laws (apart from in-laws ) and everyone is presented with different kind of problems. Nothing is right or wrong, there are different definitions of success and zillions of ways to reach the destination!

Did your schooling too interfere with the education?

• Money is important: They always say learning is more important, but what’s the ultimate purpose? and if they really believe what they say, why do we have to shell out a huge sum for what they teach?!! I too believe in learning but it should have a purpose, and money is an important consideration! In school they used to give certificates to encourage good things or habits, I’m happy that organizations’ reward policy is more realistic!  I wish I had a dollar every-time I said, money isn’t important.

• Never Sell yourself short: You’re bound to have unique skills, it’s nature’s law. If you don’t understand the value of yourself, chances are, no one else will either. Don’t let others control your thoughts, don’t go by the trend or statistics when you decide to think big (there’s a magic in thinking big!) Don’t compromise on things if you think you deserve better. As they say, “It’s a very funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it!”

• Saying “No”: The word has magical power and you need to unleash it. Just remember the way you say “No” is as important as the word itself.

• Mind your own business (read be yourself): You are the captain of your ship and master of your destiny. Set your own goals, make decisions, take risks. Break the rules, play well, NOT necessarily safe. Don’t expect everyone to like what you think and do, everyone has their own thoughts and you have all the rights to be yourself!

• It’s important to win the war not every battle:Among short-term and long-term goals, latter is more important; and mistakes play an instrumental role. Schooling system punishes  those who commit mistakes but life has different take; mistakes have immense potential to help people succeed. It’s good to fail and make mistakes at times that, more often than not, becomes stepping stone to success! I second Edison’s winning attitude, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

• There is more wisdom in 2 heads than in one: Schools teach “United we Stand” but when it comes to achievements they want everything to be done on your own, they want you to master literally everything. In real life you do what you are good at and seek help when you think there is a better way out. As they say, “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”

What do you wish they’d taught you in school or you had just learned earlier in life?

If Only, I Could Quit My Day Job

Find a Job You Love and You’ll Never Work a Day in Your Life!

Unfortunately I have to work most of the days to make a living. If I were to negotiate (with destiny) for my favorite job, I’d go with the following sequence :

• Motivational Speaker
• Author (mostly non-fiction)
• Photographer
• My Current Job (Technology)

Having said this, I don’t mean that I don’t like my Day Job or I am not good at it.

Image from wordboner.com

Do I enjoy my job: Yes, because of following reasons:

• Challenges it presents every other day.
• Millions of dollars are at stake upon my decisions (the adrenaline rush is at its peak during those situations.)
• My skills have the power tackle catastrophic situations.
• I am good at it.

Have I ever thought of leaving the job to pursue my dreams: Yes and No.

Yes because I do want to desert the surrogate life and be myself some day.

No because I am not so strong at the moment to leave a promising career for something vague and uncertain and I am a strong believer of  “A Bird in the Hand is Better than Two in the Bush.” (I might be wrong)

What do I want from my current job: Financial Independence, it’s different from being Rich (one can never be rich enough). Financial independence is when we continue with the same lifestyle without us working, rather our assets work harder to achieve this.

How do I plan to become Financially Independent: If I knew that I’d be playing golf in my villa!   I am trying to learn how to.

What do I plan after that:

• Author a Book.
• Learn how to play Guitar.
• Learn French.
• Learn Photography.

My answer to “What do you do?” would be “I pursue my passions.”

Do I have a timeline: As soon as possible. (If only, I could do that now!)