Magic

Posted on January 11, 2018 by Azim Jamal

How does magic happen? We’re not talking about the usual circus magician type of magic, but one that’s created by athletes like Michael Jordan or innovators like Steve Jobs.

Michael Jordan, in his prime, was a portrait of magic. However, he has famously admitted that he not only missed hundreds of shots he took, he also missed game-winning shots he was entrusted with making. He failed many times, yet he was undisputedly seen as a magician with the basketball. One of the best ever to play the game!

Steve Jobs had many failures, including being fired from the very company he built from scratch before becoming an icon of creativity and innovation.

Being magic does not mean not having failed. In fact, most successful leaders and athletes who end up creating magic go through enormous challenges, struggles, and failures. They fail their way to success.

The key to their success was the unwavering faith that they will make it no matter what. Even when odds were stacked against them, it was their journey that enhanced their resolve, instead of diminishing it.

So, if you are going through challenges, struggles, and obstacles – do not panic. You have to go through enormous hurdles before you can eventually claim the title of Magic.

Give!

Posted on January 8, 2018 by Azim Jamal

The more you give to family, the better the relationships at home. This unity invites love and harmony.

The more you give to colleagues, the better the camaraderie at work. This fellowship enhances your productivity and performance.

The more you give to customers, the better the loyalty you build, and ultimately, a better bottom line.

The more you give to the community, the better the environment you create for you and your family to live in.

The more time you give to others, the less time you need for getting things done, mainly because of the help and support others will reciprocate.

In addition, when you truly give, you unleash your creativity; inspire innovation, and tap into your potential.

If you cannot give money – give love, hope, laughter, skills, wisdom, ideas, attention, and a listening ear.

Also, when you are gentle and give to others, you are generally gentle and give to yourself.

The benefits of giving range from security and empowerment of better relationships to good health, longer life, and happiness.

Ask yourself:

– If you are blessed with insights, wisdom, and health—what is your giving responsibility?

– If you are blessed with a loving family—what is your giving responsibility?

– If you are blessed with wealth and success—what is your giving responsibility?

In closing, remember – to those whom more is given, more is expected in terms of contribution!

On a Roll

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Azim Jamal

You will find there are times when things are difficult for you and there are times when things seem to be going pretty smoothly.

When things are going well for you, capitalize on the momentum fully, instead of slacking off. You want to act promptly on opportunities, while favorable conditions exist. The Universe is giving you a sign that your time has arrived so signal back by responding with actions that display readiness and positivity.

Once you lose momentum, it is hard to pick up speed. So when you are on a roll, keep going with enthusiasm and energy!

Effective Leadership

Posted on December 10, 2017 by Azim Jamal

Effective leadership is one that draws from the strengths of others. It is about awakening what is half asleep inside people. This requires that we inspire people to discover their innate abilities. In a corporate setting, such leadership is crucial to business success. The ability to unleash people’s potential, to energize them to use their talent and to work towards a common goal is the master skill of a true leader.

Leadership is about making leaders of your followers. People learn best when they have to teach others, so it is about unleashing the spirit of empowerment and involvement. There is so much richness within each person to be discovered. Until it is discovered, it will forever be absent from the workplace. It is the role of effective leaders to nurture this richness.

Negative Ego!

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Azim Jamal

Putting others down opens us up to having our own turn at being put down. The Sufi, Nasruddin, tells the following story:

A proud grammarian once took a boat ride. On the way, the grammarian asked the simple boat driver if he knew grammar. The boat driver replied that he didn’t know grammar as he hadn’t gone to school. The grammarian replied that he had wasted half his life. A short while later, the water got rough, and the boat started sinking. The boat driver asked the grammarian if he knew how to swim, to which the grammarian replied that he didn’t. The boat driver remarked that all his life would be wasted since he would now drown.

We all have our strengths and weaknesses, thus, there is no need to discredit others.

The hidden roots of a tree are its unseen foundation. In not having any desire to show off this might, the roots humbly conveys a quiet statement of strength.

How about you? What are your unseen foundation and quiet statement of strength?

Inching to Excellence

Posted on November 23, 2017 by Azim Jamal

Always aim to be an inch better – as a parent, spouse, employer, employee, professional speaker, or friend – and see what a big difference that inch eventually makes.

An improvement of even a half-percent each day will do the job. If you do that consistently for most of the week, you’ll find that your small successes, compounded over one year, will have improved you remarkably.

Many people tend to go for expediency, and doing just enough to get by. They don’t realize that this is most often a shortcut to failure.

Going the extra mile means giving more than is required. It also means being what you are, and all that you can be – at work, as well as relationships with self, family, and community.

Go the extra mile and you will stand apart!

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy!

Posted on November 19, 2017 by Azim Jamal

What you believe is what you will ultimately invite into your life.

The universe is an open field of potentiality. What you imagine or what you believe – you will most often begin creating. Your intent, your approach, as well as all of what you attract in your life, including people and situations, all work together towards re-affirming your inner belief. And once you make a choice, you give up your right to the other choice lying at the other end of the spectrum.

Ultimately, what we choose to believe is a decisive part of how we choose to experience life.

So, take care of what you choose to believe. This belief will be the catalyst for a self-fulfilling prophecy!