The biggest challenge facing most of us are our habits; our sloth, lack of motivation or call it what you will. I have never met a person in my entire life and in all my travels, lectures and performances who did not want to succeed. Why then is success bestowed on so few? The answer to that is no secret; we
all desire to succeed, but very few are willing to invest in the hard work that is associated with success, whatever be the endeavour. And, coupled with our innate laziness, in many ways, it is the glamour pack of the media that is responsible for spreading the delusion that there are shortcuts to success, or that success is entirely the handiwork of Lady Luck. Nothing can be further from the truth...
No article on a successful photographer will speak of the hundreds, nay thousands, of photographs that s/he had to take over many years of hard work before the essence of a creative person found expression in the person. Similarly, no interviewer will dwell on the back-breaking effort and years of struggle, often coupled with depression, that goes into the life of a painter before he gets critical acclaim. And that is because no one wants to dwell beyond the pretty picture-perfect image of success. As they say, no one wants to cast the first stone...
Taking my own case as an example, I can barely remember the last person who questioned me on how many heartaches, reverses, shattered promises I have encountered, had before I met critical acclaim in Saraansh. No one wants to write about the 20-odd days when I was forced to sleep at the railway platform in Bandra because I — a gold medal-winning actor — had run out of all financial support. I am not the only one whose backstory is best forgotten. How many of us can remember the struggles of any sportsman, dancer, singer or a business titan?
One way to correct our false notions is to read the biographies, and I do not mean hagiographies, of successful people. In my days of struggle, I read many such biographies of actors, directors and even statesman to learn, and get inspired, by their struggles.
Another key is to write down on one side of a piece of paper all that you want to be. And on the other side of the same page, all the issues that are holding you back.
For example, if you want a great physique, write against it all the hindrances that you are facing that are preventing you from achieving your goal. Maybe you are feeling lazy, or you wake up late each morning or you do not have the time, or whatever. When you put it down in black and white, you will discover that all the reasons are actually EXCUSES!
Face yourself and realise that the real speedbreaker along your goal to success is yourself. So wake up and make a real beginning. After all, tomorrow is another day...
The writer is a renowned film and theatre actor