His super skills to communicate have made Robin Sharma one of the world's most successful premier thinkers on leadership in business and in life. His gyaan is like Bible for executives around the globe. He has authored many books, including the international best seller, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari; its best seelling sequel, Leadership; Family: Who Will Cry When You Die? And many others. In an interview, he tells what makes the world sit up and listen to him...
--What prompted you to choose such an unconventional profession and preach the happiness mantra?
----I used to be a lawyer, very successful and very unhappy. Like Julian Mantle in The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, I decided to go out on a search and seek how a human being can find true happiness and real success. I found what I was looking for in books and in the wise people I encountered. Within a few months of applying what I learnt, my entire life changed. I then thought that if an ordinary man like me could use these ideas with such profound results, others could too. And so I wrote and self-published, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. Thee book took off and I have never looked back.
--What have been your most enlightening moments?
----I have had many enlightening moments because my life is one big adventure. I have been on top of the mountain many times and in the valleys from time to time. But I learn from each experience. My philosophy of life is simple: "The person who experiences the most wins". Here are a few of my defining moments:
(a). The birth of my two children (my favourite people in the world).
(b). My divorce (pain can be excellent professor).
(c). The day, early in my career, that a well-known CEO told me my book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari was the best business book ever read and encouraged me to start doing more work with companies.
(d). The day my friend's father died. I realised that without great health, even the richest of people are poor.
(e). The day I shared a speaking platform before 10,000 people with Bill Clinton. It was a great win for a simple man like me who grew up in a small town of 2,000 people, without a silver spoon in his mouth.
--What values can one imbibe from the Eastern and Western spiritual traditions?
----From the East, we can all learn what's most important in life - things like discovering our best selves. From the West, we can learn the value of chasing our dreams, thinking big and taking wise risks.
--What advice would you like to give to the stressed out city dwellers?
----I don't like to give advice - that makes me sound like a guru - when I am not. But I do have some suggestions:
(a). Take a sixty minute 'holy hour' for yourself everyday. This is a time, each day, to think deeply about your life and how to improve it, to read, to meditate or watch the sun come up, or to write in a journal. Leadership in your outer life begins from within yourself. You cannot do great things until you first feel great about yourself.
(b). Put your health first. Most people don't care for their health until they lose it. That makes no sense to me. You don't want to be the richest person in the graveyard.
(c). Try and find some time each day for what I call the "3 Ss": Silence, Stillness and Solitude. They really work beautifully to renew you.
--How do manage your stress?
----I manage my stress by exercising daily. It's amazing how a 30-minute run restores a sense of perspective over any problems, and fills me with joy. I also get a massage every week to keep me relaxed. My two children are incredibly funny human beings who help me beat stress, and teach me not to take life too seriously.
--Is there a state of complete happiness and peace? How can one achieve it? Are you in one?
----Yes, I do believe that one can be completely happy. Perhaps only a few great sages have ever reached that lofty stage. I am basically a happy human being. However, I cannot be happy all the time. I have good days and not so good days.
C.S. Chakravarthy
H. No. 12-13-302, St. No. 9,
Lane. No. 1, Flat. No. 203,
Satya Classic Apartments,
Tarnaka, Secunderabad- 500 017,
Telangana State, India.
E-mail: chakkuresearchscholar13@gmail.com
Cell: 09985732397.
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