The Art of Living : Suit Up!

Let me start off by wishing everyone reading this a very Happy Holi! :)
To all the guys hope you all behaved and to all the girls hopefully this was "grope-free" holi.

Now, This isn't your typical Holi post and no it won't be anything like that if you're expecting one. This post well focuses on exactly what the title says. So read on.

The Art of Living : Suit Up

Most of us aspire to make something of our lives. We go to school and mindlessly listen to our teachers about what they believe is the best path for us to achieve success. Most of the time they encourage us to graduate college, get a job working for a big corporation and climb the corporate ladder.

Well my friends, it’s 2014. Learning in life come from everywhere and everyone. The secret is to see what others can't and be the miracle worker that you always want to be. Take lessons from those, both real and fictional, who have actually been successful in their respective fields.

A great mentor that we can all learn something from is ‘Suits’ man, Harvey Specter. Harvey is a respected lawyer, known as ‘the best closer in New York City.’ As one of the main characters and partners in the law firm, Harvey proved to us that with certain talents and an ability to think outside the box, you can achieve a lot of success. Here are the lessons we can learn from Harvey Specter.

You will live a dull and boring life if you do not take risks.

Lesson No. 1 : Risk taking is a crucial factor to any person’s success. One’s ability to take calculated risks coupled with a little bit of luck can catapult anyone’s career from dull and boring, to eventful and exciting. Risks are a necessary part of life, and they bring a certain adrenaline rush to our lives. Of course, it is important that you understand the kind of risk you are taking because if you are blindly taking on risk without taking into consideration the consequences of your actions, you might be setting yourself up for disaster.

Understand that the risks shall have consequences and on most occasions you'll never have control on them but if you weight your options properly I think you'll do a good job.

You’re never going to win big if you only look to minimize your losses.

Lesson No. 2 : If you want to make something of yourself, you’re going to have to put yourself out there and go after it. You won’t become a great success by sitting back and letting things come to you. When opportunity presents itself, there is no reason why you shouldn't make the most of it. Don’t just try to break even or cut your losses. This mindset shows that you are weak, and it will eventually become a shackle that holds you back from achieving true greatness. If you don't think you can, that's half the battle lost.

As a kid I remember my dad bringing these printouts of thoughts and he would just give it to us and not say a thing, It was his way of letting us find the meaning we wanted out of those thoughts and one that has always stuck with me every time I'm in dilemma is 

"You never win the silver, you always lose the gold" 

Never ever be afraid of failing because failure is only an evidence that you tried. Go out there do what you need to.

Playing by the rules will get you nowhere.

Lesson No.3 : Social rules are enforced in order to regulate the flow of everyday actions we, as a society, take. At times these regulations may seem to hold us back more than they actually help us. It is important to understand that all rules are meant to be broken, especially when following the rules may prove to be a hindrance to achieving your goals.

Now, we’re not saying go crazy and break all the rules, but don’t be afraid to bend them if times call for you to do so. Just as you have thought about bending the rules so, has your competition. Don’t be the one left behind because you want to be a good Samaritan, while your competition is crushing you because they are cutting corners and getting the upper hand every chance they get.

Maybe this is small town talks that are in me but life by principles. Never let the opinion of others hold you back. Let me rephrase, Know who's opinion matters but be thankful to everyone. I've bent rules so many times in my shot span on this planet that I wouldn't know how to play by the rule. Life is going to be unfair. Pick n chose your battles. 

Adjust your strategy based on observations of people’s emotional reactions to certain points.

As Harvey would say it " I'm against having emotions , not against using them."

Lesson No. 4: One of the biggest problems people face in the world is that they rely heavily on their logic when making decisions. While it is appropriate to make logical sense of situations at hand, it can also prove to be quite detrimental when it comes to certain deals. Although, logically it may not make sense to hire someone who passed the Bar Exam without going to law school.

It is the ability to see that this person has potential and hiring them may be one of the best decisions one can make that will allow you to come out on top. People are very smart in the business world and many of them have great logic, but remember logic will only take you so far. If you really want to be great, learn how to read people’s emotions because that will give you information logic can’t.

Your appearance is just as important as your talent.

Lesson No. 5: The first thing people realize when meeting you for the first time is the way you are dressed. Many may overlook this little detail; however, your appearance is crucial to your success. This is so because the way you present yourself has a direct correlation to the way people perceive you. You want people to take you seriously from the moment they meet you. It makes it easier to earn trust and eventually, their loyalty if they feel that they can take you seriously.

Now let's be clear I'm not asking you to dress pretty, God knows I'm the last person to try and be a fashion expert, What I'm asking is to dress to make a mark. As much as we know lady Gaga for her singing we also know her for her costumes and the aura that she carries. Know what is acceptable attire and what suits you. Leave your mark, maybe it's those cuff lings or maybe a funky sock. Experiment a  little. 

Keep your composure no matter how tough the situation.

Lesson No. 6 : They say pressure makes diamonds, but this is only true for those who don’t let the pressure of the situation get to them. No matter how difficult the situation is, it’s crucial that one digs deep within themselves to keep their composure. Keeping calm in stressful situations is the key factor that separates the strong from the weak.

No one cares about your situation. You were hired for a specific reason, and if you can’t produce results, know that there will be someone else out there in this competitive world willing to take on the task. Business is all about the bottom line, so if you are unable to produce, then it is best you look for another career.

I always say " Poise under pressure" .

There are times when being cocky is appropriate.

Lesson No. 7 : If you are the best at what you do, and you’re not the only one that believes in this statement, then you have the right to be cocky. When others vouch for you as the being the ‘best closer in New York City,’ then you can be cocky. Although some people are turned off by pompous personalities, there is nothing wrong with it if you can back it up. Some people actually prefer working with cocky individuals because it shows that they will stop at nothing to back up what they are saying.

Remember the easier part is being the cocky part, the difficult part is when. In my personal experience I know for a fact that being cocky gets things done but I've also seen that being generous and supportive also helps. Learn when to be what. Use the best strategy for the situation.

Know your competition inside and out.

As they say, " Keep your friends close and your enemies closer ".
Lesson No. 8 : When people believe in themselves, they begin to overlook certain tasks that will help them get an advantage. This means that they’re full of themselves, and in the long run, this will turn out to hurt them. No detail is too small, and no task is too menial, especially when it comes to your competition.

Life is a game of chess, and it is important to give yourself an advantage by staying a few steps ahead of the competition. Learn about your competitors and understand the moves they’ll be making before they do so. This is the only way you will be able to have the upper hand and eventually crush the the competition when the time is right.

Just because you’re a rookie doesn't mean you have to think like one.

Lesson No. 9: When entering a new industry, people usually feel intimidated by veterans just because they are new to the industry. Do not let your lack of experience hold you back. Learn from the best, and eventually, you will surpass them. Keep an open mind when it comes to being criticized. Although we like to think we know it all, it is important to soak up as much information from those around you as possible.Remember that Information is power more than ever in this age of information.  Just because you’re a rookie doesn't mean you can’t have a creative mind and think like a veteran.

Don’t announce the problem; fix it.

Lesson No. 10 : We live in such a fast-paced society, constrained by the hands of time. Time is never on our side, and deadlines always seem to come faster than expected. On the road to completing your projects prior to the due date, you will come across many problems. No one has time to listen to you complain about problems. You are in this position for a reason.

Your superiors felt that you were the best candidate to complete the task at hand, and this includes any problems that may occur during the project. It is important that you learn to fix the problems, instead of wasting your time explaining problems to your superiors.

That's all folks!!
I'd love to hear what are some of your cheat codes in life. How do you come out unscratched?
Leave a comment.

Thanks! :)