Making sense of the world.
Posts tagged Life Stories
Beyond Blindness
Sep 3rd
I lay frightfully awake past midnight, gripped by a sudden fear of the possibility of going blind. What
had brought on this fear? I don’t know. Maybe an imagination on overdrive, or the awareness of growing age and deteriorating health. The fear was very real and not nice. It took me to the edge of darkness. I could not see myself coping with blindness. So how did those who had actually lost their sight manage? I remembered seeing blind men with sticks boarding Mumbai local trains. I thought of Helen Keller. Yet, the suffocating fear took time to recede.
Two days later I came across Kanchan’s story.
Blind at Eight
Kanchan woke up and rubbed her eyes. She could hear familiar morning sounds, but could see nothing. As she turned her head around, she saw only darkness. She felt her father’s arms around her as he asked, “Did you dream?” That’s when she screamed out in horror, at the realization that she could not see. “I felt the world closing up around me, as if someone had cut the breath of life,” says Kanchan. Initially, her parents could not believe what had happened to their eight-year-old. They took her to specialists in Chennai, who confirmed the diagnosis that Kanchan had a detached retina; the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eyeball that sent image signals to the brain had failed. She had become permanently blind.
Success Tips from a Great Entertainer
Nov 11th
It’s amazing how many of today’s success stories have had less than promising beginnings. Steve Jobs of Apple is one, Jay Leno is another. A great entertainer, Leno is also a consummate sales professional.
No overnight sensation, Leno began his career as a door-to-door salesman. Today, he engages his persuasive skills in selling his TV program and public speaking engagements. There’s much one can learn from him. Here’s a list:
- Unafraid of Failure. Some of Leno’s early performances were weak. Years went by before he appeared on television. But he kept honing his skills. This prepared him for the breaks that came his way, which led to his current success.
- Work is Fun. Leno spends his free time doing personal appearances that promote his career. He rarely takes vacations, though he is quite generous in giving vacations to his staff. Most people see work as a way to finance their “fun” activities, but Leno sees work as fun in itself.
- Take Risks. Leno sticks his neck out to further his career. When he began appearing on television, he was selected “Best Face to Caricature” by the “American Caricature Association,” an organization he had invented. Yet, this gave his career a big public relations boost.
- Connect with Everyone. Everyone is a potential customer. Leno is in the habit of being accessible. He will wave and smile when people spot him driving one of his rare automobiles. When hired for speeches, he greets and shakes the hands of as many people as possible.
- Give Back. Leno gives time to genuine community service. He has flown at his own expense to Chicago or Detroit to do benefits for the homeless. The spinoff is that people view him as a great guy. That’s image building and great for career progression.
- Be Thankful. When Leno’s article was published, he personally called the publisher and thanked him. He didn’t have to do that, but that’s the way he thinks, and why he’s so successful.