As part of its activities during the blessed month of Ramadan, Qatari Forum for Authors streams the third episode of “Picks from My Library”, an initiative presented by media figure and writer Hessa Al Suwaidi every Wednesday on the Forum’s YouTube channel.
In this episode, Hessa Al Suwaidi chose “The Greatness Guide” by Robin Sharma. She started by raising a group of questions such as: How shall we spend all this time of home quarantine? And how to benefit from it? Will all this time, if it lasts longer, be wasted or used in useful things?
Answering to these questions, Hessa Al-Suwaidi mentioned Robin Sharma’s idea confirming that “your days define your life”. She called for the necessity of awareness that our days are our life in miniature.. What we do today is actually creating our future and depicting it through the words we speak, the thoughts we think and the food we eat. In this regard, Sharma says that each one of us is qualified for greatness and honor. Within each of us, lays an exquisite power and an enormous energy, through which we can influence ourselves and those around us amazingly.
The speaker stated that people take a lot of time in performing procedural aspect of things and spend the best hours of their days busy at work …. In this context, one of the author’s clients told him recently: Sometimes I’m so busy that I don’t even know with what I was busy, but (the question is) what if he’s busy with things that are worthy of his time?
Then, author, Robin Sharma, concludes that in-depth and strategic thinking is your first step on the way to superiority. In one of the pages of the book, he says that “clarity is a prerequisite for success”, as being thoughtful would reduce your vulnerability to events and your response to stimuli. Therefore, you will be able to make choices with more wisdom and prudence.
In another page, Sharma talked about the idea that reference points pull us into a new way of seeing things and would introduce you to a new set of possibilities and open doors you never even knew existed. For example, Sharma regards Lance Armstrong, the American cyclist and a record holder for the number of wins, a great reference point on persistence and perseverance, especially after he got cancer and retired, but, he returned and continued to run races.
On another topic, the author tells his story with his mother who listened carefully to him and appreciated whatever he said. He told a story about when you sit next to a person on the plane for a 3-hour flight and this person starts talking and continues speaking until the plane lands. However, this person does not ask you even about your name, home or business. Sharma says that this behavior of such persons tells me that they suffered in their childhood that no one listened to them carefuly. Here, Robin Sharma tackled a real fact about listening that most people spend the time when the other party speaks in preparing their answers only. He mentioned a quote that he likes “Never speak when you can nod”. Sharma concluded this topic saying that your success as a businessman, as a member in your family and as a person in general will be promoted if you apply this advice correctly; “Listen twice as much as you speak”. Be a first-class listener who shows great interest in what others want to say to you and watch the way they communicate with you and you will leave a good impressioneasily.
Al-Suwaidi presented the author’s key question: What shall we do to help create a new and better world?? Then, Sharma goes on to say never blame politicians, people around you or your parents. Because when you do that, you play the victim’s role – the world is full of those who play this role while they are able to be unique and outstanding and make a huge difference. He mentioned Mother Teresa’s saying about this idea: “If each of us would only sweep our own doorstep, the whole world will be clean.”
In this episode, Hessa Al Suwaidi chose “The Greatness Guide” by Robin Sharma. She started by raising a group of questions such as: How shall we spend all this time of home quarantine? And how to benefit from it? Will all this time, if it lasts longer, be wasted or used in useful things?
Answering to these questions, Hessa Al-Suwaidi mentioned Robin Sharma’s idea confirming that “your days define your life”. She called for the necessity of awareness that our days are our life in miniature.. What we do today is actually creating our future and depicting it through the words we speak, the thoughts we think and the food we eat. In this regard, Sharma says that each one of us is qualified for greatness and honor. Within each of us, lays an exquisite power and an enormous energy, through which we can influence ourselves and those around us amazingly.
The speaker stated that people take a lot of time in performing procedural aspect of things and spend the best hours of their days busy at work …. In this context, one of the author’s clients told him recently: Sometimes I’m so busy that I don’t even know with what I was busy, but (the question is) what if he’s busy with things that are worthy of his time?
Then, author, Robin Sharma, concludes that in-depth and strategic thinking is your first step on the way to superiority. In one of the pages of the book, he says that “clarity is a prerequisite for success”, as being thoughtful would reduce your vulnerability to events and your response to stimuli. Therefore, you will be able to make choices with more wisdom and prudence.
In another page, Sharma talked about the idea that reference points pull us into a new way of seeing things and would introduce you to a new set of possibilities and open doors you never even knew existed. For example, Sharma regards Lance Armstrong, the American cyclist and a record holder for the number of wins, a great reference point on persistence and perseverance, especially after he got cancer and retired, but, he returned and continued to run races.
On another topic, the author tells his story with his mother who listened carefully to him and appreciated whatever he said. He told a story about when you sit next to a person on the plane for a 3-hour flight and this person starts talking and continues speaking until the plane lands. However, this person does not ask you even about your name, home or business. Sharma says that this behavior of such persons tells me that they suffered in their childhood that no one listened to them carefuly. Here, Robin Sharma tackled a real fact about listening that most people spend the time when the other party speaks in preparing their answers only. He mentioned a quote that he likes “Never speak when you can nod”. Sharma concluded this topic saying that your success as a businessman, as a member in your family and as a person in general will be promoted if you apply this advice correctly; “Listen twice as much as you speak”. Be a first-class listener who shows great interest in what others want to say to you and watch the way they communicate with you and you will leave a good impressioneasily.
Al-Suwaidi presented the author’s key question: What shall we do to help create a new and better world?? Then, Sharma goes on to say never blame politicians, people around you or your parents. Because when you do that, you play the victim’s role – the world is full of those who play this role while they are able to be unique and outstanding and make a huge difference. He mentioned Mother Teresa’s saying about this idea: “If each of us would only sweep our own doorstep, the whole world will be clean.”
Robin Sharma tackled seven forms of wealth. He believes that wealth is not limited to collecting money … there are seven elements that you must raise to the level of excellence. These elements are:
– Spiritual wealth – Physical wealth (health is wealth) – Family and social wealth – Career wealth – Economic wealth – Adventure wealth- Impact wealth and making a good impact in life.
Al-Suwaidi stated that only few people devote time to design their lives in this way. She wonders if you do not know your destination, so how will you know that you have arrived there?? And how can you hit a target that you cannot see?
She added that the author reminds us of the effect of reversion. He means that the thing that you would like to have more of in your life is the same thing that you should give to others.
She addressed the individual: Would you like to be more appreciated for everything you do and for what you are personally? So, be the person who appreciates others and gives credit to them. You have to spread the appreciation with a big heart. Give others what you want them to give you more than anything else. This would open the minds and hearts of everyone around you to give more appreciation. So, give more love. Do not be an enemy of yourself and apply what the author called the backsliding effect.
Al-Suwaidi stated that only few people devote time to design their lives in this way. She wonders if you do not know your destination, so how will you know that you have arrived there?? And how can you hit a target that you cannot see?
She added that the author reminds us of the effect of reversion. He means that the thing that you would like to have more of in your life is the same thing that you should give to others.
She addressed the individual: Would you like to be more appreciated for everything you do and for what you are personally? So, be the person who appreciates others and gives credit to them. You have to spread the appreciation with a big heart. Give others what you want them to give you more than anything else. This would open the minds and hearts of everyone around you to give more appreciation. So, give more love. Do not be an enemy of yourself and apply what the author called the backsliding effect.
In this context, in the first part of “The Greatness Guide”, Sharma says, “Plant a stake in the ground to mark your place under the sun. Stop being a prisoner of your past andbecome the architect of your future. Remember that it is never too late to become the person you have always dreamed of being.