Doing Kaizen
I got initiated to the word 'Kaizen' almost six years ago on one of the SEI-CMM Level 5 quality presentations. I do not quite remember the name of the person who gave that presentation, but I wish I did as I missed out on an opportunity to say "thank you". The presentation was focused on improving the quality of computer software that is developed, but something in me said that the power of the word Kaizen was far beyond improving the quality of software. Kaizen held the key to unlock my potential and transform me into a 'Genius'.
Over the last six years I have successfully implemented the theory of Kaizen in a few areas of my life and have benefited immensely. Kaizen has helped me to overcome both personal and professional challenges and in many ways have made me a better individual. Still I am far from perfecting the art of Kaizen as many areas of my life continue to remain untouched by its power. Here again I feel is the true beauty of Kaizen. There are really no boundaries or limits. Use the wand called Kaizen to gradually touch each and every aspect of your life and continue to touch it for the rest of your life. Remember that best is just good enough. We use the word 'best' since we have not seen anything better yet, but in no way it establishes the limit of human potential. The limits are only imaginary boundaries created by our mind. If you really can't think that a limit can be bettered it is quite unlikely that you would make an attempt to go beyond the limit and be better than the best.
Hence I have always believed that everything starts with the mind. It is important to train your mind everyday similar to an athlete who trains continuously to run faster. Unless your mind can think beyond pre-defined limits you would never even attempt to take a shot at greatness. Help your mind so that it can help you. Read books that help you to be a better person and a better professional. Good books have in them years of wisdom that will help you to acquire it in a few days. Contemplate and ask yourself some simple questions everyday to challenge your mind - What is the purpose of my life? Why was I born? What can I do to make the world a better place to live in? Do something everyday you don't like but that must be done. This will help you to control your mind so that it listens to you. Unless you control your mind it will control you and you would never see the light of greatness.
Mind, body and character are what makes an individual. Being a better person by applying Kaizen would require you to continuously improve all the three aspects.
Body - Unless you feel good, how will you think good?
Mind - Unless you think good, how will you do good?
Character - Unless you do good, how will you be better?
Hence to really be better and achieve self-mastery that will eventually lead you to greatness, continuous improvement of all the three aspects is essential.
All individuals are just that - individuals. We all have different dreams, ambitions, likes, dislikes etc. Hence what works for one might not work for another. There is no '10 ways to greatness' or '100 tips to change the world', but it is important to know what works best for you. To know that you would have to try out a few alternatives. For example, to get a great body you may try to wake up early and exercise. To improve your mind read good books, learn a new language or get a higher education. To improve your character do a 'good turn' everyday, help somebody overcome a challenge, help your wife around the house, play soccer with your child, do things that you don't want to do but must be done to make the world a better place to live in. And in whatever that you do there is always a room for improvement. And with continuous improvement every day you are well on your way to become a 'Genius'.
Over the last six years I have successfully implemented the theory of Kaizen in a few areas of my life and have benefited immensely. Kaizen has helped me to overcome both personal and professional challenges and in many ways have made me a better individual. Still I am far from perfecting the art of Kaizen as many areas of my life continue to remain untouched by its power. Here again I feel is the true beauty of Kaizen. There are really no boundaries or limits. Use the wand called Kaizen to gradually touch each and every aspect of your life and continue to touch it for the rest of your life. Remember that best is just good enough. We use the word 'best' since we have not seen anything better yet, but in no way it establishes the limit of human potential. The limits are only imaginary boundaries created by our mind. If you really can't think that a limit can be bettered it is quite unlikely that you would make an attempt to go beyond the limit and be better than the best.
Hence I have always believed that everything starts with the mind. It is important to train your mind everyday similar to an athlete who trains continuously to run faster. Unless your mind can think beyond pre-defined limits you would never even attempt to take a shot at greatness. Help your mind so that it can help you. Read books that help you to be a better person and a better professional. Good books have in them years of wisdom that will help you to acquire it in a few days. Contemplate and ask yourself some simple questions everyday to challenge your mind - What is the purpose of my life? Why was I born? What can I do to make the world a better place to live in? Do something everyday you don't like but that must be done. This will help you to control your mind so that it listens to you. Unless you control your mind it will control you and you would never see the light of greatness.
Mind, body and character are what makes an individual. Being a better person by applying Kaizen would require you to continuously improve all the three aspects.
Body - Unless you feel good, how will you think good?
Mind - Unless you think good, how will you do good?
Character - Unless you do good, how will you be better?
Hence to really be better and achieve self-mastery that will eventually lead you to greatness, continuous improvement of all the three aspects is essential.
All individuals are just that - individuals. We all have different dreams, ambitions, likes, dislikes etc. Hence what works for one might not work for another. There is no '10 ways to greatness' or '100 tips to change the world', but it is important to know what works best for you. To know that you would have to try out a few alternatives. For example, to get a great body you may try to wake up early and exercise. To improve your mind read good books, learn a new language or get a higher education. To improve your character do a 'good turn' everyday, help somebody overcome a challenge, help your wife around the house, play soccer with your child, do things that you don't want to do but must be done to make the world a better place to live in. And in whatever that you do there is always a room for improvement. And with continuous improvement every day you are well on your way to become a 'Genius'.
posted by Anirban Ray at
12:21 PM
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