DATED – 20th February 2016
A few days back I was talking to my good friend Sandeep Shah (Sandy). He took me back in time – about fifteen years. He reminded me of a speech I had given – “Be AGGRESSIVELY GOOD!” Frankly I had forgotten about it. But I was blushing as he kept praising me for that speech. This blog is dedicated to Sandy for reminding me of that speech.
It sounds like two antonyms, but put together they make a lot of sense. There are many of us who are good; however, our goodness stops with small actions. It doesn’t materialise into something bigger and more impactful that can help many more people or those same people with better long terms gains. Example –
- By giving children what they need, you are being a good parent. An aggressively good parent will keep children away (limited) from harmful things like gadgets, junk food, TV etc inspite of the dramas they create.
- Making your spouse feel wanted and loved is being a good husband/wife. Helping them overcome some obstacles/mental barriers/emotional turbulences without making them feel disrespected is an aggressively good spouse.
- Following traffic rules is good. But in case you can stop someone from breaking rules is being an aggressively good citizen.
- Ensuring that you will not dirty your country is good. But taking initiatives in organizing cleanliness drives is being aggressively good.
- Being a noble person at heart is good. Add non-compromising solid performance in your respective field along with a noble heart is being aggressively good.
- Playing with sportsman spirit is very good. But winning the gold along with the right spirit of game is being aggressively good.
- Having a gala time with lots of laughter and fun is being a good friend. But when a friend is in need (whether he asks for help or not), if you go and help him, it is being aggressively good.
- Relieving your dad and taking over your family business is being good. But if you have an idea, which is a solution to a problem of the world, and you decide to pursue it leaving your family business, then you are being aggressively good.
Just being good or being aggressively good would be similar to whether we will live a mediocre life or an inspirational life. When we live a good life, we are thinking only about the immediate results and gains. But when we live an aggressively good life, we are thinking and caring for the future too. If I have to relate it to my last blog – Being good is thinking short term, whereas being aggressively good is thinking long term!
Vis-à-vis my life –
Frankly, though it was my speech, I had forgotten about it. But as I am reflecting this concept with my life, I am realising that I act as per convenience. When it is convenient to be good, I stay good. When being aggressively good is in my comfort zone, I become so. From now on, I promise that whether convenience or inconvenience, I will be aggressively good.
Personally, I have made a choice. I don’t want to die as a mediocre like millions of people on this planet. My life has to be an inspiration – as a son, student, husband, sibling, father, friend, relative, businessman, and any other roles that I might play. An inspirational life is not possible until I decide to be aggressively good. Excitedly looking forward to the journey from being GOOD to AGGRESSIVELY GOOD!
