1. Motivational books, coaches, motivational speakers, etc., have their place in life, but they can’t change your life. We only take action when it’s the only remaining action we can take. When it’s the only option, we have. We seek advice when we have options, mark timing, and are content with our situation.

If you review your most important decisions or actions in life, you will bear witness that you did what you did because that was the most critical and desperate move for you at that point.

If speeches, motivational books, etc., changed anyone, then:

Millions who have read them would all be millionaires today.

Millions who have read them would have happy families now.

Billions who have read them would be happy forever.

But is this the case? How many read books and proudly proclaim the number/quantity they have read in a year? What is their lot? Are they happy? Peaceful? Wealthy?. After achieving success using other ways, many successful people start reading books and parading them while recommending them to their fans. Fans only need to ask themselves, did these heroes and achievers get to where they are by reading the said books?

Others, books, etc., can only inspire us, and that is it.

An analogy is usually given:

Suppose you are left alone in a desert, thirsty and at the point of death because of thirst!

Then, from a distance, you see a pond of water, or a mirage of water, say 1km away.

At this point, would you care to ask for advice on how to get to the pond?

Would you care to read so that you are motivated to reach the pond of water?

Will you not muster your remaining energy and rush to quench your thirst?

And that’s how life is generally! Just review your most important decisions and actions in life and counter-check the fundamental reasons for these.

So, we are primarily where were are because we are comfortable and okay with that. The change would be instant if it became a matter of life and death. And there’s nothing you can do about it.

So If I am pursuing a PhD and have not made any progress in it, it’s because it’s not a matter of life and death to me! If my life depended on me getting a PhD, I would have had one by now. I won’t need to read a PhD motivational book or be coached into achieving it!

If I am still an amateur programmer and have never created anything, it is because being a programmer is optional and not a matter of life and death to me!

We do and act on anything worthwhile because we have no other option! Especially on things that matter.

I may still be poor because I am still okay with being so! But being rich or poor is a non-issue when considering the main point of this point!

You still have not published your book because it is okay not to!

The cure is finding the truth about the issue, and your actions will be natural.

Most of us read books for entertainment.

We read to appear learned, knowledgeable, and wise to others.

We read to brag to our friends that we have read this and that!

We read so that we can appear and sound smart to others.

2. Hard work has its place. But hard work as a prescription has no use.

How many hard-working people toil day and night and remain poor?

How many work 3 to 5 jobs but are still poor and unsatisfied?

Hard work has rarely ever helped one.

But if you are devoted to something, a skill, art, etc., you may work 24hrs a day until you achieve it, and we won’t call this hard work. This is devotion, obsession! So you do what you have to achieve your goals.

How many people are told to work hard, and nothing comes out of it?

So success in any way may have very little to do with ‘hard work’.

3. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

This is an old proverb and is still 100% true.

Many pretend to be your friend only when it’s convenient for them.

4. Professional envy and maligning still exist!

Many will still go their way to malign your name for reasons known only to themselves. So be careful and do what you have to do to make it!

Nevertheless, your skills will create paths for you!

“Do you see a man skilful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” (Proverbs 22:29)

People like to judge other people. This peer pressure can make you stray from the path you started to carve for your future. Don’t mind other people’s aspirations; never let someone else’s goals and dreams influence your vision of life. It’s your path, and you decide where it takes you and how long it takes you to see it through.

Happy new year 2023!