Friends, often we choose the right goals but walk the wrong paths by mimicking others, leading to failure. When failure strikes, we struggle to understand why. We make minor adjustments, tread the same path again, and unsurprisingly, the same outcome awaits us.
Let’s explore this thought through a story:
As Ramu Kaka stepped out of his house, he noticed Ramesh hurrying toward him. Upon seeing Kaka, Ramesh broke into a run, reached him, touched his feet, and asked, “Kaka, are you heading out?”
Kaka smiled and replied, “Yes, I am.” Ramesh’s face fell as he muttered, “Oh, I see.” Observing his disappointment, Kaka said with a knowing smile, “What’s the matter? It’s been a while since you came by. Are you struggling to decide what to do next?”
Ramesh bowed his head and admitted, “Yes, Kaka. That’s why I’ve come to talk to you.”
Kaka began walking toward his car, saying, “Come along. We’ll talk on the way, and I’ll drop you off wherever you need to go.” Delighted, Ramesh responded, “That would be great.”
As Kaka started the car, he said, “You’ve already decided to change your plan based on your father’s and friend’s advice. What is it that you want to ask me, then?”
Ramesh was taken aback. “How did you know I made changes based on their suggestions?”
Kaka chuckled, “I told you before, sometimes a guess just hits the mark. Forget about that now. Tell me what you’ve come to ask.”
Flustered, Ramesh replied, “Kaka, I spoke to my parents and my friend. I was surprised to find they know me better than I know myself. They said I’ve been focusing too much on my competitive exam preparation, which is causing stress rather than effective studying. They pointed out that I keep following the same approach, and it’s not working. I wanted to ask you what and how I should change.”
Driving with a serious tone, Kaka said, “Now you’re on the right track. It’s good to hear this. Son, when you set your sights on competitive exams, you must have known the odds—out of ten thousand candidates, only one or two succeed. You could be among them, or you might not. Keeping this pass rate in mind, you should’ve had a backup plan, such as preparing for smaller exams or adding qualifications alongside your main goal.
“You could have done this earlier, and you can still do it now. If you had done it before, you’d be a postgraduate by now. Never mind—start incorporating this into your plan now. Psychology suggests that studying in short bursts is more effective than long stretches. Taking breaks of 30–60 minutes every 2–3 hours helps reduce stress and refreshes the mind. After studying a topic, create questions and solve them after a break. Keep working on a topic until you achieve your desired result, but if it doesn’t happen in a day, move on to a new lesson the next day. Revisit challenging topics after 4–5 days.
“Additionally, daily physical yoga, breathing exercises, and meditation will help refresh your body and mind. Don’t forget to allocate time for entertainment—about 10–15% of your study hours should be reserved for relaxation. If you incorporate these strategies, success will surely be yours.
“Remember, these principles aren’t just for competitive exams; they apply to any challenge in life. If you adopt them permanently, you’ll never face defeat.”
Ramesh beamed and said, “Absolutely, Kaka.”
Kaka smiled and asked, “Now, tell me, where should I drop you off?”
Ramesh, looking thoughtful, replied, “Kaka, just stop at the next turn.”