Performance is the result of belief systems individuals develop through profound personal lessons learnt over a period of time.
Why does a class of 30 students, taught by the same teacher, get 3 different grades?
Why do children born of same parents excel in different careers, have different lifestyles and even have different outlook to life as they grow up? In fact, there are twins with different tastes and approach to life.
Have you ever wondered what sets a winner stand apart from the crowd?
PC: WhatsApp
PC: WhatsApp
PC: WhatsApp
When these two pictures were shown to biological sisters, one saw gold and the other a snake and a lizard. Their response intrigued me and I was reminded of a social media feed I saw recently… When a potato and an egg is subjected to boiling water, the potato becomes soft while the egg becomes hard.
While a teacher, a parent or any other influencers claim that all students and children are ‘equal to us’, they forget to consider the unspoken conditions and influence of environmental factors that contribute to shaping the reality of the youngsters.
For instance, taking the above example, the sisters, may have received the same upbringing and privileges at home. However, their classrooms, teachers, friends and work places have been different which certainly shaped their belief systems. Thus they reacted differently when they were shown the pictures.
I remember an incident during the annual day at school. One of my classmates, who was also my friend, was called on stage to collect the trophy for best sports boy. Next he was called for being the topper in studies, then he was called up again for winning the quiz competition, so much so the host announced, “Champion, you better stay on the stage, collect everything and then leave.”
My father, who was watching this ceremony, upon seeing me return empty-handed, said, “same school, same teachers”. I wanted to reply “different students different parents”. But I didn’t.
I had similar tough situations during my final year in school, whenever it was results time as well as when I was choosing subjects for graduation.
The Champion and other fellow students and colleagues have excelled at different times with their uniqueness as a result of their own belief systems that developed over a period of time through their profound personal lessons.
Let me brief you how profound personal lessons lead to your performance and thereby your beliefs.
My mother would pack hot rice in an airtight container every day. I would eat a little and dump the rest in the gutter before leaving school. One day, the school attendant caught me red-handed and questioned me. I told her that I emptied my lunch box in the gutter as I feared my mother would beat me for not eating. She advised me to take out a little portion that I needed and eat and keep the rest untouched. She would collect that everyday and give it to unprivileged children in the neighborhood. To date, my parents are not aware of this kind act.
There were days when I was in college, I would fill my tummy with ice-cold water from the cooler during lunch time. One day my bestie noticed my act and without any further questions he began sharing his lunch box with me.
Today, I’m often ridiculed by my family. “No need to clean the plate anymore”, they tease me when I finish eating.
Do not waste food and take only what you can eat are the two ‘profound lessons’ I learnt that has shaped my beliefs about food.
Most of our beliefs resonate emotionally and therefore will reflect in our performance. Some of those that tie with negative emotions, unfortunately, turn out to be your negative triggers.
Success, wealth and reputation can be built only over a period of time, never overnight.
What are your profound lessons learnt in your personal moments which created your belief systems impacting your performance?
If you are not happy with your performance look back to your belief system.
And the good news is you can change your belief systems and turn them to become the most resourceful to you.
Wishing you all loads of happiness state of resourcefulness.
Shashidhar Bairapu 