Long successful life and career: 

Look Straight 

Look Ahead 

Look with Wisdom 

—

Look Straight: 

Many times, we are tempted to cut corners.

Rules feel unsmart, like a difficult path.

The first time you trespass, no one notices.

But soon, you will be riding the tiger.

At work, at home, or at life.

The temptation is too sweet,

But look straight and just know,

It takes more than you think it takes. 

So stop. 

Establish trust. 

Say what you do, do what you say. 

The tough straight path is longer,

But promises to get you there. 

It all starts at home. 

With your lady,

Be faithful to her and to your family. 

Know that love is a fruit of labor, not an entitlement.

Call mom.

Laze with friends.

This is the bedrock of peace, progress and positivity.

But beware, there will be moments of hopeless lows,

And that day you should remember, 

It takes more than you think it takes. 

Look Ahead: 

Failures are but part of life.

Some lose jobs. Others might close a company.

Then there are those for whom,

A hidden malady surfaces up with a stunning roar.

The unluckiest might lose a loved one.

But, to know even in your lowest ebb,

That one who can imagine a future,

And be driven by it,

Is not yet defeated,

It takes more than you think it takes. 

Future crafting is difficult but, imagine you must. 

Demons will come in, disguised as diligence. 

Pessimism will creep in, disguised as prudence. 

Inertia will rule you, disguised as imagination. 

All will stand between you and the future of your dreams. 

So, willpower is the foremost tool of future-smiths,

And will-power is soldered by hard work. 

It takes more than you think it takes. 

Look with wisdom: 

Shoulders offer comfortable peepholes to the future.  

Scout the path ahead, by standing on the shoulders of giants. 

Read. 

Listen.

Meet. 

Travel.

Know those who already know. 

Their ways are difficult,

But, they are the map makers for your journey. 

To embrace them with humility, 

It takes more than you think it takes. 

When you know that you know, you most probably don’t,

For the real from the bling, it is difficult to see.

Tireless curiosity will show you the layer below,

And the layer below,

And then glorious root, from where, 

The truth gets deliciously simple. 

To know,

Simplicity is the apex of complexity, 

It takes more than you think it takes. 

But, 

The sparkle in your eyes, 

The sharpness of your wit, 

The note of your song, 

The rationality of your thought, 

The depth of your knowledge, 

The reservoir of your will power, 

All tell us loudly, 

You have got all what it takes. 

The future is yours. Be bold. Shape it.