Five ways to be an extraordinary person

The best way I can define extraordinary is this.They are people who get it right. Not just do they succeed in their purpose, but enjoy the fruits of it. They seem to live a good life without getting hassled. They are poised and prepared for success. And their success is meaningful.

We all know that one person we think is living an extraordinary life. But that is someone else. How about you and me? Can you become that extraordinary person?

Here are my five ways to become an extraordinary person. I do my share of all of this everyday. You could start today - literally.

1. BELIEVE: Self-doubt and extraordinary never go together. If you have any doubt that you can't become extraordinary, your journey got tough right away. I recommend that we have more belief in our abilities and talents than sounds reasonable, even to us. What might be the results if you believed in yourselves more than anyone else around does or can? Extraordinary people have a huge amount of belief that they are capable of achieving great success.

2. BE PASSIONATE: Have you noticed that those you look up to seem to enjoy everything they do? Here is the secret. They do what they love to do...consciously and consistently. They really LIVE their life! The best way to be passionate about your work and life is to do what you enjoy doing. Doing things for money alone never works. Extraordinary people attract money by loving what they do.

3. FORGIVE: Seriously. Ordinary people waste precious time and energy holding grudges and remembering past hurts. And settling their scores. Walking with baggage slows us down. Extraordinary people understand the importance of feeling energetic and positive everyday. Let the past go, so it can let you go. Make room for your future success.

4. CHOOSE WELL: Just because we get a tempting offer for work, for a partner, for money, or for an opportunity does not mean it is the right thing for us. Choose well. Choose carefully. Extraordinary people take up meaningful projects that resonate with their best strengths and deepest desires. That is how they craft a life of their choice. Choices make up our life. So choose smartly.

5. FINISH: Generally, we are great beginners and poor finishers. Many opportunities that can make our life extraordinary languish in the background as we forget to close the loop on them. Or just get distracted by the pressures of life. Finish what you begin. Get into the discipline of completion. There's less competition there. Extraordinary people know that what gets finished is what gets results.

As with all meaningful things in life, becoming extraordinary is not an overnight task. It takes some time and discipline. Conscious commitment though can turn our life around. What is extraordinary is what gets noticed in our busy world today. Feel free to begin today!

Do commitments matter?

I've been asking myself this question very often these days - do commitments and promises mean anything anymore? They once did, when our grandparents gave their word and kept it, even if it meant making personal sacrifices to do what they had promised to do.

It has been my professional experience in recent times that commitments and their value has seriously declined. So, someone says something to me with unflinching conviction the evening before and we settle on a plan, and the next day they don't bat an eyelid before doing a 180 degree! I had a colleague talking to me on the phone reporting similar incidents and asking me if that's how the 'corporate world' worked? Or are they missing something here?

Both for their and my sake, I focused on people who have taught me through their brilliant example that not everyone in our corporate world is the same. I have had the good fortune to learn from senior leaders no less that it doesn't take that much to keep commitments. A simple, "Sonali, I can't promise anything right now and we'll talk after a week", works just as well.

I guess people often promise things because they find it awkward to tell you otherwise. Especially, in our Asian culture. But isn't that a painful way to say, 'No'?

So next time you know you don't know for sure....say so. It will save a lot of explanations and apologies, but more importantly, it will tell the other person that you are a man or a woman of integrity. Who keeps their word. Even in this age.