Its a NEW YEAR! Its a NEW DECADE!!! Its not just a New Year... its a New Decade! I remember very clearly the doubts that we had over the Y2K issue. It was 10 long years ago... but my memory tells me that it feels like only yesterday when we fretted and traumatized over what could happen to our computers, our systems in the office... and our lives. Doomsday soothsayers predicted the end of the world.... but we came through it all with élan, with flair... ok... some of us may even have stumbled through it... but we did survive the first decade of the New Millennium. Extrapolating from there... 2010 is a New Year... but it is also the 2nd decade of the 2nd Millennium. What can we do in the next year... that will determine how we proceed with this decade? Projecting ourselves forward by 10 years... at the dawn of 2020... what else do we need to achieve? What else can we be? How much more will we impact our world? The last two weeks has been an eye opener for me in many ways. Our daughter, Nicole was able to make it to the finals of the South Zone leg of the Miss India Contest in Hyderabad. She was tentative about participating. I had to convince her to stay in the competition, because I knew she had the stuff to win! But, what was more important was to help her understand that SHE COULD WIN! The AHA! Moment happened about half hour before the main contest... when Nicole realised that this was only another step on her path... and if she could come so far... whether she won or not... she would always cherish the training... the new friends... the new way of living... and her forced vegetarian diet... and the long hours with different trainers... While she was paranoid about how the judges would see her... or the question she would be asked, she also then decided that the judges knew their role... and they would do it to the best of their abilities... But, HER ROLE .... was to get out on stage and be the person she was destined to be... nothing less... nothing more. So when she hit the ramp that evening she was radiant... and resplendent... it was not about the winning anymore... it was about the BEING.... and that’s all she had control over... the moment and how she would respond to it. She had the stage... and she was the master of the moment... she would take every drop of juice out of it, and .... she would enjoy it immensely. The result was not ours to determine... but hearing her name being announced as the winner was not as exciting as we both thought it would be.... there was happiness... but not elation, joy but not ecstasy, achievement – but not pride. Strangely, it felt right... and good... and that was all that mattered. This was a victory not for Nicole, or our family... but for the spirit of determination, the heart of hope, and the mind of consistent contribution. It was a collective win for women, particularly young women with faith and confidence in their own abilities. Each of us have the seeds of greatness within us. We do not need anything other than the will to energize those seeds, and nurture them till they give us the fruits that they are bound to manifest. All we need to do next, is to provide the little extra nourishment on a regular basis, and the universe will do the rest. Every tiny acorn is not aware of its inherent greatness. It is not sure that it can become a mighty oak. But the truth is, that each of them has the potential to stand tall in the forest, and each of them has the hidden power to manifest a multitude of forests. The essential ingredient is that the seed should continue to grow... and give of itself ... for its entire life. Just imagine if the seed says... I cannot break through... I cannot burrow into the earth and let my root go deeper... there are rocks... and there are other issues... passing animals could eat my tender shoots... and the wind may topple me with its strength... yes... some seeds may give up too early... But that seed is NOT YOU! I am talking to you that you too KNOW that YOU can become a mighty oak ... yes, you can and should do it! So, take a few moments to decide... ARE YOU READY TO BECOME THE OAK THAT WILL STAND TALL???? Are you ready to do this... in spite of the passing animals... the rocks under your roots... the winds and the tempests that may blow??? SAY YES! Take this NEW YEAR as a milestone... to keep you on track... and know that like the annular rings that form each year (that is how the age of a tree is determined) in the trunk of every tree... we too will look back and say... year 2010 was better for us than the others... and we could let it happen by accident... or someone else’s prodding... but the best way is for us to take a DECISION to stop being average... and start setting standards. Lets stop going with the herd... and lets create a paths for others to follow. This article is a tribute to my young daughter... Nicole, who has taught me that beauty is not just in your clear and smooth skin... nor the captivating eyes inherited from your mother... nor even the charming smile... or the sexy legs and figure... but beauty is a magical force that lies dormant until we realize that we have been created to be more ... than we ever thought we could be... all we need to do is to BELIEVE in ourselves... and our purpose will unfold... and manifest itself. In closing... let me also request you to exploit one of the greatest forces in the universe.... the symbiotic synergy in the forest and in all living things... and lets help each other... so... If you see a seed that is lying dormant, unaware that it could be a mighty oak, ... give it a little bit of your energy.. through a smile... a pat on the back... a motivating comment... a warm and meaningful hand shake... a hug... or an SmS or email. We are all designed and programmed to survive, add value and to procreate... but, we also have greatness as our birthright... all we need to do is to stand up, and claim it! Then we can BE all that we were MEANT TO BE! Remember... Good is the enemy of GREAT! (Jim Collins – Good to Great) Ian Faria. (The author is a corporate trainer, motivational speaker, counselor and consultant who specializes in Organizational and Personal Enhancement). faria@a-pep.com