So many questions and concerns of so many CAT aspirants who reach out to me revolve around time management and discipline. And I try and answer those in several ways, trying to find a better way to explain each time. Discipline comes from consistency. And the need for discipline is one of the main reasons why so many students join various CAT Coaching classes.
While everyone wants that final selection to a terrific B-School at the end of their CAT coaching, we also know 2 things:
a) it won’t happen in a day – it is not a 1-step event.
b) It will need some good work almost everyday to get there – every day could be a step or a leap, forward, backward or on-the-spot!
And this makes every single day extremely precious!
How precious is a day in your CAT Coaching?
It took me a few hours of co-work with my then 8-year old to realize it again.
A couple of years ago, my daughter, who had just entered 4th standard then, had to speak about magic or time – she decided it will have to be both; she ordered me to help her write; and finally she approved the following:
Magic Bank Game
Wouldn’t it be a great surprise
If every morning you won a prize
Not 1, not 10, and not just 100
But 86 thousand and 400
Oh wow, how much fun that would be
So much to spend, and all for free!!
But hear me out before you go
A few rules of the game you must know.
Each day you will get all this money
Each day you must spend every penny
What you don’t use will be gone
And it will be as if you had none
And then the next day shall begin
Your account will be filled upto the brim
Not 1, not 10, and not just 100
The whole 86 thousand and 400
So, whatever you do just keep in mind
Spend wise, spend nice, and please be kind
Have fun as long as you can play
As the game can stop just any day
You think you will enjoy it so?
You are already playing, don’t you know?
This magic of time, everyday
86400 seconds for us to play
To choose, and use, as we wish to
And everyday starts as brand new
It’s much more than a dollar or dime
This magic bank that’s full of time!
She spoke beautifully. I was as excited as her because it once again brought to the fore the need to see time as the most precious gift we have.
The takeaway for you:
You can make the 86400 seconds you have today truly useful and special; or just let them wither away.
Tomorrow will be a fresh start and your account shall be replenished – to use or waste, however you choose to.
While this currency, once used, disappears, what you create out of this can last for a long time. And that’s what you are doing when you are putting in hours day after day to make it the best CAT coaching experience for yourself.
This magic bank game – play it well and nothing can stop you from doing well at whatever it is that you aim for.
And very importantly, treasure it and enjoy it while you are allowed to play it.
Value life, value time, value today, value this moment, value this very breath. And make something magical out of it.
About the author: Deekshant has sleep-walked through several 100 and 99.9 %iles in practically every section of the CAT. That he is a cricket fan and he writes okay is evident from most of his posts. 1000s of our students swear that he can motivate almost anyone to double his/her percentile through very simple yet powerful inputs. And that’s why every MBAGuru student has direct access to him via mail and Telegram. Oddly, he somehow also finds the time to write songs professionally. And yes … almost missed this … he is an alumnus of IIT Delhi & IIM Cal 