I love live sporting action! This includes the keenly contested tennis-ball-cricket matches in the park right in front of my house. And of course it goes right up to all the professional sporting action with packed stadium. How is it relevant to your CAT Preparation? Will get to that in a bit.
The one thing I really missed during the pandemic period was live sports. This desire might seem insensitive given how tough the peak periods for the pandemic were, but I am just admitting to the fact that I missed something good, a reminder of the good times, and something we so used to take for granted.
I prefer (most) live sporting events to Netflix or Prime Video binging anyday. In fact, much as I hate to admit it, I prefer sports even to a great book.
It’s not just about the thrill that accompanies great skill, but it’s equally about insights into what differentiates the great from the good – on a given day, and over long periods of time.
And it’s all practical, and unfolds right in front of us, just like life.
The different roles that ability and temperament play in success reflect repeatedly in Sports.
For example, how teams or individuals perform under pressure has nothing to do with their ability to play – and everything to do with their ability to stay calm!
Victory invariably covers even blunders and hence, rarely creates any improvement. How teams or individuals bounce back from defeats is what is most enticing!
The other interesting thing – basics for winning/success stay the same at all levels. You have to believe in yourself, stay in the game, not give up, keep learning and keep giving it your best. This has to be done regardless of how hopeless the situation may seem. This really is the crux even when you look at how to prepare for CAT!
Staying calm during pressure moments is one thing. But how about stay level-headed when the going is good?
Two things my school cricket coach repeated so often that I recall them (almost) verbatim:
- If you are set, finish the job. Don’t leave it for others.
- Unless there is a need for a very high scoring rate, take a single after hitting a 4/6.
I think that was about staying calm and not getting carried away when the going is good.
Now that I look back, these were lessons as much in life, teamwork and management, as in Cricket. Sticking to the basics and staying calm will be of immense use to you during your CAT preparation!
That’s something common to winners – be it in sports or at CAT!
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 