Pertinent lessons from a 5,000-year-old text for 5 21st century prototypes 1.

Ambitious bloke struggling to be a success: The Gita prescribes the Six Point Plan for success in Chapter 3, verse 30, sharing the formula for right action. It's split into two key areas: creating energy and plugging its dissipation. Energy boosts: Through Focus I Expand your vision and fix a goal that goes beyond selfcentered interests. The intellect needs to focus thoughts on that goal. Energy in nature (wind, light, water) gains power when unidirectional. Similarly, thoughts directed towards one goal generate a surge of energy. Through surrender: The mind must surrender to the goal. You have to build passion for what you do. Love it. Worship it. The higher the goal you surrender to, the greater the energy generated. The Chairman of international coffee chain Starbucks has authored a book titled, Pour Your Heart into It. It speaks of the success of the brand, giving credit to founders who were singlemindedly devoted to providing Americans the best coffee experience. Roger Federer loves tennis. Sachin Tendulkar worships cricket. Zakir Hussain can't think beyond the tabla. The convergence of the head and heart into one goal leaves you creative and innovative. Through action: The body must act dynamically to achieve the goal. The more you act, the more energy you generate. Most active people are energetic. Couch potatoes don't emit an ounce of energy. Plug its dissipation: Energy tends to dissipate through three unproductive channels - worry over the past, anxiety over the future, and frenzy in the present. For instance, a student who is nervous before an exam is unlikely to perform brilliantly. You lose from a winning position. I'd say, Tendulkar will bag his 100th century if he follows this advice. 2. Working chick torn between home and career: For her, it's Chapter 6, verse 1 that fits best: 'One who does what one ought to do without depending on the fruit of action is a sanyasi, a yogi; not one without a higher ideal. Concentrate on doing your duty to the best of your ability. A person driven by whims is torn between home and career. The one fixed on obligations knows exactly what to focus on, and to what extent. Find fulfillment in the action itself. Consistent, dedicated effort without worrying about the result will in fact, bring you unbelievable results. If, say, she has a crucial meeting scheduled on a day her child is very ill, she must say, 'no' & I to the conference. Go with your duty. That's the thumb rule. 3. Entrepreneur balancing profit and ethics: The perfect answer to his dilemma lies in Chapter 3, verse 10: Having created humankind along with yajna (sacrifice), Prajapati (the Creator) said, 'By this may you prosper. Let this be the Kamadhenu (wish-fulfilling cow) of your desires.' Only humans have the capacity to sacrifice, work towards a larger cause, and uphold dharma (values). This is signified by yajna. Yajna is not merely a havan (fire ritual). It is working in the spirit of service towards a higher goal. It's impossible to prosper without sacrifice, is what the underlying meaning is. Dr Viktor Frankl, a concentration camp survivor from WW II says, 'Success is the unintended side effect of one's dedication to a cause greater than oneself.' If

you grab, you'll lose. Give and you gain. There are no shortcuts to success. A businessman who turns down a bribe will ultimately succeed.