A Home That Has Stacks Of Book Is A Beautiful Home To Live In

Dreams do come true and it became a reality not sooner than you picked his latest book and have been his biggest admirer. The day comes when you meet him face to face, get this wonderful occasion to host the author himself and have a BW Dialogue – this author is none other than internationally celebrated, No. 1 best-selling author and Leadership expert, I would like to address him a ‘Creative Entrepreneur’ who self-published his first book – The Monk who sold his Ferrari way back in the year 1996 -that itself made him a No. 1 bestselling author. His focus has always been creating great leaders who are true to themselves- through coaching each and all to live a great life of luminosity, creativity, and productivity – that also comes across so well in all his books & the character he creates –– The Leader who had no title – and many other ones - but the masterwork that took a lot of devotion was the most awaited – The 5 AM Club - which Robin claims has taken him four years to complete. Finally in 2019 – the masterpiece of his work - The 5 Am club – got published by Jaico publishing house. Robin, toured India during Feb 2019 to talk and endorse his book. It was a delight for the Indian fans to see him and listen to the tête-à-tête with Dr.Annurag Batra – Chairman and Editor in Chief – BW Businessworld and exchange4media, under one of its series of BW Dialogues with world-class leaders and celebrities.

Robin describes himself wanting to a humble servant -inspired by a life-changing experience of his visit to Nelson Mandela’s prison- he says I was blessed to get an opportunity to visit this place – where Nelson lived for 27 in confinement and torture and depredation; Robin interacted with the jailors who served him and saw him been tortured by the then jailors and in their eyes – Nelson was described as a Humble Servant. Robin – says ‘I want to remind people of the luminosity, the gift the talents that they have – I see people being busy being busy and have lost the sense of who they really are- I want to be a humble servant!’

From a successful litigation Lawyers to be an author – Robin, gave us a peek into his journey –by saying he came from a very humble background, his father and mother being the titan of influence in his life – the world around him said - if he became a lawyer he will be successful- which he was – but he never liked the man , he saw in the mirror every morning – the man who betrayed his own values and true self –that success meant nothing- this latent pain made Robin turn to read- great books such as Gandhi’s autobiography- philosophy- phycology –try mediation –acupuncture etc. – that changed the way he was thinking and living  - he added  ‘if a simple person like me who could change by reading - I must write a book and I decided to write –The Monk who sold his Ferrari and self-published it‘.

The interesting curious title of his books that he comes up with– he says is a creative self of him as a person – ‘how powerful it is to give yourself an hour at the beginning of the day when the rest of the world is sleeping – I take the time away from digital distraction and get the best value- I access my greatest productivity’! Asking Robin about how he comes with such interesting titles and characters he says –‘some titles just come about like the 5 Am club – and the characters in the book – my intention is very creative and I fall in love with my characters –!

Robin took four years to write the – The5Am club – when asked he said – ‘I rewrote the book 50 times – I wanted every word to be perfect –if I could write a book that shared the morning routine of the history makers with millions of people– people who – have unexpressed potential that turns to pain and have lost access to the glory and authenticity of who they really are and play with the phone to escape that – it will be a great service.’ He wrapped his 20 20 20 formula in the form of the story and interesting characters – he crafted this book and spent so much time so his readers can feel his love, He says – ‘when people read the book they transform -  so I wanted this book to be a piece of magic! He acknowledged that there were days that were exhausting and I wanted to give up!'

Talking about ; Pain-pleasure- positivity- negativity- Robin says –‘I have learned more from bad examples than good examples– I pay attention to people who make me feel good – it takes a big man and a women to make others feel good - Great leaders make other people feel bigger – that takes a lot of hero work - kindness and forgiveness and seeing the best in people in the world that’s tearing each other down – calls for bravery and heroism and is not a weak thing , it takes courage’ – Robin continues – ‘so pay attention to people who make you feel good and learn from that. I learn more from the tragedy, more than from the sunshine days– when you are down on your knees – life kicks you hard – your ego cracks- that teaches you of noble virtues, of promise-keeping – sincerity –punctuality- noble virtues of building relationships for business and work knowing that the money will take care of it itself –those are the things leadership is made on!’.

Robin has always been talking about the four interior empires formula of Mind Set + Heart Set + Health Set + Soul Set. Dr. Batra asked if he could expand for the benefit of the audience. Robin has another great explanation that he gives- ‘we have read so many inspirational books, positive thinking and nothing has changed – because Mindset is just twenty-five of the change- you can have great phycology and great beliefs but if you have weak Heartset – which is your emotionality – and if that is full of sadness & pain – a toxic heart set will sabotage you and you cannot be creative & productive & world class- Healthset – If you want to be legendary in your business- then don’t die!! -You'll never become a titan of your industry and an icon who makes history if you're dead. – Energy is vitality, protection so you can live longer and serve and do great things! Soulset – which is fundamentally important to be successful in the world – it is important to connect to your higher nature and connect to your noble virtues every morning- you show leadership vs followership -   if you work on this four empire ship every morning - when the whole world is asleep – you can add great values to the world- and you will be bulletproof from the distractions of the world.’

One of the values of the 5 am club he teaches is – An Addiction to distraction is the death of your creative production.

When asked about - being authentic is hard and to follow your own teaching is hard – Robin says – ‘living in this world-class life is hard, building a strong intimate relationship is hard -creating a change in this mediocre society is hard but it doesn’t mean it is not the best way to spend the rest of your life. Being fully present is something I abide by – because I feel if you are not present at the moment you are giving a signal to the other person that they are not important – values of the The5am club teaches you that one hour before you go to sleep is incredibly important too – no technology- no white screen – leaving your phone away –have a bath - write a journal – a list of gratitude- sleep in a cool room –you will get high-quality sleep that will allow you to wake up at 5 am ! Sleep is incredibly important!

Dr. Batra – asked how Robin does come up with such profound quotes a few of the popular ones being – "Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.’ "Life's is too short to play small with your talents." "Your excuses are seducers, your fears are liars, and your doubts are thieves.". "The moment when you most feel like giving up is the instant when you must find it in you to press ahead." 

Robin giving an example of Picasso – and says –‘these are my crafts-  I take it very seriously – I have worked twenty years to make my book look simple. We live l in the world where people don’t want to work hard on their crafts – they don’t want to learn but want to be world class and want to make a lot of money – that’s just entitlement. The universe has a very fair accounting system – if you serve if you help and if you care, with love and commitment- you give people awesome values – you will make money you can claim!

Robin Sharma on seeing himself 10 years down the line and about carrying his legacy– he said, ‘I do spend a lot of time future planning- writing journals –because I want to express that - but I want to live in the moment – I do not think about leaving behind legacy –I think legacy is all about ego - I want to help people right now – I want to do great work right now –I want to make a difference right now- today is all we have-tomorrow is just an illusion -!

It is very easy to say don’t give up when someone is struggling – give us some tips on what should one do – Dr. Batra asked – Robins explanation on this was quite reflective – starting from following the formula of 20 20 20 given in – The5amclub – which will make one strong – Robin says, ‘it will protect your Mindset- Heart -set- Health-set and Soul-set-so- when you go in the world the brain that aggravates you will aggravate you less-this morning routine is very powerful !’ . He shared the philosophy - understanding that great heroes are not made during the time on the top of the mountain – heroism is made in the struggle – great heroes were Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Rose parks – they were not who, in the times of ease – but who - when the world was throwing stones at them –the ultimate teachers of love were crucified – The bad day for an ego is a good day for the soul. The ego tells you pain, suffering, discomfort, failure is bad –but I say – stay in suffering as long as possible –because that’s purifying you because suffering teaches you forgiveness, honor, authenticity, empathy to keep your feet on the ground – we become luminous in nature from the things that break us.

When asked about - Forgiving – giving back – humble servant- leaders – what are his thoughts on the leaders today who are self-centered- they are doing opposite of what Robin is teaching- here is what Robins says – ‘I am eternal of optimist and I feel there will be a time when there will be an emergence of pure leaders ! ‘-Giving the example of social media and selfie’s world – calls it an interesting world we live – we live in the world of entitlement – narcissism –and we celebrate that!

That doesn’t mean we should not trust our heart and live by the values that feel right to us – so rather than pointing out the leaders on how bad they are – if we follow what Mother Teresa taught (if everyone swept their own doorstep the whole world be clean) - and Gandhi taught (be the change you want to see in the world! We will be better leaders! 

Robins emphasizes again on waking up at 5 am - working on you’re the four empires – getting back to the luminous nature – going out there – it’s the recipe and formula to a great life. Be like Nelson Mandela, who even after 27 years of being tortured still smiled in every picture! Robin says he looks up to him as a true leader!

Just to be on a personal note – Robin says he is a very simple person and he loves to be in India, enjoys the tandoori chicken and kulcha! Throughout all his great conversation and Q & A – he reiterated - Own your morning – run the 20 20 20 formula – leave the social media depression – spend less time on other people’s lives – follow you visions of Leadership vs. followership. During your hard time again insisting the morning routine, to visualize being what you want to be –writing pre-commitment practice – re scripture yourself and that will help stop repeating the mistakes

I end with one of his powerful statement –

Leadership is dangerous sports but I think that the best sports you can participate in!