BookMarks #112: Learning How to Fly

Title: Learning How to Fly: Life Lessons for the Youth

Author: APJ Abdul Kalam

Genre: Non-fiction, Memoirs, Compendium

Published: 2016

BookMarks

I am born with wings So, I am not meant for crawling, I have wings, I will fly.

The book is a collection of speeches given by Dr. Kalam in his interactions with students across India and the world. As always, simple but inspirational words. Here are a few bookmarked items from the book.

• The tools for life: have a great aim in life, continuously acquire the knowledge, work hard and persevere to realize the great achievement. Finally, how to manage failures and success in life. And you will definitely succeed in all your missions. It does not matter who you are.
• Knowledge = Creativity + Righteousness + Courage
• Learning gives creativity, Creativity leads to thinking, Thinking provides knowledge, Knowledge makes you great.
• Goal - I realize that aiming small is a crime. If something important is at stake, the human mind gets ignited and the working capacity gets enhanced manifold.
• The culture of excellence is driven by innovation and creativity. A nation’s economic development is powered by competitiveness. Competitiveness is powered by knowledge. Knowledge is powered by technology. Technology is powered by innovation. Technology and innovation are powered by resource investment.
• The important aspect of creativity is seeing the same thing as everybody else but thinking of something different.
• The important elements that constitute a nation are: being disease free; high earning capacity; high productivity; harmonious living and strong defence - Thiruvalluvar. How can all these elements be provided to citizens of every nation?
• We learnt, dreamt, experimented, failed, recovered and succeeded.
• The test of a human being is in accepting the failure and to keep trying until he or she succeeds.
• What worked yesterday, will not work today.
• Leaders must have a vision…a passion to realize the vision…be able to travel into an unexplored path…know how to manage success and failure…have the courage to take decisions…and be transparent in every action. Leaders must work with integrity and succeed with integrity.
• A culture that values wellness and healing will create a flourishing society—productive, creative, healthy and peaceful.
• Excellence happens not by accident. It is a process.
• Science is an eternally evolving enterprise. It is a never-ending journey across generations of committed researchers. Science thrives when it converges to solve pressing challenges of the world and this is the 21st century requirement from engineers.
• Coming into contact with a good book and possessing it, is indeed an everlasting enrichment.
• It says for those who do ill to you, the best punishment is to return good to them.
• Your beliefs become your thoughts Your thoughts become your words Your words become your actions Your actions become your habits Your habits become your values Your values become your destiny.

Simple & actionable words, to be put to use in life.

Previously on BookMarks: Krishna - the Man and His Philosophy  

By Dr. Kalam: My Journey