Use of CPM for Achieving Life Goals

Many bemoan the lack of time for activities in which they are interested. Critical Path Method, used in Project Management, can be used to address this issue.

The way is this. The (optional?) activities one likes can be sandwiched between essential activities in CPM. For example, an exercise activity (like walking to fetch groceries) can precede an essential activity like preparing or eating a meal. So that if one doesn't walk, one doesn't eat!

A very busy surgeon would play a vigorous game of squash after duty, before going home. So if he doesn't play, he can't go home!

If a person is fond of practising music, he/she should arrange their schedule, so that they can't leave for work without their morning riyaz. There is an apocryphal story of the legendary teacher Ustad Allauddin Khan denying food to his disciples unless they practiced enough!

Similarly with reading/writing. The ubiquitous Sudha Murthy had a creative urge to write, but no free time in her hectic day. So she decided just to get up an hour earlier so that she wrote before her day began. Similarly an avid reader can pledge to go to bed only after reading at least 100 pages!

The trick is to internalise activities of interest into one's daily inescapable routine so that one cannot pass a day without doing them.

Of course, it cannot be emphasized enough that this internalising interest into routine is possible only if one has EXCEPTIONAL FOCUS & MENTAL DISCIPLINE.

Qualifications & Education are NOT synonymous

"Educational Qualifications" is a phrase which is very common. But the two words may even be part of an Oxymoron. Qualifications are acquired, not for knowledge's sake, but to acquire a job, wealth & status. Education, however is a life-long process of absorbing knowledge & culture. A qualified person will pull down his/her shutters after attaining a position, showing no further interest in anything. An educated person, typically keeps an open growing mind, especially in the conscientious subjects of politics & religion, instead of becoming dogmatic.

An example will suffice. A qualified man who has studied Newton to get a degree & position, may totally shut his mind & even persecute Einstein's followers because Newton said light travels in a straight line & Einstein proved they can also bend!

God forbid when these people with just their qualifications also acquire power over their hapless fellow beings, behaving like the tyrants of old! That is quite likely to happen as they do not have the humaneness that true education & culture can bring.

Professions where abuse is normalised

There are at least three legitimate professions where one may not succeed if one does not abuse personally one's opponent.

The first is politics. Instead of engaging in constructive activities, the opposition at any given time is always indulging in hurling personal abuses at their opponents, instead of criticising their policies.

The second is law. Instead of getting at the truth & serving justice, the lawyers' main task is character assassination of the opposition witnesses. In fact, so brutal may be the cross-examination that witnesses faint. This legal activity may be worse than the (illegal) third degree imposed by the police.

The third is sport, especially the most popular one, cricket. Instead of fostering "The Sporting Spirit", it has given many cases of life long hatred. (Ex. Botham-Chapell). It is very sad that the once "gentleman's game" has normalised abuse, euphemistically called "sledging."