Hi everyone. I have not posted lately. But today I was inspired to post something. I saw a Hindi movie last night called Dangal. For my non-Indian readers, the name of the movie means Wrestling. It is based on a true story about a Indian national wrestling champion, Mahavir Phogat. Mahavir wins the national championship and wants to compete internationally, but his father says he has to get a job. So gives up his dream. But he thinks that he can realize his dream through his son. However, he and his wife end up with four daughters. But one day a neighbor complains that his two elder daughters beat the crap out of their sons. It is then that Mahavir realizes that he can train his daughters to become wrestlers. Now considering that Mahavir is from a remote village in the Indian state of Haryana and the movie is set in the 1970-1980 timeframe, this is very radical. In spite of a lot of opposition from his community he trains his daughters. There is no girls wrestling and so he makes his daughters wrestle against boys. Finally both his daughters become national champions and they win gold and silver medals in international competition. One of the biggest lessons I learned was that you have to step out of your comfort zone to be successful. Both Mahavir and his daughters did something way out of their comfort zone. Second, you have to challenge the status quo. It was not normal for girls to wrestle, but Mahavir found a way.

Third, you have to  have a laser focus. For 10 years, Mahavir and his daughters only focused on wrestling. In his community, from a young age, girls were brought up to cook, clean and bear children. Girls were often looked upon as a burden and were married off at a young age. Mahavir would have none of that. Having focus means cutting out distractions. There is one scene in the movie where his daughters tell him that constant wrestling in the mud is causing lice in their hair and they want to stop. Instead Mahavir tells a barber to cut the girls hair very short.

Even if you are not Indian, I would hope that you identify with the lessons, because they are applicable in any situation. In a couple of days, we will usher in a new year. Please keep these lessons in mind. Happy New Year!