Don’t look up, god is not coming to save you

This is what MS Dhoni said at the start of the second inning of the Championship Trophy final between India and England in 2013. India could only set a target of 130 runs in a reduced 20 overs. That was an extremely chase-able total in T-20 settings. There was a chance of rain, and like us fans, players might have had some hope in the match being washed out. But that’s like betting on things you don’t control.

In the team huddle, which he mentioned in the post-match session, Dhoni said, “The first and foremost thing was don’t look up, God is not coming to save you. You have to fight it out. We are the №1 ranked team, let’s play like that. If we lose, they will have to score the runs; we won’t make it easy for them.”

I think that’s what taking responsibility and standing up in life is all about.

• If your startup doesn’t have a good marketing video, don’t wait for someone else to solve your problem. Just hire someone or make your own.
• If you’re not happy with your current job, don’t wait for the firm to change or a recruiter to reach out; take action.
• If privacy isn’t approving your product launch, instead of just waiting, book time with the team, escalate, or do 10 other things rather than just wait.

Taking charge in life and actively making things happen is no doubt a tough exercise but a rewarding one. Perhaps what differentias people who get things done and really smart people who somehow just missed the mark.

note to self: So, the next time I’m in a situation waiting for someone else to solve my problems or hoping for a miracle to happen, I should rather look within and trust myself to get the job done.