Let’s begin with a fun exercise. Go to Google and type ‘new year’ and check what the auto-suggestion shows? Come on! Try it out, it would be fun.

What are the topmost suggestions? Did you say ‘New Year Resolution’?

Well! That is exactly what I wanted to hear.

The beginning of every New Year is usually associated with the resolutions you take for the year ahead. Resolution means taking firm decisions about doing or not doing something. Unfortunately, the zeal with which everyone starts doesn’t stay for long and within a few weeks, this year’s resolutions find themselves on next year’s list. The main reason is that people aren’t able to be determined enough to face the challenges and move forward.

Eddie Harris Jr., popularly known as ‘Coach Ed’ says that “It takes a dream to get started, desire to keep going and determination to finish.” Finishing what we have started requires a firm determination as it is not easy to move out of your comfort zone and stay on the course, no matter what. This is pretty much the reason why we say that being determined is being unconventional.

If you want to achieve something worthwhile and valuable, you need to be ready for the grind, you need to be ready for the pain, and you need to be ready for the struggle. No matter how strong or brave you are, leaving your comfort zone is never easy. You would always feel the urge to quit and return to your solace. This is a very natural human behaviour; what is unnatural or unconventional is to bear the pain and keep moving forward, and that requires determination and will power.

You must have heard the tale of hare and tortoise. Although the story is meant for kids, the wisdom hidden in that story is meant for everyone irrespective of his/her age. The tortoise was well aware of the hare’s speed yet it accepted the challenge because the tortoise didn’t think about winning or losing neither did it think about the consequences it would face if it loses. It was only determined to finish what it had decided to do.

We usually compare ourselves with our friends, colleagues, batch mates and relatives. Some of them would have already reached a better stage in their life. Comparisons make us dejected. We should not focus on what others are achieving, we should just be determined to keep moving and reach the finish line. It doesn’t matter whether you are a fast mover or a late bloomer, what matters is your perseverance and determination to move ahead. Moving against all odds requires an extreme level of determination and strength of character which is not a usual thing to find. So, be determined and you will be unconventional.