Question

1. Describe a situation or scenario where you have had to compromise proving or improving, because of time and money limitations? How did you handle that situation, what did you learn, and what would you do differently next time?

Answer 1

Answer:

I have been through a similar situation where I pursued for earning little extra money (due to money limitation) by compromising my improvement, which could have given me bigger returns in long run.

It was when I was a fresher, just graduated from an engineering college, I used to work for a meagre salary in a company, where I had to just follow instructions and do my assigned job. The city was a metro city, hence the cost of living near my office was too high and till the end of the month, I was left with few bucks only (in India it is called chillers). So, I decided to join a place as a music instructor and from there I used to earn some extra money.

As, I was already subjected to live in a condition where I was hardly able to pay my bills and rent, moreover that I was also supposed to send money to home, as I was the sole bread earner in my family, but then that extra amount of cash came like a blessing to me. And everything was almost fine then, but as a result I could not spare even few hours for my studies which I was supposed to do for my management entrance exams. Getting into a good management college could have settled my life forever but what I did here was, due to momentary and short-term gain, I kept going to the music classes as a teacher and thereby compromising my studies in order to meet my financial needs.

And as a result, when the entrance exams for management college approached, I could not perform well and failed to get admission even in a single college. And that was the day, I still remember after seeing the results, I cried badly the whole day and left the music classes. Most of my close friends in the office left me alone, everyone went to some good colleges or went abroad to study. So, it was a situation I would say where I compromised my improvement in life just in order to fulfill my short-term needs. Indeed, money and time limitations were a big parameter playing in the situation.

How did I handle the situation?

· I chalked out a plan for the next year entrance exams

· I studied regularly, even after coming from office despite the fact that office work was too taxing.

· I kept myself away from distractions, which helped me to save money substantially.

· Persistently and religiously I followed my routine of studies and exercise, in order to reach my goal

· I convinced my parents, that at these pressing times they too must support me in spite of putting burden of whole family on me.

· I convinced my parents of the long-term goal about how everything will be fine after I get into a reputed management college.

· Finally, I successfully got into a decent management college with my conviction, because I never had a second option.

What did you learn?

· We should never go for fulfilling short-term needs in life.

· Started to think long term and learnt to build patience in order to achieve success. As we all know, Rome was not built in a day.

· I developed spirituality, because it helped me to stay away from distractions. To stay away from distractions, we have to subjugate our desires and mind, which lures us towards momentary pleasures but then I learnt to focus back on the miserable situation of my present life and I was not ready to stay in that miserable condition for rest of my life, and that too for some hours of momentarily pleasure, since then I always prefer subjugating my short-term needs and pleasures.

· I started to prioritize my work and values in life.

· Always should pursue my work with conviction.

What would you do next time?

· I will always think for long-term gains (i.e. improvement of life) rather than short-term gains.

· Always utilize the available time.

· Will prioritize my work, create a strategy and then perform it.

· Will always start my day with exercise, as it gives positive feelings and confidence about myself.

· Will prioritize those work, which would improve my whole personality rather than going for work that just meets momentary needs.