QUALITIES THAT LEAD TO SUCCESS

QUALITIES THAT LEAD TO SUCCESS

by TSK. Raman

West Indies becoming the T-20 World Cup 2012 Champions prompted me to this. It was an awesome team effort which was well orchestrated by an unassuming and sincere Darren Samy, the Captain of this talented West Indies side. Captaining a side with Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, all menacing super stars who can win a match purely on their performance on their day. Add to that a modest, unassuming, less speaking Sunil Naraine, the mystery spinner, and Fidel Edwards, the sling action unpredictable quick bowler, in the side, is not an easy task at all.

Assuming charge at the helm two years ago, when cricket in the 'Calypso Isles' was in an absolute disarray, stung with problems from all sides, and he personally being criticized as a 'nothing' player. This man who carries his heart on his sleeve, put his hand up and committed every single day from then on to the cause of improving the stature of the side in the world arena.

Winning this title in Colombo yesterday, just puts West Indies back in the lime light once again. They are undisputedly the best side at least as far as T-20 is concerned.

Going forward, how they will stay together and work their way back to glory in the other extended formats of the game ODI's and Test Matches is to be seen.

The fans of the game of cricket world over wish them well, as they are people born for entertainment, people who are passionate about the sport as much as they are fond of their dance, music and their 'spirited concoctions.'

What was noticeable is a burning Desire to win. It is vastly believed that a burning desire is the starting point of all accomplishments. It's also know n as "carrying fire in one's belly." Just like a small fire cannot give much heat, a weak desire cannot produce great results.

All of them work hard each showing intensity of Commitment. Vince Lombardi's quote, "The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor," sums up all that is to be said in this context.

For the first time one could see the Responsibility each one held. West Indians from time immemorial have been people who played this sport with great flair and flamboyance. They are absolute stroke makers and usually get their runs pretty quickly. It doesn't matter to them as to what the situation of the game is they'll play their strokes. They will not know how to defend for them attack is the only form of defense they know, so they will attack, attack, attack, from the word go. The approach is the same be it when they go out to bat or bowl. For a change they were different last evening. They showed more maturity and understanding that they left everyone dumb founded. They started of unusually slow, but ended up pretty well with a modest total to defend. Responsible people accept and learn from their mistakes.

They put in a lot of Hard Work: Andrew Carnegie said, "The average person puts only 25% of his energy and ability into his work. The world takes off its hat to those who put in more than 50% of their capacity, and stands on its head for those few and far between souls who devote 100%." That was evident in the way the played.

Leading them from the front Darren Samy showed a lot of Character which got rubbed into all of the others in the team as well. George Washington said, "I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most valuable of all titles, the character of an honest man." The interview after the game just before the prize distribution Darren Samy showed all of this trait.

Darren Samy often talks about Positive Believing: Positive believing is an attitude of confidence that comes with preparation.

He urged each of them to Give more than they get and he was a god example himself : Winners put in 100% and then some more.

They displayed ample Persistence : Through out the tournament they were consistent and persistent. Accepted they were lucky when they played their tied match with New Zealand, and then coming to winning the same match in the "super over's," and that too in great style. architect of that win was Marlon Samuels, who was the man of the match in the final yesterday. Calvin Coolidge rightly said, " Nothing will take the place of persistence. Talent will not : Nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent . Genius will not : Unrewarded genius is a proverb. Education will not: The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. "

They take Pride of performance: They danced as soon as the last wicket fell, and they were dancing and dancing all the way even through the prize distribution ceremony. This quote of Martin Luther King, Jr. sum's it up, "If a man is called to be street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.

Dareen Samy implored his team mates to Be Willing to Be learners. The best teachers will not give you something to drink, they will make you thirsty. They will put you on a path to seek answers.

If all this is put together is it surprising that the Calypso Kings won the title. They were billed to win the tournament, even before the tournament began. By winning this the jolly go lucky bunch of cricketers from the isles of the Atlantic lived up to the expectations of the officials their countrymen and the cricket fans all over the world. Congrats to all the the West Indian and their ardent supporters.