Press "Enter" to skip to content

3 Commando Secrets for Motivation | Major Deepak Iyer (Retd) | TEDxCMRIT


good morning ladies and gentlemen many

good morning ladies and gentlemen many years back when I was in the Indian Army

years back when I was in the Indian Army

years back when I was in the Indian Army my job was to hunt terrorists while you

my job was to hunt terrorists while you

my job was to hunt terrorists while you may think that that was a tough job

may think that that was a tough job

may think that that was a tough job I loved it that was because I was good

I loved it that was because I was good

I loved it that was because I was good at my job and more importantly there was

at my job and more importantly there was

at my job and more importantly there was complete certainty in my life the army

complete certainty in my life the army

complete certainty in my life the army had planned my life all the way to my

had planned my life all the way to my

had planned my life all the way to my retirement if I did well I would go all

retirement if I did well I would go all

retirement if I did well I would go all the way to become a general and if I

the way to become a general and if I

the way to become a general and if I didn’t do so well I would go and at

didn’t do so well I would go and at

didn’t do so well I would go and at least retire as a colonel so my life was

least retire as a colonel so my life was

least retire as a colonel so my life was very simple but in 2007 my life changed

very simple but in 2007 my life changed

very simple but in 2007 my life changed I had to step out of the army due to an

I had to step out of the army due to an

I had to step out of the army due to an injury now I thought I was intrigued the

injury now I thought I was intrigued the

injury now I thought I was intrigued the big bright world where I had complete

big bright world where I had complete

big bright world where I had complete freedom but alas that was not to be

freedom but alas that was not to be

freedom but alas that was not to be because when I stepped out I realized

because when I stepped out I realized

because when I stepped out I realized that I had complete freedom to do what I

that I had complete freedom to do what I

that I had complete freedom to do what I wanted but no clue what to do I had

wanted but no clue what to do I had

wanted but no clue what to do I had complete freedom to go anywhere I wanted

complete freedom to go anywhere I wanted

complete freedom to go anywhere I wanted in life but I had no idea where to go

in life but I had no idea where to go

in life but I had no idea where to go and suddenly I found myself completely

and suddenly I found myself completely

and suddenly I found myself completely lost confused and almost got into

lost confused and almost got into

lost confused and almost got into depression

somehow I had to figure out my life and

somehow I had to figure out my life and that was when I discovered a few

that was when I discovered a few

that was when I discovered a few principles that helped me get my life

principles that helped me get my life

principles that helped me get my life back on track

back on track

back on track and drive it to where I wanted it though

and drive it to where I wanted it though

and drive it to where I wanted it though and today I want to share a few of those

and today I want to share a few of those

and today I want to share a few of those principles with you I hope you find it

principles with you I hope you find it

principles with you I hope you find it of use in your life the first and most

of use in your life the first and most

of use in your life the first and most important part

important part

important part in deciding where you want to go in life

in deciding where you want to go in life

in deciding where you want to go in life is to have a destination when I stepped

is to have a destination when I stepped

is to have a destination when I stepped out I thought to myself where do I want

out I thought to myself where do I want

out I thought to myself where do I want to go and I worried about it now if you

to go and I worried about it now if you

to go and I worried about it now if you have to think about it that was like

have to think about it that was like

have to think about it that was like having a big bottle of plain water

having a big bottle of plain water

having a big bottle of plain water and I was trying to paint my destination

and I was trying to paint my destination

and I was trying to paint my destination with that plain water so what I did I

with that plain water so what I did I

with that plain water so what I did I dipped my brush and tried to paint okay

dipped my brush and tried to paint okay

dipped my brush and tried to paint okay maybe I want to go and what kind of

maybe I want to go and what kind of

maybe I want to go and what kind of picture did I see it was blank and then

picture did I see it was blank and then

picture did I see it was blank and then I told myself like a commando come on

I told myself like a commando come on

I told myself like a commando come on think harder and I shook the bottle hard

think harder and I shook the bottle hard

think harder and I shook the bottle hard and I said come on you got to figure

and I said come on you got to figure

and I said come on you got to figure your life you can do it and then I

your life you can do it and then I

your life you can do it and then I dipped my brush and I paint it but alas

dipped my brush and I paint it but alas

dipped my brush and I paint it but alas no magic the painting was blank again so

no magic the painting was blank again so

no magic the painting was blank again so I gave up and luckily for me my parents

I gave up and luckily for me my parents

I gave up and luckily for me my parents suggested that I simply sit at home and

suggested that I simply sit at home and

suggested that I simply sit at home and relax and they were very happy because

relax and they were very happy because

relax and they were very happy because after a long time I had come back home

after a long time I had come back home

after a long time I had come back home and I was with them so as I idle at home

and I was with them so as I idle at home

and I was with them so as I idle at home I started reading about different

I started reading about different

I started reading about different carriers and all as I started reading

carriers and all as I started reading

carriers and all as I started reading about different carriers suddenly it was

about different carriers suddenly it was

about different carriers suddenly it was like adding color into my brain

like adding color into my brain

like adding color into my brain different colors and as I started adding

different colors and as I started adding

different colors and as I started adding different colors my brain started

different colors my brain started

different colors my brain started enjoying it it started saying hey wow I

enjoying it it started saying hey wow I

enjoying it it started saying hey wow I love these different colors that are

love these different colors that are

love these different colors that are coming in and then it started telling me

coming in and then it started telling me

coming in and then it started telling me out of all these colors I like these two

out of all these colors I like these two

out of all these colors I like these two three colors give me more of it and then

three colors give me more of it and then

three colors give me more of it and then I thought how do I give more of it I’d

I thought how do I give more of it I’d

I thought how do I give more of it I’d read whatever there was to read about it

read whatever there was to read about it

read whatever there was to read about it and then I decided okay let me go and

and then I decided okay let me go and

and then I decided okay let me go and meet people in those domains so I did a

meet people in those domains so I did a

meet people in those domains so I did a whole lot of telephonic conversations I

whole lot of telephonic conversations I

whole lot of telephonic conversations I went and met people I traveled out of

went and met people I traveled out of

went and met people I traveled out of town I even connected with people in

town I even connected with people in

town I even connected with people in different countries and suddenly even

different countries and suddenly even

different countries and suddenly even out of those two three colors my heart

out of those two three colors my heart

out of those two three colors my heart fell in love with one color and that was

fell in love with one color and that was

fell in love with one color and that was consulting I didn’t beg me give me more

consulting I didn’t beg me give me more

consulting I didn’t beg me give me more give me more please I love this give me

give me more please I love this give me

give me more please I love this give me more and then I was like okay now what

more and then I was like okay now what

more and then I was like okay now what do I do

do I do

do I do so I searched around

so I searched around

so I searched around and luckily I got a lucky break in a one

and luckily I got a lucky break in a one

and luckily I got a lucky break in a one man consulting firm so when I joined

man consulting firm so when I joined

man consulting firm so when I joined that firm I was the guy who opened the

that firm I was the guy who opened the

that firm I was the guy who opened the gate I was the guy who made be and often

gate I was the guy who made be and often

gate I was the guy who made be and often I would also plead in the office but

I would also plead in the office but

I would also plead in the office but every day I got apprenticeship in

every day I got apprenticeship in

every day I got apprenticeship in consulting from my boss and that my mind

consulting from my boss and that my mind

consulting from my boss and that my mind loved so soon with so much of color it

loved so soon with so much of color it

loved so soon with so much of color it started painting multiple possibilities

started painting multiple possibilities

started painting multiple possibilities for me in the field of consulting and it

for me in the field of consulting and it

for me in the field of consulting and it painted wild and with each day the the

painted wild and with each day the the

painted wild and with each day the the picture became more vivid and one fine

picture became more vivid and one fine

picture became more vivid and one fine day it painted to me the best the very

day it painted to me the best the very

day it painted to me the best the very best in consulting which was McKinsey

best in consulting which was McKinsey

best in consulting which was McKinsey and company and then my mind simply told

and company and then my mind simply told

and company and then my mind simply told me go for it so ladies and gentlemen

me go for it so ladies and gentlemen

me go for it so ladies and gentlemen three years after I left the army and

three years after I left the army and

three years after I left the army and found myself completely lost and

found myself completely lost and

found myself completely lost and confused I received an offer from

confused I received an offer from

confused I received an offer from McKinsey & Company for her India office

that was when I discovered that there

that was when I discovered that there was a certain magic in life in the mind

was a certain magic in life in the mind

was a certain magic in life in the mind and to activate that magic the only

and to activate that magic the only

and to activate that magic the only thing that you needed to do is to put in

thing that you needed to do is to put in

thing that you needed to do is to put in as much color into your mind as possible

as much color into your mind as possible

as much color into your mind as possible lead as much as possible meet as many

lead as much as possible meet as many

lead as much as possible meet as many people as you can and experience

people as you can and experience

people as you can and experience whatever your heart craves for and soon

whatever your heart craves for and soon

whatever your heart craves for and soon you will find in your life that your

you will find in your life that your

you will find in your life that your mind will paint the most amazing

mind will paint the most amazing

mind will paint the most amazing destinations for you

now that we’ve learnt about how to paint

now that we’ve learnt about how to paint destinations for your life but how do we

destinations for your life but how do we

destinations for your life but how do we go about getting there the fuel of your

go about getting there the fuel of your

go about getting there the fuel of your life is your very life however long you

life is your very life however long you

life is your very life however long you live that is the distance that you can

live that is the distance that you can

live that is the distance that you can traverse and as you paint great

traverse and as you paint great

traverse and as you paint great destinations for yourself you have to

destinations for yourself you have to

destinations for yourself you have to realize

realize

realize like at one point in your life when

like at one point in your life when

like at one point in your life when you’re still in college at that point

you’re still in college at that point

you’re still in college at that point you are standing in the center of the

you are standing in the center of the

you are standing in the center of the universe and you can step into any

universe and you can step into any

universe and you can step into any direction you want to because your fuel

direction you want to because your fuel

direction you want to because your fuel is full and you can aspire to reach the

is full and you can aspire to reach the

is full and you can aspire to reach the very top in that field and become a

very top in that field and become a

very top in that field and become a legacy leave your imprint in the sands

legacy leave your imprint in the sands

legacy leave your imprint in the sands of time for someone like me and for many

of time for someone like me and for many

of time for someone like me and for many folks out here maybe that fuel tank is

folks out here maybe that fuel tank is

folks out here maybe that fuel tank is only half full but even then we have the

only half full but even then we have the

only half full but even then we have the desire to still use that half tank to

desire to still use that half tank to

desire to still use that half tank to still leave a legacy before we either

still leave a legacy before we either

still leave a legacy before we either retire or maybe die however as you think

retire or maybe die however as you think

retire or maybe die however as you think of this limited fuel and a great

of this limited fuel and a great

of this limited fuel and a great destination that you painted for

destination that you painted for

destination that you painted for yourself you need two things you need

yourself you need two things you need

yourself you need two things you need speed and you need mileage know speed

speed and you need mileage know speed

speed and you need mileage know speed comes from loving what you do as long as

comes from loving what you do as long as

comes from loving what you do as long as you just love the field that you’re in

you just love the field that you’re in

you just love the field that you’re in you’re gonna get up everyday waiting to

you’re gonna get up everyday waiting to

you’re gonna get up everyday waiting to go and run in that field and you

go and run in that field and you

go and run in that field and you wouldn’t bother about time you wouldn’t

wouldn’t bother about time you wouldn’t

wouldn’t bother about time you wouldn’t bother about anything you just love what

bother about anything you just love what

bother about anything you just love what you do you just want to keep doing it

you do you just want to keep doing it

you do you just want to keep doing it and you’ll race ahead those are the

and you’ll race ahead those are the

and you’ll race ahead those are the folks who eventually become legacies

folks who eventually become legacies

folks who eventually become legacies however if you do not find yourself in

however if you do not find yourself in

however if you do not find yourself in the place where your heart loves what

the place where your heart loves what

the place where your heart loves what you do then as Steve Jobs said keep

you do then as Steve Jobs said keep

you do then as Steve Jobs said keep looking and don’t settle no the other

looking and don’t settle no the other

looking and don’t settle no the other bit is around mileage for mileage it all

bit is around mileage for mileage it all

bit is around mileage for mileage it all depends on your vehicle and when I mean

depends on your vehicle and when I mean

depends on your vehicle and when I mean vehicle I mean your body and your mind

vehicle I mean your body and your mind

vehicle I mean your body and your mind now often people live in this I am NOT

now often people live in this I am NOT

now often people live in this I am NOT syndrome I’m not tall I’m not fair I’m

syndrome I’m not tall I’m not fair I’m

syndrome I’m not tall I’m not fair I’m not beautiful I’m not rich I know this I

not beautiful I’m not rich I know this I

not beautiful I’m not rich I know this I know that I do have spent my early years

know that I do have spent my early years

know that I do have spent my early years in that I am NOT syndrome what you need

in that I am NOT syndrome what you need

in that I am NOT syndrome what you need to realize

to realize

to realize is this body and this mind is not you

is this body and this mind is not you

is this body and this mind is not you this body and this mind is your vehicle

this body and this mind is your vehicle

this body and this mind is your vehicle to take you to where you want to reach

to take you to where you want to reach

to take you to where you want to reach in life and what you will realize is

in life and what you will realize is

in life and what you will realize is that when you take care of it

that when you take care of it

that when you take care of it you may have been born with a Maruti but

you may have been born with a Maruti but

you may have been born with a Maruti but if you take awesome care of it and you

if you take awesome care of it and you

if you take awesome care of it and you cherish it and you nurture it then one

cherish it and you nurture it then one

cherish it and you nurture it then one day as you go on your journey your

day as you go on your journey your

day as you go on your journey your Maruti will become a Ferrari the movies

Maruti will become a Ferrari the movies

Maruti will become a Ferrari the movies the obamas the Steve Jobs or some other

the obamas the Steve Jobs or some other

the obamas the Steve Jobs or some other terraces of the world are vivid examples

terraces of the world are vivid examples

terraces of the world are vivid examples of having been born in the I am NOT

of having been born in the I am NOT

of having been born in the I am NOT syndrome and having risen to show the

syndrome and having risen to show the

syndrome and having risen to show the world what mileage is so that is what

world what mileage is so that is what

world what mileage is so that is what you could dig for your mileage now the

you could dig for your mileage now the

you could dig for your mileage now the last big we’ve spoken about painting the

last big we’ve spoken about painting the

last big we’ve spoken about painting the destination we’ve spoken about driving

destination we’ve spoken about driving

destination we’ve spoken about driving in there with speed and mileage and

in there with speed and mileage and

in there with speed and mileage and let’s talk about the journey when I was

let’s talk about the journey when I was

let’s talk about the journey when I was 17 I got selected into the National

17 I got selected into the National

17 I got selected into the National Defense Academy with the top ranked All

Defense Academy with the top ranked All

Defense Academy with the top ranked All India ranked and I was delighted I was a

India ranked and I was delighted I was a

India ranked and I was delighted I was a star in my school and I loved the

star in my school and I loved the

star in my school and I loved the attention I got especially from the

attention I got especially from the

attention I got especially from the girls but when I landed in India it was

girls but when I landed in India it was

girls but when I landed in India it was as though I had just jumped into hell

as though I had just jumped into hell

as though I had just jumped into hell the rigorous military discipline the top

the rigorous military discipline the top

the rigorous military discipline the top seniors and the physical punishments I

seniors and the physical punishments I

seniors and the physical punishments I got scared of it all and suddenly I

got scared of it all and suddenly I

got scared of it all and suddenly I wanted to run away from there I was all

wanted to run away from there I was all

wanted to run away from there I was all alone I just wanted to run away and so I

alone I just wanted to run away and so I

alone I just wanted to run away and so I called my father I said dad just get me

called my father I said dad just get me

called my father I said dad just get me out of here I don’t want to be here

out of here I don’t want to be here

out of here I don’t want to be here please a my dad said okay done and true

please a my dad said okay done and true

please a my dad said okay done and true enough

enough

enough a week later I received a package I was

a week later I received a package I was

a week later I received a package I was delighted so I called my friends here

delighted so I called my friends here

delighted so I called my friends here I’m getting out of here see you guys and

I’m getting out of here see you guys and

I’m getting out of here see you guys and I rushed into my room

I rushed into my room

I rushed into my room from the package I mean I opened the

from the package I mean I opened the

from the package I mean I opened the package I was stunned the first thing

package I was stunned the first thing

package I was stunned the first thing that jumped out of me out of the package

that jumped out of me out of the package

that jumped out of me out of the package was a newspaper article saying Indian

was a newspaper article saying Indian

was a newspaper article saying Indian army shot up 20,000 officers and I was

army shot up 20,000 officers and I was

army shot up 20,000 officers and I was like who I care the second was the copy

like who I care the second was the copy

like who I care the second was the copy of a bhagavad-gita the warriors called

of a bhagavad-gita the warriors called

of a bhagavad-gita the warriors called for duty I was saying now what and the

for duty I was saying now what and the

for duty I was saying now what and the last was a three page letter from my

last was a three page letter from my

last was a three page letter from my father and it had a simple message it

father and it had a simple message it

father and it had a simple message it said my dear depot my father fondly

said my dear depot my father fondly

said my dear depot my father fondly called me people he said my dear depot

called me people he said my dear depot

called me people he said my dear depot if you want to change your career and

if you want to change your career and

if you want to change your career and you want to become an engineer oh you

you want to become an engineer oh you

you want to become an engineer oh you want to become a doctor or a lawyer or

want to become a doctor or a lawyer or

want to become a doctor or a lawyer or anything in life I’m gonna come and I’m

anything in life I’m gonna come and I’m

anything in life I’m gonna come and I’m gonna get you and whichever carrier you

gonna get you and whichever carrier you

gonna get you and whichever carrier you want to go to I’ll help you get there

want to go to I’ll help you get there

want to go to I’ll help you get there but if you are finding the situation

but if you are finding the situation

but if you are finding the situation difficult and you want to quit and run

difficult and you want to quit and run

difficult and you want to quit and run away because it is difficult then please

away because it is difficult then please

away because it is difficult then please think again because once you run away

think again because once you run away

think again because once you run away from a situation that is difficult in

from a situation that is difficult in

from a situation that is difficult in your life and you learn that then every

your life and you learn that then every

your life and you learn that then every time in your entire life you find

time in your entire life you find

time in your entire life you find something difficult and you will run so

something difficult and you will run so

something difficult and you will run so son please think again and I did think

son please think again and I did think

son please think again and I did think of it well I clung on and four years

of it well I clung on and four years

of it well I clung on and four years later that same scared boy not only

later that same scared boy not only

later that same scared boy not only graduated from the National Defence

graduated from the National Defence

graduated from the National Defence Academy with honors but also volunteered

Academy with honors but also volunteered

Academy with honors but also volunteered for the commandos and after six months

for the commandos and after six months

for the commandos and after six months of the most grueling probation in the

of the most grueling probation in the

of the most grueling probation in the world that same scared boy got selected

world that same scared boy got selected

world that same scared boy got selected into the Indian Army’s 9th battalion

into the Indian Army’s 9th battalion

into the Indian Army’s 9th battalion Special Forces of the Paris

Special Forces of the Paris

Special Forces of the Paris Regt and Friends that is the same unit

Regt and Friends that is the same unit

Regt and Friends that is the same unit that carried out the surgical strikes

that carried out the surgical strikes

that carried out the surgical strikes last year but did my journey end there

last year but did my journey end there

last year but did my journey end there no from the scared little boy I became a

no from the scared little boy I became a

no from the scared little boy I became a special forces leader and went on to get

special forces leader and went on to get

special forces leader and went on to get in to the Indian Institute of Management

in to the Indian Institute of Management

in to the Indian Institute of Management and the baths and further went on to get

and the baths and further went on to get

and the baths and further went on to get mentored by the former President of

mentored by the former President of

mentored by the former President of India a man I hugely respect and would

India a man I hugely respect and would

India a man I hugely respect and would love to emulate and then went on to join

love to emulate and then went on to join

love to emulate and then went on to join the most prestigious consulting firm in

the most prestigious consulting firm in

the most prestigious consulting firm in the world and last but not the least had

the world and last but not the least had

the world and last but not the least had the privilege of meeting his Excellency

the privilege of meeting his Excellency

the privilege of meeting his Excellency XI Narendra Modi and my journey still

XI Narendra Modi and my journey still

XI Narendra Modi and my journey still goes on so as you walk out today back

goes on so as you walk out today back

goes on so as you walk out today back into your respective lives know that you

into your respective lives know that you

into your respective lives know that you can add all the color in the world into

can add all the color in the world into

can add all the color in the world into your mind and paint the most amazing

your mind and paint the most amazing

your mind and paint the most amazing destinations for your life and know that

destinations for your life and know that

destinations for your life and know that your speed and your mileage is in your

your speed and your mileage is in your

your speed and your mileage is in your hands and most importantly every time

hands and most importantly every time

hands and most importantly every time you face a tough road in your life know

you face a tough road in your life know

you face a tough road in your life know at that point that you have the choice

at that point that you have the choice

at that point that you have the choice at that very moment to become a great

at that very moment to become a great

at that very moment to become a great driver thank you

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *