THE EXTRA MILE

‘And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness, still another mile’
- from the song ‘I have a dream’ by ABBA

Quite often, trekking greenhorns despair about the length of the route. The regulars use two convincing suggestions to motivate the tenderfoot: First, the disheartened are reminded about the worth of the endeavour, by describing the charms of the destination. Next is the time tested motivation, “we are close… it is just a few more miles”!

However, the real trekking buff’s auto suggestion for himself will be to keep going ‘yet another mile’. The enthusiast will not want to just cover the distance; he will want to go beyond the distance. The difference between ‘just one mile to go’ and ‘still another mile’ is exactly the distinction between a smaller, immediate goal and the larger destination of our dream…

In the real world, an important principle of success in all walks of life, in all professions and all undertakings is the compliance of "going the extra mile". Search as much as you will for a single sound argument against this principle and you will not find it, nor will you find a single instance of enduring success, which was not attained in part by its application.

So let’s quiz ourselves:
Do I do more than what I am expected to do?
Do I render a better service than that for what I am paid?
Do I walk the extra mile to my larger destination of my bigger dream?

May our destination be dreams that are truly worthwhile
to BE BETTER at every endeavour, let’s walk the extra mile…

- Pravin K. Sabnis