Things You Didn’t Know about Professor M. S. Rao, Ph.D—The Father of “Soft Leadership” & International Leadership Guru

 “I often wonder what I will be remembered in history for. Scholar? Military hero? Builder?” ―Ferdinand Marcos

I was a soldier, entrepreneur, editor, educator, author, adventurer, explorer, philanthropist, and spiritualist. I am driven, committed, persistent, and resilient. I am an analyst, thinker, problem-solver, and visionary. I don’t celebrate my success. Here are things you didn’t know about me.

Air Force Veteran: I served in the Indian Air Force. It is the most admired organization in my life.

Early Riser: I get up every day at 4 A.M to author books and share my knowledge freely with the world.

Exercise Regularly: I hit the gym regularly and go for a walk daily. I am a fitness freak.

Voracious Reader: I read thousands of books in my lifetime.

Prolific Author: I have authored 53 books, including the bestselling ‘See the Light in You’ URL: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132. I author books on behavior and personality. It is due to the doctoral degree that I acquired in soft skills.

Strategic Thinker: I am blessed with the ability to predict the future and contain the damages arising from unforeseen situations by remaining stoic and not antagonizing others.

Dyslexic with ADHD: I was dyslexic with an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. I had a panic disorder.

Survivor: I survived a brain hemorrhage in May 2021.

Frequent Failures: I encountered several struggles and rejections in my life. Harvard has rejected my application for a postdoctoral course in 2016. I want to show the world that hard work wins against Harvard.

Inspiration: Abraham Lincoln is my inspiration since my childhood. I enjoy reading about his life and leadership. I often write about him in my books and manuscripts.

The Secrecy with the Letter ‘S': Most of my book titles start with the letter ‘S’.

Autodidact: I am mostly self-taught. I joined the Indian Air Force when I was 18 years old to support my parents financially. I completed my graduation after joining the Indian Air Force. I acquired several qualifications while serving including DME, BSc, MA, PGDBM, PGDCLL, and MBA. I earned my Ph.D. in Soft Skills in 2011. I followed the principle of ‘earning and learning.’

Google is Guru: Whenever I have any questions, I visit search engines to learn things. Hence, Google is my guru.

Carry a Notebook and Pen: I often carry a notebook with me to capture the ideas that flash on my mind. I write down my observations about others. I believe in the slogan ‘a short pencil is better than a long memory.’

Focus: I focus clearly on one task, complete it, and then move on to another task. I don’t multitask.

Emphasize Excellence, not Perfection. When I undertake a task, I give my best to make it successful. I don’t invest half-hearted efforts.

Punctual: I am punctual. I cultivated this habit after I joined the Indian Air Force.

Time Management: I value time more than money. I always carry a book or reading material with me to read while traveling.

Blossomed from the Dirt of a Toxic Family Background like a Lotus: I was born into a toxic family and grew up in a toxic environment. My father was an alcoholic and my mother is a naysayer and constant complainer.

Rose from Humble Origins: I lead a simple life. I still belong to a lower-middle-class family living in a 2BHK rented apartment.

Frugal: I am frugal and live with simplicity and humility.

Traveler: I enjoy traveling. I traveled the entire of India when I served in the Indian Air Force in various aircraft including the Mi-17 helicopter.

Travel Secretly: I travel to different places without prior information and without unveiling my identity.

Incognito: I rarely unveil my identity to others whenever I travel or go outside. I mingle with others in public places like an ordinary person.

Home Bird: I am not a party animal. I enjoy reading books and spending time with my wife.

Friendship is Thicker than Blood: I prefer friends to relatives. I am a victim of rogue relatives. I was cheated on by my siblings and relatives but rescued by my friends. Hence, I value friendship more than anything else in the world.

Believe in Referent Power, not Positional Power: I make friends with people irrespective of their ranks and positions. I don’t discriminate while making friends. I don't make friends based on popularity or positions because popularity is a passing cloud and positions are temporary. Precisely, I respect people, not their positions.

Take Feedback Regularly: After the completion of each training program, I sit quietly for some time to take feedback to deliver it better next time. I improve my style of writing based on the feedback I receive from my readers.

Appreciate and Inspire Others: Whenever I meet people, I observe a few positive traits; appreciate and inspire them to make a difference. I create positive vibes.

Gifting: I have the practice of gifting memorable items to my friends, relatives, and close associates.

Go to Bed on Time: Usually, I sleep at 10 P.M every day. I sleep less.

Passionate about Students: I enjoy investing my time in the company of students. I love guiding, coaching, mentoring, and grooming students as healthy global citizens without charging any money. I dedicated my books to some students and gifted them.

Share Knowledge Freely: I am a continuous learner and passionate about sharing my knowledge with others. I share my knowledge freely with the world on my four blogs and LinkedIn URL: https://in.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao. I have the vision to share my knowledge freely with one billion people globally.

HeForShe: I advocate gender equality globally with a commitment #1874300.

Self-made Man: I encountered resistance from many people to reach the present position. Nobody helped me reach my current position. Hence, I am a self-made man. The only person who can claim for my climbing the ladder of success is God.

Vision 2030: I run a nonprofit―vision to build one million students as global leaders by 2030 URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html. I have trained more than 50,000 students so far.

Philosophy: Health first, education second, and wealth third.

The only Regret in my Life: I didn't have any Guru to guide me. I struggled a lot in my life due to a lack of guidance. Hence, I take a keen interest in guiding, grooming, coaching, and mentoring others so that they should not struggle like me due to lack of a mentor, or a coach.

Conclusion

I am authentic and a great storyteller. I convey things in simple and clear language. I am gifted with the ability to provide simple solutions to complex problems. Throughout my life, I emphasized education and learning. When my colleagues emphasized pleasures in the Indian Air Force I focused on education and learning. I am a self-learner and self-taught. I am an autodidact. My life is full of struggles, suffering, and sacrifices.

I am a strategic thinker. I am a proactive person with an attitude of gratitude. I neither had a wealthy parent nor a convent education. I lead a disciplined healthy and spiritual life. I am enthusiastic to learn and grow continuously in my personal, professional, and social life. I am camera-friendly and aim to hit the bull's eye. I want to give back to society despite financial constraints.

I have a fire in my belly. I am a go-getter individual. I stand as a leader in my own frame. I have been empowered with the weapon of knowledge that I have been sharing through my intellectual leadership series and famous books.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ―Maya Angelou

References

http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM

https://gravatar.com/professormsrao

https://professormsrao.substack.com

http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2017/08/professor-msraos-profile-international.html

http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2017/08/professor-msraos-profile-international.html

http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM

https://in.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao

http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html

http://twitter.com/professormsrao

https://www.instagram.com/professormsrao

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Professor-MSRao/451516514937414

http://www.youtube.com/user/profmsr7  

If you like this article, Like and share Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414/

Read my ‘Vision 2030 One Million Global Leaders’ URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html  

Life is great!

Professor M.S. Rao

Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM

Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao

Twitter: http://twitter.com/professormsrao

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/profmsr7 

See the Light in You: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132

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