When my book DARE was getting ready to be launched, I didn’t miss an opportunity to go to book stores and see what the competition was like. “How are the sales of your motivational books?” I would ask a book seller.
“Sometimes beats fiction sales!” he would say happily, making me also very happy and then I would frown, “But then we should have a nation of successful people!” I thought, “What then is wrong?”
And in my mind’s eye I see a young boy. “Listen young fellow, what have you been doing the last few days?” I ask the boy.
“Learning cricket from this bestseller!”
“That’s written by one of our greatest batsmen!” I tell him.
“Yes,” says the enthusiastic fellow, “I’ve read this book from cover to cover! See this picture, this is a square drive, can you see how the batsman has his feet on the ground and just look at his stance!”
“Yes!” I agree.
“See this is how you bowl a googly, and this is a Yorker! Now turn to page 52, there those are pictures of the world’s greatest catches!”
“Wonderful!” I tell him.
“I know every page of the book,” he tells me, “Ask me anything from it, ask how I should stand at slips, how to hit a ball to mid-off, and what a cover drive is?”
“You’ve really learnt a lot,” I tell him, “So with all this learning, what does that make you?”
“A test cricketer!” he shouts gleefully.
I turn away from the young hopeful and look at you, “Does that really make him a test cricketer? Does mastering a book on cricket make anybody a cricketer? Does reading how to hold a bat or bowl a ball, make him a future great in Indian cricket? A Virat Kohli in the making?”
No, it doesn’t.
So, what does?
Getting onto the field, into the hurly burly of the game, of running between wickets! Running after the ball, catching it, throwing it to the wicket keeper. That’s the only way, by strapping on his pads, or picking the ball and putting his book knowledge to use, right?”
Read all the books you want, but without practically using those facts all such knowledge is useless.
“You’ve got so many books on dieting?” somebody asks an overweight lady, but it doesn’t seem to have done much good. “No!” she says as she peels the wrapper of the next chocolate bar, “I know what to do, but don’t have the will to do it!”
“Come here!” I tell the little boy as I give him a bat, “Now let me bowl to you!”
And there as he faces the first ball and a thousand others, is the beginnings of a test cricketer, putting all his book theories into practice!
My book DARE is now a bestseller but will also be useless, unless you dare go out and bat..!
******************************************
IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE BOB’S BANTER EVERYDAY, PLEASE SEND YOUR NAME AND WHATSAPP PHONE NO TO [email protected]
*****************************************
ENROLL FOR THE WRITER’s COURSE…
…Get trained to write powerfully by the author, whose article you just read! Don’t wait! Send a thumbs up for details to 9892572883 and let Robert Clements train you in his easy and comfortable way Let the power of WORDS spoken and written effectively and forcefully, change your life! Join the Writer’s and Speaker’s Course, June Batch TODAY! Send a thumbs-up to 9892572883 now!
Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.
Bob, surely I want to read your book, tell me when it’s going to be out?
Waiting for the book to be released
Waiting for the launch of DARE. Wishing you good luck on the successful sales
Practice, not knowledge alone, makes you perfect!!
Cooking and driving skills too cannot be learnt from a book.
Looks forward to a preview of your book.
Truely said Bob! Can’t wait to read that book ‘Dare’ even though practically putting into practice might be tough haha..
Yes Bob, DARE is an unusually unique book.
I remember a certain effect it had on my mind the first time I read it.
It wasn’t just a motivational book.
It instilled certain confidence and optimism in an individual.
One cannot become a doctor by reading books on medicine, one has to rough it out at a medical school for 6 long years with hands on experience! Autopsies , examining patients and doing surgery under supervision. Neither can one be a driver by reading a book on driving! The books give you basic knowledge, real driving involves on the spot decisions once on the road . This holds good for all skills . And of course a lot of courage and DARE as Robert puts it ! Wish you great success with the launch of your book. God be with you Robert .
Practice and dedication is required not only learning or knowledge of a book.
Books are just for guidance unless you decide that I have to do the same you will not do it. By then you might have read thousands book on subject.People read religious books how many practise those in life.
Excellent analogy on your bestseller, “DARE.”
This wonderful book has taught me to not “duck” ugly “bouncers,” instead analyze and stand on the “backfoot” on people and complex situations and aim for a “hookshot” with confidence and courage without being declared “out.”
A “maiden” who refuses to be “over” in a match called “life.”
I don’t know if I’ll make a “century” but I’m glad it is not a “limited overs” match but a tournament.
Thank you for your gems of wisdom.
Good morning Bob,
Love to watch cricket,when it comes to India verses Pakistan.
Enjoys the game with my family.My grandson who is 1.10 months wants me to play with him.Would love to have a copy of the book “Dare”.
I thought Dare is on sale. I am reminded of my son at a year and ten months and my dad playing cricket on our terrace with a plastic bat and ball my aunt gave him. Kapil Dev was on the lips of my son. He’d fall as the bowl approached as in his mind it was a part of the game to be played. It was amusing to watch him
DARE is on sale Kripa.