You alone can make it happen- Dhammika Kalapuge

by Surekha Galagoda

Kill the germs and bring out the gems in you, said Dhammika Kalapuge, the inspirational management trainer launching his new one-day program, 'Be The Best You Were Born To Be' last week at the Ceylon Continental Hotel.

Aimed at all levels of the corporate sector, the program gave an insight into performing effectively in challenging environments, and moreover, to have purpose, focus and 'work life balance' in achieving professional excellence with real life experiences.

He said that the first step to change is knowing that you have a bad habit and then believing that you can change it and persistence is a must if you want to change, he said. Kalapuge said that each and everyone of us can change for the better, it is difficult as you will be in the same environment but as you are the agent of change you can make it happen.

For example if you want to get up at 4.30 in the morning do it for twenty-one days continuously from tomorrow and it will become a habit - the ideal time period is 63 days.

However, don't break it during the 21-day period and you are sure to succeed. He said that a banker who tried this method and followed his programs saved money and purchased a vehicle and today he is the first caller to wish Kalapuge on January 1 every year.

Trigger events

He said that trigger events are opportunities for people to change and related two experiences shared by two people. One was a person who followed one of his training programs and the other, a driver.

He said the person who followed the training program said that when he was in school he used to relate stories to his friends and was very weak in his studies and at a parent teacher meeting a teacher had humiliated him in the presence of all the other parents and his parents and the mother had wept when he came home.

He was disillusioned and made up his mind to study. Thereafter he studied so well that he ended up as an engineer and passed out from the Katubedda University with a class.

The other person, a driver lost his father due to an accident and decided to be a disciplined driver. After a hire he always inquired from the passenger about his shortcomings so that he could overcome them and he was also very loyal. Today he is the Manager of the company.

According to the Group CEO Dialog TeleKom Plc Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya more the uncertainty greater the opportunity and what better way than proving it. In 1996/1997 they were virtually an unknown entity but today they boast of a profit of Rs. 8 billion.

Kalapuge said the future lies before us and not behind. Therefore do not repent over things which we could not probably achieve over the past two decades, instead look at things what we could possibly achieve during the next two years.

Yesterday was history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a GIFT that's why it is called the present.

The capabilities are within us and human beings are more superior than what they think they are. Kalapuge said that nothing is difficult if you divide the job into small parts.

Optimists find opportunities in every circumstance while pessimists find difficulties in every opportunity, therefore be a optimist and take every opportunity that knocks on your door.

Dhammika Kalapuge is well known for conducting inspirational programs both locally and overseas.

He has conducted over 1,200 programs for nearly 300 institutions and the public, mostly to achieve excellence in customer service. His ability to spread a message quite simply and effectively to reach the hearts of people from all walks of life has been considered a significant quality of his educational programs.

Commenting on the new program Kalapuge said, "In my customer service excellence programs, I often share a global experience that "happy employees will create happy customers". Pursuing this goal in tough market conditions, is very important to keep the morale up and have a positive approach towards circumstances to face the challenges ahead.

Therefore, this program 'Be The Best You Were Born To Be' was designed to understand one's true potential, discover hidden talents and make one perform better in achieving excellence in uncertain times.

Many local, global, individual and corporate sector examples along with true success stories are linked to the program enabling participants to relate the learning points into their day-to-day activities".

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