Hey, this is Rajiv Kumar Luv Trainer, Coach, Workshop leader, Author, podcaster, Youtuber and founder of The Personality Boss which conducts the Ultimate Personality Development Program, Course, Coaching, Training and Workshops in Mumbai. I help you design the life you want. The articles that I post on my blog also have one purpose in mind “Leadership through Personality Development” Now over to the article…
Can you think place where you have no interruptions? a place where you can focus and concentrate, a place where you can do some visioning, a place where you can think up solutions to your problems, a place where there are no distractions, and a place where you can read peacefully. You are right, the place I am referring to is your toilet! Are you making good use of that time? Even a toilet can be used to develop your personality and increase your productivity. Read on…
Some of you might be thinking, “Rajiv I am already making best used of my toilet time by doing what I am supposed to be doing there.” It is also possible that some of you might find this idea repugnant. I respect your beliefs. If all what I say go against the beliefs that you have been raised with, you can ignore this article altogether. But for a moment ponder, “Can you stop your mind from thinking about the problem you are worried about, when in toilet?” If you answered ‘No’ to that question, then my dear friend you are already using your toilet time. I too was against the idea of using toilet time for anything other than the ‘main’ job. But then, I had a paradigm shift. I need to tell you the story…
I worked as Production Manager in a Leather Goods Export Company in Chennai. We manufactured all kinds of leather goods for Exports to U.S, U.K, and Australia. The production had to go on almost day and night. I practically lived in the factory, going to my room only for a bath and change of clothes.
My Managing Director and boss, Mr Dhingra was a hard task master. Some of my best lessons in life have come from him. One day he called me to his office in the evening around 6pm and gave me instructions to make a new sample of a leather bag and warned me that it should be sent to Australia by courier the next day by 10am.
I went to the factory and got busy with the production, I didn’t get time to think about the ‘sample.’ Around 9am, he calls me to enquire whether the sample is ready, to which I replied, “No, it’s not ready, I was working in the factory till 1am went to sleep at 2am and arrived at the factory at 8am, I didn’t get any time to think about how I should make the sample.”
Mr Dhingra asked me, “Rajiv, did you go to the toilet this morning?” I said, “What?” He repeated, “Rajiv did you go to the toilet this morning?” I said, “Yes.” He continued, “Rajiv, what were you doing there? Who stopped you from thinking about the ‘sample’ there?” I cursed him under my breath and muttered to myself, “Can’t I catch a crap in peace?”
Years later, when I thought about what my boss had said I felt that it made sense. My time log study revealed that I took a longer time to complete my toilet activity; there was no way I could reduce that so I started working out ways by which I could make best use of that time. I prefer not to call it a toilet. I see it as a planning room, idea room, healing room, problem solving room and brainstorming room.
My toilet, being an Indian one was not very convenient. So the first thing I did was to change it to a wall mounted western commode, decorated it with small flower pots to create some ambience, perfumed it, put in a cloth wall hanging pouch, in which I could put pads, pencil, books, made arrangements to connect my cassette player so I could listen to audios of international trainers. Now, I take my smart phone with earphones and at times even use my tablet in that tranquil place.
I started sharing ideas on how to make best use of your toilet time in my Personality Development Trainings and workshops. Also in Leadership skills and Supervisory skills workshops. Participants found value in using these ideas.
Here are some important activities you can do when you are in your private chamber:
- Read or scan the newspaper
- Tear out articles from magazines and keep it in the pouch for future reading
- Use your smart phone to listen to audiobooks
- Use your smart phone to record ideas and plans
- Do EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) tapping
- Press your acupressure points
- Brainstorm solutions to your problems
- Rehearse your upcoming presentation
- Visioning exercise
- Repeat affirmations
- Self Esteem exercises
- Review your goals
- Write a ‘to do’ list
- Make a call
- Have a conversation with yourself
- Watch videos on your tablet
- Jot down ideas on a pad
- Learn 5 new words to build vocabulary
Many a times we have a standard excuse for not doing something and that is, “I don’t have the time.” Let me ask you a question, “Did you go to the toilet this morning?” “What did you do there?” If you just learnt five new words everyday in the toilet, your vocabulary will be richer by 1825 words per year. So go ahead and make best use of your toilet time and become more productive.
I am Rajiv Kumar Luv. My passion in life is to make a difference in the lives of people so that they achieve their personal as well as professional best. I am absolutely committed to specially helping youngsters become leaders in their chosen fields. In the past 28 years, I have trained over 100,000 people from all walks of life. Through my two-day program “Leadership Through Personality Development” I help the youth plan their career, build confidence, make better decisions, manage time and develop their employability skills to meet today’s real-life challenges. You can learn more about me and the work I do by visiting: http://www.thepersonalityboss.com