In the diary of a Green man earlier I had shared about my shift from the science stream to the commerce stream because of my passion for sports. I was in St. Xavier’s then and after I decided to leave the science stream, I had to take admission in another school.

But later on I translated my passion for sports into something completely different and I turned to make my career in modelling. In the previous chapter I went on to say that I soon realized that I had no career in sports. Because during that time, there was a trend that a player could make money only in sports ranging from cricket to badminton or tennis as a career. And I was passionate about basketball, in which there is still no scope for a career.

However, the most compelling reason for leaving sports and joining modelling was my admission to another school from St Xaviers. Yes, when I decided to shift from science to commerce, I had in mind one or two schools that would proudly give me admission based on my sports certificates and my district level performances and I would play in various competitions on behalf of those schools! But it did not happen at all due to the internal politics of the schools, and despite the sports quota, I did not get admission!

At a point in my life I realized that Sports is fine to fulfil passion and joy to a certain point, but it doesn’t have another productivity. Yes, sports have developed some qualities in me. And I would love to talk about that in detail. The most important benefit I got from sports was that my standards for everything in life became very high. I may not have realized it then, but now I realize that the only thing that has fascinated me since those days is championship. Why? Because championship is not just about winning, but for me championship is a situation which is full of many qualities. And it has always fascinated me to assimilate those best qualities. Being a champion is a mindset for me. So it is not necessary for me to be a champion only if there is competition. I believe that if you put in efforts similar to that of a gold medallist in everything from small and big household chores to gym, business, from our day to day work to education, then that is a real championship!

I believe Champions are never satisfied with a single success or single level in life. Championship as I said before is an attitude for me which constantly pushes me to do something. Champions feel pride when they achieve their goals but they don’t stop after one achievement, they move straight on to the next one. Because a champion’s mindset is about achieving what you once thought to be impossible. After all, everything is impossible, until somebody goes and does it.

A champion is interested in creating a better version of themself every time and has no interest in material success. That’s why champions never worry about outcomes, the only thing that matters to them is whether they give their best or not!

I believe that we should strive to be the best in whatever we do. Suppose you draw, your drawing must be the best. Or if you play basketball, you should play so well that your team cannot do without a player like you . I define this attitude as the Champions Attitude. However, in this regard, I also believe that we should not assume that a game is played or certain things run because of us only. But through this attitude we have to evolve our existence to many benchmarks and achieve excellence.

I have one more thing to say in this regard, which has become ingrained in my life and my personality. There is a myth about me that Viral Desai is mad behind awards and he buys awards. Sometimes people bluntly ask me, ‘how do you buy these awards.’ I laugh a lot at such times, but how can I explain to those people that there is a long list of criteria by the Government of India for National Awards and for that I have to prepare a big thesis similar to PhD researchers!

However, all I have to say in my memoir about this myth is that there are many awards in my office, right from district, state, national or international level and these awards are present because I wanted to surpass all the standards of excellence that have been set by the government of the country or by any of the major institution. I have to overcome the tough standards that are set for any category. Again, I don’t want to show anything to others, but I have to create the best version of myself so that I can perform best in the criteria and rules that are set for excellence.

It is because of this approach that I have been fortunate to receive the Government of India’s National Awards more than five times from the hands of two Honourable Presidents and Cabinet Ministers of India. At the Vibrant Gujarat Awards function, I have also had the opportunity to accept awards at the hands of Hon’ble Narendra Modiji. During the same occasion, small businessmen like me got the opportunity to sit in the same row as that of renowned entrepreneurs Mukesh Ambani and Ratan Tataji and hence I consider myself very lucky. If we look at it otherwise, then what is the value of a trophy or a certificate? Isn’t it merely a piece of metal or paper? But the satisfaction I get from proving myself through that award is even more important to me. Because as I said before, that’s the way I pamper this Champions Attitudes and that’s the way I excel.