I Want to Tell You a Little Story Today

A story about a mother, two children, and a game.

This is the story of Indra Nooyi, whom you may know, the same Indra Nooyi who was CEO of Pepsi-Cola for twelve years.
During her tenure, the company grew in a way that it probably hadn't in the previous fifty years.

She is honored at the world's top business schools, and has been listed among the world's most powerful women in several global lists.

But today I want to talk about Indra, not her success, but about a simple game her mother used to play.

When Indra Nooyi was a child, there was a special routine in her house. Every night after dinner, her mother would play a game. She would tell Indra and her brother: "Imagine you are the Prime Minister… and now address the nation!"

Sometimes the president, sometimes the governor, sometimes the astronaut… a new role every night.

And then the two siblings would take turns giving speeches, dreaming, and imagining what it would be like to grow up.

Indra says that it was not a game; it was training to dream. Her confidence, way of thinking, and the habit of seeing herself in a bigger role were the result of her mother's intelligent training.

And then I thought: Do we play this game with our children? Do we just remind them of lessons or also teach them the dream of life?

If we give our children a little time every day… and say to them:
"Today you are the Prime Minister, or a scientist, or a leader, now give a speech, think, feel, and tell the world what you will become?"

Then maybe we will not just be preparing children, but great personalities. This was not just a mother's game. It was a technique to teach a generation to think higher.

And maybe this is what we need to do today, too. Because allowing dreams is often the first step to success.
 - Ghani