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June 11, 2005
"Sharif Khan In Search Of Heroes Interview Set For Saturday" by Ralph Zuranski
Sharif Khan is President and founder of Diamond Mind Enterprises, an organization devoted to transforming coal minds into diamond minds through the applied pressure of higher knowledge, wellness education, and leadership training. His vision is “to inspire the world with hope, faith, love, respect, excellence, and the courage to dream”. He is the author of the inspirational book about Promoting Heroes in the Workplace and Everyday Life "The PSYCHOLOGY OF THE HERO SOUL.
Sharif has dedicated over ten years of research in the field of human potential development and studying great leaders. He is a very dynamic, highly engaging, and much sought after public speaker who lectures about topics on what makes great leaders, the winning qualities of leadership, success, and what makes a hero, to a wide range of audiences from university students to associations to the corporate world.
Having had the opportunity to live abroad in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and America, and experience world travel, Sharif was exposed to people of different faiths at a very early age. In his travels, he saw the shared humanity and divinity within every soul.
Yet, he also saw the hatred in people towards those of a different creed or color. Having been a victim of racial hatred himself, Sharif has embarked on a lifetime quest to understand and share how one overcomes adversity, how one maintains a positive concept of self, and how world leaders triumph over the bonds of ignorance.
The author now also serves as a book consultant specializing in helping people successfully produce, sell, and market their information products. After finishing his Bachelors in Psychology at York University, he went on to successfully manage and operate a Bestsellers Franchise for over five years selling, marketing, and promoting books and various multi-media.
Questions and Answers About Sharif Khan
For the past couple years, there has been, to the author’s delight, much fascination and curiosity with his recent project, Psychology of the Hero Soul.
Because so many people have approached the author with very interesting and penetrating questions about his work, Sharif has decided to share with you some of his personal answers to many of these recurring questions:
1. Q: What originally inspired you to write about this book topic?
A: This book started off as a mini research project to help me create a heroic protagonist in my work of fiction (a novel which I am still working on) that would be unforgettable – a colossal figure that was largess universal as the sun.
I wanted to deliver to my audience a little moment of truth in my fictional character that would be memorable. So I started researching the psychology of heroes around the world and what makes great leaders great. I combined my research with years of study in personal growth, spirituality, psychology, mythology, philosophy, the dramatic arts, and comparative religions.
In my studies I learned that all heroes or leaders share common spiritual values such as respect, justice, industry, humility, generosity, strength, honor, duty, courage, compassion, and love. As I immersed myself in these principles I became inspired. In my inspiration, I was overtaken by a vision. Instead of beckoning the muse, the muse came and beckoned me. My vision was to inspire the world with these tremendous healing principles. I became consumed by this vision every waking day.
2. Q: What genre do you categorize your book?
A: Many people ask me what type of book this is: Is it a self help book? A book on spirituality? Is it a business book on leadership development? Is it a ‘New Age’ title? Is it a book on mythology or the hero’s journey? Is it a motivational book on success, health, and personal growth? Is it a book on Psychology?
My answer is that the book defies traditional categorization because it takes elements from all these areas. It is the most comprehensive, holistic, and integrative approach to heroism and leadership that I have ever come across. My argument here is that one cannot fully understand and intimately connect with a subject matter unless he or she studies all aspects of it.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in his recent book, An Open Heart, states, “The more you explore a topic and subject it to mental scrutiny, the more profoundly you understand it.” By studying all aspects of the hero soul you can become a multidimensional leader: a person of rich character, influence, substance, breadth, and scope.
If I were to categorize the book, I would call it a literary non-fiction book written to inspire, entertain, and quietly transform. The main purpose of the book is to awaken and illuminate the hero soul within rekindling the reader’s passion for greatness.
3. Q: Who does this book appeal to? Who can benefit most from reading your book?
The primary readership this book would appeal to most are people who devour inspirational books on personal growth, success, leadership, and enlightened empowerment. This book is for anyone who wants to embark on the hero’s journey in search of greatness and inner fulfillment. Psychology of the Hero Soul is also for political, business, and religious leaders who wish to promote heroes in the workplace and everyday life.
Finally, this book serves as an ideal foundation for writers, playwrights, screen writers, actors, creative directors, marketing executives, producers, and anyone who needs to develop a heroic figure, brand, or protagonist in their creative work.
4. Q: What is your definition of ‘Hero’?
A: The original meaning of the word hero comes from the Greek root servos and heros, which means ‘to serve and protect’ (incidentally the motto of the Toronto Police). Self-sacrifice for the higher good and betterment of humanity is at the heart of being a Hero or Leader. I’ve never met a ‘successful’ person who is living his or her dreams without sacrifice and service to others. To reach the top, they had to serve their clients, their co-workers, their employees, and their people and deliver real value.
A true leader knows their potential while pseudo-leaders ignore their potential. We live in a world of darkness or ignorance. We live in what Alan Greenspan called an era of ‘infectious greed’ that threatens to destroy the social and economic fabric of the world. The hero’s responsibility is to stop and change direction. Excellence is knowledge plus knowledge plus knowledge. Mediocrity is limited knowledge.
A tremendous conscious effort and personal sacrifice is required by the hero to lift oneself out of darkness and into the light, which is a high degree of awareness and self-knowledge. Only then can our heroes raise their station in life and elevate the rest of humanity by illuminating and liberating our collective soul which lies trapped in darkness. It’s time to initiate a new era: this is the Great Revolution of the Soul.
5. Q: What is the first step towards the path of herohood and becoming an effective leader?
A: The first step is awareness and self-knowledge. Know your strengths and weaknesses, your desires and fears. Know yourself, where you begin and end – and beyond. We can learn from the Greeks who said, “Know thyself, and you will know the gods and the universe”.
Once you begin to understand your true potential, a dream or vision will take shape. Go after your dreams. Stick to your dream with focus and determination and never let go. You will become inspired in the process and others will naturally be inspired in your presence. Without even consciously knowing it, you will begin displaying leadership traits and success and success-minded people will begin seeking you out.
There are many ‘steps’ towards developing leadership skills, powerful success strategies, and higher and higher degrees of excellence to be achieved. This is what I teach about in my seminars, key-note speeches, and individualized coaching.
6. Q: What other areas do you teach and speak about?
A: Anybody in the creative world, whether they are writers, actors, directors, Film and English students, creative directors, sales people or marketing executives will benefit greatly from understanding the Psychology of the Hero and the Psychology of the Villain, which is what I teach about.
How can an actor or writer create a believable character that is psychologically true without understanding the psychology of the hero soul? How can you understand the qualities of the hero unless you also understand the psychology of the villain, which is the dark side that lives within us all? Both have to be understood.
Aside from teaching and speaking on topics about the Psychology of the Hero, Leadership, and Psychology of the Villain, I also teach people how to successfully produce, market, sell, and promote their own books and information products. From personal coaching to inspire people to get started on their writing project and developing peak levels of motivation and creativity, to more practical ‘how to’ advice on effectively marketing and selling their information products once they have completed their ‘creative work’.
This teaching comes from my personal experience of working on and completing my book project for Psychology of the Hero Soul as well as drawing from over five years of direct experience managing and operating a Bestsellers (Book and Multi-Media) Franchise where I honed my skills in selling, marketing and promoting books and other information related products.
[To find out more about how you can book Sharif’s seminars, speaking engagements, or to arrange for coaching and book marketing consultations, you can contact him directly by email: sharif@herosoul.com or by phone: 416.417.1259]
7. Q: What was it like working on your book project for Psychology of the Hero Soul?
A: It was challenging yet enormously rewarding. Rewarding in the sense that it opened up my soul, made me a better person, and improved every area of my life. Challenging in the sense that it involved total commitment and SACRIFICE! I learned very early on that if I was going to write and talk about important topics such as inspired leadership, heroes, self-improvement, and personal growth that I would really have to walk my talk and practice what I preach.
Working on this project required a tremendous conscious effort to give the best of the best I had and more. It involved much sacrifice. I sacrificed many evenings, weekends, and holidays spending countless hours reading, studying, attending lectures, and writing and re-rewriting major sections of this book. It required dedication, focus, and self-discipline. Instead of of going out every weekend and partying, I was home writing – slowly and quietly chipping away, one step at a time.
I would not let anything or anyone get in my way, and did not allow too many distractions. The end result has been a finished book that I can really be proud of. It gives me great joy to know that when the Angel of Death meets me in my dreams, and cuts that silver chord between soul and body with a sweet kiss, that I shall have left a lasting gift to humanity.
8. Q: What is the most important distinction you have learned in all your studies?
A: I would have to say the most important distinction goes way beyond something I ‘learned’. The Power of Faith is the most important thing I have ever experienced in my life. With faith ALL things are possible. With faith even the impossible is made possible. Trusting, believing, and having faith in a Higher Power I call God has made all the difference in the world.
Call it whatever you want, the Creative Genius within, Spirit, Soul, Love, the Divine, it’s there – a powerful force unstoppable. By surrendering myself to a Higher Power, the doors that were once closed now open, the mountains that were once insurmountable, impenetrable, and unmovable, can now, with faith, be surmounted, penetrated, and moved in ways unforeseen. I’m not asking anyone to believe in what I’m saying. I don’t care whether people believe or do not believe, because I ‘know’- I have experienced.
9. Q: What is the most important quality of a Leader?
A: After faith and having a sense of calling or purpose which becomes a vision that sets a leader on fire, HEART is the most important leadership quality. I’m talking about the ability to deeply and genuinely connect with people on an emotional level. Leadership is ultimately about people and relationships.
I once heard someone say, “Love things and use people, you lose both, love people and use things, you gain both” and that is so true. Think about it. Everything we have in life that is meaningful, whether it’s love, relationships, career, health, or wealth, comes from people. Money does not talk. People do. Knowing this, one cannot help but to serve people.
10. Q: Can ‘greatness’ be taught?
A: I believe anything can be taught if one is willing to learn. Greatness is our birthright. It is in every one of us. Unfortunately, it lies dormant in most people from cradle to grave. This is because most traditional educational institutions do not teach this.
I don’t ever recall taking a required or ‘elective’ course on leadership, personal growth, success principles, or ‘awakening the hero soul within’ in high school or university. I had to go out of my way to look for these precious gems of knowledge. Today, it is easier for students to get drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol on or off campus then knowledge that has the power to transform.
11. Q: What are some of your favorite books?
A. Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises”, Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”, and recently Herman Hesse’s “Siddhartha”. I also like all the works of Joseph Campbell. Kahlil Gibran’s “The Prophet” also had a profound impact on me. I really enjoy the classics, but also, from time-to-time, will pick up a more ‘contemporary’ book. After all, many of the classics were once contemporary too.
12. Q: What are your hobbies?
A: Believe it or not, ‘personal growth’ is my main hobby! Some people think I’m a bit ‘weird’ in that respect, but I don’t care. I just eat up inspirational books, tapes, videos, and lectures. Ever since I was about 8 years old, when my father enrolled me in a Silva Mind Course on meditation and started handing me books by Dale Carnegie, Napoleon Hill, Wayne Dyer, James Allen, and Shakti Gawain, I got hooked!
A&E’s Biography Channel is also a favorite pastime of mine.
I’m an avid reader and film buff with a wide ranging taste. The term most people and friends use to describe me is “Renaissance Man”.
I love to live life to the hilt. I enjoy plays, Shakespeare, Opera, Comedy, Drama, Classical Symphonies, Rock/Pop Concerts, Yoga, Museums, Jazz, Blues, Techno, Retro, traveling, art, painting, clubs, parties, dancing, a quiet time of reflection by the fireplace, coffee shops, discussing history, politics, and philosophy, and experiencing just about anything that moves and opens the soul.
13. Q: Do you have a motto, a certain philosophy or quote that you live by?
A: “The place is here. The time is now. Just do it!”
14. Q: Can you expand further on that?
A: No.
15. Q: Do you consider yourself to be a hero?
A: No. I am nothing special. I am just an ordinary citizen with an extraordinary vision. I am just a baby while an ocean of wisdom lies before me. I’m still learning to walk spiritually and psychologically. I’m not perfect. There is still much ego in me that needs to be annihilated. There are many inner demons that need to be slayed along the way. A long journey lies ahead. My purpose here on earth is still not done.
16. Q: What is your purpose?
A: My purpose is to use all my God-given talents, in the best way I know how, to enrich the lives of as many people as I possibly can.
My vision is ‘to inspire the world with hope, faith, love, respect, excellence, and the courage to dream”.
Q: What’s next?
A: "Live well, laugh often, love much". (Unknown). That’s what’s next. – Sharif N. Khan
Copyright © 2001 by Sharif N. Khan
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Posted by isoh at June 11, 2005 02:34 AM
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