Control your Emotions

Why is it that we always allow our emotions to overtake us? By doing that we only do bad to ourselves.

Remember that no one can hurt your feelings without your cooperation and willingness

No one can cause you to have any kind of emotional reaction without your first giving them permission to do so. You alone are responsible for your feelings and emotions. When you know what you plan to do with your life, you will not allow annoying situations to deter you from your goals for long. If you set ambitious goals for yourself and work enthusiastically toward them, you will quickly realize that you don't have time to allow petty annoyances to upset you and keep you from your objectives.

Thought of the Day

Even married people were once strangers. Therefore, without patience and the effort to understand one another, things are likely not to go well. We need patience in order to become happy.


There are many who dream about experiencing happiness without the patience. But that is a dream. And a dream is just that--a dream, a fairy tale. It is to wish for a childish, easy life. This illusion breaks up many marriages. The pursuit of such happiness can only make one miserable.


It is important to make the effort to calmly construct something together. From there, real love develops. Real marriage is when you have been married for twenty-five years and feel an even deeper love than you did when you first met. Love deepens. Love that does not is merely on the level of simple likes and dislikes

Your Competition should be only one person - YOU

In most large organizations, the amount of time and energy that is squandered in interdepartmental rivalry is enormous. Managers who compete with others inside the company waste valuable resources that should be directed at fulfilling the company's mission to serve its customers better. Worse, a negative, internal focus can cause the company to miss opportunities, the full effect of which may not be realized for months or even years.

Whether you are the head of the department or the newest worker on the staff, you can help your company immeasurably by refusing to become embroiled in internal strife. Compete with yourself to do the best job you can do instead of competing with others.

Its a shame that a lot of us are more interested at what others are doing and how to bring them down instead on focusing on how to work on ourselves and move self and company forward.

I strongly feel that cooperation MUST start at the head of the department, if it is expected at the other end. The same stands true for efficiency as well.

Anyone who thinks otherwise?

Don't call yourself a LEADER, if don't know to follow direction yourselfDon't call yourself a LEADER, if don't know to follow direction yourself

Dear Friends,

I don't think that any one is capable of giving direction, unless he or she knows how to take direction and carry them. Today the key issue that we face in many organizations are, we seldom find leaders who follow directions that are laid down but expect people down the line to do so - WHY?

An essential quality of leadership is developing the ability to persuade others to align their goals with yours and those of the organization. Until you, yourself, are able to join forces with others in the pursuit of a common objective, you will never persuade them to join your cause.

Effective leaders recognize the value of working together, and they learn how to follow directions before being entrusted with the responsibility for the performance of others. Good leaders show by example how they expect others to behave. Even though the troops may be trained to follow orders unquestioningly, the officer always leads them into battle.

You cannot push others to follow your example; you must pull them along with you. When you show by your every word and deed that you are a person of character, one who works for the greater good of the entire organization, your people will follow.

We all need to REFLECT and assess the same.

Cheers,

Beating the slowdown blues

Ever thought about spending a penny to save a Rupee.  

Sounds a great proposition, especially when recession is on upward swing & markets are hitting rock bottom.  So as our oldies said, money saved is money earned holds particularly true in today’s scenario, when cost cutting is the new mantra. 

So, to untangle one from the clutches of recession, a new service is launched, moneysaver, brainchild of 2 young entrepreneurs, Kunal Bahl & Rohit Bansal, who aspired to make every brand affordable for everyone by offering hundreds of discount coupons & buy  one get one free coupons on branded apparels, fine dining, casual dining, movies, entertainment etc.  

Moneysaver is a service that comes in handy to consumers as its affordable (Just Rs 100 monthly), accessible (Just a sms away), Available (More than 200 outlets where one can buy moneysaver recharge card.) & every month, subscribers are kept abreast with the latest offers through monthly catalogue. 

The entire model is based on the simple fact that everyone loves to strike a deal, to make a bargain and avail a discount. The research which their focus group discussions revealed was that Indian customers are not price sensitive, they are value sensitive. The perceive value not on the basis of whether they are getting the product cheap but if they are getting it cheaper. Money Saver stretches the concept to make it a win-win for all by feeding on ’dependencies’. Aiming to reach a target group of 15 million potential booklet buyers comprising young professionals, college students and housewives they know that this is exactly the same group that the expanding pool of retailers is trying to reach across the country. There website called www.moneysaver.in is full of such great offers.

Not only Moneysaver, but other companies are also trying to utilize SMS, Bluetooth, mobile websites, to cost effectively reach customers.  Bluetooth companies such as Telebrahma and CellMagix have been promoting offers and content to consumers inside malls, by sending information directly to Bluetooth activated phones.  

Obstacles are stepping stone to success

Dear Friends,

Yesterday I was talking to one of my colleagues on why its important to look at all obstacles as challenges or stepping stones and then I hit upon this article.


Wally Amos, the man whom many consider to be the father of the gourmet cookie industry, has turned lemons into lemonade so often in his life, that in his official portrait he holds a pitcher in one hand and a glass of lemonade in the other.
A perennial optimist, Amos refuses to acknowledge that obstacles are anything other than stepping-stones to success. In a career that has spanned several decades, he has made it to the pinnacle of success several times, only to lose everything and be forced to start over. But he's never lost faith. "You have to have the trust and faith to let go and not agonize," he says.

So we know what to do now - If Life hands you a lemon, don't complain, but instead make lemonade to sell to those who are thirsty from complaining.

Let's not waste our time worrying. Worry is not preparation. Analyze the situation and focus on solutions. There is always an answer and its only there with us.

Drifting without aim will lead you nowhere

Dear friends,

Without a plan for your life, it is easier to follow the course of least resistance, to go with the flow, to drift with the current with no particular destination in mind. Having a definite plan for your life greatly simplifies the process of making hundreds of daily decisions that affect your ultimate success.

When you know where you want to go, you can quickly decide if your actions are moving you toward your goal or away from it. Without definite, precise goals and a plan for their achievement, each decision must be considered in a vacuum. Definiteness of purpose provides context and allows you to relate specific actions to your overall plan.


Cheers,

There's always a NEW beginning

Dear Friends,

THERE ALWAYS REMAINS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A NEW START.

Though it may not seem so when you first encounter a serious blow, you can never lose two of the most important assets you have. These are the power of your mind and your freedom to use it.

Once you have turned them to understanding what laid you low, you can begin forming new plans. You may not have the money you once had; you may lack the allies you had cultivated. But you still have the benefit of
a universe that eventually rewards honest effort, as well as gaining the experience of mistakes you will never make again.

Remember, no matter where you are now, whatever you can conceive and believe, you can achieve. Protect the most important thing you have - YOU


Cheers,

B

Self pity - a curse

Dear friends,

SELF-PITY IS AN OPIATE.

The most insidious problem with drugs is that the human body develops a tolerance for them and requires larger and larger doses to achieve the same effect. The same is true with self-pity. The more you allow yourself to indulge in it, the more you will require. Soon, self-pity will become a habit, one so debilitating that you will rob yourself of all the potential you possess.

Happily, there is a cure. If you truly analyze the situation, most often you will find that the problems that have driven you to pity yourself are mostly of your own creation. It follows, then, that the best person to remedy the problem is the person who created it: you yourself.


Cheers,

B

Failure - A reason to Change

Dear Friends,

FAILURE IS A BLESSING WHEN IT PUSHES US OUT OF A CUSHIONED SEAT OF SELF-SATISFACTION AND FORCES US TO DO SOMETHING USEFUL.

If you carefully study your own life and those of achievers whom you admire, it is an absolute certainty you will discover that your greatest opportunities often occurred during times of adversity. It is only when faced with the possibility of failure that we are willing to deal with radical change and take the risks that lead to great success.

When you experience temporary failure and you know that it is temporary, you can capitalize on the opportunities adversity always brings. It all depends on the individual and his take on accepting failure in a positive manner.

If everything we attempted in life were achieved with a minimum of effort and came out exactly as planned, how little we would learn-and how boring life would be! And how arrogant we would become if we succeeded at everything we attempted.

Failure allows us to develop the essential quality of humility. It is not easy (when you are the person experiencing failure) to accept it philosophically, serene in the knowledge that this is one of life's great learning experiences. But it is.

Nature's ways are not always easily understood, but they are repetitive and therefore predictable. You can be absolutely certain that when you feel you are being most unfairly tested, you are being prepared for great achievement.

regards,

B

Two choices

Two Choices

What would you do?

You make the choice.

Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway.

My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fund-raising  dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the  father of one of the students delivered a speech that would  never be forgotten by all who attended.

After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my  son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?'

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and  physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys, Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?'
I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father, I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much), if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team  shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In  the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other  team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball  to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the  bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay  reached  third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!

Shay, run to third!' As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the  boys. from  both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:

If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference.

We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the  'natural order of things.'

So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a
choice:

Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those
opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said "Every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them".

Life a mixture of Love and Understanding

Dear Friends,

I was actually thinking about what to write on LIFE, when I hit upon this beautiful story and the same is about LIFE, LOVE and UNDERSTANDING (written by Steve Goodier). This is something that every Man and Woman should go through - they will understand the importance of each other in their life.

You've heard it said: "Love is patient and kind." If love is patient, it may be because love is truly understanding.

Do you know what the most common craving is among pregnant women? (I'm sure this is factual.) The most common craving among pregnant women is not spicy food, pickles or ice cream. Not even close.

It is for MEN to get pregnant. Why? Because then they would know what it is like! Then they might be more patient.

What most women need during times of cravings, discomfort, swollen ankles and morning sickness is... understanding. Much of our conflict is simply misunderstanding.


As a new bride, one woman moved into the small home on her husband's ranch in the mountains. She put a shoe box on a shelf in her closet and asked her husband never to touch it.

For 50 years he left the box alone, until his life partner was old and dying. One day when he was putting their affairs in order, he found the box again and thought it might hold something important. Opening it, he discovered two doilies and $82,500 in cash. He took the box to her and asked about the contents. "My mother gave me that box the day we married," she explained. "She told me to make a doily to help ease my frustrations every time I got mad at you." Her husband was touched that in 50 years she'd only been upset enough to make two doilies. "What's the $82,500 for?" he asked. She explained, "Oh, well that's the money I've made selling the doilies." (Pity isn't it - We men don't understand our women very well)

Marge Piercy beautifully said, "Life is the first gift, love is the second and understanding is the third." But it is love that gives us life and understanding that brings about love. Making dollies might take your mind off the problem, but it won't change anything. The path from conflict to love is not by way of arts and crafts. It is through the valley of understanding.  


Cheers,

B

Alter your Attitude

Dear Friends

The greatest discovery of this generation is that a Human being can alter their LIFE by altering their attitude.
I believe this all my heart and over the years have seen it happen as well. What most people fail to realise is that, your attitude not only impact your happiness and your success, it also can impact the happiness and success of people (friends and family) around you.
Attitude truly are contagious. And from time to time, we need to ask ourselves...... "Is mine worth CATCHING"

Cheers,

B

Be n control

Dear friends,

Human faults are like garden weeds. They grow without cultivation and soon take over the place if they aren't thinned out.

Habits are formed so slowly that most of us don't realize what is happening until the habits are too strongly entrenched to be broken. Seldom can one pattern of behavior be eliminated without replacing it with another. It has been said that nature abhors a vacuum and will always find something to fill a void.

The best way to thin out the "weeds," or faults in your character, is to identify those traits with which you are dissatisfied and replace them with their positive counterparts. If you have a tendency to lose your temper, for example, find a replacement for your anger. Neutralize it with a positive expression or affirmation such as, No one can make me angry unless I let them. I will not let anyone else control my emotions.

Cheers,

B

Its your positive mind that will help you achieve anything

SUCCESS ATTRACTS SUCCESS AND FAILURE ATTRACTS FAILURE BECAUSE OF THE LAW OF HARMONIOUS ATTRACTION.

In physics, positives attract negatives and vice versa, but in human relationships the opposite is true. Negative people attract only other negative people, while positive thinkers attract like-minded individuals. You will find that when you begin to achieve success more successes will follow. This is the law of harmonious attraction.

Train your mind to visualize yourself achieving a certain goal - whatever you most desire. Then use self-suggestion to persuade your subconscious mind that you can achieve your goal, and put your plan into action.
When you use the tools that you have at your disposal to prepare yourself for success and visualize yourself as having already reached your objective, you can achieve any reasonable goal that you set for yourself.

Be open to CRITICISM

Dear Friends,


MOST OF US DON'T MIND BEING TOLD OF OUR FAULTS IF THE CRITIC IS GENEROUS ENOUGH TO MIX IN A FEW OF OUR VIRTUES AS WELL - In other words, a lot of us don't like to be criticised. We feel, we know it all. (Start questioning this attitude, if you aren't still)

It's a normal reaction to defend ourselves and our behavior when someone criticizes us - even if we secretly recognize that what we're being told is correct.

Those who achieve great success in life, however, are those who have learned to set aside their emotions and learn from others, even when the message is unpleasant. If you find yourself being evaluated by someone else, tell yourself that criticism of some aspect of your performance is not a personal attack. Control your emotional reaction and adopt useful ideas even though you may dislike the manner in which the information is delivered.

Accepting CRITICISM will bring the best out of you - something that you have not even thought of.

Relationship is the KEY to success

Dear Friends,

ALL ENDURING SUCCESS IS FOUNDED UPON HARMONIOUS HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS.

Most of us are incapable of "going it alone" - (Are there any who believe they have been RAMBO's in their life). Whether it is in our careers, our personal relationships or in life, we all need others (team or a companion), if we are to achieve the level of success we desire. Besides, what's the point of having it all, if we have no one we care about to share it?

You may choose to work with others, you may ignore them, or you may choose to work against them, but the greatest successes in life come to those who work harmoniously with others. When your personal goals coincide with those of another, not only does the power of your combined labors benefit you, but such cooperation also creates a synergistic effect that allows you to achieve far more than the simple sum of your individual efforts.

Remember that "friendship freely given and gratefully received is one of life's greatest gifts".


Cheers,

B

Don't Give Up

Dear Friends,

I BELIEVE, EDISON FAILED 10,000 TIMES BEFORE PERFECTING THE INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LIGHTBULB.
DON'T WORRY IF YOU FAIL ONCE.

Arguably America's greatest inventor, Thomas Edison had an extraordinarily positive perception of life that greatly enhanced his ability as an inventory. When others might have been hopelessly discouraged after failing thousands of times in an attempt to develop an electric light, the great Edison simply viewed each unsuccessful experiment as the elimination of a solution that wouldn't work, thereby moving him that much closer to a successful solution.

We could all take a lesson from Edison. Stories abound about inventors who quit trying and gave up too soon or miners who struck gold just a few feet beyond where someone else quit digging. There are few obstacles in life that will not succumb to consistent, sustained, intelligent, positive action. When you are discouraged after you've failed at something, remember Edison's 10,000 failures before he arrived at the solution that forever changed the world.

I am sure that this would change our lives. Failure is a reality and we only learn through failure thus don't fear but look at the same in the positive light and you will succeed.


Cheers,

B

Relationship is a key to Success

Dear Friends,

ALL ENDURING SUCCESS IS FOUNDED UPON HARMONIOUS HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS.

Most of us are incapable of "going it alone" - (Are there any who believe they have been RAMBO's in their life). Whether it is in our careers, our personal relationships or in life, we all need others (team or a companion), if we are to achieve the level of success we desire. Besides, what's the point of having it all, if we have no one we care about to share it?

You may choose to work with others, you may ignore them, or you may choose to work against them, but the greatest successes in life come to those who work harmoniously with others. When your personal goals coincide with those of another, not only does the power of your combined labors benefit you, but such cooperation also creates a synergistic effect that allows you to achieve far more than the simple sum of your individual efforts.

Remember that "friendship freely given and gratefully received is one of life's greatest gifts".

Treat others the way you want to be treated

Dear Friends,

Its been a long time since I last sent some good thoughts. High time for me to get into some action to uplift my own spirits and YOURS.


A GOOD FISHERMAN GOES OUT OF HIS WAY TO BAIT HIS HOOK WITH WHAT THE FISH PREFER - WHICH MIGHT NOT BE A BAD TIP FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO SUCCEED IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS.

Just as in a conversation its a good idea to listen more than you talk, it is also wise in relationships to think about the well-being of others more than you think about your own wishes and desires. When you constantly strive to treat others in the same way you would like them to treat you, you become a person whom others like to be around, one who commands their respect, confidence, and loyalty.

When you learn to manage emotions and your ego, and when you learn to always consider the needs and desires of others, it is inevitable that you will "bait your hook" with kindness and consideration, and catch more friends than you can count.

Any takers.....

Have clear focused objectives in LIFE to move ahead

Dear Friends,

If you don't know what you want from LIFE, what do you think, you will get?

The great majority of people in the world drift through life, never realizing that their future will be the one they create for themselves. The minority who achieve great success are people who know what they want and have a plan for realizing their objectives. They know what they want and how they are going to get it.

Your goals should be specific, they should be measurable, they should have a deadline for their achievement, and they should be divided into manageable pieces. Know exactly what you plan to achieve, when you plan to achieve it, and how. Review your progress regularly, correct your course when necessary, and never, never give up.

If you are ever to achieve noteworthy success in your life, you must be willing to stand apart from the crowd.

Success is something that is achieved by the minority, not the majority, of people. You will also discover as you climb the ladder of success that there are many who, out of jealousy or envy, will belittle your achievements. Nevertheless, if you have the courage of your convictions, nothing can deter you from your course.

You develop confidence in your beliefs by doing your own thinking and by constantly testing and revising your knowledge.

Use W. Clement Stone's R2A2 Principle to Recognize and Relate, Assimilate and Apply information from any field to help solve your problems and direct your thinking.

The ThinkIng Fruit

Dear Friends,

No one could ride a Horse if the Horse discovered its real strength. The same applies for people as well.

We all know that horses are massive, gentle creatures who are by far larger and stronger than men and women who handle them, yet they docilely obey the commands they are given. It doesn’t seem logical that a large, powerful animal would
allow itself to be mastered by a human being, yet we have been able to use
our intelligence to dominate the animal kingdom.

The learning out here is we can use these same forces to allow the positive side of ourself to dominate the negative. A Positive mental attitude allows us to tap the source of great power that
resides within us, enabling us to accomplish things we never before believed were possible.

Thought of the Day

Dear Friends,

No one could ride a Horse if the Horse discovered its real strength. The same applies for people as well.

We all know that horses are massive, gentle creatures who are by far larger and stronger than men and women who handle them, yet they docilely obey the commands they are given. It doesn’t seem logical that a large, powerful animal would
allow itself to be mastered by a human being, yet we have been able to use
our intelligence to dominate the animal kingdom.

The learning out here is we can use these same forces to allow the positive side of ourself to dominate the negative. A Positive mental attitude allows us to tap the source of great power that
resides within us, enabling us to accomplish things we never before believed were possible.

CHANGE-Beautiful indeed

Dear Friends,

Please excuse me if you find this a bit too dragging.

What happens when people particularly some of your best colleagues in your organization leave - They leave a vacuum behind or atleast that's what we feel for sometime when they are gone (especially if the person has a combining exemplary professional skills with a sweet nature and gentle character). Life has a way of throwing these curve balls at us. Just when we start getting comfortable with a person, place or a situation, something comes along to alter the recipe - A terrific neighbour moves away, someone in the family graduates and moves, a child finds new love and loyalties through marraige or the family's principle bread winner is laid off. There have been various such cases but its a matter of time and LIFE is normal again.

To a great degree, our ability to cope with change and disruption determines happiness and contentment in life.

But how do we do that?

Based on a philosophers thought, comfort can be found in remembering that "to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven" - Let TODAY embrace the past with remembrance, and the future with longing.

I believe that SURVIVABILITY depends upon ADAPTABILITY. The answer to life's problem can be summed up in four words: "Go with the FLOW"

Once I read something in a surfer's column, which I had recorded in my book - "Its like surfing; you can't organize the ocean. Waves just happen. You ride them where they take you, then you paddle back out there and catch the next one. Sure, you're always hoping for the perfect wave where you can get. But mostly, ypu just take them the way they come".
I"m not exactly sure, but I thought that the surfer meant "Life is a series of events" - Both good and bad. No matter how smart our organizational skills are, there will always be life influencing factors over which we have no control. The truly successful person expects the unexpected, and is prepared to make adjustment should the need arise - as it almost always does.

That doesn't mean, we don't keep trying to make all our dreams come true. It just means that when things come up that aren't exactly in our plan, we work around them and then we move on. Ofcourse, some bumps along the road of life are easier to take on than OTHERS. But the principle is the same.

A famous philosopher, Thomas Carlyle once said "Change, indeed, is painful, yet ever needful. And if memories have its force and worth, so also has HOPE"

SO, rather than dwelling in something that is painful, let's focus on our HOPES for a brighter future. And then we'll go out and do everything we can to make that future happen.

UNTIL our plans change - AGAIN.


Cheers to CHANGE

Obstacles - Are they Challenges or Hurdles

Dear Friends,

It's important to keep your mind fixed on what you want in LIFE, and not on unimportant stuff..

We have just begun to explore the inner workings of the mind, but we have long been aware of the effects of our thoughts. As it is rightly said that 'Thoughts becomes things' and thus we should always think Positive.

When you focus on not missing the target instead of on hitting the bull's-eye, the results are often disastrous.

Why?

The statement might sound the same but it is impossible to think negative thoughts in a positive way. Thus the focus has to be to 'Hit the bulls-eye' rather 'Not missing the target'.

Ask any golfer who has tried not to miss a putt or a bowler who has struggled not to miss a strike.

GOT IT or MISSED IT

Its all about the positive thoughts which turns into positve things.

Make sure your goals are specific and precise.
"Making a lot of money" or "earning regular promotions" are wishes, not goals.
State exactly how much money you expect to earn and by when, and the specific promotion you want, how you plan to earn it, (Read again - EARN IT) and when you expect to do so.

Goal setting is important in life whether personal or professional but only when you are focused, will you be able to achieve the GOALS.

"Obstacles are those frightening things you see when you take your eye off the target." - If you are sure of your objective these so called OBSTACLES will be seen as challenges and not HURDLES.

Anyone thinks differently...

Uplift your innerself

Dear Friends,

What's important first is to change your mental attitude and approach and you will notice that the world around you will change accordingly.

Your world will become what you choose to make it. You can reach great heights of success, or you can settle for a miserable life that is devoid of hope. The choice is yours.

When you choose a positive course, you set in motion an unstoppable force that will allow you to have a fulfilling career, the love of your family and friends, good physical and mental health, and all of the other true riches of life. To change your world, you must change it from the inside out. You must begin with yourself.

Focus on self upliftment and not materialistic living, you will automatically see yourself only moving forward in life.

When you choose the course that puts your life on a positive track, you will change your life for the better, and you will also positively influence the people with whom you come in contact - Don't forget when you think positive, you create a positive aura which will automatically reflect on others.

THINK POSITIVE

By Ernest Vinaya Kumar

If you want to live longer, be happy, healthy and successful, all you have to do is tell yourself that you can do it by tapping the healing forces within.

There is no greater joy than a healthy, positive life.
* You feel exhilarated, energetic, happy and on top of the world.
* A sense of total well being permeates your mind.
* The future looks bright.
* You feel good to be alive.

Great, but how do we get out of our innumerable worries, tensions and fears that the increasingly competitive life burdens us with?

Simple!

Tell yourself that you are good, healthy and capable.

That's the power of positive affirmations.

Such affirmations are also called self-suggestions. It is a powerful tool for transforming your inner self into an amazing health generating, self-healing entity.

You can record these affirmations on a tape
synchronized with pleasant instrumental music and replay them often to make
them more effective and permanent


TRY IT.

Defeat-Is it a Reality

Dear Friends,

It isn't DEFEAT, but rather your mental attitude toward it that whips you. Change your thoughts and "Everythings gonna be OK"

There are many things in life that you cannot control, but you can always control your attitude toward them. Defeat is never permanent unless you allow it to be so. When you have a positive attitude, you will recognize failure for the impostor that it is and realize that it is really a learning experience, a valuable lesson that will help you succeed with the next attempt. We should never be afraid of failure - its only then we will deliver.

Ask yourself:

* What could I have done differently that would have altered the outcome?
* What can I do in the future to minimize problems and mistakes?
* What did I learn from this experience that I can put to good use next time?

If you approach obstacles and setbacks with a positive attitude, you will be surprised how quickly you can turn defeat into victory.

Isn't it so easy - it's the PARADIGM shift that is needed.

A lot of people ask me when I send these writeups to them "Do you believe and practice what you say?"
Belief 200%, coz I write my feelings as well - Practice, I try my best but at times, I have failed. Of late, I have continuously reminded myself and believe me, the more I write, the more this has turned into reality.

Cheers,

B

Strength of positive mental attitude

Dear Friends,

Today I got into a conversation with a colleague of mine who. believes that negative thoughts are inevitable and however one tries to be positive, at times it is situations that stands far too stronger and it is beyond control.

Time and again we hear stories about ordinary people who do seemingly impossible things when they find themselves in an emergency situation. They perform herculean feats of strength and endurance, things they never dreamed, they were capable of doing.

Way back during my school days, I heard of a story where a mother (who used to work in the field) lifted a tree which fell on her infant child and she didn't even realise what she did - ofcourse, it was her love for the child but at the same time a positive mental attitude.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could harness that strength and make it available anytime you need it?

Hmmmmm.... Now that's something to ponder upon!

You can - only if you believe you can. No doubt you can remember a time in your life when you were exceptionally focused on your objective, a time when you achieved more in less time than ever before. Perhaps it was an impending vacation that motivated you to get everything done before you departed, or perhaps it was a "must pass" exam that helped you focus your concentration.

That reminds me of a personal incident - In 9th standard, I was struggling to pass out in Maths i.e. both Geometry and Algebra and I hated it. My professor, Varghese told me that I will not get through as I needed 132 to pass out in my finals (out of 150) - How the hell I would achieve that? I was a shy kid then but told my proffessor that I will pass through and I am confident - I still remember the day when he called me on the day of result personally and asked me what magic I did, as he could not believe the numbers - it was 147/ 150 - I smiled and said that 'maybe I was more attentive in class and got more focused'. Indeed, its focus, concentration and self belief that took me through this.

The intensity that you developed in those situations is always available to you when you have a Positive Mental Attitude.

Little did I know of such a thing at that point of time but today when I look back at the various pages of my life (as well), I feel PROUD.

A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE IS AN IRRESISTIBLE FORCE THAT KNOWS NO SUCH THING AS AN IMMOVABLE BODY.

Does it make sense?

Cheers,

B

what do you get when you think negative?

Dear Friends,

Have you guys ever imagined what do you get when you think negative?

A NEGATIVE MIND spawns only negative ideas..

It is a physical impossibility for a negative mind to generate any positive thoughts. When you allow yourself to dwell on the negative aspects of life, negative thinking expands to fill all of your thoughts until there is no room for positive thoughts to grow. It becomes an endless cycle. Please bear in mind that a human mind has only 'X' memory and as I have always mentioned, don't fill this with garbage else there will be no space to store beautiful data/ thoughts.

The habit of negative thinking generates more and more negative thoughts, which the mind attempts to turn into physical reality. The result is a life of despair and hopelessness. Develop the habit of eliminating negative thoughts the moment they appear. Start small at first. When you first hear that inner voice that says, "I can?t do this," put the thought out of your mind immediately. Instead, concentrate on the task itself. Break it down into manageable parts and complete them one at a time. When the job is finished, tell your doubting self: "You were wrong. I could do it, and I did!"

Mark it, you will only be an achiever and never a failure.

Cheers,

B

Thought of the day

Dear Friends,

IF YOU HAVE MORE ENEMIES THAN FRIENDS, IT'S TIME TO EXAMINE YOUR MENTAL ATTITUDE.

When your enemies outnumber your friends, the answer to the problem most likely resides within you.

Ask yourself the following questions,
* Am I the kind of person I would like to have as a friend?
* Do I consider the feelings of others, or do I think only of myself?
* Do I try to find the good in others, or am I always finding fault?
* When something goes wrong, do I search for a solution to the problem, or do I look for someone to blame?

In the answers to such questions, you may find the answer to the question: Why do I have more enemies than friends?

Cheers,

B

Marriage

To all married couples and singles who intend to get married

This was a lovely story that I picked up from one of my friends note and since I thought that the same was worth a read, I am sending the same to all you guys.

Marraige is indeed a beautiful institution but its with us how we také care of this beautiful relation which is bounded by marraige.

The story:

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking.

I wanted a divorce.

I raised the topic calmly. She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? I avoided her question.

This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer, I had lost my heart to a lovely girl called Dew. I didn't love my wife anymore, instead I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces.

The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Dew so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Dew. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions:
She didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible.
Her reasons were simple: Our son had his exams in a months time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage. This was agreeable to me.
But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that everyday for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning.
I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable, I accepted her odd request. I told Dew about my wife s divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.
My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, "Daddy is holding mummy in his arms." His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly, "Don't tell our son about the divorce." I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realised she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Dew about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.
She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. Suddenly it hit me, she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously, I reached out and touched her head. Our son came in at the moment and said, "Dad, it's time to carry mum out." To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly, it was just like our wedding day. But her much lighter weight made me sad.

On the last day, when I held her in my arms, I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy.

I drove to office... jumped out of the car, swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind. I walked upstairs. Dew opened the door and I said to her, "Sorry, Dew, I do not want the divorce anymore." She looked at me, astonished. Then touched my forehead. "Do you have a fever?" She said.
I moved her hand off my head. "Sorry, Dew," I said, "I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other any more. Now I realise that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart."
Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote: I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

The small details of our lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property , the money in the bank, blah..blah..blah.
These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.

So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy.

Do have a real happy marriage!

Hope this mail touches all those who have taken their marraige and their partners for granted.


Cheers,

B

Thought of the Day

Dear Friends,

The person who complains that he/ she never had a chance to do something different probably hasn't the COURAGE to také CHANCES.

Its a known fact that mostly people don't recognize opportunity, when it comes along is that it is often dressed in coveralls and look like work.

Often opportunity involves a great deal of work and a willingness to take a chance on something, the outcome of which may be uncertain. Eventually you reach a point when you must either accept an opportunity with all of its unknowns or else turn your back on it.

Question: Do we have the guts to také these challenges where there are so many uncertainties.

No one can tell you when you have reached that point; you alone know when it's time to make your move, to have the courage to take a chance.

Cheers,

B

The Basics of life

Dear Friends,

The following insight was sent to me by one of my colleague. I thought that it was something worth to be shared with all you guys. Indeed very profound, thus please do give it a minute of yours - surely it will make a difference.

George Carlin, comedian of the 70s and 80s whose wife recently passed away, wrote the following eloquent and appropriate piece on our times:
The paradox of our time in history is that:
We have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less,
We buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time..
We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, LOVE too seldom, and HATE too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a LIFE
We've added years to life not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
We conquered outer space but not inner space.
We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul..
We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less.
We plan more, but accomplish less.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait.
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away - George Carlin

Also remember to share this insight, with people who you know and don't know. Who knows, you might change somebody's life. In this world that we are living, chances for an evangelist to appear to change this world is small, but if we wish, WE ALL CAN DO IT.

Cheers,

B

Thought of the Day

Dear Friends,

If you start at the top, you can move in only one direction i.e. DOWNWARD

Perhaps the worst thing that might have happened to you would be to have been born with the proverbial silver spoon in your mouth. For had you been born into privilege, you would have been deprived of one of the world's greatest gifts: the opportunity to reach the highest levels of success of which you are capable, solely on the basis of your own merit.

If you were born with less than most, don't resent others who seem to have more advantages. In truth, the real advantage is yours, for you will develop the self-confidence that comes only from meeting life's challenges on your own terms. As you progress, you gain the strength and knowledge necessary to assure your enduring success, things that cannot be given to you, but must be earned.

Cheers,

B

DETERMINATION

Dear friends,

If you ever become discouraged in life (which tends to happens at times), think of HELEN KELLER, who, despite being deaf, dumb and blind inspired her more fortunate contemporaries.

Indeed, the life of Helen Keller is an outstanding example of the triumph of the human spirit over a physical handicap. Even today, decades after her death, her life stands as a beacon of hope for those who must constantly struggle just to perform routine tasks that most of us take for granted.

Whenever you feel fate has been unkind to you, all you must do is look around you and you will begin to appreciate how fortunate you are.

One of the great mysteries of life is why some people who seem to have all the advantages (the right connections, education, and experience) never seem to amount too much while others who have had to struggle for everything they have reach incredible heights of success. It hinges on one thing - DETERMINATION.

If you have the will to succeed, you will somehow find a way, regardless of the obstacles you encounter. Do you use all of your assets to achieve your goals, or are you handicapped by your lack of ambition?

No other person can create in you a desire to succeed. With enough motivation, you will see things all around you that will help you reach your objectives, things that you may have overlooked many times before.

Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.

The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway;

it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him.

They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.

Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well.
He was astonished at what he saw.

With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.

He would shake it off and take a step up.


As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal,

he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey

stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL :

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.

The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.

Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.

We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!
Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happens.

3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less from people but more from God.

You have two choices...smile and close this page,

or pass this along to someone else to share the lesson ....... I did!!


GOD BLESS YOU....!

Bill Gates' Speech

Dear Friends,

Recently, Bill Gates gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school.

He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.


I felt that this is an excellent learning to the new generation and would like all you guys to také the same forward so that the NEW GENERATION doesn't rot. They are the FUTURE and they need to be taken care of if we want a better world.

Cheers,

B

Thoughts becomes Things

Dear Friends,

Your prgress in life begins in your OWN MIND and ends in the same place.

Every great accomplishment began with the germ of an idea in the mind of a great person, then was shaped for practical usefulness and finally transformed into reality.

George Bernard Shaw said, "People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, they make them."

How well said and it is quite apparent, isn't it?

I am sure that every person who discovered this must have believed (atleast for a while) that he was the first one to work it out. We become what we think about.

Conversely, the person who has no goal, who doesn't know where he's going, and whose thoughts must therefore be thoughts of confusion, anxiety and worry - his life becomes one of frustration, fear, anxiety and worry.

If he thinks about NOTHING, he becomes NOTHING.

Why do we become what we think about?

Remember "Thoughts become things"

To do this, let me explain to you a situation that parallels the human mind.

Suppose a farmer has some land, and it's good, fertile land. The land gives the farmer a choice; he may plant in that land whatever he chooses. The land doesn't care. It's up to the farmer to make the decision.

Out here, we are comparing the human mind with the land because the mind, like the land, doesn't care what you plant in it. It will return what you plant, but it doesn't care what you plant.

Now, let's say that the farmer has two seeds in his hand - one is a seed of corn, the other is a deadly poison. He digs two little holes in the earth and he plants both seeds - one corn, the other some poisonous seed. He covers up the holes, waters and takes care of the land. What will happen? Invariably, the land will return what was planted.

As it's known, "As you sow, so shall you reap."

Remember the land doesn't care. It will return poison in just as wonderful abundance as it will corn. So up comes the two plants - one corn, one poison.

The human mind is far more fertile, far more incredible and mysterious than the land, but it works the same way. It doesn't care what we plant (success or failure, a concrete worthwhile goal or confusion, misunderstanding, fear, anxiety and so on). But what we plant it MUST return to us.

You see, the human mind is the last great unexplored continent on earth. It contains riches beyond our wildest dreams. It will return anything we want to plant.

Every great accomplishment began with the germ of an idea in the mind of a great person, then was shaped for practical usefulness and finally transformed into reality.

Make your mind a fertile ground for ideas through constant study and learning, and condition through constant practice to discipline yourself to follow through on your good ideas. The most brilliant concept in the world is only a dream unless you take action.

Even a mediocre idea that is put into practice is far more valuable than a flash of genius that languishes in a fallow, undisciplined mind.


Cheers,

B

The Washer man and the Foolish Donkey

Have you heard the story of " The Washer man and the Foolish Donkey" ?

To refresh your memory, and for the benefit of those who have not grown up listening to this moral story,
it goes like this…

There was once a washer man who had a donkey and a dog. One night when the whole world was sleeping, a thief broke into the house, the washer man was fast asleep but the donkey and the dog were awake. The dog decided not to bark since the master did not take good care of him and wanted to teach him a lesson. The donkey got worried and said to the dog that if he doesn't bark, the donkey will have to do something himself.
The dog did not change his mind and the donkey started braying loudly. Hearing the donkey bray, the thief ran away, the master woke up and started beating the donkey for braying in the middle of the night for no reason.

Moral of the story " One must not engage in duties other than his own"

Now lets take a new look at the same story…

The washer man (now, a well educated man from a premier management institute) had the fundas of looking at the bigger picture and thinking out of the box. He was convinced that there must be some reason for the donkey to bray in the night. He walked outside a little and did some fact finding, applied a bottom up approach, figured out from the ground realities that there was a thief who broke in and the donkey only wanted to alert him about it.
Looking at the donkey's extra initiative and going beyond the call of the duty, he rewarded him with lot of hay and other perks and became his favorite pet. The dog's life didn't change much, except that now the donkey was more motivated in doing the dogs duties as well.

In the annual appraisal the dog managed a "meets requirement". Soon the dog realized that the donkey is taking care of his duties and he can enjoy his life sleeping and lazing around. The donkey was rated as "star performer".
The donkey now had to live up to his already high performance standards. Soon he was over burdened with work and always under pressure and now is looking for a job rotation…

Disclaimer: All characters in the story are not at all imaginary. Any
resemblance to person living or dying of work is purely intentional.

Management Lesson

Many years ago in a small Indian village,

A farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender.

The Moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful Daughter. So he proposed a bargain.

He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his Daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the Proposal. So the cunning moneylender suggested that they let providence decide the matter.

He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.
1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.
3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into Jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.

Now, imagine that you were standing in the field.
* What would you have done if you were the girl?
* If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?

Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the moneylender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.

Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking.

The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.

* What would you recommend to the Girl to do?

Well, here is what she did ..........................
.
The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."

Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty. The girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.

I am sure that you would have had various other answers and not this one - but THINK, it was only when we are pushed to think, we would but most of us still would like to come up with the easy way i.e. Option 2, just tell the providences that the moneylender was cheating and close the matter - who knows situation would have worsened. Here the thought was very witty and creative.
We all have that great mind - we need to give time to thinking creatively.

Thus the MORAL of the story is:

Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't attempt to think.


Cheers,

B

Do we REFLECT enough

Dear Friends,

I'm just an ordinary person working hard and trying to make each day better than
yesterday. I do forget and I sure don't know all of the answers. And just when I think I have sorted things out - and life is smooth sailing - another "opportunity for growth and learning" shows up in the disguise of a "problem" - Believe me, its the lord who wants us to know that there's more to life and thus wherever we are, whatever we achieve in life, its important we have humility, compassion and we are balanced in life.

Every morning, I read books of inspiration or I write down my thoughts on gratitude or my hopes - and my fears
(Its important to step outside our fears to witness them and know how you unchain ourself from them). Sometimes, I simply sit in silence and envision who I dream of becoming - as a Human and as a Leader- and what should I make of my LIFE.

What I'm trying to encourage you is:
Each day, as we walk out into the world, the world begins to do it's job on us.

What do we see and hear?
* Negative people shout their negative beliefs at us.
* People in fear try to invite us into shared misery.
* Troubling news stories and horrible images are placed front and center on newspapers to get our attention.
* Angry commuters and stress-filled workers find their way into our orbit.

And so we forget.

We forget "The Fundamentals" - basic fundamentals of life

* Like every one of us is meant to be great - in our own unique way.
* Like the stranger walking down the street is just like you: he is someone's child. He hopes for some happiness. He once had dreams. He needs to be loved.
* Like, if you choose, you can make a positive difference at work and in life today, no matter who you are and what you do.
* Like life is good. And we can find joy in the simplest of things over these coming hours. If we have the good sense to focus on them.

I guess what I'm trying to share with you is that each day is a struggle for me (its the same for everyone, I know). I wake up, set my course, fill my thoughts with inspiration, wisdom and good ideas. I try to reconnect with who I truly am and what I want to do/ be. And then..... I walk into another reality of sorts.
* One that entices me to forget.
* One that pulls me to get off course.
* One that suggests that other things are far more important.
* One that makes me forget my own thoughts.

Maybe, this is life. A daily challenge between doing what's right and doing what's easy.

Am I supposed to give up - NO.

But, all I know is that whatever life has in store for me, I got to be positive and proceed towards my vision. What would matter is how strong me and my thoughts stand. The stronger I am, the lesser I would forget - The more I remember, the easier it will get.

Friends, I am sure its not just me - We all go through similar situations but DO WE REFLECT ENOUGH.

Cheers,

B

Decision Making

Dear Friends,

There is no one right answer - but an endless number of right answers - to most of life's problems. Usually, your options are many and varied; the difficulty lies in choosing the best alternative from among many, all in a reasonable time frame.

If you devote yourself to making small decisions promptly, you will find it much easier to be decisive when the stakes are much bigger. Most important, you'll find making decisions and acting on them far easier if you act promptly.

The man who doesn't reach decision promptly when he has all necessary facts in hand cannot be depended on to carry out decisions after he makes them.

Cheers,

B

Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't attempt to think.

Many years ago in a small Indian village,

A farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender.

The Moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful Daughter. So he proposed a bargain.

He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his Daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the Proposal. So the cunning moneylender suggested that they let providence decide the matter.

He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.
1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.
3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into Jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.

Now, imagine that you were standing in the field.
* What would you have done if you were the girl?
* If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?

Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the moneylender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.

Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking.

The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.

* What would you recommend to the Girl to do?

Well, here is what she did ..........................
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The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."

Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty. The girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.

I am sure that you would have had various other answers and not this one - but THINK, it was only when we are pushed to think, we would but most of us still would like to come up with the easy way i.e. Option 2, just tell the providences that the moneylender was cheating and close the matter - who knows situation would have worsened. Here the thought was very witty and creative.
We all have that great mind - we need to give time to thinking creatively.

Thus the MORAL of the story is:

Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't attempt to think.


Cheers,

Lets Change

Dear Friends,

Stories does excite and moves us but how many of us také that as learning. I always believed, every story has a moral behind.

This story definitely leaves an impact in the mind and makes us think.

Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn't know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with
water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he
placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot and ground coffee beans in the third pot.

He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The
daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.

Turning to her, he asked. "Daughter, what do you see?"

"Potatoes, eggs, and coffee," she hastily replied.

"Look closer", he said, "and touch the potatoes." She did and noted that
they were soft.

He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.

"Father, what does this mean?" she asked.

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each
faced the same adversity - the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently.

The potato went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it
became soft and weak. The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard. However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

"Which one are you," he asked his daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Which one are you? When problems come (and they will) how will we react?

Will they make us weak, hard hearted or will they cause us to change into
something worthwhile?

Think about it...

In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is what happens within us.

"Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be."

There is so much learning in life but we as individuals see only that we WANT to see. Lets start looking at life differently and positively. I am sure that you guys do agree with me.

Cheers,

B