For the Winning Edge…


Employee "A" in a company walked up to his manager and asked what my job is for the day? The manager took "A" to the bank of a river and asked him to cross the river and reach the other side of the bank."A" completed this task successfully and reported back to the manager about the completion of the task assigned. The manager smiled and said "GOOD JOB"

"Next day Employee "B" reported to the same manager and asked him the job for the day. The manager assigned the same task as above to this person also. The Employee "B', before starting the task saw Employee "C" struggling in the river to reach the other side of the bank. He realized "C" has the same task. Now "B" not only crossed the river but also helped "C" to cross the river. "B" reported back to the manager and the manager smiled and said "VERY GOOD JOB"

"The following day Employee "Q" reported to the same manager and asked him the job for the day. The manager assigned the same task again. Employee "Q" before starting the work did some home work and realized "A", "B" & "C" all has done this task before. He met them and understood how they performed. He realized that there is a need for a guide and training for doing this task. He sat first and wrote down the procedure for crossing the river, he documented the common mistakes people made, and tricks to do the task efficiently and effortlessly. Using the methodology he had written down he crossed the river and reported back to the manager along with documented procedure and training material. "The manager said "Q" you have done an "EXCELLENT JOB".

The following day Employee "O' reported to the manager and asked him the job for the day. The manager assigned the same task again. "O" studied the procedure written down by "Q" and sat and thought about the whole task. He realized company is spending lot of money in getting this task completed. He decided not to cross the river, but sat and designed and implemented a bridge across the river and went back to his manager and said, "You no longer need to assign this task to any one". The manager smiled and said "Outstanding job 'O'. I am very proud of you."

What is the difference between A, B, Q & O????????

Many a times in life we get tasks to be done at home, at office, at play….,

Most of us end up doing what is expected out of us. Do we feel happy? Most probably yes. We would be often disappointed when the recognition is not meeting our expectation.

Let us compare ourselves with "B". Helping some one else the problem often improves our own skills. There is an old proverb "learn to teach and teach to learn". From a company point of view "B" has demonstrated much better skills than "A" since one more task for the company is completed.

"Q" created knowledge base for the team. More often than not, we do the task assigned to us without checking history. Learning from other's mistake is the best way to improve efficiency. This knowledge creation for the team is of immense help. Re-usability reduces cost there by increases productivity of the team. "Q" demonstrated good "team-player" skills

"Now to the outstanding person, "O" made the task irrelevant; he created a Permanent Asset to the team.

If you notice B, Q and O all have demonstrated "team performance" over an above individual performance; also they have demonstrated a very invaluable characteristic known as

"INITIATIVE"

Initiative pays of every where whether at work or at personal life. If you put initiative you will succeed. Initiative is a continual process and it never ends. This is because this year's achievement is next year's task. You cannot use the same success story every year.

When you judge your performance, analyze have you acted as A, B, Q or O?

Source: Vikas Seth

The EYES of a Leader...

The EYES of a Leader...

The Mahabharata tells the story of a kingdom where the royal couple has no EYES. The king, Dhritarashtra, was blind and his queen, Gandhari, blindfolded herself. The result: children who were unobserved. The father cannot SEE; the mother chooses not to SEE. The children grow up with a warped value system. Since no one is seeing them, they feel they can get away with anything. As a result the law of the jungle reigns supreme in the kingdom of Dhritarashtra. A woman is publicly disrobed and lands are grabbed by force.


Leaders must have the EYES to SEE his people. He must recognize them for who they are, rather than what he wants them to be. More often than not, leaders don't have EYES – or rather they SEE only themselves. Their EYES are only for their vision of the world. They do not realize there are others around them with other visions of life. This lack of EYES strips them of all empathy. Everything is measured and valued against their narrow vision. Those who support, praise and align with their vision are good; while those fail to do so or provide constructive criticisms are bad. Intellectual leaders with an intellectual outlook of things therefore look down upon people who are not intellectual. Emotional leaders keep advising non-emotional team members to transform for their betterment. Task oriented leaders do not value people oriented team members and vice versa. In other words, they SEE nothing but themselves and constantly seek themselves in others. They notice no one else. They SEE others as they SEE themselves.


The ability to recognize and nurture talent is often missing in people who are assumed to be leaders by their respective organizations. Some leaders recognize talent but do not know what do with it. Others, envious of talent, reject or ignore them deliberately. Some leaders recognize talent but do not know what do with it. Others, envious of talent, reject or ignore them deliberately. The character Karna in the Mahabharata is a case in point. Karna was always seen as a charioteer's son and never as a great archer by the Pandavas. It was Duryodhana who saw Karna's talent but used him unfortunately for his villainous goals. This is what happens to talented people who are rejected in organizations or in countries – they end up with competitors. These talents are like stallions, they know their value and can move anywhere with tremendous speed. The leaders must have the EYES to spot and develop talents within their organizations.


In the Upanishads, it is said that it is an observer who creates an observation. It is our attention that creates the world around us. Likewise, it is the EYES of the leader that creates an organization around him. In Mahabharata Dhritarashtra's lack of sight and his wife's refusal to SEE created the Kauravas. It is not so much about sight as it is about attention – how much attention do we put in people around us.


As leaders, do we SEE people around us and pay attention to them? Do we SEE what they SEE? Do we try and align our vision to theirs or do we simply impose our vision onto them? It is time for leaders to open their EYES to these questions, otherwise they should not be in leadership positions.

Source: Dr Devdutt Pattanaik

The BUS DRIVER

The BUS DRIVER

CEOs Must Know How to Drive the BUS…

If an organization is a bus, then the CEO must know how to drive the bus. The CEO must be able to get the right people onto the bus, get the wrong people off the bus and set the direction for the passengers.


Get the right people onto the bus. I think this is a key concept that most organizations do not do well at all. How can you achieve success if you have the 'wrong' team? One of the mistakes most organizations make when they recruit is to select people based solely on their technical qualifications and skills. This is important, but I would suggest a better option would be to select based more on behavioral rather than technical skills. I would rather employ a manager with satisfactory technical skills but with an excellent attitude rather than the most technically qualified manager, but with a terrible attitude. Working in organizations is not only doing your work well but importantly, interacting and assisting other people in doing their work well too. In a nutshell, the right people would be people with the right skills/competencies, attitude, team players and critically, those who can take your organization to the next level. In the process make sure that the right people in your organization are also sitting in the 'right' seats in the bus! And finally, make sure you are the right driver; otherwise, the right people may get off the bus prematurely at the next stop!!


Get the wrong people off the bus. How do you get rid of your employees who are constantly underperforming or are the deadwood in the organization? I would suggest that you can do this by borrowing an idea from Jack Welch when he was the CEO of GE. He ranked all his employees into three categories, category A were the high performers, category B were those who had the potential but lacked certain skills and experience, and lastly category C were those who were underperforming. Every year, managers had to brief their superior about actions they had taken in relation to people in category C. Termination was always an option that was considered because one bad apple can make a whole team under-perform, which is usually disastrous. Marcus Buckingham in his book, "First break all the rules", says that most CEOs spend a lot of time on underperformers when if they spend the same time on high performers, the returns would be so much greater. Although it is difficult to terminate people, however not terminating them would be more disastrous option for your organization. Please also remember that even if you have excellent goals and strategies, but with the wrong people on the bus, you will continue to achieve mediocre results.


Set the Direction. When you board the bus, you always want to know where the bus is going. If you are not aware, then it is most certain that you will feel uncomfortable. Bus drivers must therefore always keep their passengers informed. It is okay to change direction every once in a while, because passengers understand the volatile state of the business environment and the need to change course. They however would like to always be kept informed of the 'new direction', so that they can work towards assisting the driver to reach the new 'destination'. When you are kept in the 'dark' there is nothing much you can do to assist the driver. Vision/mission statements and organizational strategies must therefore be made known to everyone in the bus inclusive the ones at the lower levels!! I have many times in the course of my work, seen vision/mission statements that were there to be used more as marketing tools and also because 'everyone is doing it', rather than as a tool to drive the organization. Ask your management team today about what your organization's vision/mission statement is and I am most certain 90% will not know!! Think about it! If you do not know where you are going, how can you get there!!


Source: Jim Collins

The Peter Principle

The Peter Principle

The Peter Principle concept was introduced by Dr. Laurence Johnston Peter in his book of the same title. The concept of this principle is that in organizations, new employees typically start in the lower ranks, but when they prove to be competent in their job, they get promoted to a higher rank and to a new job. This process goes on indefinitely, until the employee reaches a job where he or she is no longer competent! Although incompetent, they are kept in the job as it is very difficult to 'demote' someone. The net result is that most of the management levels of a bureaucracy can be filled by incompetent people, who got there because they were quite good at doing different work than the work they are currently expected to perform.

As an example, it is usual for organizations to promote their best sales person to a management position. The nature of the new job however is totally different i.e. managing a sales force. The sales person may be very good at doing sales but falls short when it comes to managing people. Hence he has been promoted to a job that he is incompetent in, triggering the concept of the Peter Principle.

How many times have we seen this principle being demonstrated in organizations? How many times have we all some times wondered about how certain people got promoted to their present positions? Ironically they are there not because they are good at their present job, but because they were good at their past jobs. And the trouble with people like these is that they then carry on doing the tasks involved in 'their past jobs' because they cannot do their present ones well. How many times have we seen managers go on and on about the font and format of a report rather than the substance of it; How many times have we seen a sales manager trying to teach a sales person how to sell when his priority should be drawing up sales strategies for his sales force: How many times have we seen CEO's getting involved in the administration of the annual dinner when the mission statements and strategies for the organization have yet to be drawn up. The list is endless. There is no escaping this concept in organizations.

However a good way to overcome this would be to ensure that whenever a person is promoted, it is ability in the future job that will play a critical role in the promotion process, and not ability in his present job. I must admit that this is easier said than done!

Related article:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/manager/2006/12/11/stories/2006121101301000.htm

Measure your True Efforts…

Measure your True Efforts…

Shivangi was a God loving young girl. Unlike most of her peers she would spend a lot of time in prayer and devotional singing. Her parents married her to a boy from a very good family. Much to her dismay, Shivangi learned soon after her wedding that her husband Abhay was a compulsive alcoholic and had no interest in anything Godly.

Every evening when Shivangi would sit down to offer prayers to the Lord, Abhay would abuse her and show his annoyance. He would ask her to sit with him and give him company because he loved her so much. Shivangi had to give up her evening prayer routine to please her newly wed husband.

As months and years passed, Shivangi slowly persuaded her husband to let her sit for her evening bhajan for an hour everyday. He had grown more considerate because of the love and affection she showered on him. He was also drinking lesser because she impressed upon him time and again about the evils of alcohol.

Every evening Abhay would sit down to have his drink, but he would miss his wife's company. He kept thinking of her. He kept visualizing her in the prayer room, singing bhajans. Time and again he would wait for the hour to be over, so that she would come and join him.

In the prayer room, Shivangi would play the Harmonium and sing for the Lord. But, her thoughts would drift towards her husband. In her minds eye, she would picture Abhay, taking one drink after the other. She prayed to the Lord, to change her husband's habits. Months passed like this.

One night, Shivangi had a dream: Abhay and Shivangi were kneeling before the Lord.

God said: Shivangi, Abhay is more devoted to me than you. Shivangi: Lord! How is that possible? I sing your glory, but he drinks all evening.

God: When you are physically in the prayer room, you are mentally drinking. You think only of Abhay. "The drink is in you and you are in the drink."

But, when Abhay is drinking, he constantly thinks about prayer and bhajan. He even mentally sings the songs he imagines you to be singing. "The prayer is in him and he is in prayer."

Shivangi: But Lord...!

God: No my child! It is only when you remember me from the core of your heart that you can feel that "I am in you and you are in me." Prayer is talking to God. The time you spend in 'prayer' is of no significance unless you are able to establish the connection that makes you feel that, "God is in you, with you and around you!"

"What counts is not the number of hours you put in, but how much you put in the hours."


Contributed By Rakesh Bisht


yoginAm api sarvesAm mad-gatenantar-AtmanA
sraddhAvAn bhajate yo mAm sa me yuktatamo mataH (Gita, 6.47)

Man-manA bhava mad bhakto mad yAjimAm namaskuru,
mAm evaiyasi satyam te pratijAne priyo 'si me (Gita, 18.65)

The Elephant and the Fly

The Elephant and the Fly


A disciple and his teacher were walking through the forest. The disciple was disturbed by the fact that his mind was in constant unrest.

He asked his teacher: "Why most people's minds are restless, and only a few possess a calm mind? What can one do to still the mind?"

The teacher looked at the disciple, smiled and said: "I will tell you a story. An elephant was standing and picking leaves from a tree. A small fly came, flying and buzzing near his ear. The elephant waved it away with his long ears. Then the fly came again, and the elephant waved it away once more".

This was repeated several times. Then the elephant asked the fly: "Why are you so restless and noisy? Why can't you stay for a while in one place?"

The fly answered: "I am attracted to whatever I see, hear or smell. My five senses pull me constantly in all directions and I cannot resist them. What is your secret? How can you stay so calm and still?"

The elephant stopped eating and said: "My five senses do not rule my attention. Whatever I do, I get immersed in it. Now that I am eating, I am completely immersed in eating. In this way I can enjoy my food and chew it better. I rule and control my attention, and not the other way around."

Upon hearing these words, the disciple's eyes opened wide and a smile appeared on his face. He looked at his teacher and said: "I understand! If my five senses are in control of my mind and attention, then my mind is in constant unrest. If I am in charge of my five senses and attention, then my mind becomes calm".

"Yes, that's right", answered the teacher, "The mind is restless and goes wherever the attention is. Control your attention, and you control your mind".


Remez Sasson


AtmAnam rathinam viddhi, sariram ratham eva ca; buddhim tu sArathim viddhi, manah pragraham eva ca. indriyAni hayan Ahur, visayAms tesu gocarAn; atmendriya-mano-yuktam, bhoktety Ahur manisinah - Katha Upanisad 1.3.3-4

An Old Story with New Learning

Do you recognize a DIAMOND when you see one?

An Old Story with New Learning


There was a farmer in Africa who was happy and content. He was happy because he was content. He was content because he was happy.

One day a wise man came to him and told him about the glory of diamonds and the power that goes along with them. The wise man said, "If you had a diamond the size of your thumb, you could have your own city. If you had a diamond the size of your fist, you could probably own your own country." And then he went away.

That night the farmer couldn't sleep. He was unhappy and he was discontent. He was unhappy because he was discontent and discontent because he was unhappy.

The next morning he made arrangements to sell off his farm, took care of his family and went in search of diamonds. He looked all over Africa and couldn't find any. He looked all through Europe and couldn't find any. When he got to Spain, he was emotionally, physically and financially broke. He got so disheartened that he threw himself into the Barcelona River and committed suicide.

Back home, the person who had bought his farm was watering the camels at a stream that ran through the farm. Across the stream, the rays of the morning sun hit a stone and made it sparkle like a rainbow.

He thought it would look good on the mantle piece. He picked up the stone and put it in the living room.

That afternoon the wise man came and saw the stone sparkling. He asked, "Is Hafiz back?"

The new owner said, "No, why do you ask?"

The wise man said, "Because that is a diamond. I recognize one when I see one."

The man said, no, that's just a stone I picked up from the stream. Come, I'll show you.

There are many more." They went and picked some samples and sent them for analysis. Sure enough, the stones were diamonds. They found that the farm was indeed covered with acres and acres of diamonds.

Learnings

When our attitude is right, we realize that we are a walking on acres and acres of diamonds. Opportunity is always under our feet. We don't have to go anywhere. All we need to do is recognize it. Attitude determines the altitude.

The grass always appears greener on the other side (ikkarai ke akkarai pachai)। While we are dyeing the grass on the other side, there are others who are dyeing the grass on our side.

When people don't know how to recognize opportunity, they complain of noise when it knocks. The same opportunity never knocks twice. The next one may be better or worse, but it is never the same one.

Contributed by Sharad Singh

Good News or Bad News

Good News or Bad News

Riches, mediocrity and poverty begin in the mind.

Good news or bad news? It depends on how you see things. You can be bitter after being cheated. Or you can choose to move on with your life…

Robert De Vincenzo, the great Argentine golfer, once won a tournament and, after receiving the check and smiling for the cameras, he went to the clubhouse and prepared to leave. Some time later, he walked alone to his car in the parking lot and was approached by a young woman.

She congratulated him on his victory and then told him that her child was seriously ill and near death. She did not know how she could pay the doctor's bills and hospital expenses.

De Vincenzo was touched by her story, and he took out a pen and endorsed his winning check for payment to the woman. "Make some good days for the baby," he said as he pressed the check into her hand.

The next week he was having lunch in a country club when a Professional Golf Association official came to his table. "Some of the boys in the parking lot last week told me you met a young woman there after you won that tournament." De Vincenzo nodded. "Well," said the official, "I have news for you. She's a phony. She has no sick baby. She's not even married. She fleeced you, my friend."

"You mean there is no baby who is dying?" said De Vincenzo.

"That's right," said the official.

"That's the best good news I've heard all week." De Vincenzo said.

You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.

When you consistently maintain a positive frame of mind, you'll become known as a problem-solver rather than a complainer. People avoid complainers. They seek out problem-solvers.

You can give in to the failure messages and be a bitter deadbeat of excuses. Or you can choose to be happy and positive and excited about life. The difference between can and cannot are only three letters that determine your life's direction.


Being positive or negative are habits of thoughts that have a very strong influence on life.

The Best Contribution You Can Make

The Best Contribution You Can Make …


An elderly couple retired to the countryside - to a small isolated cottage overlooking some rugged and rocky heath land. One early morning the woman saw from her window a young man dressed in working clothes walking on the heath, about a hundred yards away. He was carrying a spade and a small case, and he disappeared from view behind a copse of trees.

The woman thought no more about it but around the same time the next day she saw the man again, carrying his spade and a small case, and again he disappeared behind the copse. The woman mentioned this to her husband, who said he was probably a farmer or gamekeeper setting traps, or performing some other country practice that would be perfectly normal, and so not to worry.

However after several more sightings of the young man with the spade over the next two weeks the woman persuaded her husband to take a stroll - early, before the man tended to arrive - to the copse of trees to investigate what he was doing.

There they found a surprisingly long and deep trench, rough and uneven at one end, becoming much neater and tidier towards the other end.

"How strange," the old lady said, "Why dig a trench here - and in such difficult rocky ground?" and her husband agreed.

Just then the young man appeared - earlier than his usual time.

"You're early," said the old woman, making light of their obvious curiosity, "We wondered what you were doing - and we also wondered what was in the case."

"I'm digging a trench," said the man, who continued, realizing a bigger explanation was appropriate, "I'm actually learning how to dig a good trench, because the job I'm being interviewed for later today says that experience is essential - so I'm getting the experience. And the case - it's got my lunch in it."

He got the job.


Moral of the story

Don't wait for anything। Start today if you want to be successful in your life. The best contribution one can make to humanity is to improve oneself. Only the player with the initiative has the right to attack.

Action plan

Times will change for the better when you change। So start taking initiatives whether it is at your work place or at your home. Initiatives are first step towards Self Development.

Rajesh Seshadri

The Comfort Zone

The Comfort Zone...
by Megan Gebhardt

Over time, we all gather a set of constricting habits around us—ones that trap us in a zone of supposed comfort, well below what our potential would allow us to attain। Pretty soon, such habits slip below the level of our consciousness, but they still determine what we think that we can and cannot do—and what we cannot even bring ourselves to try. As long as you let these habits rule you, you'll be stuck in a rut.

About 10 years ago, I started a job as a trainer for a Telemarketing agency। In one of my first classes the head trainer told a very motivating story about Comfort Zone that I would like to share with you.

He began by drawing a diagram of a stick man standing in the middle of a circle। To make it more interesting, he drew things like a house, a car, and a few friends inside the circle.

He asked the question "Can anyone tell me what this is?" In a long silence, one guy decided to throw out "the world?" The trainer said "That's close, this is your Comfort Zone। Inside your circle you have all the things that are important to you. Your home, your family, your friends, and your job. People feel that inside this circle they are safe from any danger or conflict.

"Can anyone tell me what happens when you step out of this circle?" A strong silence came over the room। The same eager guy abruptly announced "You are afraid". Another guy said "You make mistakes". The silence continued and the trainer smiled and said "When you make mistakes what can the result be?" The first guy shouts "You learn something."

"Exactly, you are learning." The trainer turned to the board and drew an arrow pointing from the stick man directly to the outside of the circle. He proceeded to say "When you leave your Comfort Zone you put yourself out there, in front of the world to be in a situations that you are not comfortable with. The end result is that you have learned something that you did not already know, you expand your knowledge to become a better person." He turned again to the board and drew a bigger circle around the original circle, and added a few new things like more friends, a bigger house etc.

"The moral of the story is that if you stay inside your Comfort Zone you will never be able to expand your horizons and learn. When you step out of your Comfort Zone you will eventually make your circle bigger, to challenge your mind and grow to be stronger, and all in all a better person."

OPEN THE DOOR OF YOUR SELF-IMPOSED PRISON AND WALK FREE

Lesson from a Tea Cup

More often we hear people complaining that "what have I done to deserve this?" Why God is not listening to my prayers? They also ask other people to pray for them as they have lost faith in God। Please read this little story of a cup as it explains why God doesn't listen to your prayers when you want Him to listen. We all go through very difficult and painful time in life that we think that it is the end of the world. Most people run here and there in search of new God, new religion or quick fix. But we can all understand God's grace from this little story of a Tea Cup...

Lesson from a Tea Cup

Once there was a young man। He was rather immature and inexperienced, but was ready to learn new things। He had a strong liking for antiques and was happy to visit different antique stores when he was on holidays. He traveled all over the world and collected many antiques. Over the time he developed a strong interest in antique pottery and especially in tea cups. He felt that they all had their unique stories to tell.

Once while he was in an old fortress in Serbia which had been partially transformed into a museum, he spotted an exceptional tea cup in a dusty antique store which clearly had Turkish influences। He asked the seller: "May I see that exceptionally beautiful tea cup over there? It seems to come from Turkey. As the man handed him the tea cup, our young man suddenly heard the tea cup speak up:

"Thank you for liking me," it said, "I have not always been a tea cup। There was a time when I had no idea what service meant. I was just a dumb lump of red clay. Let me tell you my story and I am sure you will learn from it.

I've lived for many, many thousands of years। I've witnessed wars and peace coming and going. Whole civilizations rolled over me as I sat there waiting. Then one day my master came. He took me, brought me home, rolled and pounded me on a wooden table. Again and again, he poked his fingers into me until finally I yelled out "don't do that!' Imagine someone would take you like this. , Leave me alone!' But he only smiled and gently said "Not yet!"

The tea cup became more and more alive as he spoke to the shocked young man "Then, whoommmm! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly spun around and around and around until I lost all my sense of direction: Stop it, don't you see that I'm getting sick? Quickly, take me from the spinning wheel!' But the master only nodded in understanding and quietly said "not yet!'

He only bent me in and out of shape to suit his plan with me॥ "Then he placed me carefully into an oven। I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door: It is hotter than hell - I'm burning to ashes. Please get me out of here before it is too late.' I could see him through a tiny hole. I could only read his lips as he shook his head from side to side and silently pronounced, "Not yet!'

"When I thought I could not bear the heat for another minute, the door opened। He carefully took me out and put me on a shelf where I began to cool. It felt so good to be left alone. "But more was going to come. After I had cooled down he carefully picked me up, looked at me and brushed some dust away. Then he brought the colors and something transparent - the glaze. The fumes were horrible! I thought I would suffocate! , I said please... have mercy! Don't you understand my misery? Please, please, please! Stop it! "But he only shook his head and said "Not yet, you're not yet ready!"

"Then unexpectedly and very quickly he put me back into the oven। Only it was about twice or trice as hot as the first time - this was the most intense. From the beginning I felt... this is my death... I begged... I pleaded ... I threatened ... I screamed ... Finally, I cried without tears. Not even hot tears. I was convinced I will never make it. I was ready to give up॥ "Just then - in the last second as I was slowly fainting, the door opened and he took me out. And again placed me on the shelf - where I cooled and waited... and waited ... and waited.

"What was he going to do next? An hour or so later he came back and placed a mirror before me and said: ,Look at yourself!' And I did। "What I saw amazed me. It is what you see now. That's not me! I said. That cannot be me... It is too beautiful, "With a very compassionate voice my master spoke "This is what you are meant to be" and then he explained everything that was needed for me to look so beautiful.

He said "I know it hurt you when I rolled and kneaded you on the table। But if I had not gotten the air out of you, you would have broken.' "I knew you must have lost all your sense of orientation when I was spinning you. But without this you would never have come into this form. I know the fumes of the colors in the glaze were intolerable when I painted you all over. But if I had not done that, you would not have had any color in your life and you would not have hardened. And when I placed you in the second oven I knew that this would be the most severe part. But without it you would have broken very easily when the realities of life would have come. Believe me all I did was for your good. Now you are what I had in mind when I first saw you on the ground. Now you are a finished product."

With this the tea cup stopped speaking - but there was a tear of gratefulness coming from its beautiful rim।

The young man purchased the tea cup and only used it when he offered something to God। He never forgot the lesson he received from it. Whenever he was in a difficult situation and he felt like calling out, stop it! Leave me alone!', he remembered the words of the tea cup maker: "Not yet...!" However, he also became grateful - for he knew that everything that happened was designed by the Lord to make him what he was meant to become.

We should also have complete faith in God that HE knows what HE is doing for each of us. He is the potter and we are the clay. He will mold us and make us ready. He will also expose us to just enough pressures that we will become a perfect piece of His liking. So we should not misinterpret his divine grace and run here and there to search for new master. We should have faith in our master and learn to tolerate whatever we go through in our life as whatever he is doing is for our own good. Build such a relationship with him that he will become your parent and will be always around you to protect you and grant you all the happiness you deserve.

V RENGARAJAN

The Traveler and the Tiger…

This story is from the Hitopadesa

Once upon a time in the southern forests there dwelt a certain old tiger. Everyday he would take a ceremonial bath and, gathering some sacred grass in his paw, he would call out to the passers-by as he sat at the edge of a pond: come travelers, come! Someone come and take this gold bracelet which I am giving away free!

This attracted a traveler, but he felt some hesitation. He thought within himself, "bonanza here! But there may be a trap. Therefore, I must not be hasty where a risk is involved. People say, the result of getting a desirable object from an undesirable source is not good; indeed, even nectar, when tainted with poison, brings about one's 'death. But then, any enterprise involves risk. Playing, safe, you win nothing. To gain success you must take calculated risks. Let me examine this offer closely”. There upon he called aloud: "Where is your bracelet?"

The tiger stretched out a paw and showed it to him, but the traveler said: “How am I to trust someone with a murderous nature like you”. The tiger replied: “My friend, your doubts and fears are certainly justified as I was killer once. In my youth I killed so many human beings and cattle that my sins destroyed my wife and children. And now I am without heirs. Then, by Divine Grace, I met a holy man, who gave me wholesome advice. Obeying him, I repented all my sins, gave away all I had in charity. I am old, my teeth and claws are gone: no one need fear me. I spend my time in ritual baths and alms giving. The scriptures prescribe the eightfold path of virtue - sacrifice, religious study, charity, penance, truthfulness, patience, forgiveness, and lack of greed. Of these, the first four may be practiced merely for ostentation, but the last four belong to the truly great. And I, being, free from greed, wish to give away, somehow to someone this gold bracelet, my last possession. I admit it is difficult to refute the belief that tigers eat people. For the world never thinks for itself, but blindly does what has been done before. But I have studied the scriptures diligently, and I follow their teachings. Let me remind you of them.

It is said:

1. "As rain to a desert, as food to the hungry, so satisfying is a gift to the poor",

2. "As one's life is dear to oneself so is life dear to every creature. The good think of others as themselves, and show compassion".

3. "While giving or while refusing, in joy or in sorrow, in liking, or in disliking. A man should judge by placing himself in the other's position. You are a poor fellow, and so I would like you to have this bracelet".

4. "Give to the needy; do not add wealth to the rich. The sick man needs medicine. What use of it to one in health"

5. "The best charity is giving for giving’s sake, at the proper place and time, to one who deserves it, and from whom nothing is expected in return".

Therefore, have a Holy bath in this lake, and then take this golden bracelet as a gift from me. The traveler felt confidence at the tiger's words, but no sooner did he enter the pool in order to bathe than he found himself stuck fast in the mud and unable to run away. When the tiger saw him held deep in the mud he said: Oh! You have fallen into the mud; I will just lift you out of it. With these words he gently approached the traveler.

As the tiger seized the traveler, he (the traveler) thought to himself, “I was a fool to trust this killer. I did not do well in having faith in this murderous beast" With these and other thoughts passing through his mind, the traveler was killed by the tiger and eaten.

The above story proves how greed robs learned man of his wisdom. It also tells us that animals (also animals in human form) do not deviate from their instinctive behavior – (Swabhava). However, human beings have intellect and power of discretion, which when used in deviation of their value based instinctive behavior (Swabhava), lead to all sort of problems.

Spices of Life

Salt, Pepper and the Spices of Life…

You’re sitting at a table, having a meal with some friends. Bowls of soup are served to everyone at the table. Before tasting the soup, the person next to you reaches for the salt and pepper, and for the next 20 seconds vigorously shakes into the soup more salt and pepper than you would use in a month.

You have a pained look on your face. These thoughts immediately go through your mind: 'Why would you put salt and pepper in soup, or on any dish, BEFORE you taste it? How do you know how much to add?' You might also think, 'How can someone put so much salt and pepper in their food?'

Of course, the roles could be reversed. You might be the one who loves to put a lot of salt and pepper on your food and the person next to you eats the soup without adding salt or pepper. In that case, you think, 'How can she eat this bland soup without putting any seasoning in it?'

When it comes to salt, pepper, onions, garlic, curry or just about any type of seasoning, we tend to see things only one way - OUR way. It's hard for us to understand how someone could enjoy food when it is not seasoned as we think is appropriate. We cringe when we see someone 'overdoing' or 'under-doing' the spices.

How we season our food is a matter of preference and personal taste. There is no right or wrong way to use seasonings. Furthermore, the way in which another applies salt and pepper does not affect us in any way. They're not putting the salt and pepper in YOUR soup. They are putting the spices in their own soup.

Our world is so diverse, and yet it is difficult for us to accept each other's preferences. Often, when we see people doing things we wouldn't do, our mind says:

Why aren't they thinking as I think?

Why aren't they acting as I would act?

Your mind would often have you believe that your way is superior. Your beliefs and habits are shaped by your genetics and your environment. Each person has different genetics and as grown up in an environment that is different than yours. Why expect everyone to come to the same conclusion?

Our spiritual growth comes when we learn to accept that others have different preferences, and we honor those preferences. There is no universal religion that everyone will agree to practice. There is no universal political viewpoint that all will accept. There is no one way of raising children that all cultures will agree upon. Marriage customs will vary from culture to culture.

Getting people to agree on these issues is like trying to get everyone to use the same amount of salt and pepper on their food. It's not going to happen.

The diversity in this world is beautiful and we can open our hearts to it. Within our own country and in our relations with people in other countries, we need to continually remind ourselves that it's perfectly acceptable for people to have preferences. If the other person is not harming us, why can't we just smile and get on with life?

The next time you're tempted to judge or criticize the way other people think or act, realize that in most cases, they're just using a different amount of salt or pepper than you would use. Allow them to have their preferences, and there is no need to even consider what YOU would do.

'You cannot always oblige but you can speak always obligingly' –

Geethashree Narayan

Be a Lake!!!

Stop being a GLASS, become a LAKE!!!

The old Master instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and then to drink it. "How does it taste?" the Master asked. "Awful," spat the apprentice.

The Master chuckled and then asked the young man to take another handful of salt and put it in the lake.

The two walked in silence to the nearby lake and when the apprentice swirled his handful of salt into the lake, the old man said, "Now drink from the lake." As the water dripped down the young man's chin, the Master asked, "How does it taste?"

"Good!" remarked the apprentice. "Do you taste the salt?" asked the Master. "No," said the young man.

The Master sat beside this troubled young man, took his hands, and said, "The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains the same, exactly the same. But the amount we taste the 'pain' depends on the container we put it into.

"So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things ..... Stop being a glass. Become a lake!"

Ducks and Eagles

Ducks Quack, Eagles Fly

No one can make you serve customers well. That's because great service is a choice. Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point.

He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey.

He handed my friend a laminated card and said: "I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement."

Taken aback, Harvey read the card... It said:

Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.

This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean! As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, "Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf."

My friend said jokingly, "No, I'd prefer a soft drink." Wally smiled and said, "No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice." Almost stuttering, Harvey said, "I'll take a Diet Coke." Handing him his drink, Wally said, "If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today."

As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card. "These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio."

And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.

"Tell me, Wally," my amazed friend asked the driver, "have you always served customers like this?"

Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. "No, not always, in fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day.

He had just written a book called You'll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle... Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.'"

"That hit me right between the eyes," said Wally. "Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more." "I take it that has paid off for you," Harvey said.

"It sure has," Wally replied. "My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action."

Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.

Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.

How about us???

Change the WORLD

Do you want to Change the WORLD ?

Then read this....

There was a millionaire who was bothered by severe eye pain.

He consulted so many physicians and was getting his treatment done. He did not stop consulting galaxy of medical experts; he consumed heavy loads of drugs and underwent hundreds of injections.

But the ache persisted with great vigour than before. At last a monk who has supposed to be an expert in treating such patients was called for by the millionaire.

The monk understood his problem and said that for sometime he should concentrate only on green colours and not to fall his eyes on any other colours.

The millionaire got together a group of painters and purchased barrels of green color and directed that every object his eye was likely to fall to be painted in green colour just as the monk had directed.

When the monk came to visit him after few days, the millionaire' s servants ran with buckets of green paints and poured on him since he was in red dress, lest their master not see any other colour and his eye ache would come back.

Hearing this monk laughed said "If only you had purchased a pair of green spectacles, worth just a few rupees, you could have saved these walls and trees and pots and all other articles and also could have saved a large share of his fortune.

You cannot paint the world green." Let us change our vision and the world will appear accordingly. It is foolish to shape the world, let us shape ourselves first.

Lets change our vision..!!

DOG'S CURLY TAIL……

THE WORLD A DOG'S CURLY TAIL……

This is story told by Swami Vivekananda in his book on Vedanta.

There was a poor man who wanted some money. Somehow he had heard that if he could get hold of a ghost, he might command him to bring money or anything else he liked; so he was very anxious to get hold of a ghost. He went about searching for a man who would give him a ghost, and at last he found a sage, who could give him a ghost.

When he requested for a ghost, the sage asked him what he would do with a ghost. "I want a ghost to work for me. Teach me how to get hold of one, sir. I desire it very much", replied the man. But the sage said:" Don't disturb your-self. Go home". The next day the man went again to the sage and began to weep and pray: "Give me ghost. I must have a ghost, sir, to help me." At last the sage was disgusted and said: "Take this charm, repeat this magic word, and a ghost will come. And whatever you say to him he will do. But beware! They are terrible beings and must be kept continually busy. If you fail to give him work, he will take your life". The man replied:" That is easy. I can give him work for his whole life".

Then he went to a forest and after long repetition of the magic word, a huge ghost appeared before him and said: 'I am a ghost. I have been conquered by your magic; but you must keep me constantly employed. The moment you fail to give me work I will kill you". The man said, "Build me a palace," "Bring me money," said the man. "Here is your money," said the ghost. "Cut this forest down and build a city in its place." "That is done," said the ghost. Anything more?

Now the man began to be frightened and though he could give him nothing more to do. He did everything in a trice. The ghost said, "Give me something to do or I will eat you up." The poor man could find no further occupation for him and was frightened. So he ran and ran and at last reached the sage and said, "Oh, sir, save my life!" The sage asked him what the matter was, and the man replied: "I have nothing to give the ghost to do. Everything I tell him to do he does in a moment, and he threatens to eat me up if I do not give him work." Just then the ghost arrived, saying, "I will eat you up," and he was about to swallow the man. The man began to shake, and begged the sage to save his life.

The sage said: "I will find you a way out. Look at that dog with a curly tail, give it to the ghost to straighten out". The man gave the dog's tail to the ghost, saying, "Straighten that out for me." The ghost took it and slowly and carefully straightened it out, but as soon as he let it go, it instantly curled up again. Once more he laboriously straightened it out, only to find it again curled up as soon as he attempted to let go of it. Again he patiently straightened it out, but as soon as he let it go it curled up again. So he went on for days and days, until he was exhausted and said:" I was never in such trouble before in my life. I am an old, veteran ghost, but never before was I in such trouble. I will make a compromise with you. You let me off and I will let you keep all I have given you and will promise not to harm you." The man was much pleased and accepted the offer gladly.

Swami Vivekananda explains: This world is like a dog's curly tail, and people have been striving to straighten it out for hundreds of years। But when they let it go, it curls up again. How could it be otherwise? So we should always remember the instance of the curly tail of the dog. We need not worry or make ourselves sleepless about the world. It will go on without each of us. Our worries will not help it. But when we stop worrying about the world, then alone will we be able to work well. The one who is complaining all the time is foolish and has no sympathy. He can never straighten out the world, nor can he improve himself.

Lessons from a Water Bearer…

A Water Bearer…

A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years, this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water-bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path and every day while we walked back, you've watered them. "For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are there would not be this beauty to grace the house.

The moral of the story:

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots, but it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life.

The Real Reason Why Employees Leave

The following information is taken from the book, The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave: How to Recognize the Subtle Signs and Act before it’s too late, by Leigh Branham, 2005, AMACOM publishers.

The Real Reason Why Employees Leave

The Saratoga Institute conducted a survey and it revealed that 89% of managers believe employees leave for more money. But, in fact, the survey found that 88% of employees leave for reasons other than money. What a disconnect!

Maybe it is easier for managers to think that money is the real issue, rather than hear that there are things that need to be fixed. But, the truth is, there are things that can be done to keep employees happy and productive, and on the job.

The 10 most frequently mentioned issues that employees say companies do poorly are:

1. Poor management —uncaring and unprofessional managers; overworking staff; no respect, not listening, putting people in wrong jobs; speed over quality; poor manager selection processes.

2. Lack of career growth and advancement opportunities — no perceivable career paths; not posting job openings or filling from within; favoritism or unfair promotions.

3. Poor communications — problems communicating top-down and between departments; after mergers; between facilities.

4. Pay — paid under-market or less than contributions warrant; pay inequities; slow raises; favoritism for bonuses/raises; ineffective appraisals.

5. Lack of recognition — that says it all.

6. Poor senior leadership — not listening, asking, or investing in employees; unresponsiveness and isolation; mixed messages.

7. Lack of training — nonexistent or superficial training; nothing for new hires, managers, or to move up.

8. Excessive workload — doing more with less; sacrificing quality and customer service for numbers.

9. Lack of tools and resources — insufficient, malfunctioning, outdated, equipment/supplies; overwork without relief.

10. Lack of teamwork — poor coworker cooperation/ commitment; lack of interdepartmental coordination.

If you see that these are problems in your workplace, actively work to get them corrected through work team initiatives, discussions with your manager, or sharing corporate models where things are done right. Sometimes it is easier to fix the problem then move on and start a new.

Instead of worrying about exit of trained employee think of untrained employee who stays with you


(If you are interested to read the details, please email me at mbalakrsna@yahoo.com or bala.hrm@gmail.com for a free copy of the e-Book)

The One Word That Makes The Difference Between Success And Failure!

anirvedaH shriyo muulam anirvedaH param sukham
anirvedo hi satatam sarva artheSu pravartakaH 5-12-10

(Non-depression is root of development. Absence of despondency is the greatest comfort. Self reliance always is indeed the promoter in all matters.)

karoti saphalam jantoH karma yac ca karoti saH
tasmaad anirveda kRtam yatnam ceSTe aham uttamam 5-12-11
adR^iSTaamH ca viceSyaami deshaan raavaNa paalitaan

(Whatever action a human does that action of man is made to be successful by non-depression. For that reason I will perform a best effort together with non-depression. I will search all those regions ruled by Ravana not yet seen)

Source: Valmiki Ramayana, Book 5 – Sundara Kandam, Chapter 12, slokas 10 & 11

***************

The One Word That Makes The Difference Between Success And Failure!


The difference between Success and Failure is determined by just one MAGIC WORD!

Yes, just by one word!

What is that?

Walter Chrysler, when asked to give the secret of success, listed the various qualities, such as ability, capacity, energy, but added that the real secret was enthusiasm.

Yes, more than enthusiasm, said Chrysler, I would say excitement, I like to see men get excited.

In the great epic Ramayana, Maharishi Valmiki is giving an interesting picture.

When Hanuman, was not able to trace out the location of Sita,He was very much distressed. He lamented, How could I meet my colleagues at the other end of the ocean without finding out Sita! As He is the embodiment of Success, He immediately found out the required quality and uttered two verses (12th chapter verses 10 and 11).

In Sundara Kandam, the best part of Ramayana, He says, Enthusiasm is the cause for getting wealth; enthusiasm is the greatest comfort; Enthusiasm makes one to do his best always, in all matters. Enthusiasm makes human effort fruitful. Hence I am going to do my best induced by enthusiasm. Needless to say, Hanuman found Sita in Asokavanam. This is the turning point in the great epic. Rama went to Lanka and killed Ravana. Norman Vincent Peale has written a book titled, Enthusiasm Makes the Difference.

He points out that

1) Enthusiasm never runs down

2) Enthusiasm cancels fear and worry

3) Enthusiasm reduces stress and tension

4) Enthusiasm works miracles in problems

5) Enthusiasm is a powerful motivation which makes things happen

6) Enthusiasm builds power under your difficulties

7) Enthusiasm makes the difference- it leads everybody from failure to success.

The word enthusiasm from the Greek entheos means God in you or full of God. In other words enthusiasm is a Godly Quality.

Emerson wrote: Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. God helps to those who work with great enthusiasm. So instead of blaming others or the environment, we have to work hard enthusiastically aiming at our goal.

This one word will definitely take us to success from failure!


Source: Santhanam Nagarajan

Lessons from a Lizard

Choose to be positive. When a lizard can, why can't we ?

This is a true story that happened in Japan . In order to renovate the house, someone in Japan breaks open the wall . Japanese houses normally have a hollow space between the wooden walls. When tearing down the walls, he found that there was a lizard stuck there because a nail from outside hammered into one of its feet. He sees this , and feels pity, and at the same time curious, as when he checked the nail, and it was nailed 10 years ago when the house was! First built.

What happened ?

The lizard has survived in such position for 10 years! In a dark wall partition for 10 years without moving, it is impossible and mind-boggling. Then he wondered how this lizard survived for 10 years! Without moving a single step--since its foot was nailed ! So he stopped his work and observed the lizard, what it has been doing , and what and how it has been eating. Later, not knowing from where it came , appears another lizard, with food in its mouth. Ah! He was stunned and touched deeply. For the lizard that was stuck by nail, another lizard has been feeding it for the past 10 years ...

Imagine? it has been doing that untiringly for 10 long years, without giving up hope on its partner

Think, will u do that for your partner?

Or at least your Mom & Dad, Who went through struggle & hardship to raise and educate you & invested the best years of their lives raising you?

Imagine what a small creature can do, and a creature blessed with a brilliant mind can't .

As information and communication technology advances, our access to information becomes faster and faster. But the distance between human beings . . . is it getting closer as well ?

...And. Please never abandon your loved ones…..


Source: Hussain Bhindar

Human Relations - Be Proactive

Think Before You Speak...

The train has started moving. It is packed with people of all ages, mostly with the working men and women and young college guys and gals. Near the window, seated a old man with his 30 year old son. As the train moves by, the son is overwhelmed with joy as he was thrilled with the scenery outside..

"See dad, the scenery of green trees moving away is very beautiful" This behavior from a thirty year old son made the other people feel strange about him. Every one started murmuring something or other about this son."This guy seems to be a krack.." newly married Anup whispered to his wife.

Suddenly it started raining... Rain drops fell on the travelers through the opened window. The Thirty year old son , filled with joy " see dad, how beautiful the rain is .."

Anup's wife got irritated with the rain drops spoiling her new suit.

Anup ," cant you see its raining, you old man, if ur son is not feeling well get him soon to a mental asylum..and dont disturb public henceforth"

The old man hesitated first and then in a low tone replied " we are on the way back from hospital, my son got discharged today morning , he was a blind by birth, last week only he got his vision, these rain and nature are new to his eyes.. Please forgive us for the inconvenience caused..."

The things we see may be right from our perspective until we know the truth. But when we know the truth our reaction to that will hurt even us. So try to understand the problem better before taking a harsh action.

Source: http://www.citehr.com/think-bfore-u-speakdont-miss-to-read--vt88814.html

The World is like a Mirror

Thought Provoking Story

One day all the employees reached the office and they saw a big advice on the door on which it was written:"

Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym".

In the beginning, they all got sad for the death of one of their colleagues, but after a while they started getting curious to know who was that man whohindered the growth of his colleagues and the company itself.

The excitement in the gym was such that security agents were ordered tocontrol the crowd within the room.

The more people reached the coffin, the more the excitement heated up. Everyone thought: "Who is this guy who was hindering my progress?

Well, at least he died!".

One by one the thrilled employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood nearby the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.

There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself. There was also a sign next to the mirror that said:"

There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU. You are the only person who can revolutionize your life.

You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself. Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when your company changes.

Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life.

"The most important relationship you can have, is the one you have with yourself" Examine yourself, watch yourself. Don't be afraid of difficulties, impossibilities and losses: be a winner, build yourself and your reality.

The world is like a mirror: it gives back to anyone the reflection of the thoughts in which one has strongly believed. The world and your reality are like mirrors laying in a coffin, which show to any individual the death of his divine capability to imagine and create his happiness and his success. "It's the way you face Life that makes the difference"

Source: HR Innovators

Employee Recognition

[About Human Resources: Vol. 8 No. 99 - ISSN: 1533-3698 August 19, 2007]

Employee Recognition by Susan M. Heathfield

Employee recognition is limited in most organizations. Employees complain about the lack of recognition regularly. Managers ask, "Why should I recognize or thank him? He's just doing his job." And, life at work is busy, busy, busy. These factors combine to create work places that fail to provide recognition for employees.

Managers who prioritize employee recognition understand the power of recognition. They know that employee recognition is not just a nice thing to do for people. Employee recognition is a communication tool that reinforces and rewards the most important outcomes people create for your business.

When you recognize people effectively, you reinforce, with your chosen means of recognition, the actions and behaviors you most want to see people repeat. An effective employee recognition system is simple, immediate, and powerfully reinforcing. Employees feel cared about and appreciated. It may seem simplistic, but people who feel recognized and cared about produce more and better work.

Employee Survey Pinpoints Recognition

In a client employee satisfaction survey, the question about whether the company cared about the welfare and happiness of its employees drew divergent views. Some people agreed; others disagreed.

So, the Culture and Communications team put out a second survey asking what would make the employees feel as if the company cared about them. We developed several answers employees could check and supplied room for their comments and additional thoughts.

Fifty-five percent of the respondents said that praise and attention from their supervisor would make them feel as if the company cared about them and their well-being. As you might also expect, money, benefits, and events such as company lunches ranked high, too. But recognition from the supervisor ranked above all other choices.

I have sponsored similar surveys in different organizations. The findings are always similar. Employees want to know that they have done a good job - and that you noticed. Employees want to be thanked and appreciated.

A leader of employees makes other people feel important and appreciated. The leader excels at creating opportunities to provide rewards, recognition and thanks to his or her staff. A leader creates a work environment in which people feel important and appreciated.

Want to Kick Employee Recognition Up a Notch?

You can reinforce powerfully the recognition you provide in these ways.

1. Write out the recognition, what the employee did, why it was important, and how the actions served your organization. Give a copy of the letter to the employee and to the department head or CEO, depending on the size of your company. Place a copy in the employee's file.

2. Write a personal note to the employee. Perhaps have your supervisor sign it, too. Photocopy the note and place the recognition in the employee's file.

3. Accompany the verbal recognition with a gift. Engraved plaques, merchandise that carries the company logo, even certificates of appreciation reinforce the employee recognition.

4. Everyone likes cash or the equivalent in gift cards, gift certificates, and checks. If you use a consumable form of employee recognition, accompany the cash with a note or letter. When the money has been spent, you want the employee to remember the recognition.

5. Present the recognition publicly, at an employee meeting, for example. Even if the employee is uncomfortable with publicity, it is important for the other employees to know that employees are receiving recognition.

Conclusion and More Information About Employee Recognition

A simple "thank you" counts as employee recognition. But, you can also make employee recognition as elaborate as your imagination can conceive. Recognition is not a scarce resource. You can't use it up or run out of it. No budget is too small to afford employee recognition. For increased employee satisfaction, bring on lots of employee recognition.

Leadership Training Key to Employee Retention

[Talent Management Magazine September 18, 2007 Vol. 3,Issue 36]


Leadership Training Key to Employee Retention

Attracting and retaining employees is a topic ofendless articles, conference sessions, books andwebcasts, as well as the basis (the "raison d'etre") for numerous product launches.

Yet, although retaining talented employees requireseffort and focus, it might not be such a challenge, according to Impact Achievement Group.

Superior management practices and effective leadershipare key missing ingredients in many organizations, evident in the many organizations that Rick Tate and Julie White, Ph.D., senior managing partners for the leadership development firm, have consulted. Companies giving low priority to developing leaders eventually might realize a domino effect through the organizationin terms of retention.

Recent research by Gallup has shown that competitivepay, benefits and amenities are the market ante for any employee - superior, mediocre and poor performers.

But Tate and White say how long people stay and howwell they perform is determined in large part by theirpersonal and professional relationships with theirimmediate supervisors."

The exodus of talented individuals to other companies for positions with only a modest increase in pay orbenefits is a compelling question," Tate said. "Whyleave when there's not that much gain? Ultimately, it's because people don't leave companies - they leave managers."

So, when companies invest in developing competent leaders, they are aiming a direct salvo in the war for talented and committed employees. Tate should know - he and White have been consulting and speaking for more than two decades on the topic of leadership development, service quality, performance management, customer loyalty and communication aimed at solving problems.

Impact Achievement group offers some real-world advice for companies: The quality of your managers defines your company.

Do they conduct purposeful workplace discussions, effectively problem solve and create an environment which engages discretionary effort, and is their behavior aligned with the organizational values?

Do your managers ensure people have the opportunity to do their best and listen to the opinions of direct reports, and do they hold people accountable to performance standards? Most important, do they have a passion for leading others?

Leaders must understand what high-performing direct reports demand from their work environment to engage their best efforts and loyalty:

1. Clearly communicated job requirements, focused on contributions instead of job tasks.

2. Resources to do their best work.

3. Ability to meaningfully participate it what affects them on the job.

4. Genuine acknowledgment of their contributions.

5. Genuine concern for their career.

6. A performance review process that differentiates excellence.

'A Leader Should Know How to Manage Failure'

(Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam at Wharton India Economic forum,Philadelphia, United States March 22,2008)


'A Leader Should Know How to Manage Failure'


Question: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?

Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India's "Rohini" satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources -- but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal.

By 1979 -- I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal. It was a big failure.

That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference -- where journalists from around the world were present -- was at 7:45 am at ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure -- he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization.

The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite -- and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, "You conduct the press conference today."

I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team.

The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience

STORY - Nishkama Karma (Self–less Action)

Nishkama Karma (Self–less Action)


Nishkama Karma - Action performed without the taint of personal desire for results or reward.


A teacher had learnt about a wise-man who lived uphill. One day he decided to visit this man with his two students. On their way they had to pass through a meadow, where they found a shepherd with a flock of sheep. The shepherd seemed very angry and was seen time and again beating a sheep, which was limping slowly because of a wounded foreleg and was often left behind. At the same time there appeared an old man who was walking with a stick and was passing by the same flock. After some time the old man picked up the limping sheep, put it on his shoulders and kept walking. On the way he dropped the sheep at shepherds house and walked away calmly. Throughout the way this old man was seen to be walking patiently. The two students kept watching all this and started talking to each other.

Student I: Why should this old man carry the sheep? It is difficult for him to walk.
Student II: May be the sheep belong to him.
Student I: But he is not talking to anyone. I don't think he knows the shepherd or the sheep.
Student II: But even the shepherd could carry the sheep. He is quite young.
Student I: He must be making fool of this old man. He is not bothered.
Student II: (when the sheep was dropped) But the sheep seems to be thankful.
Student I: What about the old-man, he does not look tired, even he does not seems to be expecting any thanks from the shepherd.
Student II: Oh! The shepherd is a thankless person.
Student I: But why could not you or I pick up the sheep.
Student I: Come on, at least I am not interested in all this charity.

Soon the teacher and the student were climbing the hill and they reached the place where, they were to see the wise man. To their astonishment, this wise man was none else but the same old man. The old man welcomed them and offered them seats. They asked him: 'Sir we saw you on our way. You were carrying a sheep. But we wondered why were you carrying the sheep all the way when we could see, it is difficult for you to walk? Even the shepherd could pick it. He even did not have any feeling of thankfulness.' The old man did not reply and was quite and calm. The teacher took the students back.

On their way he told them that the wise man was above all these small things to expect gratitude or something else in return. He showed you what Nishkama Karma is. It is the Sattva Gunas like compassion and care which prompted him to pick-up the poor sheep. Even you or I could do that. We did feel concern for the sheep but did not have courage to carry it. This shows the wise man's ego-less state. He was not bothered what others might be feeling about him. Whatever job came his way he did it with full enrichment and thereafter just forget. Great men do not remember the good done by them. They just enjoy it. This state can be reached only when one performs his job as an offering to the divine.

Thus whatever work we do, we should offer it to the supreme - yat karosi, yat asnAsi yat juhosi dadAsi yat. Yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurusva madArpanam


This is a real mind enrichment formula in Nishkama Karma.

Become a Digger for Gold

Look for the Gold…..

As a young Scots boy, Andrew Carnegie came to America and started doing odd jobs. He ended up as one of the largest steel manufacturers in the United States of America. At one time he had 43 millionaires working for him. Several decades ago, a million dollars used to be a lot of money.

Someone asked Andrew Carnegie how he dealt with people, to which he replied, "Dealing with people is like digging gold. When you go digging for an ounce of gold, you have to move tons of dirt to get an ounce of gold. But when you go digging, you don't go looking for the dirt, you go looking for the gold." What is your focus? Become a digger for gold. If you are looking for what is wrong with people or with things, you will find many. What are you looking for? Andrew Carnegie's reply has a very important message!

There is something positive in every person and every situation. Sometimes we have to dig deep to look for the positive because it may not be apparent. Besides, we are so used to looking for what is wrong with other people and situations; we forget to see what is right.

People in the organizations should be developed, the same way the gold is mined. Leaaders should look for the gold not the dirt; the good not the bad. Like everything else, the more good qualities we look in people, the more we are going to find.

Someone once said that even a stopped clock is right twice a day!

Learning from Leadership Mistakes

Top 10 common business leadership mistakes !!

Everyone wants to lead, but at what cost? A careless approach to leadership can result in major losses for everyone.

Most of us can recall a leader who just wasn't cut out for the job. Being a leader is demanding; becoming a great leader is uncommon. Followers aren't particularly merciful to those who lead incompetently. Instead, they can respond with insubordination, decreased productivity, or a generalized attitude of confusion or frustration.

If you are a business leader or thinking about becoming one, here are some mistakes to avoid:


1. Don't lord it over your staff. No one likes a know-it-all. Assuming a cocky stance or a bullying attitude will strike a similar flint in the hearts of your subordinates.

2. Don't be a softie. Just as a sharp edge can have a cutting effect, a marshmallow can quickly lose its shape. Being a people pleaser means that you will inevitably let someone down, so don't even try. Instead, focus on the job and make it work with everyone's interests as best you can without bending over backwards until you break.

3. Don't put on a over-confident front. If you need information, ask for it rather than pretend you have all the answers. There's nothing wrong with an honest question, but there's plenty wrong with someone who is afraid to ask.

4. Don't misjudge employees' abilities. Take time to read files, interview people, and observe performance before making staffing decisions. Put competent, trustworthy people in charge of important projects so that neither you nor the company will regret it.

5. Don't play favorites. Owing a favor or liking a person are two poor reasons for handing out raises and promotions. Feeling sorry for someone is just as bad. Use good judgment and fair play to make staff decisions.

6. Don't hold a grudge. If you don't get along with someone, stay away from the person; don't try to get even. Leaders who use their position of authority to take punitive action based on personal vendettas are likely to find themselves in trouble.

7. Don't take a casual approach to the budget. Get to know it thoroughly. Understand company growth patterns and long-term projections, as well as how your leadership can play a role. Being careless with money is dangerous and potentially costly in the business world. Careless mistakes take time to fix, and in business, time is money.

8. Don't overlook company shifts, goals, or problems. Study the "big picture" with a view to finding your place in it and growing with the company.

9. Keep an eye on industry trends. Know what's "hot" and what's not; that's how leaders keep leading. Otherwise, someone who is more knowledgeable than you may take your place.

10. Stay human. When mistakes happen, forgive others and yourself. Laugh and be friendly, but don't look foolish doing it. Avoid mechanical responses and a 24/7 mentality toward your job. Do your best, but then leave the rest of your job at work until the next day. It'll be there when you return. At night and on weekends, enjoy your family and have fun. You've earned it.

Becoming a leader is challenging. Follow these suggestions to avoid problems and help your company and your career reach their potential.

Source Unknown

Leadership By Heart

Leading With a Kind Heart!!

A leader who wants to consistently motivate people to meet tough challenges and achieve extraordinary results must have a kind heart.

Leadership is not about getting people to do what they want. If they did what they want, you wouldn't be needed as a leader. Instead, leadership is about getting people to do what they don't want to do (or don't think they can do) – and be ardently committed to doing it.

This paradox lies at the heart of all great leadership. Unlike management, which involves simply the care and feeding of your organizational elephant, great leadership gets that elephant to jump.
Anyone who knows anything about elephants knows that they may run, they may stand on their hind legs, they may kneel on their fore legs, they may roll over; but they don't jump.

And that's what leadership is all about: getting organizations to do what they usually can't do, i.e., getting great results consistently. Now, you can't do the jumping yourself. The elephant must do it. You can't push the elephant into the air. It must jump of its own volition. Making the elephant jump involves cultivating a special relationship between the leader and the people of the organization.

Many leaders misunderstand that relationship. They try to use fear and pain to spur the activity needed to achieve consistently great results. "Sure, I'll get this elephant to jump. Just give me a cattle prod!" But inducing fear and pain are habit forming and ultimately destructive both to the leader and the people.

To make the elephant jump -- not now and then but consistently, i.e., to lead people to consistently do great things -- deep, human emotional bonding between leader and people must take place. And fundamental to that bonding is the nature of the heart of the leader.

This is the secret: You can't get the elephant to jump unless you have a kind heart. Kindness in leadership means following the Leadership Imperative: "I will lead people in such a way that we not only achieve the needed results but they become better as leaders and people."

Most leaders focus on the first part "getting better results" and forget about the second part. But in truth, when you have a kind heart, getting results and helping people be better are not two things but one.

From now on, see every leadership challenge you face as a way of having people increase their knowledge, their skills, their courage, their tenacity, and their leadership abilities. Cultivating that perspective is a kindness.

But don't mistake kindness for being nice. Don't mistake kindness for having people simply feel good. Don't mistake kindness for allowing people to indulge the worst aspects of their character, laziness, inconsiderateness, selfishness, etc.

Furthermore, you may be kind and have people be frustrated with you. Many great leaders I've had relationships with got me frustrated as they had me go through the trouble of tackling challenges I might not otherwise have tackled. (In fact, deep, human, emotional bonding cannot happen without a great deal of frustration.) But I was motivated despite my frustrations because I recognized that they essentially had my best interests at heart.

Yes, through skill, persuasiveness, understanding, forcefulness, education, and guidance, you can get the elephant to jump -- as long as you do it through the kindness of your heart.

Brent Filson

Life Skills Lessons from Lord Krishna

Lord Krishna: The Apostle of Life Skills
By Challa S.S.J.Ram Phani

Lord Krishna is one of the greatest Management Gurus, whom we can emulate without second thought. He is the Mentor of Mentors, Coach of Coaches and Guru of all Motivational Gurus. He is the greatest life skills expert and demonstrated every skill in the court of Dhritharashtra during his diplomatic tour to Hasthinapuri (now Delhi), which was taken up only to avoid war between Kauravas and Pandavas.

His communication skills are evident in every word expressed in the Court of Kauravas. Lord Krishna during his Negotiations, to avoid war between Kauravas and Pandavas demonstrated perfect communication skills. As he doesn’t want to avoid war between them, he manipulated his words with diplomatic jargon and tried to instigate fear motivation in Duryodhana by way of illustrating the greatness of Pandavas on and off the field of war.

Life-skills have been defined by the World Health Organisation as 'abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life' (WHO 1993). We can see this ability abundant to face challenges of everyday life in Lord Krishna and this article is intended to analyse the same.

Happiness is the aim and ambition of any individual in this world. Whatever a person takes up in his life, it is to attain one and only objective – Happiness; says Sigmund Freud, the Father of Psychology. All religions and philosophies aim is to achieve happiness for mankind. Character only can give that kind of total happiness for mankind. Lord Krishna proved this in his life by becoming ideal personality. The preacher of Gita, Lord Krishna’s life is an example, which reflected the power of character.

Lord Krishna is God for faithful devotees. He is a magician for non-believers. He is a romantic Hero for some and a great manipulator for many. He is the greatest Philosopher who has given Gita to the mankind. For some, he is just a character in the Mahabharat of Sage Vyasa. Irrespective of any kind of faith and devotion, He is the Great Guru for Psychoanalysts and Psychologists. He is the first counseling psychologist.

He is a complete man. If we observe his life critically from all angles, we can have glimpses of this kind of characteristics in the life of Lord Krishna.

Lord Krishna is not so taller and handsome like Lord Rama. He is not having beautiful, expressive eyes. He is black in complexion. He faced many problems during his life. He never felt depressed. He has never given up. He always faced problems and got them solved. He faced problems with cheerful attitude. He stood beside his people like rock. Reason – His total personality.

Some may argue that Sri Krishna is just another character in the epic Mahabharat, written by Sage Vyasa. Then, why this balanced approach towards life is not seen in the avatars of Rama, Parasurama and Vamana. Why Sage Vyasa didn’t create the characters of Brahma and Siva also in this mould? There may not be answer for this kind of questions. We may get the answer by thinking that every character will have its own characteristics. Whether Lord Krishna is there or not in the history of mankind, or he is just a character in Mahabharat, certainly he is the example of a complete man.

A true disciple to a great Guru!

Lord Krishna is the disciple of Sage Sandipani. After the completion of his education, he came to know that the young son of his Guru Sandipani has met with an untimely death. Lord Krishna fought with Yama, the God of Death and brought back life to his Guru’s son and presented him as Guru Dakshina. How many disciples of this age are paying just fees for the survival of their Guru’s family? These are the days where people expect freebies even in education!


Eight wives and infinite problems

Many feel that Lord Krishna means eight wives and his romance with them. He mesmerized people with his cheerful presence and playful attitude. His life started with problems. He was born in the prison. He was separated from his mother immediately after his birth. He suffered with ‘separation anxiety’ since his birth. He has spent his life in Brindavan with cowherds’ families, instead of enjoying pampered life in Madhura on the lap of his grand father Ugrasena. He never had great education also. His uncle Kamsa hatched many plans to kill Krishna in his childhood. Kamsa has sent demons every year to kill Krishna. Krishna, the kid could over come all these troubles with his determination. Due to deadly problems arising every moment, his friends also might have faced traumatic stress disorders. Many parents might have stopped their kids playing with Krishna, as it is dangerous. Krishna never bothered with this kind of problems. He has learnt many lessons of life playing on the shores of river Kalindi along with his friends. He has spent his childhood playing divine flute and doing mischief with his friends.

A friend in need

Lord Krishna is a friend for needy indeed. He has helped his friend Kuchela (Sudama) to overcome his penury. He also helped Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas, who has immense faith in Krishna.


A politician par excellence but compassionate

Krishna fought with his uncle Kamsa and crowned his grand father as King. He got his parents released from prison and fulfilled his responsibility as Son. Though he has able army, he never tried to invade other kingdoms. But he never showed any compassion towards Kings like Jarasandha who declared war against him. He fled from the war field to avoid unnecessary loss of lives, and killed enemy without loss of single life.

Personified love

Love is natural at a particular age. Many may dare to do anything to achieve their love. Krishna resorted to fight battle, to achieve his love Rukmini and became ideal for the world of lovers. Though there are legends that Lord Krishna has 16,000 Gopikas, he never tried to woo a single woman. He attracted them with his talkative talent. Nobody ever branded him as womanizer. He was always regarded as personification of love and affection.

Emotionally intelligent

He was not at all an arrogant and adamant husband. He was having highly adaptable and adjusting nature. Though Satyabhama kicked him with her leg, Krishna never got angry
with her. Moreover, he took her feet in his hands and mellowed her down by saying whether hitting him injured her feet. He always stood as ideal husband and tried to balance his family life.

A real leader

Great physique is not the real asset for anybody. Character is the true asset for any individual. Krishna’s kingdom is very small in size and so his army. But King Duryodhana came down to ask for his help in the royal battle of Kurukshetra. Though Krishna said that the whole army is one side, and I will be helping one side, Arjuna selected Krishna, only because of his character. A leader is not the one who walks, but the one who leads walking ahead of others.

A great warrior

He never fought. He is not having any powerful position. Even then everybody knows that Krishna lead the army of Pandavas. Just by having army, no one can win the battle. One needs to have war strategies and intelligence to assess the power of enemy. A leader of army has to plan ahead of others and win battle with minimum loss of human life. Krishna succeeded in fulfilling this responsibility with all the ability it demands. That’s why he is the real and great leader.


A great communicator

When Krishna went to Hasthinapuri as an ambassador of Pandavas to express their piece of mind to King Dhritarashtra, his communication skills reached pinnacle as an avoider of war but not as an instigator of destruction. He pursued Kauravas to avoid war with Pandavas and urged them to do so by just giving them five towns to rule. When Kauravas refused to do so, he has analysed the strengths, opportunities of Pandavas, weaknesses and threats for Kauravas if they didn’t avoid war in the first place. Krishna always took responsibility for his acts, and helped Pandavas to overcome their problems and ultimately to win the war of Kurukshetra.

Small vices in great characters

It is natural that great characters will always flourish with small vices. Even Krishna is also not an exception to this rule. Krishna thrown bait to Karna to join Pandavas and marry Draupadi. He only knows on why he did like this. Karna refused politely to budge at the behest of Krishna. Even then, Krishna may have tried to expose the greatness of Karna to the world.

When Arjuna was jumping with joy after killing Karna, Krishna warned him on behaving in such a manner. This shows his respect towards a great warrior and ideal friend like Karna. If Karna is personified charity, though he is with his enemy, Krishna realized the greatness of Karna, and treated him with high regard. That is the greatness of Krishna and this reflects his unique character.

Nobody is perfect, even Lord Krishna. He also acted like human being in many situations. To help and uplift mankind without any selfish motive, one can lie here and there and can manipulate if the situation demands. Krishna took some decisions only to prove this point. That is why Lord Krishna is complete man and an apostle of life skills.

To succeed in professional or personal life, one has to learn and try to emulate Lord Krishna to become complete man.