Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts
Feb 26, 2011
Sep 14, 2010
Sep 10, 2010
Darkness/Light-Hate/Love
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness;
only light can do that
Hate cannot drive out hate;
only love can do that"
- Martin Luther King Jr.
If only everyone understood this concept and saw the diversity in India as an asset and not a reason for conflict, this country would be so different (in a good way!)
You know what? It is just a matter of having the right attitude
Aug 24, 2010
True Vs Perceived Limitations
"I had to understand what were my true limitations Vs my perceived limitations. Once i understood my true limitations, the next challenge was what choices i could create"
- Sheena Iyengar
Professor, Columbia Business School
& Author of "The Art of Choosing"
said this in an interview with Times of India
Download the complete interview from here
You can watch another interesting interview of her at bigthink.com
Did you know she is blind? Despite that limitation, look at her accomplishments. Absolutely Inspiring !
If you have 18 more minutes, enjoy this interesting & cheerful talk at TED. It brings new perspectives on life
Her book "The Art of choosing" is on my wish list. Will read it soon
- Sheena Iyengar
Professor, Columbia Business School
& Author of "The Art of Choosing"
said this in an interview with Times of India
Download the complete interview from here
You can watch another interesting interview of her at bigthink.com
Did you know she is blind? Despite that limitation, look at her accomplishments. Absolutely Inspiring !
If you have 18 more minutes, enjoy this interesting & cheerful talk at TED. It brings new perspectives on life
Her book "The Art of choosing" is on my wish list. Will read it soon
Aug 23, 2010
Famous Failures
Lucille Ball
Dismissed from drama school with a note that read "Wasting your time", she is too shy to put her best foot forward
- One of the most popular and influential stars in America during her lifetime
- One of Hollywood's longest careers
Turned down by the Decca recording company who said "We don't like their sound and their guitar music is on the way out"
- One of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music
- The group came to be perceived as the embodiment of progressive ideals, seeing their influence extend into the social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s.
A failed soldier, farmer and a real estate agent, at 38 years old went to work for his father as a handy man
- 18th President of United States
- military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America
Cut from the high school basket ball team, he went home locked himself in his room and cried
- By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time
A teacher told him he was too stupid to learn anything and he should go into a field where he might succeed by the virtue of his pleasant personality
- American inventor, scientist, and businessman who developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb
- Edison is considered one of the most prolific inventors in history, holding 1,093 U.S. patents in his name, as well as many patents in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany
- Founded the company Edison Electric which is now General Electric (GE)
Walt Disney
Fired from a newspaper because he lacked Imagination and had no original ideas
- American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur,entertainer, international icon and philanthropist
- He and his staff created a number of the world's most famous fictional characters including Mickey Mouse
- He has won 26Academy Awards out of 59 nominations (highest by any individual)
His fiance died, he failed in business twice, he had a nervous breakdown and he was defeated in 8 elections
- 16th President of the United States
- He successfully led his country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery
If you have never failed, you have never lived !
Sep 29, 2009
An African boy makes History
What a fantastic presentation. When you have a true story to tell, the passion shows up !
A must watch for everyone.
His Message !
"Trust yourself and believe. What ever may happen. Dont give it up"Sep 22, 2009
Present like Steve Jobs
Find out in the following video, what makes keynote presentations by Steve Jobs so effective.
I personally love his presentations. Enjoy the video.
Aug 22, 2009
Belief & Behavior
It has been quite some time since i wrote my last post. I wont say that i was too busy. I will rather say that i didn’t manage my time well. So, my lovely blog took a backseat among the improperly managed and apparently urgent activities of life. Only a month back, i attended a leadership training where half a day was focused on time management. During the training, i thought that these techniques would change my life. But, I was soon wrong. I didn’t see much improvement in my daily productivity.
My belief that my efficiency was limited by time, and i cant do much about it.
Immediate use of time management techniques provided only a cosmetic make-up. The true belief showed up very soon. Putting the to-do list in different techniques didn’t help because, i lacked commitment, energy and love towards my list.
When these three forces dominate, the vehicle of life moves at a decent speed. It doesn’t really matter whether i use one wheel at the front and three at the back or two wheels at both the ends, when my primary aim is to get the vehicle moving. The techniques taught at the training can only help me accelerate faster through design improvements. But, the fact still remains.
Without the driving force, nothing moves.
I realized that it is very important to check the primary requirements, before i focus my energies on secondary improvements. Without understanding why and how of my activities, and what is really important to me, planning and prioritization are meaningless.
I could draw an analogy between my personal experience and the “Personality Ethic – Character Ethic” concept illustrated in “The seven habits of highly effective people” by Stephen R Covey. I strongly recommend this book. It is taking me on a realization ride.
All the trainings try to change my personality ethic which attributes only to my secondary greatness. In tough situations, my original character ethic will surface. When it happens, i am are no longer a consistent performer. The key is to change my character and believe that the change is indispensible. Yes !
There are no Short-cuts.
Personality Ethic will only help me after i achieve Primary Greatness. To reach there, i have to work on my character and my beliefs. In any journey, slight diversions are okay. But, i cant afford to start in the wrong direction !
With this realization, i am trying to better my self.
I would like to end this post with a short video talk on “Belief and Behavior” by Devdutt Pattanaik, who is a thought provoking and inspirational author. He talks about his new role as Chief Belief Officer @ Future Group.
Friends, don’t forget to do introspection! Its important. Else, you will end up moving continuously in the maze of life, reaching no where.
Jul 14, 2009
The Hot Chip Case Study
Yesterday, when i came back from office, there was a power cut at home. I was getting bored & I wanted some thing to munch. So, I went into the main street to the nearest Hot chip store.
I bought 250 gm of potato chips for Rs 45. During the 5 min i spent at the shop, i saw that he could sell 1.5 kg of potato chips. I came back home and enquired my mom about the cost of potatoes. She said that the maximum price she had paid in her experience was Rs 25. I couldn’t resist from making these quick calculations
The calculations shown here are very conservative, considering the sale of only 2 kg of chips per hour.
| Chips (in Kgs) sold per hour (Minimum) | 2 | |
| No of operating hours (Minimum) | 6 | |
| Total number of Kgs sold/day (Minimum) | 12 | |
| No of business days | 30 | |
| Revenues | Per kg (Rs) | Per month (Rs) |
| Selling cost of potato chips | 180 | 64800 |
| Expenses (Conservative) | Per kg (Rs) | Per month (Rs) |
| Raw potatoes | 25 | 9000 |
| Edible oil | 10 | 3600 |
| Salary of the only employee who makes chips | 14 | 5000 |
| Rent of the shop | 19 | 7000 |
| Electricity | 1 | 300 |
| Raw material transport | 1 | 500 |
| Miscellaneous expenses | 8 | 3000 |
| Total Expenses | 79 | 28400 |
| Net Income from potato chips/month | 36400 | |
| Profit margin on each kg | 56 % |
Rs 36,400 is the profit (Munafa) which the 22 year old boy in the shop makes per month by selling potato chips.
The story is not over here. The raw material (Potatoes & Oil) cost is actually much less than Rs 25, as he buys them in bulk. Potato chips is only one of the items he sells at the shop. There are at least 10 other varieties of chips. I haven’t included the calculations for other items as i don’t have the data. So, the boy in reality is earning much more than Rs 36,400. Accounting for other uncertainties and losses, he would earn a minimum of Rs 36,400.
The boy’s profit is more than what an average engineer earns during his first year of job. I don’t intend to insult the education system or the highly qualified engineers in the country. The point i am trying to drive is as follows.
Some smart guys realize the business man in them at a very early stage. They know the magic of Dhandha.
If you start-up your business at the age of 18 after PUC and invest 4 years to make it a profitable business, you are an independent and successful business man by the age of 22. Wah, what a feeling.
The guess the boy in the hot-chip shop is doing the business for a survival. Some don't do it for survival. They grow every year, investing in the right areas and build a mighty empire around them. For example, Steve Jobs built “Apple” during the same years of his life and was worth 10 million USD at the age of 22. When ever i feel low, i listen to his commencement speech at Stanford University. Only accomplished people can deliver such great speeches.
Dhirubhai Ambani is an Indian example of such heroes. These heroes don’t mind the initial risks and set-backs. They are very clear about their objective and are highly confident about reaching there. That’s why they are famous. They accomplished what many other people holding 3 to 4 academic degrees couldn’t.
In this thought process, I remembered the movie “Guru” (based on Dhirubhai Ambani’s Life story) by Maniratnam. I would have watched it over 10 times by now. Will watch it once again over the weekend for a dose of inspiration.
I wish i die as a founder of at least a small company or at least a shop, and rather not as a retired employee. Today is not the day. I wish it comes asap :) (A day of successful business, not death)
Jul 12, 2009
The Tea Cup Story
Story shared by Ananthu from Navadarshanam
There was a couple that used to go to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful."
As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke.
"You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay." My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, "let me alone", but he only smiled, "Not yet."
"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!" I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, "Not yet."
Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips, as He shook his head, "Not yet."
Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. "There, that's better," I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. "Stop it, stop it!" I cried. He only nodded, "Not yet."
Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, "Not yet."
Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, "Look at yourself." And I did. I said, "That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful."
"I want you to remember," then, he said, "I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled.
I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life.
And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you."
God knows what He's doing (for all of us). He is the Potter, and we are His clay.
He will mold us and make us, So that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Now that we have understood the moral, lets read a real life story. For everyone who wants to witness the heights of positive thinking, the following article is a must read. (click on the name)
P.S: Image source - www.firstflush.ee
Jul 2, 2009
Focus on Performance, Not Power
Quote of the month for July, 2009
I have a bad habit. My life’s greatest ambitions come to memory when i switch of my bedroom light and try to get some sleep. So, i lay in my bed awake for a long time thinking about the glory when i get there. While having big ambitions in life is good, i think i am wasting a lot of time thinking about the day when i get there. It doesn’t help me much and worse, reduces the energy for next day.
Recently i read the following story by Colin Powell, former secretary of US state and a retired four star General and it had a transformational effect on me.
“There was a brand-new second lieutenant who was very ambitious and wanted to be a general. So one night at the officer's club the young officer spotted this old general sitting at the bar. So he went up and said, "How do I become a general?" And the old general answered, "Son, you've got to work like a dog. You've got to have moral and physical courage. There may be days you're tired, but you must never show fatigue. You'll be afraid, but you can never show fear. You must always be the leader." The young officer was so excited by this advice. "Thank you, sir," he said, "so is this how I become a general?" "No," said the general, "that's how you become a first lieutenant, and then you keep doing it over and over and over."
Throughout his career, Powell says he had always tried to do my best today, think about tomorrow, and maybe dream a bit about the future. But doing your best in the present has to be the rule.
You won't become a general unless you become a good first lieutenant.
Ground Rule: Do your best in the Present. Focus on Performance, Not Power
Images: Colin Powell as a General and as the Secretary of State
Story Source: Online Fortune Magazine on money.cnn.com
Jun 30, 2009
Technical Presentations
Who says technical presentations cant be engaging?
I am a big fan of Garr Reynolds, who i think is an extremely creative human being and i love the tips at his famous website www.presentationzen.com
His latest post on “Technical Presentations” is quite useful to many of us. He uses the TED talk by Dr. Bonnie Bassler to throw light on the techniques which are crucial for any technical presentation. In the video, Dr. Bassler gets the message across, using her special techniques in communication. Come, lets learn “ How bacteria communicate?” and how the knowledge of bacterial communication can help in the development of new therapeutic antibiotic medicines.
Here is a summary of the techniques which Dr. Bassler uses in her presentation, according to Garr Reynolds
1 There is a great clarity in her narrative and she speaks in a conversational manner. For example, For example, she often says "The question is then _______" or "So the question is this: _______."
2 she also answers the two questions we often have as listeners but that too often go unanswered: "So what? and "Why does it matter (to me/us)?"
3 She references the screen often but only to illustrate her point. She uses her hands a great deal to explain processes, just as you would in ordinary, natural conversation.
4 Dr. Bassler's visuals are quite simple and for the most part they were a good companion to her talk, yet the attention was on her and her descriptions. At times when she was not speaking about something on screen behind her, TED put up her video which gets all the attention back on her. You can do something similar in a classroom or at smaller conferences by placing black slides in between sections or using the B key on your notebook to make the screen black (don't worry: the room will not go dark because you still have the lights on, right?).
Voila !!!! Now lets try and put them into practice.
Jun 23, 2009
BITS-Pilani Wins Bronze Medal @ Robogames 2k9
The news has been around for quite some time. I know i am posting it a little late, but i couldn’t prevent myself from talking about this awesome stuff.
Acyut, India’s first indigenously developed humanoid (I am really proud that it’s development happened at my graduate university) won the Bronze Medal at Robogames 2k9, held at San Fransisco, between June 12 & June 14.
Two more students Uttam Grandhi & Ravi Shankar from BITS won a Silver and Bronze Medal at the same event under the category “Art Bots”
BITS-Pilani Rocks !!!
It continues to admit students who can sing its song of pride, all over the world.
P.S: Read about Acyut and the other two students in their corresponding hyper- links. I am sure you will be inspired.
May 30, 2009
Google Wave – The Game Changer
It is not in anyway an exaggeration, if i say an application called Google wave which is going to be released in this year, is gonna change the life of every internet user in the world.
The application is fabulous, fantastic and the best of its kind. Adjectives of all the languages of the world, combined together cannot really glorify the beauty, use and simplicity of the application.
The video below is not just a recommendation. I want all my readers to definitely and immediately watch this video. Why should i describe any of its features when there is a beautiful video out there.
The video is long. So follow this precaution: Don’t start the video if you have any deliverable in the next 1 hour. Because, i am so damn sure you wont stop it once started !
I promise, watching the keynote presentation about Google Wave, you will be thrilled, surprised and entertained to the top levels, you will be off your seat, clapping, jumping and trying to close your widely open mouth with your hands.
Friends, here is Google Wave…… The real real game changer..
Google, I love you !
Well, i managed to find a screenshot of the application on the web.
This is how your future email will look like. In this window, you will chat, orkut, blog, micro-blog, share photos & videos, edit documents collaboratively and fill forms collaboratively, play games do what not? The list is so endless…. All you can do now is to say WoW and wait for the release.
If you are smart, you will immediately go to www.wave.google.com and click on the button which says “Let me know when it is ready”
Today, i reinforce my definition that i have repeated a lot of times near my close friends
Google is GOD !!!!
Apr 26, 2009
Hanuman’s Effective Communication
The ability to communicate effectively is something all of us crave for. We want to impress our stakeholders, Boss, lover, family and almost everyone who talks to us. It has become more than important in the corporate world where every one has their own priorities and very less time to listen to others. Despite all the preparation, we are seldom successful in reaching our objectives.
Lets go back in time to learn from Lord Hanuman, who is portrayed as a very efficient communicator in Ramayana.
Ravana had abducted Seeta during Vanavasa and flew away with her to Lanka. Later when Rama went in search of Seeta, Rama wanted some one to make sure Seeta is in Lanka and he wanted to provide her condolence by letting her know that he is coming for rescue. When all other soldiers were scared and admitted that they were not capable enough, Hanuman came forward.
Hanuman flew a hundred yojana (Thousand miles or more of sea) to reach Lanka. When Hanuman entered Lanka it was dead night; and naturally all Rakshashas (a kind of generation known for destroying the peace and harmony of the society for the self centered motives) were indulging into sensual pleasures. They were all in their bedrooms with their wives, half nude, nude, heavily drunk and intoxicated! Epic says that Hanuman moved palace-to-palace; door-to-door; person-to-person but least perturbed or disturbed with emotions or with commotions. He was perfectly balanced in his mind. Though he moved in darkness in midst of unpleasant scenes, his mind was single pointedly focused in search of Seeta, only. So Sri Hanuman is known as a man with mastery over mind… “Manojavam”, he who has conquered his mind and so he was free from lust, greed or anger.
He over came the doubt of Seetha, that he is not another form of Maya by showing her the Ring of Rama. His speech followed after that non-verbal gesture.
When Rama, sitting on the shores saw Hanuman flying back from Lanka, his mind was filled with many thoughts and anxieties. “Whether Hanuman met Seeta or not? How is Seetha in Lanka?” When Hanuman landed on the shores, his first words were “ I Saw ”
Rama was immediately relieved of most of his anxiety. Then he handed over Seetha’s Choodamani ( a hair Ornament) to Rama, and then explained the status of Seetha and her longing for Rama. He could patiently listen to Hanuman, because his mind and heart were settled.
Hanuman never explained all his pain in crossing the sea, all the inconvenience he had to go through at Lanka to Rama. The priority was to convey the information to Rama.
When our manager/teacher asks about our work status, we often reply in this manner. “ Actually i had to take so many efforts to complete this. There were many problems i had to solve and circumvent to finish this work on time. The team members didn’t cooperate much with me” By this time, the manager’s/teacher’s interest is lost.
Though many mangers/teachers today are not as understanding as Rama, we have to first tell them what they want, and then convey what we intended to. That is very important to have a successful communication.
Apr 22, 2009
Well – Better – Best
Quote of April month
“ Make things work well, then better, then the best they possibly can”
- Sam Walton in “Made in America - My Story”
One of the most practical statements by one of the best entrepreneurs ever. We often don’t practice this statement. We are in such a hurry, that we always want the best to happen at the first trial. When it doesn’t happen, we complain about the system and the situations.
We have to realize that many challenges in life, are similar to mathematical problems in which you cant proceed to the second level, without using the results from the first level and whose solutions are iterative in nature.
We never like iterations. right? We want things to fall in place right away. It never happens in life, like it never happened for me in a mathematics exam. In an exam, starting with a good guess depends on your practice, intellect and also luck. In real life, it comes from experience.
Those who have started their careers recently, please remember one thing. The experience you gather in the first few years, will form the core for the rest of your career(Like the first level results of a complex mathematical problem). If you go wrong here, then you have screwed up the problem (Rest of your career)
Make sure you learn as much as possible during this phase. Don’t withdraw yourselves to dogma and useless philosophy thrown at you by false colleagues. Look for opportunities with open eyes and use your common sense before you make any decision. Be very sure about your priorities.
Don’t be in a hurry. By running too fast on the road to success, you are missing the fruits of wisdom lying along the road side. You cant survive in the race for long, with out the energy from those fruits.
Once you gather the necessary expertise, you are the King !!!! You can make everything work in the best possible way.
Apr 13, 2009
Nature’s Mahatma
Art: Imagining Mahatma Gandhi in Nature
Today, we are living in a destructive civilization. Trapped in an imaginary world of selfish desire, we are exploiting the environment at such a rapid pace, where the nature’s inherent balancing mechanisms cannot come to our rescue. Mother Earth is a home for many other living beings other than us. We don't care a damn for them. The school time classes on food chain, photosynthesis and morals have faded away from our memory. What kind of intelligent creatures are we?
While we make such a fuss out of the current economic crisis which no one completely understands, many of us don’t spend a micro percent of that time thinking about living in sync with nature. Which Modern Mahatma is going to come and free us from this trap?
NONE……..
In my opinion, everyone who makes a conscious move towards living a better life, with out harming the environment is a Mahatma. We needn’t invent anything to roll back all the destruction we have made over the decades. Lets at least use the available resources in a holistic way. Lets contribute lesser and lesser to air and water pollution. Lets save the energy and water resources for our future generations. Lets use only what we really require. Lets leave the trouble shooting job to the most experienced Nature. It is very capable of saving us. All we have to do, is to help it and move along with it.
Otherwise, the end of the our civilization is not too far. The next generation of life on earth will read about us, like we read about dinosaurs today.
By the way, I see a mahatma in this cute video, which was shared by my friend Chhavi.
Do you ?
Apr 10, 2009
The Seven Social Sins
by Mahatma Gandhi
1. Politics without principles
2. Wealth without work
3. Pleasure without conscience
4. Knowledge without character
5. Commerce without morality
6. Science without humanity
7. Worship without sacrifice
I would soon write a post on my visit to Navadarshanam. I need real time to write about it, because its kind of tough for me to explain that wonderful experience in words.
Mar 15, 2009
CEO of Twitter, started blogger !
I never knew that the CEO of twitter, started blogger. Of course, i don’t know so many things in life. Not a surprise to me.
I am using twitter from a few days, and i like it. I love my blog, and my blog host – blogger. Today i read about Evan Williams. The man behind blogger and twitter.
I would recommend you to read the following articles.
Know about Evan Williams : http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/jobs/08bosses.html?ex=1252468800&en=7097b81922bb0367&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=JO-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M085-ROS-0309-HDR&WT.mc_ev=click
Know about Twitter’s Business-model: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10112037-2.html
Mar 10, 2009
Namma Bangaluru (Witnessing truthfulness)
I hated this city, when my Sony-Ericsson W910i mobile was stolen, in a BMTC bus with in a week after its purchase.(That’s a long story… ) I like this place for many reasons. But, a lot of thefts happen in Bangalore. You gotta be extremely careful.
Today, when i reached my office, i couldn’t find my wallet. I knew i misplaced it some where, or lost it. I was extremely depressed with the series of losses, i underwent. I called up the phone-banking service of my bank and blocked my ATM card. I knew i had to give away the wallet and the cash in it.
AT 9:00 PM in the night, i suddenly get a call from a kannadiga, named Venkat. He asks for my identity, and asks me to come and meet him in the Whitefield Bus Stop. He said “I have your wallet” I rushed to the Mayura Bakery next to Whitefield Bus stop where Venkat was standing.
I collected the wallet, thanked him and admired him. Not for bringing my 650 Rs, ATM card and the wallet back, but for being so truthful to himself and the society.
He said, he found it on the road side. i cursed my carelessness & absent mindedness during the short-walk to office. That was when i guess, i lost it.
I witnessed truthfulness today. A small percentage of bastards, cant bring down the spirits of this great city. Namma Bangaluru !
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)