Controversial as it may read, but it is the truth, plain & simple. If you are trying to do something and not getting the desired results, it may be a good idea to give it up rather than wasting your time, money & energy. It is no good throwing your good money after bad money especially in business or spend your time & energy trying to prop up a lost cause. Of course, I don’t mean just give up if something is not working for you. You need to consider all the options, talk to someone like friends, parents or a mentor, weigh all the pros or cons of your decision before giving it up.
There are several examples from the world of business where the owners / managers hung on to a company trying to turn it around or stuck with a failed product too long with disastrous results. Instead of euthanizing the company or dumping the product, they have ended in bankruptcy.
But let us look at some successful example of giving up:
On 26th May 1953, Tom Bourdillion & Charles Evans had to turn back from the South Summit of Everest at 1.00 p.m., just 300 feet short of the real summit. If they had not turned back, they may have reached the summit, but would not have come back alive. To put things into proper perspective, on 29th May Hillary & Tensing on their successful attempt, were at the South Summit at 9.00 a.m.
If you follow cricket, you will sometime see a fielder give up chasing a ball if he feels that he will not be able to stop it before it reaches the boundary. He knows his chase is going to be futile & all he will end up doing is expending his energy.
In military parlance giving up is called “tactical retreat" and indeed in your life it is just a tactical retreat and not a permanent loss. Cut your losses and use your available resources optimally to make a new beginning.
Saturday, 9 July 2011
Monday, 6 June 2011
Changing Company Logos---Does it achieve anything?
I hate companies changing their logos. It is like a person changing their external appearance, but inside they remain the same. More often than not there is no change in the company’s culture, attitude or their interactions with their customers, staff & suppliers. Their commitment towards society and environment remains unchanged. All we get is a big publicity and hype about why the logo was changed and what the new logo represents. The millions spent in designing the new logo, rebranding, reprinting new stationary, relauching the website and preparing new ads etc., is beside the point!
I wish the money wasted on this futile exercise should be utilised in a better way like benefitting the employees or the customers. (and definitely not the owners, directors or shareholders)
I look forward to your comments.
I wish the money wasted on this futile exercise should be utilised in a better way like benefitting the employees or the customers. (and definitely not the owners, directors or shareholders)
I look forward to your comments.
Friday, 3 June 2011
Opportunity is in the mind of the beholder
At the turn of the last century, a European shoe manufacturer sent his two sons to Africa to explore marketing opportunities. The first son reported back to his father that the natives don't were shoes and concluded there was no market for shoes. The second son was very excited with what he saw and reported as the natives don’t wear shoes; it was an opportunity to introduce shoes to the locals.
At the bottom of the page, see the window display of shoes at a Vienna ( Austria) shoe boutique.
So an opportunity is how you look, perceive or understand a situation and exploit it to your benefit. As it is said, opportunities don't come knocking on your door and it is up to us to think multidimensionally (blog dated 27.04.2011) and recognise one. This may be to progress in your career, to impress someone or even a chance to make some extra money! I am talking about legal ways and not stuff like hot tips for horse racing or fixed matches.
The verb which goes very well with it is “creating opportunities” and you can achieve this by following the PEPSI way ( blog dated 21.04.2011) especially being proactive in your approach. If you have decided what your goals and aspirations are in your life, I am sure you will be able to spot opportunities and benefit from them.
Always remember to be an OPPORTUNIST and take every chance that comes your way!
At the bottom of the page, see the window display of shoes at a Vienna ( Austria) shoe boutique.
So an opportunity is how you look, perceive or understand a situation and exploit it to your benefit. As it is said, opportunities don't come knocking on your door and it is up to us to think multidimensionally (blog dated 27.04.2011) and recognise one. This may be to progress in your career, to impress someone or even a chance to make some extra money! I am talking about legal ways and not stuff like hot tips for horse racing or fixed matches.
The verb which goes very well with it is “creating opportunities” and you can achieve this by following the PEPSI way ( blog dated 21.04.2011) especially being proactive in your approach. If you have decided what your goals and aspirations are in your life, I am sure you will be able to spot opportunities and benefit from them.
Always remember to be an OPPORTUNIST and take every chance that comes your way!
NICHE is not a Marketing jargon
Niche marketing is positioning your products in your consumer's mind. It is finding that spot or niche which makes your product uniquely different from your competitor's. Any good book on marketing will provide you details of niche marketing
When Beatles broke onto the music seen in the 60s, it was era of solo singers; Cliff Richards, Harry Belafonte & others. But the Beatles captured the minds, hearts and ultimately the purse of the public by offering something different & unique- four of them singing together. Down the years they were followed by others like Rolling Stones, ABBA, Bee Gees etc, but it was the Beatles who unknowingly created the niche in the public's mind!!
Now let us take it a step and extend niche marketing to your career.
In your present position, have you found that niche which makes you indispensable to your organisation if not irreplaceable? However, don't make yourself so indispensable, that you can’t progress in your career 'coz apart from you nobody can do your job! Think in terms of grooming someone, who can take over from you when you move UP, not sideways. Make sure to keep things under control, so that you are not outsmarted by the person u r grooming!!
Friday, 27 May 2011
Never say NO
When somebody requests you for something or wants something from you. Even if you want to say no to them, always say “yes, ...but" and then give reasons as to why you are saying No!
This is also called DIPLOMACY
This is also called DIPLOMACY
R U like a River or a Lake??
Rivers are always moving and widening as they flow, whereas lakes increase in size depending on the rainfall. Rivers do not collect much silt as compared to lakes. While rivers are often turbulent, lakes are placid.
Are you like a river as far as your career is concerned, learning new things and moving ahead or are you like a lake, learnt everything you need to know about your present position & your career is stagnating?
If you are a lake type, it is time to change your thinking, shed your complacency and get moving. Think of River Waikato, which flows out of Lake Taupo in New Zealand. Beginning as a lake, the water gushes out in a torrent near the township of Taupo to form the River Waikato, New Zealand's longest river. On the way to the sea, this river supports so many farms, a few power stations, and even canoeing facilities at Karapiro. It is a big boon to the area, so much so the area around it is know as Waikato region.. Similarly, when you come out of your lake mentality and flow like a river, not only it will benefit you but also those who interact with you.
Are you like a river as far as your career is concerned, learning new things and moving ahead or are you like a lake, learnt everything you need to know about your present position & your career is stagnating?
If you are a lake type, it is time to change your thinking, shed your complacency and get moving. Think of River Waikato, which flows out of Lake Taupo in New Zealand. Beginning as a lake, the water gushes out in a torrent near the township of Taupo to form the River Waikato, New Zealand's longest river. On the way to the sea, this river supports so many farms, a few power stations, and even canoeing facilities at Karapiro. It is a big boon to the area, so much so the area around it is know as Waikato region.. Similarly, when you come out of your lake mentality and flow like a river, not only it will benefit you but also those who interact with you.
Saturday, 21 May 2011
Europe
is
Cathedrals,Castles & Churches
Cars & Cycles
Casinos ( a few) & Cafes
Coffee ( sorry,no TEA)
and windmills producing electricity as well as the Don Quixote variety ( in Holland)
Cathedrals,Castles & Churches
Cars & Cycles
Casinos ( a few) & Cafes
Coffee ( sorry,no TEA)
and windmills producing electricity as well as the Don Quixote variety ( in Holland)
Friday, 20 May 2011
Complification
is not a word from the dictionary, but I consider it as the process of making simple things complex. It is a great pastime for the corporate world and under the pretext of "change”, processes, rules, products, services systems and a lot of other irrelevant things are changed, sometimes at a great cost to the organisation. The changes often are confusing detrimental to the moral of the staff and end up satisfying the ego of the person initiating the changes. Irrelevant becomes relevant. Non issues become matter of life and death and take precedence over more serious matters. Often, the main culprits indulging in such activities are freshly qualified MBAs eager to show off their bookish knowledge & impress the bosses!
Then, there re are companies, organisations and individuals masquerading as “consultants” always ready to step in with their suggestions to improve the lot of their clients. They are masters of the complification game and sometimes can confuse an issue so much so, that we can loose track of what we were trying to achieve in the first place. With their vested interests, they often see the trees rather the woods and look at a problem or an issue from their viewpoint. Hence their recommendations & suggestions, however good they may look prima facie, should be looked into objectively before implementing them.
While I am not against changes per se, any changes being brought about should be thoroughly discussed and all the implications of the change examined. See how it affects the 5 Ms (Men, Machinery, Material, Money & Management)and also the community at large as well as the the environment.
A very good example of Complification is the online ramp traffic lights on the Auckland motorways. Installed a few years ago, they are ostensibly there to control the flow of traffic from the feeder roads on to the motorway. They can be turned on & off as per traffic conditions. But often, even if there is a smooth flow of traffic on the motorway, the ramp lights are on and the traffic starts clogging the smaller feeder road. So really speaking the ramp lights have not solved the problem of traffic congestion, but all they done is really shifted the traffic congestion from the motorways to the feeder roads,
Then, there re are companies, organisations and individuals masquerading as “consultants” always ready to step in with their suggestions to improve the lot of their clients. They are masters of the complification game and sometimes can confuse an issue so much so, that we can loose track of what we were trying to achieve in the first place. With their vested interests, they often see the trees rather the woods and look at a problem or an issue from their viewpoint. Hence their recommendations & suggestions, however good they may look prima facie, should be looked into objectively before implementing them.
While I am not against changes per se, any changes being brought about should be thoroughly discussed and all the implications of the change examined. See how it affects the 5 Ms (Men, Machinery, Material, Money & Management)and also the community at large as well as the the environment.
A very good example of Complification is the online ramp traffic lights on the Auckland motorways. Installed a few years ago, they are ostensibly there to control the flow of traffic from the feeder roads on to the motorway. They can be turned on & off as per traffic conditions. But often, even if there is a smooth flow of traffic on the motorway, the ramp lights are on and the traffic starts clogging the smaller feeder road. So really speaking the ramp lights have not solved the problem of traffic congestion, but all they done is really shifted the traffic congestion from the motorways to the feeder roads,
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
4 words i hate
Insurance, Fines, Taxes, Fees.
I hate them all and not necessarily in that order!
Let us look at them one by one:
Fines:
Absolutely unnecessary & totally avoidable. A real waste of money. You pay fines as a punishment for something you may have done (like a speeding ticket), or being late for making a payment. Don't delay making your payments, 'coz you may get more fines for being late.
Insurance:
A must in today’s fast paced life, it is an unavoidable expense. However, shop around for the best rates, compare apples with apples when deciding your insurance provider, understand what you are covered for e.g. in the recent floods in Queensland, Australia, many people discovered they were not insured for flood damages. Don't forget to check the excess you may have to pay when your claim is approved.
Taxes:
You must pay your taxes; there are no two ways about it. But do not hesitate to use fair means (forming trusts, home business, rental property) to reduce your tax liability. At the end of the day, remember, that the taxes you pay help to run the country.
Are there any other suggestions for reducing the tax liability?
Fees:
Can’t avoid them, can you? When paying fees of any kind, whether to a financial institution, bank or any other entity, try and understand what you are paying the fee for. Is it a recurring fee and if yes, how frequently and for how long you re going to be charged. Is there a way of minimising it, if not avoiding it outright? Beware of the set up fee on an interest free loan, because more often than not, the set up fees exceed the amount of interest you would have paid!
Can you think of any other words you hate?
I hate them all and not necessarily in that order!
Let us look at them one by one:
Fines:
Absolutely unnecessary & totally avoidable. A real waste of money. You pay fines as a punishment for something you may have done (like a speeding ticket), or being late for making a payment. Don't delay making your payments, 'coz you may get more fines for being late.
Insurance:
A must in today’s fast paced life, it is an unavoidable expense. However, shop around for the best rates, compare apples with apples when deciding your insurance provider, understand what you are covered for e.g. in the recent floods in Queensland, Australia, many people discovered they were not insured for flood damages. Don't forget to check the excess you may have to pay when your claim is approved.
Taxes:
You must pay your taxes; there are no two ways about it. But do not hesitate to use fair means (forming trusts, home business, rental property) to reduce your tax liability. At the end of the day, remember, that the taxes you pay help to run the country.
Are there any other suggestions for reducing the tax liability?
Fees:
Can’t avoid them, can you? When paying fees of any kind, whether to a financial institution, bank or any other entity, try and understand what you are paying the fee for. Is it a recurring fee and if yes, how frequently and for how long you re going to be charged. Is there a way of minimising it, if not avoiding it outright? Beware of the set up fee on an interest free loan, because more often than not, the set up fees exceed the amount of interest you would have paid!
Can you think of any other words you hate?
Saturday, 14 May 2011
You Can Be
Old, but never too old
Often I have old people telling me that they are too old to change their habits or learn something new like becoming computer literate. I always tell them you may be old, but never too old. The last surviving World War 1 survivor, who died recently at the age of 110, had his book published at the age of 108. Another person learnt to fly at 86! So age should never stop you from learning a new skill or starting a new hobby so that your time is spent meaningful and fruitfully.
Remember, you may grow old physically, but never too old in your spirit. As they say in a different context “being young at heart"
Down but not down and out
Think of King David from the Old Testament in the Bible. Because of his adulterous relationship with Bethesda, he was totally devastated and down. But thru his repentance and reliance on God, he was able to pull himself up from the depth of the pit in which he had fallen. At that time of despair in his life, he wrote some very beautiful Psalms ( Psalm 123, Psalm 130) and God was so pleased with David, that He called David a man after His heart.( Acts 13:22)
David did not languish in self pity, but thru God's help picked he up and became one of the greatest King the people of Israel ever had.
Similarly, there are several examples from the world of business. Despite several failures in their previous ventures, they have not given up. They have been able to set up and run successful businesses. Several authors and sports people come to mind; they have tried & tried till they succeeded
The point is not to have a pity party, but to learn from your past failures, so you rise up again like a phoenix from the ashes.
Often I have old people telling me that they are too old to change their habits or learn something new like becoming computer literate. I always tell them you may be old, but never too old. The last surviving World War 1 survivor, who died recently at the age of 110, had his book published at the age of 108. Another person learnt to fly at 86! So age should never stop you from learning a new skill or starting a new hobby so that your time is spent meaningful and fruitfully.
Remember, you may grow old physically, but never too old in your spirit. As they say in a different context “being young at heart"
Down but not down and out
Think of King David from the Old Testament in the Bible. Because of his adulterous relationship with Bethesda, he was totally devastated and down. But thru his repentance and reliance on God, he was able to pull himself up from the depth of the pit in which he had fallen. At that time of despair in his life, he wrote some very beautiful Psalms ( Psalm 123, Psalm 130) and God was so pleased with David, that He called David a man after His heart.( Acts 13:22)
David did not languish in self pity, but thru God's help picked he up and became one of the greatest King the people of Israel ever had.
Similarly, there are several examples from the world of business. Despite several failures in their previous ventures, they have not given up. They have been able to set up and run successful businesses. Several authors and sports people come to mind; they have tried & tried till they succeeded
The point is not to have a pity party, but to learn from your past failures, so you rise up again like a phoenix from the ashes.
Impossible is Possible
When an elephant is young, its owners tie it by a chain to a little peg driven into the ground. Despite its best effort and much to its annoyance, the baby elephant is not able to pull the peg off the ground & free itself. After few weeks of trying, it gives up trying and its mind is conditioned to the fact that it is impossible to free it. Even as it grows bigger & stronger, it still thinks it will not be able to free itself and never tries it again.
Are you in the same situation as the baby elephant? Some things you were not able to achieve earlier for whatever reason seem now impossible and you have given up trying? Is you mind “conditioned” like the baby elephant's that you will never be able to uproot the peg?
PS: do you remember the Baby Elephant tune from the late 60s movie HATARI?
Let us look at another situation
The weight of the anchor of the ship in relation to the weight of the ship is quite insignificant. Yet the ship's anchor can hold even a fully loaded ship from moving ahead. Are there small things in your life which are holing you back from progressing? Sometimes habits, addiction, your friends or relatives can be a hindrance. Do a self examination, identify & overcome the obstacles in your life which are weighing you down and which are holding you back.
Are you in the same situation as the baby elephant? Some things you were not able to achieve earlier for whatever reason seem now impossible and you have given up trying? Is you mind “conditioned” like the baby elephant's that you will never be able to uproot the peg?
PS: do you remember the Baby Elephant tune from the late 60s movie HATARI?
Let us look at another situation
The weight of the anchor of the ship in relation to the weight of the ship is quite insignificant. Yet the ship's anchor can hold even a fully loaded ship from moving ahead. Are there small things in your life which are holing you back from progressing? Sometimes habits, addiction, your friends or relatives can be a hindrance. Do a self examination, identify & overcome the obstacles in your life which are weighing you down and which are holding you back.
Rules for working for the Government
Some simple, but very important rules
Do tomorrow what you are supposed to do today
Do next week what you are supposed to do tomorrow
Do next month what you what you are supposed to do next week
Do next year what you are supposed to do next month
Never do what you are supposed to next year
For any enquiries addressed to you, the other person is the correct person
The buck never stops here, there or anywhere
Outsource what you can, whenever you can, wherever you can, to whosoever who can do it or cannot do it
(PS: don’t forget your "commission" in cash or kind)
Never answer anything “Yes or No." Your answer should be " may be; yes, but; I will think over; can I get back to you on that?"
Do not ask your colleague or another government employee a direct question. Always begin with “Suppose" and convert your question into a hypothetical situation, both of you knowing very well that it is the real situation that you are discussing. You will, in all probability, get a non-committal reply, thus both of you cover your back if anything goes wrong!!
Do tomorrow what you are supposed to do today
Do next week what you are supposed to do tomorrow
Do next month what you what you are supposed to do next week
Do next year what you are supposed to do next month
Never do what you are supposed to next year
For any enquiries addressed to you, the other person is the correct person
The buck never stops here, there or anywhere
Outsource what you can, whenever you can, wherever you can, to whosoever who can do it or cannot do it
(PS: don’t forget your "commission" in cash or kind)
Never answer anything “Yes or No." Your answer should be " may be; yes, but; I will think over; can I get back to you on that?"
Do not ask your colleague or another government employee a direct question. Always begin with “Suppose" and convert your question into a hypothetical situation, both of you knowing very well that it is the real situation that you are discussing. You will, in all probability, get a non-committal reply, thus both of you cover your back if anything goes wrong!!
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Foul Weather Friends
Every one has fair-weather friends, but how many of us have foul weather friends? These are friends who will stick with you in a time of crisis, the type who will stick with you in time of your need. Think of those who will be doers & not advisors
If you know five such people, write down their name, address, telephone #, mobile # and e mail id.
Make two copies, give one to your spouse/parents/siblings & stick the other in your wallet!!
Remember always :
A friend in need is a friend indeed!
If you know five such people, write down their name, address, telephone #, mobile # and e mail id.
Make two copies, give one to your spouse/parents/siblings & stick the other in your wallet!!
Remember always :
A friend in need is a friend indeed!
The Octopus
Everyone knows what an octopus is & of course many of you may have heard of Paul the octopus. Paul was able to successfully predict the results of the World Cup soccer matches in the 2010 world cup.
Unfortunately, some managers & leaders behave like the octopus....trying to do everything themselves. They need to have a finger in every pie, know what is going around them, who is up to what,etc etc-as if they have eight tentacles They will neither delegate authority nor allow their subordinates to make any decisions. A total dictatorship, resulting in a demotivated staff, chaos and time delay in decision making.
Is it the way they have been groomed, is it their faulty leadership style or an inherent insecurity where they consider everyone a threat to their position? Whatever it is, the organisation they work for will see a large turnover of the employees and in all probability stunt the growth of its employees who chose to stay.
2010 World Cup Card Special!! TEN (10) Factory Sealed Foil Packs of 2010 Panini Adrenalyn XL World Cup Card Game! 6 Cards Per Pack a total of SIXTY (60) Brand New 2010 World Cup Soccer Cards!! International Edition from Italy!
Spain Soccer Red adidas 2010 World Cup Champions T-Shirt
!
Unfortunately, some managers & leaders behave like the octopus....trying to do everything themselves. They need to have a finger in every pie, know what is going around them, who is up to what,etc etc-as if they have eight tentacles They will neither delegate authority nor allow their subordinates to make any decisions. A total dictatorship, resulting in a demotivated staff, chaos and time delay in decision making.
Is it the way they have been groomed, is it their faulty leadership style or an inherent insecurity where they consider everyone a threat to their position? Whatever it is, the organisation they work for will see a large turnover of the employees and in all probability stunt the growth of its employees who chose to stay.
2010 World Cup Card Special!! TEN (10) Factory Sealed Foil Packs of 2010 Panini Adrenalyn XL World Cup Card Game! 6 Cards Per Pack a total of SIXTY (60) Brand New 2010 World Cup Soccer Cards!! International Edition from Italy!
Spain Soccer Red adidas 2010 World Cup Champions T-Shirt
!
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Lost Vegas
When people do not return from Las Vegas, there are usually two reasons
-- they have made lots of money & don't want to return
or
-- they have lost all their money & have no money to return
The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas 2011 (Unofficial Guides)
Las Vegas (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
-- they have made lots of money & don't want to return
or
-- they have lost all their money & have no money to return
The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas 2011 (Unofficial Guides)
Las Vegas (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
An 'interest'ing observation
When talking of interest in financial terms, there are two types of interests we should be aware of. One is the interest we earn on our investments and the other is interest we incur on the loans we take.
First let us look at the delicious thought of earning interest.
By choosing the right instruments to invest our funds, like a bank account, or term deposits with banks or finance companies, we can maximise the interest we earn. Do not get carried away by the interest rate you are offered especially by finance companies 'coz the higher the interest rate you are offered, the higher the risk of losing your money. Again, do a long term planning of your future funds requirements, ‘coz if you are forced to break a term deposit, you might end up in loosing some of your capital. Most of the banks today offer accounts with comparatively higher interest rates when you operate them thru the internet or thru the phone. By using a combination of such high interest accounts and a day to day account, you can maximise the interest you earn by keeping your money as far as possible in your savings account.
NB: We are talking of interest here, not stocks & shares
Now the unpleasant thought of incurring interest
Like cholesterol, there is good interest & bad interest. By good interest I mean the interest you pay on your mortgage, car loans, hire purchases, etc. When you have paid off the loan on which you have been paying interest, you own the asset! You are able to budget for them as they are regular payments and you know when you will pay your loan off.
Obviously, bad interest refers to interest on loans you have taken to pay off your bills, meet unexpected expenses, credit card interests, overdrafts etc, The list is endless. You gain nothing when you have paid off such a loan. While conceding taking such loans sometimes is unavoidable, the effort should be to pay it as soon as possible, as much as you can so as to reduce the amount of interest you pay.
Remember, on any loan that you take, when you pay more than the minimum amount you are required to pay, you are paying off more of the loan faster, which in turn reduces the total interest you will be paying at the end of your loan term..
____________________________________________________________
First let us look at the delicious thought of earning interest.
By choosing the right instruments to invest our funds, like a bank account, or term deposits with banks or finance companies, we can maximise the interest we earn. Do not get carried away by the interest rate you are offered especially by finance companies 'coz the higher the interest rate you are offered, the higher the risk of losing your money. Again, do a long term planning of your future funds requirements, ‘coz if you are forced to break a term deposit, you might end up in loosing some of your capital. Most of the banks today offer accounts with comparatively higher interest rates when you operate them thru the internet or thru the phone. By using a combination of such high interest accounts and a day to day account, you can maximise the interest you earn by keeping your money as far as possible in your savings account.
NB: We are talking of interest here, not stocks & shares
Now the unpleasant thought of incurring interest
Like cholesterol, there is good interest & bad interest. By good interest I mean the interest you pay on your mortgage, car loans, hire purchases, etc. When you have paid off the loan on which you have been paying interest, you own the asset! You are able to budget for them as they are regular payments and you know when you will pay your loan off.
Obviously, bad interest refers to interest on loans you have taken to pay off your bills, meet unexpected expenses, credit card interests, overdrafts etc, The list is endless. You gain nothing when you have paid off such a loan. While conceding taking such loans sometimes is unavoidable, the effort should be to pay it as soon as possible, as much as you can so as to reduce the amount of interest you pay.
Remember, on any loan that you take, when you pay more than the minimum amount you are required to pay, you are paying off more of the loan faster, which in turn reduces the total interest you will be paying at the end of your loan term..
____________________________________________________________
Friday, 29 April 2011
The Wheelbarrow Syndrome
Think of a wheelbarrow. It needs someone to push (or pull) it and its sole purpose is to carry loads. It stops exactly where it is left and at most, on its own, it may roll down a slope. It does not travel even one millimeter of its own accord. Some people, unfortunately, are like the wheelbarrow. They do exactly what they are told and will not deviate from it. It does not matter to them what they are doing serves any purpose. ( think Efficiency vs. being Effective). All they are interested in following instructions. I have been told of gardeners, watering the gardens in pouring rain just because they have been told to water the plants daily! Such people reason to themselves that if they do something different and if it goes wrong, they will be the one to be blamed. On the other hand, when they do exactly as they have been told, even if it does not does not achieve anything and should they be blamed they can always say “you told me to do it". When forced to take a decision, they will chose the easiest option available to them, like rolling down the slope.
Are you one of these? Unadventurous, not willing to take responsibilities, just a doer and not an initiator? If yes, it is time you change and change fast and change for the better.
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
On " Thinking"
I wonder, how many of us stop & think about “thinking". Here are my thoughts about the importance of thinking and different thinking styles.
Multidimensional thinking
While receiving information, your mind is not only processing it, storing it but also analysing it simultaneously. This is multidimensional thinking and
I think people are born with this ability. When you are talking to such a person, you can get a feeling that they are interacting with you in one dimension, but simultaneously their mind is working in another dimension. This is confirmed, when they come out with a comment, solution to a problem or an observation totally different, entirely nonconventional, leaving you with a feeling why didn't I think of it before!!
But those of us, who do not have it, do not despair: We should try and develop it.
May be, we should
Learn to listen rather than hear
Follow whatever is the listening equivalent of reading between the lines.
When someone is talking to you, observe their expression, body kinesics and listen to the nuances in their voice.
I am sure, slowly but surely, we will pick up this God given gift.
Think b4 u talk, think b4 u actHow many people have put their foot in the mouth, talking without thinking?
So when someone is talking to you, use multidimensional thinking and pause before replying.
How many people have got into trouble because of their impulsive behaviour?
This is the equivalent of “Look before you leap".
Remember, always
Think Smarter & Work harder,so you do not waste your time, money & energy
Think, Plan then Act so the effort that you put in is neither wasted nor duplicated.
Is there a better way of doing it? Think outside the square, think laterally. Innovate.
Think it hard/ think it thru /follow it thru...
Multidimensional thinking
While receiving information, your mind is not only processing it, storing it but also analysing it simultaneously. This is multidimensional thinking and
I think people are born with this ability. When you are talking to such a person, you can get a feeling that they are interacting with you in one dimension, but simultaneously their mind is working in another dimension. This is confirmed, when they come out with a comment, solution to a problem or an observation totally different, entirely nonconventional, leaving you with a feeling why didn't I think of it before!!
But those of us, who do not have it, do not despair: We should try and develop it.
May be, we should
Learn to listen rather than hear
Follow whatever is the listening equivalent of reading between the lines.
When someone is talking to you, observe their expression, body kinesics and listen to the nuances in their voice.
I am sure, slowly but surely, we will pick up this God given gift.
Think b4 u talk, think b4 u actHow many people have put their foot in the mouth, talking without thinking?
So when someone is talking to you, use multidimensional thinking and pause before replying.
How many people have got into trouble because of their impulsive behaviour?
This is the equivalent of “Look before you leap".
Remember, always
Think Smarter & Work harder,so you do not waste your time, money & energy
Think, Plan then Act so the effort that you put in is neither wasted nor duplicated.
Is there a better way of doing it? Think outside the square, think laterally. Innovate.
Think it hard/ think it thru /follow it thru...
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Thursday, 21 April 2011
The PEPSI way
Here are my suggestions, hints & tips to improve your lot in a world which is going round in more than one way. I am sure you can use some of them for your for your organisation..
PEPSI
Thru my observations, my understanding and my interactions, I have concluded that the PEPSI way is the way to progress. Hold on, I don't mean drinking the cola is going to take you anywhere, definitely not. But for me PEPSI stands for
Proactive
Effective
Positive
Synergy
Innovative
Be PROACTIVE, not retroactive
Make things happen rather than wait for them to happen
Anticipate and plan for them
Be the initiator, not the responder
Don’t wait for the door to open, jump thru the window
Even in the Bible matt 7.7 says"
“Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find; and knock and the door will be opened to you."
Matthew 7:8 says
"For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and the one who knocks, the door will be opened(New International Version 2011)
Be EFFECTIVE
Peter Drucker's classic definition comes to mind:
Efficiency is doing things right
Effectiveness is doing the right things.
A machine programmed incorrectly will produce goods with high efficiency, but are these defective goods any good?
When you are doing something, always ask yourself the question:
Is it going to help someone or am I just doing it for the sake of doing it?
Do I follow the instructions given to me blindly, knowing very well it is not going to get the intended end results or do I question the instructions and make suggestions?
Be POSITIVE
Always be positive & optimistic. Even if you look at a glass as half empty, there is always an opportunity to fill the glass.
Your positivity (if such a word exists) can be infectious and can influence those around you.
Look forward to the future and don't dwell on the past. Your past mistakes will add to your experience and hopefully also ensure that you will not make the same mistake again.
Use SYNERGY
Avoid duplication,
My favourite is cut/copy & paste rather than retyping.
Try and use the existing resources, so as to maximise the output at a lesser cost
Use Management by Exception so as to avoid two people who may be at different hierarchal level doing the same job.
Always remember, the time you save, can be productively used for doing something beneficial.
Be INNOVATIVE, resourceful and creative.
Think outside the square, try something new, use lateral thinking
Think new ways of using what you already have.
Peter Drucker’s definition is:
Innovation is the specific instrument of entrepreneurship, the act that endows resources with a new capacity to create wealth.
PEPSI
Thru my observations, my understanding and my interactions, I have concluded that the PEPSI way is the way to progress. Hold on, I don't mean drinking the cola is going to take you anywhere, definitely not. But for me PEPSI stands for
Proactive
Effective
Positive
Synergy
Innovative
Be PROACTIVE, not retroactive
Make things happen rather than wait for them to happen
Anticipate and plan for them
Be the initiator, not the responder
Don’t wait for the door to open, jump thru the window
Even in the Bible matt 7.7 says"
“Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find; and knock and the door will be opened to you."
Matthew 7:8 says
"For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and the one who knocks, the door will be opened(New International Version 2011)
Be EFFECTIVE
Peter Drucker's classic definition comes to mind:
Efficiency is doing things right
Effectiveness is doing the right things.
A machine programmed incorrectly will produce goods with high efficiency, but are these defective goods any good?
When you are doing something, always ask yourself the question:
Is it going to help someone or am I just doing it for the sake of doing it?
Do I follow the instructions given to me blindly, knowing very well it is not going to get the intended end results or do I question the instructions and make suggestions?
Be POSITIVE
Always be positive & optimistic. Even if you look at a glass as half empty, there is always an opportunity to fill the glass.
Your positivity (if such a word exists) can be infectious and can influence those around you.
Look forward to the future and don't dwell on the past. Your past mistakes will add to your experience and hopefully also ensure that you will not make the same mistake again.
Use SYNERGY
Avoid duplication,
My favourite is cut/copy & paste rather than retyping.
Try and use the existing resources, so as to maximise the output at a lesser cost
Use Management by Exception so as to avoid two people who may be at different hierarchal level doing the same job.
Always remember, the time you save, can be productively used for doing something beneficial.
Be INNOVATIVE, resourceful and creative.
Think outside the square, try something new, use lateral thinking
Think new ways of using what you already have.
Peter Drucker’s definition is:
Innovation is the specific instrument of entrepreneurship, the act that endows resources with a new capacity to create wealth.
Monday, 18 April 2011
A message for those of you who smoke:
Smoking is similar to rolling up a $ 20 note, putting it between your lips & allowing it to burn slowly.
Give up smoking & save those $$$$$
Give up smoking & save those $$$$$
Saturday, 16 April 2011
Introduction to Chakraview
Why blog?'Coz I would like to share my views and opinion on things happening around me. These are based on my experience, my observations and what I read, hear or see. I also have suggestions, hints and tips to improve your lot and hopefully this helps in your personal development. Having worked internationally in Corporate, Small & Medium size enterprises, I have quite a few suggestions ( many based on sheer common sense), to improve the performance of your organisation. Needless to mention, your feedback & comments are most welcome.
Why the name Chakraview Chakravyuh was an ancient Indian defensive battle plan which included forming concentric circles around the person or persons you were protecting. Chakra means a circle & vyuh probably meant puzzle. And at that time, lots of warriors knew how to break chakravyuh & penetrate it, but very few knew how to come out of it alive.
Today this word is used n Hindi to mean going around in circles with no end in sight.
It aptly describes the world’s present situation. Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Floods, Landslides , Tsunami, Famines, Droughts, Wars , Refugees :,Recession Pirates, Nuclear Meltdown ....natural disasters, man-made disasters . The list is endless. A few people around the world think they can penetrate today's chakraview but all they are doing is dragging the world deeper & deeper with no way out.
Sitting on the sidelines, as I, along with the rest of the world go around merrily, I share my thoughts with you.
This is my Chakraview
The meaning of the Logo The newspaper in the background represents the world in which we live & the square in the centre represent us: Like a square peg in a round whole ( pun intended), we are "Trapped" within complacently, sitting comfortably and not trying or doing anything to change our situation.
Why the name Chakraview Chakravyuh was an ancient Indian defensive battle plan which included forming concentric circles around the person or persons you were protecting. Chakra means a circle & vyuh probably meant puzzle. And at that time, lots of warriors knew how to break chakravyuh & penetrate it, but very few knew how to come out of it alive.
Today this word is used n Hindi to mean going around in circles with no end in sight.
It aptly describes the world’s present situation. Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Floods, Landslides , Tsunami, Famines, Droughts, Wars , Refugees :,Recession Pirates, Nuclear Meltdown ....natural disasters, man-made disasters . The list is endless. A few people around the world think they can penetrate today's chakraview but all they are doing is dragging the world deeper & deeper with no way out.
Sitting on the sidelines, as I, along with the rest of the world go around merrily, I share my thoughts with you.
This is my Chakraview
The meaning of the Logo The newspaper in the background represents the world in which we live & the square in the centre represent us: Like a square peg in a round whole ( pun intended), we are "Trapped" within complacently, sitting comfortably and not trying or doing anything to change our situation.
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
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