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.

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...

Chakraview: The PEPSI way

Chakraview: The PEPSI way

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.

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 $$$$$

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.