Believe

Your strength lies in what you believe.
You can only do what you think you can.
Start believing.
Start doing.

Found this image online and couldn't help stealing it.

Open up

Sometimes you need to take off your headset and listen to what the real world is talking about.

All pics displayed here can be downloaded and used for free. Just give a link here. You can find more pics here: t3i photography.

Sow well

A son was dragging his father to an old age home. When they reached a bridge the father started crying uncontrollably.

When the son asked why, the father answered, "Several years back I dragged my father exactly like this over this bridge!"

Reap as you sow. So sow well!

What are you doing tomorrow?

Our days on this planet are numbered. What are you going to do today? How about tomorrow? Are you sure you can do that?

What legacy are you going to leave? Work towards that today.

As human's we have the greatest opportunity to create a history, a legacy that will stand the test of time. Start working.

All pics displayed here can be downloaded and used for free. Just give a link here. You can find more pics here: t3i photography.

Women do!

On a lighter note.... while the debate about who is who goes on...

Image source: Bizarro.com

Monday Blues: Care for someone

Care for someone today. Someone who is not expecting your help or attention. Pass on some love and it will come back manifold.

I found this picture online and it speaks volumes!

Monday Blues: Talk to yourself

"Talk to yourself once in a day...Otherwise you may miss meeting an excellent person in this world.."

-Swami vivekananda

Praise you in the storm

"Praise You In This Storm"

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

[Chorus:]
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

[Chorus]

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Business is helping other's journey

What can YOU do about not only your journey, but the journeys of others.

Art & theme by Hugh MacLeod

Being perfect

Quote from movie "Friday night lights"!

Being perfect is not about that scoreboard out there. It's not about winning. It's about you and your relationship with yourself, your family and your friends. Being perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye and know that you didn't let them down because you told them the truth. And that truth is you did everything you could. There wasn't one more thing you could've done. Can you live in that moment as best you can, with clear eyes, and love in your heart, with joy in your heart? If you can do that gentleman - you're perfect!





Here is the video:

The Law of the Garbage Truck

How often do you let other people’s nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you’re the Terminator, you’re probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of your success is how quickly you can refocus on what’s important in your life.

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. And I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here’s what happened.

I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, the car skidded, the tires squealed, and at the very last moment our car stopped just one inch from the other car’s back-end.

I couldn’t believe it. But then I couldn’t believe what happened next. The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. How do I know? Ask any New Yorker, some words in New York come with a special face. And he even threw in a one finger salute! I couldn’t believe it!

But then here’s what really blew me away. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, “Why did you just do that!? This guy could have killed us!” And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, “The Law of the Garbage Truck™.” He said:

"Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they look for a place to dump it. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you.

So when someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Believe me. You’ll be happier."

So I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the street? It was then that I said, “I don’t want their garbage and I’m not going to spread it anymore.”

I began to see Garbage Trucks. Like in the movie “The Sixth Sense,” the little boy said, “I see Dead People.” Well now “I see Garbage Trucks.” I see the load they’re carrying. I see them coming to dump it. And like my taxi driver, I don’t take it personally; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

One of my favorite football players of all time was Walter Payton. Every day on the football field, after being tackled, he would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best. Over the years the best players from around the world in every sport have played this way: Muhammad Ali, Nadia Comaneci, Bjorn Borg, Chris Evert, Michael Jordan, Jackie Robinson, and Pele are just some of those players. And the most inspiring leaders have lived this way: Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King.

See, Roy Baumeister, a psychology researcher from Florida State University, found in his extensive research that you remember bad things more often than good things in your life. You store the bad memories more easily, and you recall them more frequently.

So the odds are against you when a Garbage Truck comes your way. But when you follow The Law of the Garbage Truck™, you take back control of your life. You make room for the good by letting go of the bad.

The best leaders know that they have to be ready for their next meeting. The best sales people know that they have to be ready for their next client. And the best parents know that they have to be ready to greet their children with hugs and kisses, no matter how many garbage trucks they might have faced that day. All of us know that we have to be fully present, and at our best for the people we care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their lives.

What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?

Here’s my bet: You’ll be happier. 

—DAVID J. POLLAY

Monday Blues: Damn the cheerleaders

What if you are not included in the team of your aspirations?
Why should you bother?

Everyone has a dream team, a team with a lot of idealistic thoughts and perceived additives which you always want o be in. Now that is a whole lot of perception and chance you want to take to mold yourself to suit/fit into that group

Look for what is special in you. What is good for you. What is the one thing you can excel in. What is the one thing  you are good at. Now that is done. Screw the naysayers, screw the world.
where you might not even matter to anyone. Would you change yourself to match/dance to someone else's music and tunes? I don't think that is something you should be doing.

Don't give a damn and start your own training. Train hard. Train well. Train scientifically. Train unapologetic. Your goal is to win and win over yourself.

Ignore the cheerleaders, they never get to play the game. Be the player. Be the game. Form your own team.

See this image I found online.

Monday blues: Monday already?

Is it Monday already?

All pics displayed here can be downloaded and used for free. Just give a link here. You can find more pics here: t3i photography. 

Men vs Women vs money

Do women and men differ in their outlooks about money? Here is an infographic that gives an explanation.

Info is from here

I will be still and know you are God

Hide me now

Under Your wings

Cover me

Within Your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with You above the storm

Father you are King over the flood

I will be still, know You are God

Find rest my soul

In Christ alone

Know His power

In quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with You above the storm

Father You are king over the flood

I will be still, know You are God

What are you doing this Saturday?

It is an amazing cycle. You struggle, strive and keep running and then comes Saturday. What are you doing this Saturday?

Relax, rejuvenate and rebound. Sometimes rest is needed. Ignore everything around you and try to catch some sleep and connect with your inner self, family, friends and food :)

Have a nice day!

All pics displayed here can be downloaded and used for free. Just give a link here. You can find more pics here: t3i photography. 

The Aurangzeb factor: 5 lessons from Modi-Advani tussle

R Jagannathan has come out with a beautiful article.

Lal Krishna Advani’s decision to withdraw his resignation from three party posts yesterday may have ended the crisis in the BJP over the elevation of Narendra Modi as campaign committee chief, but rest assured, the core issue hasn’t gone away.

The core issue is this: how should parties prepare for an orderly transition in leadership? Should they do it the modern equivalent of the Aurangzeb way, by a show of force or internal intrigue, or should they have a proper process?

This is a problem only for the BJP and the Communists, since they do not believe in family rule.

Gujarat CM Narendra Modi and veteran leader LK Advani

In the Congress and almost all regional parties, primogeniture rules. Succession is what the family patriarch (or matriarch in the Congress right now) decides. Aurangzebs occasionally emerge from the woodwork when the incumbent son/daughter proves unworthy or unable to handle power (as evident in the MNS challenge to the Shiv Sena, or the N Chandrababu Naidu revolt against NTR, or the forthcoming DMK sibling war – between MK Stalin and MK Azhagiri).

The problem remains for the BJP and the Communists, for they are more cadre-based.
Without a proper process to select a leader, Modi had to establish his authority partly through the Aurangzeb route – as Jaithirth Rao eloquently argues in an article in The Economic Times – by a show of muscle and machismo using party workers. This has its downside: the loser will have no stake in being graceful in defeat, or in helping the new leader.

Says Rao: “If the BJP had held primary elections, then the loser would have had to go along, one way or the other. When faced with the inevitable, people usually opt for graceful behaviour. When the process is opaque, when Rajnath Singh announces that they have made a consensus decision, even as the parties to the consensus conspicuously stay away, we get into messy and unseemly dramas.”
So, the first lesson parties like the BJP have to learn is how to manage succession – and a clear system of inner party elections for every major leadership role is key. Parties do have election systems, but the old feudal reality ensures that only “consensus” candidates emerge on top through a process of opaque, inner party backdoor compromises.

There are other lessons the BJP and other parties need to learn from the Advani-Modi battle of nerves and backroom manoeuvre.

The second lesson is that parties must have an in-built retirement age for leaders. This need not be 60 or 65, but surely 75 is not a bad outer limit? This does not mean oldies like Advani and Manmohan Singh do not have a place in politics – they do, and they can mentor people and generate ideas for growth – but they should not play a direct leadership role. Not in a young nation such as India.
Thirdly, parties which have strong cadres must have clear rules of conduct between party organisation and government, between social organisations and political fronts. In the BJP’s case, it is fine if the RSS contributes men and material to help the party succeed, but if the Sangh tries to dictate every policy move of the party the latter cannot succeed. The same applies to the Congress, which failed in UPA-2 precisely because the party and government were not in sync. It also applies to the CPMs of the world: the party ruined Jyoti Basu’s chances of becoming the first Communist PM of the country in 1996. Parties can have their basic ideologies, but achieving anything needs compromises in government.

The fourth lesson to learn is the importance of projecting a leader. Parties such as the BJP and CPM stress collective leadership – and, as a principle, it is not wrong – but in the television age, parties must have attractive leaders to articulate a vision. A collective leadership and think-tank can emerge once a leader is chosen. Voters relate to people and not just ideology. Atal Behari Vajpayee did not have any particular ideology, but his inherent charm worked for him and helped him blunt the edges one could see in his more scrappy colleagues. The regional parties do not have this problem because they are largely dynastic like the Congress. Regional parties are created largely by charismatic leaders, and as long as the family’s clout remains, there is no need for further projection – whether it is a Naveen Patnaik in Orissa or a Mulayam Singh or Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh.

Those who argue that projecting a leader may polarise rather than unify voters (mostly this is done with reference to Modi) are both right and wrong. The purpose of projecting a leader is to convey direction – so it could polarise at times. (It isn’t as if Sonia Gandhi does not polarise – especially with her Italian origins.)

Projecting leaders can work, and it can fail. Let’s also note that the projection of Advani in 2009 did not work for the BJP. But this does not mean that projecting no leader is better. Parties have to take this gamble based on who they think is their best bet. If Modi is given charge and he fails, it is game over for him. The party can then pick up the pieces and take on a different leader the next time. Not selecting a leader is not an option anymore.

The last point is that elected leaders must have the right to their own teams. Once you accept the logic that elections are increasingly getting presidential in India, you cannot circumscribe the leader by inflicting all kinds of conditions to his power. This is why Advani’s efforts to create a parallel election committee for the assembly elections was worth junking.


The issue is not about Advani or Modi. It is about having a transparent process to manage leadership transitions.

Beautiful mind

Prejudice? Never again

There was a blind gentleman who I was once asked to be a scribe for,
in 2005. He was writing the CAT exam, which is a very tough exam. I was
sceptical. It’s difficult enough to crack without being blind. Shiva
walked in, glasses on and stick in hand — typical, I thought. And then
he literally blitzed through the entire exam. If he didn’t score 100 per
 cent in the math section, it was because I wasn’t reading the questions
 fast enough. He broke my every perception of him.
Later, at the canteen, even though it was politically incorrect, I
asked him what it was like to be blind. Didn’t he feel deprived? Shiva
finished his and took me outside. We walked, with my left 
hand on his shoulder. Suddenly, he switched to my right; halfway down
the road, he stopped, asked me to find a soft pebble, walk ten steps
away and turn to face him. “Drop the stone,” he instructed. “Ok, now
pick it up.” We did this thrice and by now, people had gathered. Then
Shiva said, “Throw it at me.”

I refused. But Shiva was adamant. So I finally threw it, and a few
seconds later, Shiva put out his hand. The stone hit his hand, and he
caught it on second bounce. He later explained, “While walking together,
 I judged you to be about 5 feet 7. I switched to your right and found
out, by the pressure of your hand on my shoulder, your right hand was
not your dominant hand. By the echo of the stone when you dropped it, I
could roughly make out its weight. We were at a uniform distance. Simple
 physics told me, in around 8-9 seconds, it should fall on my right.”
Shiva continued, “The problem with people like you, Sukumar, is that you
 sometimes see darkness even in light. We have to see light even in
darkness. So next time you think your thoughts might prejudice yourself
into judgment think that for every disability you have, you might have
some supreme ability.”
Since that incident, I’ve never discriminated someone for the way
they looked on the outside. The mind is like a parachute. It only works
when it’s open. Keep an open mind because you may find inspiration in
the people you least expect it from.
- See more at:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/wknd/wknd_article.asp?xfile=/data/wkndtopstoriesnew/2013/March/wkndtopstoriesnew_March13.xml#sthash.chVbLw8J.dpufPrejudice? Never again

There was a blind gentleman who I was once asked to be a scribe for,
in 2005. He was writing the CAT exam, which is a very tough exam. I was
sceptical. It’s difficult enough to crack without being blind. Shiva
walked in, glasses on and stick in hand — typical, I thought. And then
he literally blitzed through the entire exam. If he didn’t score 100 per
 cent in the math section, it was because I wasn’t reading the questions
 fast enough. He broke my every perception of him.
Later, at the canteen, even though it was politically incorrect, I
asked him what it was like to be blind. Didn’t he feel deprived? Shiva
finished his and took me outside. We walked, with my left 
hand on his shoulder. Suddenly, he switched to my right; halfway down
the road, he stopped, asked me to find a soft pebble, walk ten steps
away and turn to face him. “Drop the stone,” he instructed. “Ok, now
pick it up.” We did this thrice and by now, people had gathered. Then
Shiva said, “Throw it at me.”

I refused. But Shiva was adamant. So I finally threw it, and a few
seconds later, Shiva put out his hand. The stone hit his hand, and he
caught it on second bounce. He later explained, “While walking together,
 I judged you to be about 5 feet 7. I switched to your right and found
out, by the pressure of your hand on my shoulder, your right hand was
not your dominant hand. By the echo of the stone when you dropped it, I
could roughly make out its weight. We were at a uniform distance. Simple
 physics told me, in around 8-9 seconds, it should fall on my right.”
Shiva continued, “The problem with people like you, Sukumar, is that you
 sometimes see darkness even in light. We have to see light even in
darkness. So next time you think your thoughts might prejudice yourself
into judgment think that for every disability you have, you might have
some supreme ability.”
Since that incident, I’ve never discriminated someone for the way
they looked on the outside. The mind is like a parachute. It only works
when it’s open. Keep an open mind because you may find inspiration in
the people you least expect it from.
- See more at:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/wknd/wknd_article.asp?xfile=/data/wkndtopstoriesnew/2013/March/wkndtopstoriesnew_March13.xml#sthash.chVbLw8J.dpuf

Get things done

One more from Hugh...

One of the great joys of being a cartoonist is that once you’re work is signed, you can point to it and say, yeah, I did that.

And because cartoons are a relatively quick medium, you get to do it a lot.

So no rock star life for me. Just getting up in the morning, going to the studio, rolling up my sleeves, and getting to work, day in, day out.

Yeah, I did that.

Don't sacrifice trust

Seth makes a point.

Don't bring in emotion to sacrifice your quality values and increase acceptance. Emotion is temporary. Focus on creating value and followers will come on their own. All you need is truth and freedom is the byproduct.

There's no question that people respond to safety and mass acceptance. The #1 seller often stays number one merely because it's already number one. But no, you don't need to add emotion when there is none, because to do so, you often have to sacrifice trust.

It is crowded at the top and the feeling is good

It is not lonely at the top. It is crowded.

There are many people whoa re empowered now to do things and are not just pencil pushers. It is important to allow people to have their own say in things that don't need your attention. Let them learn and become an expert.

The only problem you might have is when they don't know what they should align with and veer away. So stay focused on getting them to understand your ideals, beliefs, mission, vision and the values you want to uphold and it is good.

Empowered employees are more energetic and efficient. It gives a positive vibe to your team.

It helps you declutter, have a peace of mind, and get things done faster in sometimes a better way. Just give it a try.

Art is by Gapingvoid.

Lets stew some

Well you might have seen a lot of mis-spelt words, here is something about cooking and eating cooks :) I found this at a famous restaurant in Gandhinagar, Bangalore.

Monday blues: Live it to the full

Life is short folks. Why not live it to the full?

This monday, don't spend time on what is boring, holding you back. Spend time on what makes you happy. Fight off the blues by living it to the full. Make this your friday, if you catch my drift.

Walk in the light

Walk in the light, so shalt thou know that fellowship of love

His Spirit only can bestow, who reigns in light above!

(Bernard Barton, 1784-1849, a Bank clerk)

Problem with your product

Hey Targus, there is a problem with your product. It tears up on the right side as in the pic. This seems to be design flaw.

Now the bag is available online for purchase, is given out complimentary with thousands of Dell laptops bought across the country. Everywhere the same problem crops up and it is still not sorted out. I am surprised!

As a product manufacturer or a service provider you have to look at your product offering and see if there is a common thing you might have missed, ignored and it is visible after a few days. Try and see if there is a way for you to foresee where you might fail/fall. That would delight your customers.


What say Targus? Time to rectify the design.

Why you should adjust your attitude or forget your fans

Brands, however big you may be, should have the right attitude. If I am buying your product because there is no alternative, then you can show me all the attitude you have and I would/have to still keep buying. But if there is an alternative and you show me wrong attitude, your brand is lost its value in me. So I lose interest in you. Move on there are many other who might not measure up to your quality, but I prefer to chose the other option.

Marketers, are you promoting the right brand in the right way? Is it just related to the promotion angle or are you also looking at correcting the processes to improve and develop. Attitude is good as long as it accompanies the quality of the product/service you offer.

Entrepreneurs, push your team to look in the right way and speak the right language - the language that connects and conveys your dreams, aspirations and thoughts.

What do you think consumer?

Monday Blues: Today

For the Monday Blues series...

Hold your hand straight in front of you. How long can you hold it like that? Does it start paining? Well you aren't holding anything. Still it hurts.

Don't delay anything for tomorrow. Do it today. Do it now. Trust me, it is relaxing.

Pic is from here.

Monday blues: Use the tested method

For the Monday blues series....

Sometimes we ignore the tested and traditional methods while solving a problem as we are focused on finding something new and innovative. Try the traditional method first and then look for creativity. May be the traditional one would work better.

This image is from Manama souq, Bahrain where traditional lanterns were used to decorate the ceiling at the welcome arch.

All pics displayed here can be downloaded and used for free. Just give a link here. You can find more pics here: t3i photography. 

Hear us

Hear us, Thou that broodest o'er the watery deep,

Waking all creation from its primal sleep;

Holy Spirit, breathing breath of life divine,

Breathe into our spirits, blending them with Thine.

When the fight is fiercest in the noontide heat,

Bear us, Holy Spirit, to our Saviour's feet,

There to find a refuge till our work is done,

There to fight the battle till the battle's won!

(Rev. Godfrey Thring, 1823-1903)

Don't measure what is easy

Measurement is fabulous. Unless you're busy measuring what's easy to measure as opposed to what's important. What are you measuring?

Free yourself

This June think about this...

Everything you needed 

You already have. 

 Between your ears. 

Inside your mind.

Unlock

Unleash

Unlearn

Undo

Untie