Monday Blues - Leap of faith

 How is your day treating you? Today, I am a bit early with my Monday Blues post to catch you off guard. I want to push you to take a leap of faith today. 

You will have many moments in life when your decisions are going to change your future. How will you know that? When I am in such a situation I can feel a ball forming in my gut and I can hear the beat of my heart in my throat. It is then that you either decide to go ahead or take a step back. 

I will share an experience in my life a few years back. I happened to be in Mauritius for a seminar and I had the opportunity to dive into the ocean (with all the safety gear). But here I am, scared of water! I didn't know how to swim. And this tour guide who facilitated my dive in the Indian ocean tells me to not worry and just jump as everything will be fine. Fine? What do you even mean I will be fine! I was hesitant. Here I was about 2 miles away from the shore, waiting for my ocean of doubt to clear and find mental peace that would help me decide. After a few moments, I took the plunge. 

Heck! I didn't know where I was for almost 30 seconds as things were going too fast or that is what I felt. I was breathing too fast, searching for air, to see something. After taking two minutes to calm down, I started to enjoy the dive and kept at it for 40 mins more. As I write this, I can still see the rays of the sun coming down through the waters and illuminate the world below as I bobbed up and down like a leaf in the currents of the mighty Indian Ocean. I was transported to the James Cameroon world, live! What an experience it was! Once in a lifetime opportunity and a memory forever.

When you are faced with situations you cannot fathom, and you are trying something new to change your attitude about life, learning a new trick, course, I am sure you would feel like I felt on that boat on that December afternoon. You can easily walk out, take a step back to let the status quo remain so. Do not let the fear of failure keep you away. Go for it (with all the safety precautions) and you will come back with an experience. 

I urge you today to take the next step up! 

Learn something new. 

Take up the challenge you have been postponing. 

Finish the assignment you stopped after finishing the half. 

Make that sales call you have been postponing. 

Reopen the negotiation. 

Call those cold leads and start a conversation. 

Take up writing, painting, music, reading, cooking, cleaning, recycling - whatever you wanted to do. 

We have one life - to learn, make memories. Take that up. Even if it is just one leap - take it.

Share your experience when you took a difficult decision and how it worked out.

#Taketheplunge #TrysomethingNew #Learnforlife #TalktoTiger #PositivePsychologistBangalore

Why were you born?

"May you live long enough to know why you were conceived." - Cherokee Birth Blessing 

 What is the one reason for your life on Earth? Don't you actually ask this question? I do. 

 I regularly can't help thinking about what may be a definitive objective of my existence on this delightful blue planet. Simply envision the way in which we are born, in light of the fact that we are conceived and born as a mathematical delight! What are the chances! 

I trust God has made every one of us with enormous potential to develop into superb people equipped for doing extraordinary things for us, for other people, and for the whole of humanity. We come to this world with one mission - to make an extraordinary dent with our existence on humanity. We don't have to be incredible entertainers, writers, researchers, and the kind to have an impact. We can do that slowly and carefully. I, for one, work every day to understand the consumer psyche and use it to help people out to connect to their better selves. So, here are some simple things we can do.

•  Be kind - the easiest way to make a small change to people around you is to be kind. Be compassionate to friends, family, strangers, animals... 
• Be helpful - whenever you can help out to anyone in need. Be the grace, blessing you are meant to be, one small step at a time 
• Be a great listener - The world needs more people who talk less and listen more. If only we are better listeners, we can be better human beings 
• Be empathetic - Understand what the other person's view is. Listen to the other version of the story. Try and be empathetic to their situation, their struggle, and their misery. 

The entire world would be a better place if we are more compassionate, kind, and loving. Live out the vision God has for you - to be a great neighbor and friend. That will make you fulfill your destiny. Just think about it. 

Have an impactful Monday.

#PositivePsychology #TalktoTiger #ConsumerPsyche 

Prayer changes things

Prayer is not to tell God what He knows not. It is to verbalise our feelings to a Father as a child. Simple prayers are sublime. A father knows the child's needs; but he is delighted when the child asks him. That enlivens the relationship. The mother knows when to feed her baby, but her maternal instincts are stimulated when it cries for milk.

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed,

The  of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech that infant lips can try;
Prayer the sublimest strains that reach the Majesty on High!                                       (James Montgomery, 1771-1854)

Keep praying, interceding and working.

Listen, thou shall not spout!

Once in a while it is important to listen. However smart we are, we may not know everything. Instead of being an overbearing irritant, you can be smart by being silent and lending an ear to see what the issue might be, what the other person is sharing and how it can help you resolve the critter at hand.

Listening also allows you to exhaust the speaker, to complete their flow of thought and express what they want to say. So this month, before we spout all our thoughts and opinions, let us learn to listen.

#positivePsychologist #TalktoTiger

Making honey, one experience at a time

Lessons from the honey bee

I am always amazed by the way honey bees react and lead their life in an orderly fashion. Did you know that you can change the flavour of honey you get from a particular hive when you restrict the access of the honey bees to particular flowers? For instance, if the bees have access only to Jasmine flowers for collecting the nectar, the honey produced also is flavoured with Jasmine. If the bees have access to a coffee plantation, then invariably the flavour of honey is that of coffee. They take a piece of the source flower and add it to their own and make them better. That sounds amazing, right?

I loved this method of infusing flavour in honey, as this applies to us as well. When we have access to things around us, we are definitely affected by them one way or the other. We can take what we need and add that to our contribution. The flavour of your conversation, your thoughts, and what you do might be dependent on what you are feeding on. Most often we might not realize but what we are exposed to! If you're feeding on the positive, then your conversations and your behaviour will be positive. But if you are feeding on the negativity then and the flavour changes accordingly. As parents who are responsible for their families, leaders who are responsible for their colleagues, as friends who are responsible for your friends, we need to ask ourselves this question - What are we feeding on? Are we being exposed to enough positivity and compassion? Are you being the positive point of a confluence to your peers, family, and friends? If not, how can you expect good things to pop up from them? Ask yourself how you can be a positive influence on our work and behaviour. 

If you have a child in a family that you can help or be a part of their growth, please ensure that you are feeding them enough positivism, hope, courage, confidence and winning attitude that whatever they do in their lives, they'll always carry this flavour and move forward. I encourage you to feed on what would improve your belief rather than what would take you down. Have a great day. 

PS: What would happen if the bees are exposed to something bitter? Will the honey be bitter then? Or will it be called something else? I believe it will be like coffee.

Here are some posts on the positivism that might you might like.

Do what your heart cherishes!

Do what your heart cherishes! For what reason accomplishes something different? 

Trust me when I say this - It is your quintessential obligation to think about #selfcare first. As parents, administrators, pioneers, we are frequently in the battle to be there for everything and everybody. Particularly when you have a close-knit group, bigger duties or as a parent, or as a partner. In other cases, perhaps you are accepting a bigger obligation as you are the most ideally the best (wo)man for the job. Not that we all can be as cool as Dhoni. In some cases, we got the opportunity to pick self-care. At the point when you are giving more than you have, your cup gets empty. Enjoy a break and top off your cup. This applies to your life in all zones. Regardless of whether it is work, love, relationships, finances, a similar principle applies. 

Deal with things you have been putting away. Go for that new hairstyle, rest and catch up on sleep, watch a film, read a book, clean your home, work area, PC, or figure out how to make and eat that dish. Enough of delaying. We don't have the foggiest idea of whether we would get an opportunity to do them once more. Give #selflove significance. Just when your cup is full and overflowing, you can give. Top off, at that point give. In this perishing world, it is significant that you organize your time, endeavors, and discover harmony, bliss, and joy. Include more love, zest it up, and have mental peace. 

Comment and tag that person who you think needs to hear this. Tell me what you think?

#TalktoTiger #PositivepsychologistBangalore #selflovejourney #MondayBlues#Covidblues

Becoming ‘Pausitive’ to Being Positive – A Heartful Journey

We have a guest post from my friend Roopa today and it is about heartfulness. Here is a video you might like too.

Dear Friends,

Undeniably Covid pandemic is bombarding each and every one of us with -“concerns that are not in our control”, “heightened social responsibilities”, “safety - security issues” and “a highly volatile future”.

And it is Now, more than ever before, I am finding great meaning in the below quote:

“Between Stimulus and Response, there is a space.

In that space lies our power to choose our response.

In our response lies our growth and freedom.”

-        Dr. Viktor Frankl in “Man’s search for meaning”

Our action to stimulus:

-        without space is - Reaction (based on our fears, prejudices, conditioning).
-        with space i.e. by taking a pause is – Response.

The “space” in the above quote is - nothing but the pause - the act of doing Nothing – the act of Waiting - the act of Resting our mind -- there we choose rightly - there lies our growth, our freedom to choose – our Power!!

HOW COME THE PAUSE IS SO POWERFUL, THAT OUR FREEDOM LIES THERE?

It is in these pauses

-        we access our heart’s intuitive intelligence - we discriminate and join the dots.
-        Our chords are stricken, our truths are revealed, our decisions are made, and our actions are determined.

Remember, it is in these pauses we,

-        harnessed the courage to say the truth – to follow our gut,

-        had our Eureka moments –in solving our relationship and work issues!!

Bathing, dreaming,exercising, nature watching gave us our truths - not the actual thinking, but the resting of our mind did the trick. Newton’s Law of gravitation and Archimedes principle are the results of pauses!! [see references below]

While pauses should not be mistaken as inaction, taking them at periodic intervals amidst our genuine efforts can produce fruitful outcomes.

 

WHY ARE WE NOT ABLE TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF PAUSES?

               Unfortunately,we are hard wired to REACT than to RESPOND – we know that our autonomous nervous system bypasses our central nervous system – the famous Amygdala Hijack.

Overridden by our fears and prejudices, this conditioned automated subconscious mind takes over the conscious thinking mind. Hence, we are bound and not free anymore!!! This is more true in our current VUCA world!!!

 

HOW DO WE TAKE A PAUSE - UTILIZE OUR POWER AND FREEDOM?IF WE ARE BOUND AND NOT FREE TO CHOOSE?

-        Rewire the mind to take pauses - How?

-        Create the habit of taking pauses consciously, every time – What then happens?

-        Pausing becomes automated in our minds. – How to achieve this?

-        By doing Nothing 😊–by resting our mind – and now that’s called, Meditation.

Meditation is effortless single pointed focus, effortless resting of mind on one thing.Mind needs something to rest upon – a book, a song, a game, a TV show. “Listening to music is meditation”– here we are resting our mind on music.

To use the power rightly and in transforming ourselves into Positive Beings,

should we not rest our mind on the best thing?

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ON WHICH WE CAN REST OUR MIND? – IS IT NOT THE HEART?

That which feels and sympathizes, which shows compassion and kindness, which gives signals and direction, that which is our gut feeling and conscience, that which forgives and purifies?

-        that which is life itself and the seat of the soul,

-        that which is love itself and the dwelling of the God!!! – THE HEART!!!

What to do(choice)? – Heart should say. How to do?  – Mind should say.

This discrimination when applied in life situations, is called Viveka or Wisdom. Right combination of Heart and Mind – Mind following the Heart culminates in Positive Living – Heartful Living.

“Heartfulness Meditation practice” results in clearly listening our inner voice and in garnering the courage to follow the guidance from the heart.  https://heartfulness.org/in/

Anyone can try this simple and effective practice and see the results for himself/herself. You are the experimenter, the experiment and the result.

Heartfulness Meditation practice encompasses a set of unique practical techniques:

1.      Heartfulness Relaxation – To de-stress ourselves

2.      Heartfulness Meditation through yogic transmission – For single pointed focus on heart.

3.      Heartfulness Rejuvenation or cleaning – To remove the fears, conditioning of our minds.

4.      Connecting to our Higher Self by auto suggestions, also called as prayer.

You can access them here.

There are no charges for this practice, now or in the future.

I for one, am reaping the benefits of this practice,for over 15 years now.

I welcome you all to take this Heartful Journey!!

Affectionately,
Roopa

Author is a Heartfulness Meditation practitioner/trainer, Design Thinking practitioner,CAMSS Leadand an accomplished IT specialist @ IBM.

Resources and References:

• https://heartfulness.org/in/connect-with-us/
• http://heartspots.heartfulness.org/  - connect with a trainer – All trainers are volunteers.
• Eureka Effect and Aha moments
• The Heart's Code: Tapping the Wisdom and Power of Our Heart Energy
• Designing Destiny
• The Power of Pause: Becoming More by Doing Less
• The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

Be better, marketer!

 

How to be a better marketer?

Do you know how you can be a great marketer? Be a good listener. If you care to listen to people, to their soul, you will comprehend more than what they say. When you understand what they are saying without words, you are not telling a story or trying to market, but voicing their beliefs.

And listening is not an easy art. You need to learn to catch the nuances and be extremely observant. Improve it every day, hone the skill and you would connect better. Ignore the din, chaos, narcissism, popular notions, what is selling. Listen to what the other person wants - solutions to their problems and help them achieve that. It is their win, not you selling. That is what makes story-tellers great.

You can help people more than you know, more than sales, more than targets. You can help change someone's life and that is the best feeling in the world! As a marketer, don't just sell, transform the other person's life by helping them overcome their problems. 

Lessons from the coffee bean - COVID 19

Coffee beans are extricated from the plant to make great espresso. As somebody who cherishes a well brewed espresso, some of the times more than tea or ice cream, I wanted to take a couple of lessons that I learned and check whether they can be useful to you. I am certain you will cherish what I'm going to explain since this is something that we are experiencing in these difficult times. 

GRINDING PROCESS 

The extraction procedure of coffee from the beans looks extremely simple when it is plucked from the plant however it is definitely not simple. After the seed is sun-dried, it is required to experience a grinding procedure. At the point when the coffee beans are placed in the processor, they lose their shape, their structural integrity, and are changed over to what exactly may appear to be an aimless powder very different as what it was previously.  But this is just the beginning of the process because they are to end your more into becoming something. If you get coffee bean to talk at this stage, it might say that is been through a really tough time and it has lost its entire identity as it has gone through the painful grinding process. But we don't get the coffee powder to make good coffee unless the bean is ground thoroughly. So when you are going through tough times it is not always tough on you for a bad reason but it might be an opportunity for you to endure this pain and learn something nice and become something better. When you compare coffee beans with coffee powder, I prefer coffee powder because that is ready for me to do something with it and even smells better than the bean. So hang on when the grinding is happening because it is going to make you and your life better. Learn what you can during this grinding.

SIZZLING HOT BAPTISM 

If the coffee bean thinks that its pain is over and it is ready to flourish as a good cup of coffee, it is in for a surprise. The extracted powder that just endured the grinding process, is then suddenly sent into another tough process where is put through more pain where it is added to hot boiling water. The sizzling hot water baptism burns the coffee powder and takes only the essence out of it leaving the remaining coffee powder, which is of practically no use. You might say that the coffee powder has served its purpose but if you think of the bean or the plant, it is just discarded at this stage and can add nothing more to the coffee. So when you are going through tough times I encourage you to look at the better side of life. You have a significant role to play in whatever you are doing. Take the good in. Ardently see how you can pass on your essence and give whatever your character is to make the way better further. Don't just be there and exist or survive through this but thrive. Strive to add something to your work, family, or someone else so that you are able to change from what you are to better. Many of you are making the best of this time by creating content, working better, by helping others, by being with your family, by taking care of your parents, by rekindling relationships that are lost or teaching your children helping out with chores. Some of us are taking additional responsibilities at work, helping people who are down, managing our finances better, and so on. Make sure this tough time helps you to learn what is important and encourage you to be ready to bring the best in you out. 

THE DRESSING CONUNDRUM 

Let's go back to the journey of a coffee bean. Are we at the end yet? Now that we have a sizzling hot cup of black coffee, many people are happy at this stage as they might prefer black coffee. Some of us like to add quite a few things to our black coffee like milk, cream, cinnamon, chocolate, icecream, froth, or all to make it interesting. So at the end of the entire tiresome grinding, being put through sizzling water, the coffee is then taken to add more elements to make it interesting or personal to someone. Just like the basic dark coffee that comes out of the coffee machine is the same, each of us is going through the toughest of times our generation has ever seen. But each of our experiences is different just like how we can customize by adding your own flavors & choice of ingredients to make it better. 

HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR COFFEE? 

So when this unavoidable time is upon us and we are forced to go through this grinding process with health scares; hot sizzling water like situations that have led to job losses, financial struggles, lock-downs, delayed loan payments, mental health issues and uncertainty about future, I urge you to add your own flavor to it to make this bitter experience better. Add love, joy, caring, compassion, and empathize with people around you to make this bitter experience better. 

Needless to say, if you share your cup of coffee, whether it is a cold one or a hot sizzling one with cream on the top, with someone you care about or even a stranger it always enhances the experience of having the coffee and takes the bitterness out of it. So today, take this opportunity to connect with somebody that you'd love to share your story or send me a message and I would love to hear from you #TalkToTiger and I promise to get back to you at the earliest. 

Time for a cup of coffee and driving the blues out. Wishing you an August day ahead.

Share your meal

I made the mistake of entering Kuala Lumpur Airport late one night. Flying back to India, this seemed to be a good place to spend the night shopping, walking and of course the lounge, thanks to my Platinum card. But I was in for a huge surprise. Everything closed down at 11 and they would only open back in the morning. I was starving already and there was no place to even rest as people had come in early and occupied the benches to sleep. So as I looked for a place to charge my phone and grab something to eat, I was told even they are closed.  

 After running around for 30 mins, I spotted this book shop with the shutter down and requested for charging my phone. Then lazed around chatting up with the owner, reading books there, sharing his coffee. He was a kind gentleman from Pakistan and it was fun to connect with someone who you are enemies with but when you meet in a different country, you are without bias. As the morning dawned, I offered to buy him breakfast. He insisted that we visit his friend's place in the airport (skipping the lounge experience) and boy this was a treat.  

This was Nasi Lemak, a steamed coconut jasmine rice, tomato red chilli salsa with olive oil, fried chicken, papads, some sambhar like curry, fresh cucumber, egg, salt-roasted peanuts with salt fish, sauce to go with, and some lemonade. And all this was served in a paper with a basket to go for about 25 Ringgit (about 350₹). It was served hot and I gobbled it up as we chatted. This Pakistani bookshop owner was simply amazing and what a good company he was. 

We don't appreciate the food we have and the kindness in a stranger unless we experience it. Be thankful for what you have and show kindness every time you can. 

#Bekind #Begrateful #Travelexperience #TalktoTiger #positivePsychology

Monday Blues: Adapt like Agama

What should we do when faced with tough situations? You might say, adapting to the current situation is required. Yes. But when nothings go beyond normal, like the situation we are in with corona, everything we knew as normal is uprooted and changed to the new normal what do we do? Well that is where nature has beautiful lessons for us. This is the Indian Rock Agama, very adaptive, smart and bold. It knows when it can unpick a fight and when to back out, run a club and maintain dominance. What are the takeaways?

1. Evaluate: Where we are, what we can do to salvage a situation and how can new take it a notch up. Once you evaluate your current situation, you can choose the next path easily.
2. Upskill: Learning what we should do is the first step, using that learning to improve our skills is the next. Use this down time to learn something new, try pushing yourself to pick yourself up and explore new opportunities. Google and YouTube can be immense help for you. Learn, read, practice.
3. Explore: Try a different strategy that you wouldn’t normally use. Take risks and this is the time to do that. You have an opportunity to tr out your wildest dreams now. I see so many people taking up a different route than the would normally do. Our children are being forced to adapt to the new game of technology world and they are learning to cope up. You must explore.
4. Self care: Practice self care. No matter what, you can beat this. You need to be strong in our mind and concentrate on your physical health, mental wellness. Recharge yourself b doing something you love. Listen to good podcasts, good videos, read good books, eat good health food, exercise.
5. Build relationships: Use the opportunity to build on your relationships to connect with people you ignored, lost touch with as you didn’t have time! Use this time to do that. Just call a friend, family member and ask how they are. Share your experiences, crack a joke or just listen to them. But build relationships. That is what will matter at the end of the day.
6. Be kind: To yourself, to others, to friends, family, your team, subordinates, helpers, everyone. We are all going through a lot and being kind is the least we can do.

Share this if you feel this is right. If you want someone to hear you out and vent out your feelings, feel free to message me. God bless.

Book review: Irrationally Passionate by Jason Kothari

What makes an entrepreneur successful is not just your education, your grit to push forward in the face of adversity, definitely not just luck and timing but the composition of her decisions come from the culmination of several experiences from childhood, friends, family values, traditions and a lot more than what you can read in a book. And there is no quick solution to any problem and that definitely is not in a book. Then why would you be reviewing a book on entrepreneurship?

Is it because, the author has helped turn around the down trail of not one, but many companies and that too in different cultures, markets, verticals? Maybe, yes, but more than that he exposes his vulnerable moments and how he was able to bring in his experiences and work towards the solutions and that is something really interesting about this particular book. Jason makes it look so easy but cautions you that the reality is harsh and how we are to maneuver through the problems and fight our battles. 

Writing style: While the writing style is that of a first-person, lifestoryish journal, it is unfair to call it a romanticized version of Banting gran. It is true, fresh, raw, direct and in your face facts kind of writing that makes you connect with the author, be in his shoes, face his enemies, fall in love with him for his failures make you hurt and his victories are having you cheer on. Easy to read and pleasant to finish over the weekend. 

Pros & cons: The problem in the book is that Jason is an excellent negotiator and makes it seem easy and then it helps you understand what Jason believes that one should learn. Every entrepreneur cannot be a great businessman and it is vital to note that and take corrective actions so that the business side doesn’t get affected. What I loved in this book is the fact that Jason doesn't sugarcoat it for you. He lays it out, bare naked truth. he was bullied, he was beaten, he was punished and had to do more than what his other counterparts could do but tat energy he takes in to build himself up. Whether being a great negotiator or taking tough decisions while rebuilding something or helping entrepreneurs learn how to be a great businessman, he is clearly digging into his lifetime of experiences and moving forward.

Whether it is SprayIT or Valiant or Housing.com, he has managed to bring in the change in the working style of the stakeholders, making things fit into a channel of success was tough. His seven pillared principles seem to be close to reality and being an entrepreneurial journey myself, I see gold in his glow. ‘Irrationally Passionate’ explores the turbulent and successful life of Jason and how it can inspire you to take up the entrepreneurial journey and helps few lifebuoys to fight out the rough waters. 

Verdict: A must-read if you are thinking about starting out your entrepreneurial journey. A perfect gift for youngsters to understand the nuances of being a business owner.

Rating: 3.5/5

Monday Blues: Every step counts. Make it count.

Did you know that a honey bee travels 500 times from flower to flower to get one drop of honey? Five hundred times! Every single trip might not give enough to notice but it gives a small, tiny bit of contribution to the main goal. If the honey bee expects to see big results at the end of every visit, it loses its focus. But being consistent, regular and showing up with the same enthusiasm helps it to have progress. 

The same applies to sales tasks, therapy, fitness. Every single step counts. Make it count. Even when there is no visible progress, non grand change, make it count. Be your best, motivate yourself and push forward. Because soon enough you will have seen through and you will have enough to talk about.

Life, work, health, relationships are hard. Now if you see the honey bee, while it is collecting honey, it also helps in pollination of 500 flowers. In one way the bees keep the entire cycle of pollination, plants, food, vegetables going and without them the world as we know will cease to exist. The direct action of the bees is just a drop of honey but the indirect action is the world going forward. So while your small steps might get you to your main goal in sometime, they might inspire others in your team, families of your team mates, your clients and that is a pleasant result. 

So keep moving forward, regardless. Make small steps of faith forward, cheer up and move on.

The art of being frugal

If there is one thing that Covid19 taught me personally, that is frugality. I am still getting accustomed to the fact that we could survive with so little! I am talking not only about money but also about the use of various resources. Let me explain.

Since lockdown got announced, we haven't ordered food from outside, used only what is here, and in fact, almost stopped wasting food. Not that we were bad before but we could feel the difference. We actually are using our resources very carefully. Right from water, vegetables, fruits, dal, rice, wheat, ghee, or even snacks for children. Amazing that we could actually eat healthy, tasty food, thanks to the superior cooking skills of the home minister, and loved what we are eating. Along with drastically changing our habits, we are able to actually enjoy food, love a better healthy meal. 

Something similar has happened to our dressing. We used very few. Same with the car - almost never took it out, bike - sparingly used and so on. Our waste output has come down drastically. We are actually giving out dry waste only once in a week!

When we look out and see heartwrenching images of people walking miles and miles, most of the time barefoot, and carrying all their possessions on their shoulders, it is really humbling to see how much we have and how less they do. We are a generation of hoarders (for the lack of better term). And we need so little to live. Wify has been telling me not to waste that last tomato piece on my plate, eat that curry leaf, and so on. In fact, it is literally respecting what we have and are blessed with. 

Thankfully we have enough and probably more and it is important to look at life with the positive eyes and see how we can be happy and use less. I realized that most of the things I take for granted are not so easy to get anymore. With so much job loss, economic crash, health issues, and financial losses being projected, it is always better to learn to live frugal, even if you have everything. 

As an organization, learn to spend less on things you don't need and try to add more value to your employees, to your customers, and deliver delight. Support a cause that is close to your heart and aligns to our calling. Don't add to the baggage but lighten it. 

As a family spend more on things that add to your skills, experience and knowledge than material comforts. Being frugal is in. Appreciate what you have. Hug your family, thank your parents, pray, and thank God that he made you more fortunate than many. Be kind, be humble, and be frugal. God bless.

The importance of being humble

Are you humble enough? They say you can't teach humility overnight. It is true. It is something you imbibe in you over a long period of time. 

I remember what one of my very educated professors at Nizam college said about research. When I asked him what lies beyond his post doctoral research, he replied that he now knows that there is so much more to learn and that he had just wet his feet in the waves of the ocean. I understand that now. After reading so much we know that there is so much more that humans have written down, documented, catalogued in the last few thousand years and we don't even unwrap the gift box yet. May be we just know a minuscule amount of things as a humanity yet.

When you are growing up in life, in knowledge, in career, learn to grow with wisdom too. As we grow we need to remember to cultivate the ultimate knowledge that the best among us are just a speck of dust on the scales of time. Jawaharlal Nehru described Napoleon was a comma in the history of mankind. Just a comma. Not even a full stop. It meant that the history of mankind pauses to observe the greatness, the passion and the great heights this puny French man achieved and yet moved on. When I had a chance to see the life-size bust of Napoleon in the famous Salarjung museum in Hyderabad, I was blown not see the face of a man, who made history pause, actually had a face smaller than mine!

As we grow, expand, learn, increase in power, never forget the less-privileged, helpless, lost souls, I implore you to remember to be humble. to be kind, to be gracious and act sensibly. Behave like you would want the other person to behave if your roles are switched. Empathise and have gratitude. If you do that you will be an angel with wings and will be blessed. Be humble despite what is the fashion as of today. Be humble as if you don't bother. Like Socrates. Like Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Like Ratan Tata. Like Mother Teresa. Like Mahatma Gandhi. Like Jesus. Be what your soul with wings of an angel would behave like. Be what your child, father, mother would be proud of. Or else your millions won't matter, your awards, your achievements, your influence, your life, your name - won't just matter and will disappear.

But if you choose to be humble, things change. Because it is easy to be humble, you would actually matter more. You wouldn't have to pretend, if you grow to be a humble person. Your work would talk more. Your actions would stand out. You would grow as a person, gain respect, influence others, change lives, deliver blessings. You would be the real deal, the real hustle and the real angel. Can we all try and do that? Can we make being humble fashionable again? I hope you do! Share a story with me about anyone you have seen be humble.

Monday Blues: Be a promise keeper

You would be known be the promises you keep. As simple as that. The words you say will carry more weight and people will hang on to them if they know you are someone who can keep up with the promises. As a brand, it is about the things you stand by. The existence of anyone, a person or a brand is dependent upon how much value people give you. They need not be your customers and can be just observers.

Take the packet of lays for example. When I buy the pack, I am expecting the chips to be nicer, cleaner cuts and have a lot of 'air' too. When I buy the discounted packs or the ones with offers, I know that they have been second quality chips - broken, burnt, cut into odd pieces or even rejects from the batch. So my expectation is set accordingly. The same happens to Good Day biscuits and many such snacks. Organisations push these subpar, low quality products through the 'lower'/'cheaper' markets to help sell. So my expectations when I am buying these discounted or offer packs giving me more for less is always like that. I am okay with this model actually as it sets the story right, addresses the customers right.

When I buy a box of Pringles, I don't expect the chips to be broken, burnt or misshapen. In fact, it would really upset me when I find it is not up to the mark when I get a pack like that. Same applies to all our communication. The you set out to say you are the best, be the best or strive with everything you have to be the best. Without that you are not going the right way I setting up my expectations. Be a promise maker and promise keeper. If not, what is the use of just saying things anyway.

As a brand or as an individual, what are the promises you can afford to make and keep? Stick to those. In times of crisis, if you are downsized and cannot respond to my queries in  a certain time, tell me before. If you cannot be at 100% make the same promise - the one you can keep. Or else all the trust you built all this while is simply lost.

Damn! Now I am craving for chips. Pringles or Lays... bring it on!

Do more, with love

Being stressed with extra work is always hurting - physical and emotionally. One of the things we tend to do in situations like that would be to see the quickest way to get out of the work. Being able to finish things on time is awesome. When extra work crops up, we all crib (Okay, some of us). But some people do take it up as a challenge and make it a point to sail through the extra bits as if they are enjoying the work. This happens when you have a very strong work ethic and take this up as a challenge. Sometimes they even do it to perfection.

Let me give you an example. Most of the mothers in this lock down are stressed out with the extra cleaning, cooking, caring and it has been really tough on them. Most of them have been able to dish out everything they can with a smile on their face and without cribbing or complaining. Isn't that amazing? Some of them went out of their way and created amazing snacks, dishes with whatever is available to keep children and family happy. That is simply outrageously positive.

Let us take this scenario to work place. While most of us are working from home and are handling our tasks, I am sure that there would be few people in your organisation who outdid themselves in their work. They might have taken up additional duties, tasks, been creative, tried out something new, learnt a new skill or something else. Make a list of them. Appreciate them and let them know they are valued. When we are pushed to uncertainty, some of us embrace fear and defeat it. These are the guys you would want on your team, to fight for your firm, for your family.

Also take some time appreciating the ones who are working at home without breaks, holidays, lockdowns or should I call working from home all the time. Give them a week off, take over the kitchen, clean the house, homeschool children, make that coffee, watch a movie or just given them a break. They are the real heroes of this crisis.

When you have a chance to do more, DO MORE, with love. That is what makes us better leaders, better people and better souls. Thank you!

Pic is of the special peas pakora made by wife. Yum it was! Made with love.

The wealth that compassion is!

Be compassionate. Despite what is happening with people around you, regardless of what people say, or what situations demand, just be compassionate.

Most of are compassionate by compulsion. When it suits us. While there is nothing wrong in that but when you see how things are going on around you, once cannot keep quiet. There are many people who are suffering. Even animals, birds are suffering. Most of them silently. I am sure you are doing your bit and I want to thank you for that. If you are not, anyway is a good day. Even if it is really small, kindly start.

Being compassionate makes us a more emotionally stable, strong, even improves our mental and physical health. It makes us a better human being. One of the many things that we learn during situations like the Covid-19 is the discovery of our character, the inner one. What is yours depends on how you treat people around you, how you respond to someone who needs your help. It also means that you are given an important opportunity to keep up humanity and what you do is your choice.

Some of my friends argue that they need to take photographs and videos while helping out. While I don't see anything wrong as long as it doesn't hurt the receiver, I would hate it when someone does it to me. So be compassionate again.

When it comes to our children, they look at us and are absorbing everything like sponges. When we behave with dignity, respect and compassion, it echoes in them and creates a foundation for better fulfilled living.

This is what you and I should be proud of sharing and teaching our children. I hope you are a compassionate person and will continue to be one. More power to you. If you have a story/experience your would like to share, I am just an email or call away!

#TalktoTiger #Consumerpsyche #Compassioniswealth 

Hey Dad, be a MOM

In my travels overseas, I am sometimes pleasantly surprised when I see things like this. This was a baby changing station in the mens washroom in Singapore. I was super happy to see it. Always, we see mom as a caregiver and we plan things like these in womens washrooms. Never have I seen a dad take a child comfortably to the men's room (many reasons why). 

As a parent, I always believed being available for every important thing and every point possible for your children. Be it the scans when we were expecting or an injection or a doctor visit. I was there when my little ones were born, literally. This is a bit strange in India but yes, thanks to good doctors, our convincing skills and thanks to my beautiful wife. 

When you are in a situation where you can help, do it. Be there more than you can. Be a parent who is always there. Be a caring, loving, available on demand parent. Be available to appreciate the soap bubble, a fleeting butterfly, the beautiful art on the rented house wall, the pen art on your clothes. Be there to blow over that bruise, touch up the make up, wipe away those little tears, give that hug. Hug more often, reassure and be there to show you care. 

If there is anything that we are lacking in our children, that would be empathy, caring, being kind and being an emotionally healthy human being. Make sure you teach your children that you are there for the right things and you don't let the wrong things happen. Be there and lead by example. In other words, there is no more gender role rigidity. Change that and every day can and must be a mom and every mom can and must be a dad. Be a role model.

If you have examples of dads who are awesome or moms who remind you of being a caring, kind parent, tag them here and thank them. Have a great day.

Monday Blues: Sew it up with care

If you are a giver and enjoy taking care of others, if you spend most of your time and energy just in being there to help, this post if for you. Emotional investment is the most underrated investments ever.

We all know the famous line that you can't give when you are not full and you if you are not recharging. When you are taking care of others, you end up being drained. It is essential to practice self care. What we don't understand is that we keep on giving and think we are strong. Actually you are strong for others but you end up being emotionally invested and lose a bit if yourself very often. Here is a request for you. Being invested in your work, family children, parents, relationships is good but being there means a lot is being drained from you! Let us not let this be the norm.

Practice self care. Actively do that so you don't have to drain yourself. Life is tough my friend, and it is essential to recharge yourself every once in a while. I always encourage my partner to read a book, eat something nice, sleep and rest, take ME-time seriously, very often. If these are not your mojo, then do what you like. But do it. In my wife's case, she loves cleaning, sorting, mending, cooking and what not! Keep yourselves full and overflowing, so you can share your gifts with someone else who might need it.

Sew that gap, reclaim you happiness. Mend our relationships, close the gaps you left open long enough. Heal the wounds. Closure helps sometimes. Today, I encourage you to move forward in a positive way. May God give you the strength for doing that. More power to you.

Being positive when things don't go your way

This little stingray was vying for attention from us all and responding to people with phones. Locked up in the spacious aquarium in Singapore's water park, this was very heartening yet painful to see. The similar situation is what our children are going through. We are not letting them step out fearing the virus and they love going outdoors. So looking through the bars on the balcony, my little ones are trying to call out to the children on the street. So sad situation. 

What did we learn being in locked spaces to protect our families, our health and our future? We learnt that things might not go well every time. We all go through these tough situations at work, in life, in relationships and we might not have a solution or a magic potion to that. But what we have is resilience. What we have is the option to push forward, to protect ourselves, our dignity and our family's chance at having a safe life. Strive to make things better.

More than the children, moms all across are going through a lot. Wify has to do extra work, handle bored kids, irritating husband, family responsibilities and no private time. How can we even measure that? If Corona lock down has taught us anything, then let it be this.

• We underestimate the contribution, love our parents, partner and family gives us
• We should, must build memories that we can rely on, relive and use them as our strengths. 
• Spend time reading stories to your children
• Talk to your parents regularly
• Catch up with friends and build friendships that last
• Read, watch a movie, sing a song, cook, clean, be engaged
• Be strong, be positive. Don't let the negativity set in
• Pray. Pray a lot. We need prayers.

Have a good day.

#MakeInMay #ConsumerPsyche #