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 #

10 ways you can be the Hero when going gets tough

I am writing this post a day after May Day but I believe the spirit is still there. We are witnessing something very unusual around us and this is due to the Corona virus threat. All the people who could get things beforehand have done so and have holed themselves up in homes as is the expectation. However, many people who are less privileged have no other option but to fend for themselves. It is really painful to see them struggle for few things which are considered given if you have money and can afford to step out. What is heartening is to see many people come forward and volunteer. Whether it comes to food, groceries, money or just being kind, many people have come forward. This shows that we as a society are capable of many great things and one of them is being grateful.Here are few things you can do to help others.

1. Be kind to anyone you can reach out to. Help in whatever way you can.
2. Share a call. Listen to someone and see how they are doing. Friends, family and anyone else.
3. Empathise and don't pass comments unnecessarily. Everyone is going through something or the other. The least we can do is being nice.
4. Appreciate small things in life. Food, family, safety, children, life...
5. Rekindle your relationships and build on them. Spend time with your partner, children, yourself.
6. Learn something new. Anything. Let there be a good memory for you to remember this tough situation.
7. Save money - By now you know that matters. So smart now if not doing already.
8. Having a healthy life depends on how happy you are and focus on that. Be happy with what we have, what we can do and how much you have been blessed.
9. Life is no a race but a survival in times like this and you can do it better with family and friends. Build on that. Make sure your children do that too.
10. Pray. Meditate. Read. Laugh. Celebrate life.

Be the hero you family deserves. Have a great month ahead.

Monday blues: Grow like there is no tomorrow

Grow when there is resistance. Grow when they say you can't. Grow when you are stuck. Grow when there is no way forward. Grow when your own mind says you can't. Grow when there is negativity. 

Grow with faith. Grow with passion. Grow with sweat. Grow with hard work. Grow without fear. Grow with commitment. Grow even when there is no more space. Grow while you learn. Grow everyday. Grow with hope. Grow with others. Grow like there is no tomorrow.

#grow #TalktoTiger #PositivePsychology #growthmindset #salesman #Tiger 

#likesforlikes #followforfollow #2020 #plantsofinstagram #coconut #MondayBlues #redblooms

Don't give up

He will shine his face on you and give you his peace. The dark cloud is just for a while and the sun will come out blazing. Don't give up yet. #nevergiveup💪 #BeStrong #BeKind and push on. This is the #voiceofsupport. If you want to talk. Just text me or any friend or parent. There is a lot you can do. #TalktoTiger #Sundayblues #PositivePsychology #cloudscape #skyphotography

Monday blues: Be patient and kind

Starting the day with fresh brewed @cothas.coffee served with vigor and style. Things are already looking ahead. In the field, every small thing is a blessing. 

See how he enjoys making it specially strong! Imagine when God is preparing something for you, imagine the care he puts in. It is worth the wait. Be kind this Monday and be patient. He has amazing things coming your way. #MondayBlues

#salesman #Coffeelove #TalktoTiger

Monday Blues: Imperfection is an advantage

#Imperfection is an advantage. It is real, true, practical and it is right there in the face. What you do with it is your choice. Would you harp on what is not perfect and let the noise build in your head so much that you hate it or would you celebrate the difference and fight to make it worthwhile. It is up to you.

Ps: None of us are perfect!

Tag someone you think are imperfect yet perfect!

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.
III John 1:11

#naturelovers #Bibleverse
#graceful #dragonfly #insectsofinstagram #naturephotography #TalktoTiger #PositivePsychologist

Turn to your shepherd

Turn to the Lord today. 
He is your shepherd. 
Wherever you may be lost and however far you ventured away from his fold, he will take you back. 
What a loving father we have! The lord is my #shepherd and I shall not want. 
The most beautiful verse in the Bible. This is your call. Turn back to your shepherd.

Monday Blues: Be like a tree

Be like this good tree. 

Give shade,

filter air, 

reduce noise, 

provide shelter, 

don't complain, 

eat up the bad, 

release the good, 

be calm, 

be absorbing, 

be kind, 

stand tall, 

be rooted, 

be natural, 

be stubborn for what is good,

be there when needed,

be humble, 

be real,

listen more,

give more,

be good,

A good good life.

#Goodtree #Talktotiger #naturephotography #treesofinstagram #MondayBlues #Begood 

Monday Blues: Command, conquer and captivate!

When Karl Elsener started working on the cutlery in his shop in 1884 little did he realize the gigantic trend he is starting in the genre of collectibles and pocket knives. Called the iconic Swiss Army knife, the multi-utility knife is known for its quality standard and encourages the spirit of adventure. This is exactly what it chose to represent when they were Gold sponsors for the IIM Bangalore Vista last week.

Nestled among the budding young leaders of the management students who carry on them a great amount of pressure to be the best in what they can, Victorinox offered a chance to experience handling tremendous pressure while being cool, sustainable and relevant even with the changing pressures, situations in the modern marketplace.

While the pocket knives were all time favorite, the luggage was a surprise choice for many. While most youngsters were captivated by the clean design, immaculate finish and simple corporate looks, the multi-utility theme was its best conquering element. Some of the handpicked items were given as gifts to the honored guests from the corporate diaspora who graced the workshops and the keynotes.

The gift hamper was chosen to accommodate the high-flying, traveling, rigorous usage clientele and had a passport organizer, backpack for the laptops and some pocket knives. My favorite being the huntsman and the rescue tool, the passport organizer can actually be useful for anyone like me. I prefer to travel light and this would make a perfect companion for your long distance travel across continents and handling various currencies.

Command, conquer and captivate, the theme of  IIM B Vista, pushes us to think beyond the current situations on our desk, our monday blues and our problems in general. The army officer who holds the Victorinox pocket knife or the trekker who uses it to cut his food, ropes for his tent or the hobbyist who adds them as his collectibles, try and push you to look at the next adventure with a fresh set of eyes and seek solutions that may not be quite obvious. This Monday, I urge you to look at the next problem and instead of moving away or finding a simple solution, seek to command, learn to conquer and strive to captivate. Yes, while you are at it, look at the message from the most loved knife designer - Build to quality, trust and deliver functionality and innovation. Have a nice Monday.

Don't give up

That is the potential each of us have. Every day, we can move forward and start a new day, a new life. Everyday is a gift from the Lord and it is your responsibility to ensure you make it worth it. Sky is your limit. You can reach it. Don't give up yet. 

Don't give up even if things don't go your way. Even if that friendship doesn't work, even if you don't get that job, you can't repay the loans. can't make it big, can't get what you want today! Remember tomorrow is another day, another chance, another fresh start. You never know what you can become if you don't try. Don't give up yet. Don't quit. This is not a race. This is a marathon. You should be in for the long run. You have many people who love you, care for you and are rooting for you. Don't quit.

If you feel depressed, feel that your life has no meaning, feel that the world is closing on you, feel that you are alone and don't have anyone who can understand how you feel, still, DON'T QUIT. Find someone who will listen to you. Take help. Call a friend, brother, parent, teacher or someone who will listen to you. Visit a place of worship, help someone in need, take a walk, join a gym or do anything that will keep your mind busy. Just DON'T QUIT yet when your life is a story about to unfold. You are important. 

If you feel you are #depressed and need to talk to someone who will listen to you without judging and can help you, mail me or message me. If you have a friend who is going through stuff, refer them ti someone who can help too. I am always ready to lend a patient ear, warm #coffee and a comforting hug. 

God has put immense potential in you and you have to give it a chance to bloom. Be a blessing to many people and you will see how many people care for you and love you. If everything else fails, talk to someone you love or #TalktoTiger write2tiger@gmail.com

Monday Blues: Work for a change!

Do you have a colleague who enjoys being idle. Most of the time watching at the dumb WhatsApp screen or a YouTube video or pretending to work? I bet you do and get irked. May be it is beyond being lazy, callousness, may be it is a habit or a disease. 

Sometimes simple solutions can be found to major problems, if we are ready to look beyond the box. A new habit or idea is as strong as this little red chilli and can change the flavour of the entire process. Use it for good and you are adding something nice and powerful in the right direction or you are killing your productivity, your morale and in the end your own self.

As you progress in your work and try to step it up, you sometimes can be benefited by a small change in your routine. This Monday, I want to encourage you to look for that small change that can help you improve. There is no fun in being stubborn. Your monkey brain may be holding you back, but just calm it once and try to work differently. Learn to push yourself to contribute.  May be that will change your psyche to the right side!

Monday Blues: The better exercise

How is your day going? Are you in the right frame of mind? Are you at peace with what you are doing and is it going to help anyone? 

The human endeavor is one with outstanding opportunity. When you have a chance in making things happen, make them happen in such a way that it builds, is constructive,  makes positive relationships, enables meaningful change to someone who interacts with you. Even if you are at the most depressing place or task, you can still make it work! Yes. When I say you can make a change and when made in the right direction, you will see the outcome is better than what you intended it to be.

Given an option, choose to lift people up. All around you there are many who need the uplifting and you have an excellent opportunity to do just that. As John Holmes says, “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”  Do more of that and you will be witness to amazing stories all around you. 

This Monday, let us choose to lift people up, even higher than you can. Have a great day!

#MondayBlues #PositivePsychologist #Changeforbetter

Munching office politics - Monday Blues

So, how is your Monday going? How is the attitude at work and politics? How are you driving yourself to keep up with the pressures of life? When faced with certain circumstances, we are often tempted to take a path that is curt, to the point and  dusted with harmful options. 

These are easy to come up with and react. However, as a leader, you need to look up above the simple low-minded people's attributes and behave. Learn to let it go, forgive, move on to be a better person than you can be. Revenge is not ours and it will be taken up when needed. Not by you and I but by the power high up above. I am really telling you this.

You may be thinking that I don't understand your situation but trust me when I say, I have been in the worst of politics, dealt with people who behave like animals fighting for survival and have still come up victorious. The revenge when the pride falls is sweet, beautiful and worth waiting for. The key is in understanding the psyche and learning to let the barking snarling dog go. You will find your light, soon enough.

Here is a hymn by Horatius Bonar that keeps me from losing my cool and waiting patiently for the show to mature.

Thy way, not mine, O Lord, however dark it be;

Lead me by Thine own hand, choose Thou the path for me.

I dare not choose my lot; I would not if might;

Choose Thou for me, my God, so shall I walk aright.

Immerse yourself in your domain, responsibilities. Keep that smile on, push forward and perform better than anyone you know and you will live to see the fall. 

Off with the mask you!

Masks. Masks everywhere. Each of us have masks we wear and act out scenes in our daily life. The funny part is when people see you and see you through. This farce act gives out when you are trying to live a life that you are not. It is really interesting when you want to be in my good books and behave in a particular way and when you don't need help, you have a different mask. 

In every team there is someone who plays out the others for their advantage. Unfortunately, people fall for this. In life brands also try the same. They try to put up masks and act out in a peculiar way to win your confidence. They talk like they care, act like they care and lure you to believing, but when the act comes down, what do you do? You boycott the brand like a dreadful plague and it takes immense confidence building to get back the consumer psyche to like you again. Strange as it sounds, there may be a momentary gain when you play out to the audience and not be truthful but you lose this game. 

As a marketer, if you pick the best mask to wear, pick the most truthful one, the one you don't need to act out to and you are etched into the consumer psyche. 

Applies to people too. Alas! Only few live to learn this. What mask are you wearing today?

Leadership

 

Leadership means sacrifice. Good leadership means a greater sacrifice (Jn 10:11).

Monday Blues: Make your effort count

Did you know this? To produce one tablespoon of honey, the little bee makes 4200 trips to flowers. It makes about 100 trips a day to the fields, each trip lasting 20 minutes average and 400 flowers. That is a mind-boggling amount of trips to get very little honey. Buzzing around all day without a purpose doesn't help the bee collect honey. Ensuring that it works as per a strategy, does. 

Whether you are coding, building something, parenting, writing a book or building a website, the process is tiresome, invisible to the one looking from the periphery. From the psyche of a consumer, this only counts when you see progress. So show progress, however small it may be, every day.

When you are trying to explain it to someone who is seeking an update, you need to be able to show progress, movement, a change in the status quo. Be very clear to document, set expectations right, involve all those needed and ensure you meet them. 

Today's Monday blues message is simple. Make each of those trips, steps, attempts count! Be at it, vigorously, moving forward, every time.

Image is from here.

Do a great job or don't

There is a fine line between doing your job and serving. Most of the guys out there are just doing their job in the most literal sense and then keep wondering why they are unable to grow or score high on job satisfaction. Today I had one such experience.

We recently got a AO Smith water purifier for home and this was waiting to get installed for a couple of days. Today finally the technician turned up and started fixing the new purifier. He was deliberately clumsy all through. Right from the time he stated tearing open the box, peeling off the covers carelessly, throwing the thermocol packing on the floor, zip tags cut and strewn all around, talking on the phone all the time and when he finished he didn't even clean up. I had to send extra time to clean up all the mess he made, pick up bits and pieces from the sink, floor and what not. After all that he had the guts to ask me to buy an AMC that would cover my for two years! Though he didn't ask me for a tip, he lingered around for quite a bit expecting one. 

The problem is when you stick to a job you don't like, and go through this routine of doing it day in and day out. There is no human element, emotional involved at all. You just show up and finish your work like a robot. 

Compare that with the Ola guy I took today. He waited for me patiently to arrive, called me to confirm the location, apologized for the traffic (though it wasn't his fault) and thanked me for taking his ride. He was conversant while being polite, silent when I had to take a couple of office calls and truly professional. 

Guess who got the tip, better rating and who I remember from these two interactions!

Every individual or brand should focus on one and the only thing. Have a pleasant demeanor and leave an interaction with a positive impact. Even when you are the bearer of bad news, it is always important to be more than a machine and convey your EQ. If you aren't willing to put in more emotion in your work, handling clients, you are collecting nails for your customer delight coffin.