Get Ready for Everything!

"Don't get ready for something, get ready for everything."

This quote by Warren Bennis held my attention this morning when I was browsing 'The Economic Times.' See, How well it fits into our life.

Mostly things don't work the way we want them.. then leads disappointment, frustration and worry. Why do we feel bad? Because we expect the things to go well. What if we are always on guard, we mentally prepare ourselves that things may go wrong any time in any direction?

I have noticed, however well you prepare, a few strings stay loose. Hardly have I ever been able to anticipate all problems associated with a project and prepare against all of them. Neither it's a good idea to do so.. as you are likely to get lost in the maze of details losing sight of goals. So what's the point?

While handling a project:

a. Begin with the end in mind-The good old principle. Be clear, what your goals are. What finally do you want out of it.

b.Anticipate major roadblocks and challenges you may encounter, and prepare against them.

c. Start the game and be ready for the things to go wrong anywhere.

Trust me you will be far more composed and in better position to handle it.

The Fighter

A beatifully written and truly inspiring poem. It does deserve five minutes of yours.

Love

Vivek

The Fighter

I fight a battle every day
Against discouragement and fear;
Some foe stands always in my way,
The path ahead is never clear!
I must forever be on guard
Against the doubts that skulk along;
I get ahead by fighting hard,
But fighting keeps my spirit strong.

I hear the croakings of Despair,
The dark predictions of the weak;
I find myself pursued by Care,
No matter what the end I seek;
My victories are small and few,
It matters not how hard I strive;
Each day the fight begins anew,
But fighting keeps my hopes alive.

My dreams are spoiled by circumstance,
My plans are wrecked by Fate or Luck;
Some hour, perhaps, will bring my chance,
But that great hour has never struck;
My progress has been slow and hard,
I've had to climb and crawl and swim,
Fighting for every stubborn yard,
But I have kept in fighting trim.

I have to fight my doubts away,
And be on guard against my fears;
The feeble croaking of Dismay
Has been familiar through the years;
My dearest plans keep going wrong,
Events combine to thwart my will,
But fighting keeps my spirit strong,
And I am undefeated still!

By S. E. Kiser

What Means SUCCESS to YOU?

I recently posted this discussion: What means SUCCESS to you?.. on LinkedIn and am overwhelmed with the responses. My wholehearted thanks to everyone who contributed precious time to comment. Most of the people felt that you should follow your calling to be successful. They also agreed that the meaning of success changes from time to time. To my surprise, many also felt that just one thing cannot be packaged as success, it’s a combination of many factors.

Here are some of the most stimulating comments:
“I look to my expectations of myself and goals I set. I don't compare myself to others as the "yard stick" for measuring is different for each person. I try to look at myself in a 360 view, as a well balanced person (I think) needs to "be successful" in all parts of their life, not just a couple. You can't have a great career and completely blow your personal relationships, that sort of thing. I agree with you Vivek, we continually change.”

Dorothy Tannahill Moran
Life Coach

“I think the steady realization of a dream and an ideal that is driven by the heart and Passion that cannot, and will never be denied, is Success from my point of view.”

Kalpana Panwar
Management Student

“For me Success is to balance my professional as well as personal life.”
Ankita Verma
University Student

“Success to me is achieving my goals and sharing it with my world.”
Jaya Lachhwani
Healthcare Professional

“Getting what you like is Success and Liking what you get is Happiness. Success is in Big things of life and Happiness is in Little things of Life. Success is more a relative term. It depends on with whom we compare our success. I compare my present success with my past success. I'm my own Benchmark…We should try to be Successfully Happy and Happily Successful!”
Arun Davay
Corporate Trainer and Management Professor

“Success to me means Happiness, apart from the acknowledgement by family, friends, colleagues and society in general, that I have made a difference to their lives.”
Balasubramaniam M.
HR Professional

“Success to me is my inner satisfaction with the things that I do..also positive feedback that I receive for my work.”
Pankaj Choudhary
HR Professional

“Success to me is a relative term and it keeps evolving. To me success is enjoying all that i do professionally and personally. I feel and sense success when I sense the gratitude in the responses from the people whose lives I have touched…”
Neerja Singh
HR Professional

Let’s take this opportunity to share your idea of success. Waiting for your insightful comments..

Love!
Vivek

A Cold Winter Forecast

Today I read this beautiful story and have been appreciating this profound thought since then. This incredibly tells us the influence we have on others although widely undermined by ourselves. Many of us get influenced by others, hardly do we know that we too influence many more. Must read!

Please do not hesitate to share it with all your loved ones.

Love

Vivek

It was autumn, and the Red Indians on the reservation
asked their New Chief if the winter was going to be
cold or mild. Since he was a Red Indian chief in a
modern society, he couldn't tell what the weather was
going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side,
he replied to his tribe that the winter was indeed
going to be cold and that the members of the village
should collect wood to be prepared.

But also being a practical leader, after several days
he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the
National Weather Service and asked "Is the coming
winter going to be cold?" "It looks like this winter
is going to be quite cold indeed," the meteorologist
at the weather service responded.

So the Chief went back to his people and told them
to collect even more wood. A week later, he called the
National Weather Service again.

"Is it going to be a very cold winter?"

"Yes," the man from the National Weather Service again
replied, "it's definitely going to be a very cold winter."

The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them
to collect every scrap of wood they could find.

Two weeks later, he called the National Weather Service
again. "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be
very cold?"

"Absolutely," the man added. "It's going to be one of the
coldest winters ever."

"How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked.

The weatherman replied, "The Red Indians are collecting
wood like crazy.

Source: www.managetrainlearn.com

If you can’t Measure, You can’t Manage

I was going through a time-management presentation and this slide hit me hard. The full credit for this quote goes to Peter Druker. How apt it is in our life?
It’s fun not to measure what we do. It takes extra effort to keep track of our performance.

Most of us complain for overwork in the office. If you make a log of productive hours, you will notice how underworked you are. We count the number of hours, not how the hours are spent. It goes very well with the saying:

“It doesn’t matter how many years you have in life; what matters is how many life you put in those years.”

80 per cent of our activities in life are not measured. Whatever we are is the result of the remaining 20 per cent. Imagine, where we would land if we measure just a little more?

Set goals, set up parameters to measure and strive beating yourself every time you try. It’s not going to be easy, but it will be worthwhile.

If You Were Brenda...

Inside each one of us there exists a human, who generally takes a backseat because of our material priorities.  We tend to forget that God is nowhere but within us. 

Would you have done the same if you were Brenda? Read ahead. It's truly inspiring.

Love!

Vivek

***

I'm a mother of three and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called "Smile". The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reaction.

I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway.....so, I thought, this would be a piece of cake (literally).

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonalds, one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special play time with our son.

We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch...an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell...and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling"...his beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance.

He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally deficient and the blue eyed gentle man was his salvation. I held my tears......as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford (to sit in the restaurant and warm up they had to buy something...they just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it...the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me...judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot.

I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you". I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you...God is here working through me to give you hope". I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me honey....to give me hope". We held hands for a moment and at that time we knew that only because of the Grace were we able to give .....

We are not church goers but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class,with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it....then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings (part of God) share this need to heal.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonalds, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I Graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn....unconditional acceptance......after all....we are here to learn!

by Brenda

Better Than You Think

“I’m sorry, but the company has no choice,” said the Boss fixating his eyes on the table and waited for Siddhant’s response. Siddhant knew there’s no point discussing further because the management had finalized to get rid of him and any reasoning will hold no good.

He was devastated. It was not expected from the person who he’d worked with for last nine years. He felt company had done sheer injustice to him and his boss was the first person to blame as he could count the people having poorer performance (who he thought) still not laid-off. He was diving deep in the sea of negativity while driving back home in Honda Accord. Before he pressed the brake pedal, he had jumped the red light and saw a policeman waiving at him to stop. He parked the car aside, cursed his fate, walked to policeman, paid 500 rupees and collected the penalty receipt without uttering a word and rushed back to his car.

He inserted the key to start the car and zoom off showing that the only way to disrespect the policeman. Little he had realized that he forgotten to collect license from the policeman. He abused the person driving slow in front of him and snaked fast to get ahead and pressed the accelerator hard to relieve his stress. His Boss’ statement was echoing in his head, oblivious of the fact that he had crossed the speed limit long back until the camera flashed against his face and he slowed down blaming the God. He had just got another jolt worth 500 rupees. The ring on his mobile distracted his attention and realizing this being the call from his boss, he had good enough reason not to attend. He was desperate and had a feeling that entire world is conspiring against him.

He parked the car, went to his apartment, guzzled a drink, turned his mobile phone to silent and went off to sleep. When he got up late next morning, found 22 missed calls and the message icon blinking on his mobile. He opened the message which read:

I hv spkn 2 Tushar 8 HDFC n
he hs agreed 2 keep u as Sales Mgr.
Cl him at 99261534 asap.

Boss

Then, he turned to missed call and realized that the caller was none other than the man he'd thought of.

Now, his perception towards boss had taken 360 degree turn. Yesterday, who he considered the conspirator suddenly turned into an angel. In the middle of this financial crisis, he had another, better job in hand.

You too must have had a few face-hiding experiences like Siddhant’s. Mostly in life our mind intends to run unilaterally. Usually when obsessed with negativity, our mind architects thousands of negative castles to justify our feeling and we ignore all the good deeds the other person has done to us. Many times it gets so deep that we consider others including God, the conspirator. But, most of the time,the other people and things around are not as bad.

If you take a holistic approach and maintain cool, you will find it Better Than You Think.

The words of Encouragement

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story teaches two lessons:

1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.

2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them.

Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of words... it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.

The 3 Mistakes of my Ride

Last week after I parked my car in the supermarket, forgot to turn off the headlights. None else to be blamed for this but me, as my wife keeps complaining how absentminded I am and I keep justifying the opposite. We happily shopped for 2 hours and returned to the car strolling the cart.
After everything was dumped into the car, we were ready to drive off, but the car refused to start. The battery was gone. What to do? This was my first such experience.

After 35 minute struggle, I got someone with a connector. Waived to a car passing by, and the gentleman was kind enough to help me start the car. Meanwhile my wife reminded me a few times of the misdeed, defying my claims of being high at presence of mind.

We reached home and I made a self-commitment that come what may, I will never leave the light turned on after parking. I was reminded many times to change the car battery. But I was confident about my commitment.

We enjoyed ride for next two weeks.

Two weeks passed. Again, we were out for shopping. After I came back to the parked car, I pressed the button on the car key to open it, it didn't respond. We struggled for long and finally was able to manually open the car. You guessed right! The battery had run out again. I begged for connector to many shoppers who were in hurry to go back home (It was 11 pm) and finally a gentleman was kind enough to let out his. My eyes glowed, my lips stretched and excitement was visible on my face. We connected, tried a few times and the car didn't start. I wondered first, and looked at the wire, the plastic coating of which was melting. I quickly removed the clips. But, of no help. There was a short circuit as I'd wrongly clipped the wire in excitement.

There was no option, but to leave the car and went home in Taxi. Next day the car was towed away to the Service Centre and I got a massive jolt when I saw the bill. Of course the battery was changed. But, the short circuit caused bigger damage. And a thought flashed my mind
"Your wife is not Always wrong!"

So, in this story I committed 3 mistakes:

1. I didn't get the car fixed after first incident
2. I didn't listen to my wife even if she was right
3. Of course, left the headlight turned on again

Now, even if the car is fixed, my wife makes sure the lights are turned off. You better to know what to do next. Listen to your wife!

You can Make It Happen

History abounds with tales of experts who were convinced that the ideas, plans, and projects of others could never be achieved. However, accomplishment came to those who said, "I can make it happen."

The Italian sculptor Agostino d'Antonio worked diligently on a large piece of marble. Unable to produce his desired masterpiece, he lamented, "I can do nothing with it." Other sculptors also worked this difficult piece of marble, but to no avail. Michelangelo discovered the stone and visualized the possibilities in it. His "I-can-make-it-happen" attitude resulted in one of the world's masterpieces - David.

The experts of Spain concluded that Columbus's plans to discover a new and shorter route to the West Indies was virtually impossible. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand ignored the report of the experts. "I can make it happen," Columbus persisted. And he did. Everyone knew the world was flat, but not Columbus. The Nina, the Pinta, the Santa Maria, along with Columbus and his small band of followers, sailed to "impossible" new lands and thriving resources.

Even the great Thomas Alva Edison discouraged his friend, Henry Ford, from pursuing his fledgling idea of a motorcar. Convinced of the worthlessness of the idea, Edison invited Ford to come and work for him. Ford remained committed and tirelessly pursued his dream. Although his first attempt resulted in a vehicle without reverse gear, Henry Ford knew he could make it happen. And, of course, he did.

"Forget it," the experts advised Madame Curie. They agreed radium was a scientifically impossible idea. However, Marie Curie insisted, "I can make it happen."

Let's not forget our friends Orville and Wilbur Wright. Journalists, friends, armed forces specialists, and even their father laughed at the idea of an airplane. "What a silly and insane way to spend money. Leave flying to the birds," they jeered. "Sorry," the Wright brothers responded. "We have a dream, and we can make it happen." As a result, a place called Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, became the setting for the launching of their "ridiculous" idea.

Finally, as you read these accounts under the magnificent lighting of your environment, consider the plight of Benjamin Franklin. He was admonished to stop the foolish experimenting with lighting. What an absurdity and waste of time! Why, nothing could outdo the fabulous oil lamp. Thank goodness Franklin knew he could make it happen. You too can make it happen!

Destroy Your Enemy

During the Civil War Lincoln had occasion at an official reception to refer to the Southerners as erring human beings rather than as enemies to be exterminated.

An elderly lady, a fiery patriot, rebuked him for speaking kindly of his enemies when he ought to be thinking of destroying them. "Why, madam," said Lincoln, "do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?"

Just Five More Minutes

While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground.

“That’s my son over there,” she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide.

“He’s a fine looking boy” the man said. “That’s my daughter on the bike in the white dress.”

Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter. “What do you say we go, Melissa?”

Melissa pleaded, “Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes.”

The man nodded and Melissa continued to ride her bike to her heart’s content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter. “Time to go now?”

Again Melissa pleaded, “Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes.”

The man smiled and said, “OK.”

“Mike, you certainly are a patient father,” the woman responded.

The man smiled and then said, “Her older brother Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I’d give anything for just five more minutes with him. I’ve vowed not to make the same mistake with Melissa.

She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. The truth is, I get Five more minutes to watch her play.”

Life is all about making priorities, what are your priorities?Give someone you love 5 more minutes of your time today!

The Package of Blessing

A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily, he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy book.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day.

Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped behind the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words...PAID IN FULL. How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expect?

You are Wonderful

The following true story captured our heart. It happened several years ago in the Paris opera house. A famous singer had been contracted to sing, and ticket sales were booming. In fact, the night of the concert found the house packed and every ticket sold. The feeling of anticipation and excitement was in the air as the house manager took the stage and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your enthusiastic support. I am afraid that due to illness, the man whom you've all come to hear will not be performing tonight. However, we have found a suitable substitute we hope will provide you with comparable entertainment." The crowd groaned in disappointment and failed to hear the announcer mention the stand-in's name. The environment turned from excitement to frustration.

The stand-in performer gave the performance everything he had. When he had finished, there was nothing but an uncomfortable silence. No one applauded. Suddenly, from the balcony, a little boy stood up and shouted, "Daddy, I think you are wonderful!" The crowd broke into thunderous applause.

We all need people in our Lives who are willing to stand up once in a while and say, "I think you are wonderful. "

Heaven or Hell

A man, his horse and his dog were traveling down a road. When they were passing by a gigantic tree, a bolt of lightning struck and they all fell dead on the spot.
But the man did not realize that he had already left this world, so he went on walking with his two animals; sometimes the dead take time to understand their new condition...
The journey was very long, uphill, the sun was strong and they were covered in sweat and very thirsty. They were desperately in need of water. At a bend in the road they spotted a magnificent gateway, all in marble, which led to a square paved with blocks of gold and with a fountain in the center that spouted forth crystalline water.
The traveler went up to the man guarding the gate.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning,” answered the man.
“What is this beautiful place?”
“This is heaven.”
“How good to have reached heaven, we’re ever so thirsty.”
“You can come in and drink all you want.”
And the guard pointed to the fountain.
“My horse and my dog are thirsty too.”
“So sorry, but animals aren’t allowed in here.”
The man was very disappointed because his thirst was great, but he could not drink alone; he thanked the man and went on his way. After traveling a lot, they arrived exhausted at a farm whose entrance was marked with an old doorway that opened onto a tree-lined dirt road.
A man was lying down in the shadow of one of the trees, his head covered with a hat, perhaps asleep.
“Good morning,” said the traveler.
The man nodded his head.
“We are very thirsty - me, my horse and my dog.”
“There is a spring over in those stones,” said the man, pointing to the spot. “Drink as much as you like.”
The man, the horse and the dog went to the spring and quenched their thirst. Then the traveler went back to thank the man.
“By the way, what’s this place called?”
“Heaven.”
“Heaven? But the guard at the marble gate back there said that was heaven!”
“That’s not heaven, that’s hell.”
The traveler was puzzled.
“You’ve got to stop this! All this false information must cause enormous confusion!”
The man smiled:
“Not at all. As a matter of fact they do us a great favor. Because over there stay all those who are even capable of abandoning their best friends...”

By Paulo Coelho
Paulo writes blog online which can be accessed at http://www.warriorofthelight.com/engl/