Feel Good Factor Nov 12-May 14

From E-Group, Banking-News
40
Think about it for a moment
Author: unknown
Just think and try to answer these questions:
1. Name the 5 richest people in the world.
2. Name the last 5 Miss Universe winners.
3. Name the last 5 Nobel Prize winners.
4. Name the last 5 winners of the Best Actor Oscar.
Can’t do it? Rather difficult, isn’t it?
Don’t worry; nobody remembers that.
Applause dies away!
Trophies gather dust!
Winners are soon forgotten!
Now answer these questions:

1. Name 5 teachers who contributed to your education.
2. Name 5 friends who helped you in your hour of need.
3. Think of a few people who made you feel special.
4. Name 5 people that you like to spend time with.
More manageable? It’s easier, isn’t it?
The people who mean something to your life are not rated ‘the best’,
don’t have the most money, haven’t won the greatest prizes…
They are the ones who care about you; take care of you, those who,
no matter what, stay close by.
Think about it for a moment.
Life is very short!
40
Live and enjoy the moment
Author: unknown
We convince ourselves that life will be better once we are married,
have a baby, then another.
Then we get frustrated because our children are not old enough, and
that all will be well when they are older.
Then we are frustrated because they reach adolescence and we

must deal with them. Surely we’ll be happier when they grow out of
the teen years.
We tell ourselves our life will be better when our spouse gets
his/her act together, when we have a nicer car, when we can take a
vacation, when we finally retire.
The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now.
If not, then when?
Your life will always be full of challenges. It is better to admit as

much and to decide to be happy in spite of it all.
For the longest time, it seemed that life was about to start. Real life.
But there was always some obstacle along the way, an ordeal to get
through, some work to be finished, some time to be given, a bill to
be paid. Then life would start.
I finally came to understand that those obstacles were life.

That point of view helped me see that there isn’t any road to
happiness.
Happiness IS the road.
So, enjoy every moment.
Stop waiting for school to end, for a return to school, to lose ten
pounds, to gain ten pounds, for work to begin, to get married, for
Friday evening, for Sunday morning, waiting for a new car, for your
mortgage to be paid off, for spring, for summer, for fall, for winter,
for the first or the fifteenth of the month, for your song to be played
on the radio, to die, to be reborn… before deciding to be happy.
Happiness is a voyage, not a destination.
There is no better time to be happy than… NOW!
40
Shaping the World Around You: A Service Attitude
Gerry Seymour
“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that
life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”
― Rabindranath Tagore
Not everyone is cut out to start a non-profit, install water

purification systems in Africa, or tend to lepers. I am glad there are
people who do those things - we need them, and they are among the
most honest and altruistic servers you and I will ever meet. But
most of us are not suited to those things. It simply is not where we
can best use our strengths, and not a lifestyle we are cut out for.
Then again, too many of us miss chances to serve the people around
us every day. It is a matter of mindset.
Too often we are focused on what we can get, what we can earn,
and what the world can yield for us. Our lives can have so much
more depth and fulfilment if we, instead, focus on what we can do
for others. I am not talking about giving away everything in some
utopian gesture of goodwill. Rather, I speak of doing what you can,
whole-heartedly, to serve others in all you do.
In business, whether you are an owner, executive, or employee, this

can be as simple as doing your job- whatever it may be- with a spirit
of service. If you wait tables, this is a simple adjustment to your
mindset, because service is what your job is already about, and if
you are good at your job, you already understand this at some level.
If you are in another profession, however, it can be more difficult to
find this mindset.
Allow me to paint a picture for you. Imagine an accountant,

someone who is well-skilled with numbers and the technical aspects
of his job. To be truly great at what he does, he must approach it
with the intent to do well for others. This means always looking for a
chance to go a bit “above and beyond,” working to get answers a bit
faster than is absolutely necessary and looking for trends and
opportunities where a lesser servant would simply "do his job."
Yes, I used the word "servant" there, but I want to remove the
stigma that word carries for most of us. I am not talking about being
subservient and inferior. I am using the word in its most literal
sense: one who serves. This is not about giving in to another, but
about seeking what is best for that other.
Think about the best interactions you have had in business, both as
a customer and as a service provider. In most cases, these
extraordinary experiences involve a good customer and a good
provider. In these cases, both people make the transaction more
pleasant, because each is aware of how his or her actions will affect
the other. Each is making sure the other gets a good exchange.
Everyone involved walks away from these exchanges feeling they
got a good deal, and with a satisfying sense that the other person
did, too. Business should not be about getting one over on each
other, but about finding a place where each can serve the other’s
needs.
This definition carries forward to other areas, as well. In any

relationship between two people- be it romantic, business, or
friendly- if each person is doing their best to make sure the other
gets the greater benefit from the relationship, both people will find
the relationship deeply rewarding. In fact, each person will likely
feel that he is getting the better side of the relationship. You see,
this is one of the paradoxes of serving: when you serve someone
well, you feel that you have received something, as well. If the other
person is actually doing their best to serve you, too, then that
feeling is multiplied.
Put this in the context of a marriage, or any romantic relationship.

The healthiest relationships are those where each person is taking
care of the other, each serving the other. Mind you, this does not
mean the same thing to both partners. There is an important point
here, and it carries through to other aspects of life: serving someone
is not about the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have
them do unto you). You see, the problem with that statement is that
it suggests doing for someone what you would like done. In fact, a
pure service attitude is to do for someone what they want done. We
do not all want the same thing, and you cannot serve someone else
while ignoring what they really want.
Having a service attitude includes manners and etiquette, as well. I

have heard people claim that these ideas are outdated, but these
people have misunderstood the purpose of good manners. Etiquette
is not about restricting what one person can do, but about knowing
what to expect from others, and knowing how to be thoughtful and
courteous. Without some basic rules- and I am not talking about the
complicated Victorian etiquette of days past- we do not really know
how to interpret others' actions, nor how to display respect in some
situations. Understanding and following basic rules of etiquette
makes it easy to communicate to others that we respect them, that
their feelings and needs are important. Ignoring those rules can
cause us to mis-communicate to others, offending and upsetting
where we intend kindness or courtesy. If you want to show respect
for others, start by simply having good manners. The best part:
manners are actually pretty easy. Just consider how your actions
might affect others, and act with consideration. If your conversation
might disrupt others', then either lower your voice or take your
conversation elsewhere.
Another aspect of the service attitude is simple kindness. One of the

greatest examples of this was a woman I knew some years ago. She
never passed an expired parking meter without putting in some
change to help the person out. She often gave small gifts to people
she barely knew, simply because she knew the joy it would bring to
that person. One of my favourite memories of her was when a
waitress at a diner commented on how much she liked my friend's
purse. My friend knew she had another at home (she had liked it so
much, she bought two!). She went home that evening, put the extra
in a gift bag, and drove 20 minutes out of her way to give it to the
waitress as a gift. How many times do we miss the opportunity to
see that look of surprised joy on someone's face? I guarantee that is
not a moment either of them will forget, and both are happier for the
experience.
These random acts of kindness are a kind of service all of us can

perform, and they do not even have to cost the pocket change my
friend used to fill expired parking meters. Holding a door for
someone (regardless of gender or age), helping someone carry
something to their car, picking up a piece of trash on the sidewalk,
and writing a “thank you” note to a co-worker just to thank them for
the good work they always do. All of these are free, and can mean a
tremendous amount to those who receive them.
That same friend also gave some of her time to volunteer with
charities. This is one of the purest examples of a service attitude,
and something we should all do. There is a cause to fit everyone -
something you can get behind with all your heart. And giving your
time to that cause is a wonderful way to serve others. It may be
packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child, building houses for
Habitat for Humanity, or donating your time to teach
underprivileged teens how to run a business. Whatever your
personal mission (you do have one, don't you?), there is a non-profit
group that shares your mission, and would be happy to have you
helping them.
Now, imagine for a moment a society where everyone is trying to

serve others. We would fail at times, and our efforts would involve
some compromise- we simply cannot do for everyone everything
that we would like to. However, if we were all trying to serve one
another, we would have a more cooperative, functional society.
Okay, so that is not going to happen. You and I both know there will
always be those who choose to be self-serving and discourteous.
There will always be those with an entitlement attitude, looking for
what others can do for them. But if you and I both do our best to
serve others, there will be fewer of those people every year.
Kindness does usually beget kindness. This is a small thing you can
choose to do than can change everyone around you.
And here is a bonus: the most successful people I know carry this
service attitude. In many cases, their level of success is directly
attributable to this attitude. They built their business around
providing value to others. Their focus is (was from early in their
careers) on delivering real value far beyond what their clients and
customers pay for- delivering a level of service to their co-workers,
staff, and vendors than they must. They did not do this out of a
sense of investment, expecting a return for their service, but out of
a genuine understanding that their greatest level of fulfilment comes
from serving others, including their followers.
Having a focus on service- on delivering value and helping others

get what they want - has helped these people have success in so
many areas of their lives. It is not just financial success. Their
attitude has yielded abiding friendships, deeply loving marriages,
and a sense of fulfilment in their lives. It can do the same for you.
So, go out each day and look for ways to serve others. Do your job,
whatever it is, to serve customers, co-workers, and vendors. When
you are with friends, family, and loved ones, look for ways to serve
their needs, both physical and emotional. What you’ll find is that
these acts of service will enrich the experience for all involved
(including you). And if just a few of those people follow your
example, you will have a few more people helping you out when you
need it.
And that, my friend, is how you change the world around you.
40
Strategic Thinking
Roger Martin
Strategy is not the inevitable outcome of a process of analysis. Yes,
a working knowledge of the industry and its likely evolution, the
customers and their likely preferences, the firm itself and its
potential capabilities and cost structure, and its competitors and
their likely responses and actions should inform that choice.
But it is simply not possible to predict that many things about the
future through analysis unless you simplify the features of the
solution space to an extent that makes it analysable -and at the
same time irrelevant. It guarantees strategic failure....
So, great strategists have two sets of personal capabilities.
One set, of course, is the capacity to intelligently manipulate

quantities. That is to take quantitative data and perform useful
manipulation of it using rigorous methodologies: regression,
correlation, analysis of variance and so forth. Yes, this is an
important capability -but it is a necessary, not a sufficient, capability
for strategy .
The other set is what you need to lead with: the appreciation of
qualities. This is the ability to perceive and appreciate the meaning
of small differences in the features of a given variable. The
appreciation of qualities is harder to measure and track, and seems
less rigorous than analysis. But unless the strategist has this
capability , his analytic muscle is no help at all.
From “Strategize First, Analyze Later“
40
Taffy is a Dirty Dog
Zig Ziglar
Different people use different means of relaxing and enjoying life. A

few months ago we acquired a little Welsh Corgi whose official name
is "Taffy," but for the benefit of accuracy and integrity, I have
named him "Dirty Dog." He's quite a character. His heart is good;
his intentions are the best; but his manners are questionable and, on
occasion, he is a downright selfish, thoughtless little dog who thinks
our sole objective in life should be to provide him with first-class
living accommodations and on-going entertainment.
Actually, Dirty Dog does pay his own way because he's such a
magnificent diversion for my wife and me. We have a little game
which we play several times each day for about five minutes. He
starts this interaction by bringing me a toy which is a foot-long
finely-woven rope with tassels on either end. I throw the toy down
our hallway and he chases it at full speed, literally picking it up on
the run, and brings it back to me after circling the living room a
couple of times, teasing me that he's not going to return it.
However, if I turn my back on him, indicating the game is over, he
quickly runs to me and demands that I forcefully remove the toy
from his mouth. It takes a few seconds, but I generally succeed and
the game is on again.
Dirty Dog is fun and important to us. We live in a high-tension,

pressure-packed, stressful world and all of us need some
diversion. For me, this is the quickest, easiest and most effective
method I have yet discovered. For you it could be a walk around the
yard or office or a quick call to a friend or family member. The point
is, we all need some method of diversion and relaxation. Do
something to relax and I will see you at the top!
40
Eureka! Moments
Dan Wilson
According to legend the famed mathematician Archimedes (287 BC

- 212 BC) was relaxing in a bath when suddenly he had an epiphany
about how to calculate density and volume, commonly referred to as
Archimedes’ Principle. Startling his neighbours, so the story goes,
he jumped out of his tub and ran naked through the streets
shouting, "Eureka, I’ve got it! Eureka, I’ve got it!"
A recent Wall Street Journal article entitled, "A Wandering Mind

Heads Straight Toward Insight" tells how some of the most brilliant
minds in history - including Archimedes, Sir Isaac Newton,
Descartes, Einstein, Tesla and others - received their great
revelations while goofing off as we might call it. The article goes on
to say that modern research has in fact provided strong evidence
that the human brain "may be most actively engaged when our mind
is wandering and we’ve actually lost track of our thoughts." In
other words our best creativity, problem solving, and innovative
ideas seem most likely to occur when we get out of the way of our
own brains, allowing them to do their best behind the scenes work.
Of course, there is another essential element involved. Insights, or

a-ha moments, are most likely to occur in a prepared mind, not a
lazy one. It seems unlikely that the great epiphanies of Archimedes
et al happened in a vacuum; rather their brains were in fact fertile
for such revelations because they had spent countless hours
preparing them.
Few of us will ever experience such break-through Eureka moments
as Archimedes did. (Hopefully, few of us will startle our neighbours
by running through the streets naked either.) But in each of us
there are epiphanies looming deep within of our fertile, prepared
minds. All we need to do is get out of the way of our own brains
occasionally, allowing them to do their best behind the scenes work.
40
How to effectively communicate with your teen
Larry F. Waldman
Many parents struggle with conversing with their

adolescent. Attempts at communication often result in yelling,
slamming doors, feelings of resentment, and a sense of
hopelessness that issues can be resolved. Below are nine strategies
to enhance communication with your teen.
1. Praise Positive Behaviour
Usually when a parent approaches their teen it is to complain or

scold them. In a short time the teen learns that when their parent
wants to speak with them it likely means they are in
trouble. Effective communication is not about to ensue under these
conditions. Parents must be as diligent in noting positive
behaviours in their teen as they are reporting undesirable acts.
2. Listen and Don’t Monopolize the Conversation
All too often parents’ discussions with their teens becomes long-
winded lectures. A one-way conversation does not promote
communication and, again, teaches the child that speaking with
their parents is unpleasant. Parents should allow their teen to
speak, at least as much as the parent does, and encourage the teen
to talk by using open-ended questions, such as, “What do you think
about …?”
3. Limit Preaching and Attempting to Persuade
Since parents are older and (hopefully) wiser they tend to preach to
their kids. This is understandable, as no parent wants their child to
fail, but most teens view their parents as old and out of touch so the
“sermons” are not well received. I frequently have to remind
parents to think about their own adolescence and how willing they
were to accept their parents’ advice. Similarly, attempting to argue
with or persuade a teen is wasteful and painful. Having raised two
sons and having been in clinical practice nearly 40 years, I have yet
to hear of a situation where a parent preached to or argued a point
with their teen and the teen responded with, “Mom/Dad thanks for
bringing that up. I’ll do exactly as you said.” Parents have the right
—and the duty—to briefly make their position known, but (in most
cases) the teen should be allowed to make their choice. Teens learn
best when the “world” applies a consequence to their actions, not
because Mom or Dad said so. We tend to learn more from our
failures than our successes.
4. Don’t Match Your Teen’s Emotion
Adolescents are naturally labile. Don’t let your teen control the
mood of the home. In some homes you can only be as happy as the
saddest teen in the house. Just because your teen is “losing it,”
does not mean you have to “lose it,” too. Remember, “Misery loves
company.” Make your point—briefly—and walk away.
5. Avoid Judging and Dismissing Feelings
Nobody appreciates it when someone judges them or dismisses their

feelings. Parents must realize that teens are in the awkward stage
of struggling to find their personal identity at the same time they
want to be accepted by their peer (not parental) group.
Telling your teen they are forbidden to associate with a peer

because you view that peer as an outcast, how they dress makes
them look like an idiot, or that intense emotion they have about
somebody they are dating is “just puppy love,” will not facilitate
communication with your adolescent. If you believe you need to
comment, preface your brief statement with something like, “It
seems to me…..”
6. Speak Concretely
Recently I had a case in which a father and a teen had a blowout

over “washing the truck.” The adolescent son obediently washed
and waxed the exterior of the truck but the father was upset
because the son had not cleaned the interior of the vehicle. When
giving directions, making requests, reinforcing, or even scolding
your teen, parents must be clear, concise, and specific. The critical
questions are: “What does it look like? What would I see?” If the
father in the above case had defined clearly what he meant by
“washing the truck,” a major incident could have been avoided.
7. Use “We’ll Get Back to You”
Teens typically want what they want when they want it. Often your
teen will pressure you for an immediate answer to something that
can wait. Consider responding with, “I’ll speak with Mom/Dad and
we’ll get back to you after dinner. Don’t let your teen “divide and
conquer.” Also, be careful of implying that you are okay with the
issue before you consult with your partner, because if the answer
ultimately becomes “no,” you have inadvertently painted your
partner as the “bad guy.”
8. Actively Listen
True listening—active or responsive listening—means more than just

being quiet, not interrupting, and not monopolizing. Active listening
involves maintaining eye contact, smiling and nodding appropriately,
and asking for more information, such as, “Tell me more about that.”
9. Use Paraphrasing
The pinnacle of communication is paraphrasing. Paraphrasing

involves actively listening, as described above, but once the parent
has heard what the teen has to say on a topic, the parent first
summarizes the teen’s major points to complete the
communication. The next time you are having a conversation with
your teen about whether they should be allowed to do something or
go somewhere, consider the following: Ask your teen to review all
their points; listen actively and responsively; and ask if the teen is
done. When the teen acknowledges they have made every point
they can think of, then you, as the parent, can summarize all the
points and ask for confirmation. When the teen confirms you have
accurately reviewed all of the issues, then you, the parent, can
provide a response, positive or negative, and the discussion is
closed. This procedure does not guarantee you teen will be pleased
if your response is in the negative, but it does ensure that your teen
will not be able to say you never listened to them.
By using these nine methods parents, over time, parents should be

able to communicate more effectively with their
adolescent. (Several of these techniques may also work well with
one’s spouse, as well.)
40
Become Everything You are Capable of Becoming
Brian Tracy
The turning point in my life came when I discovered the law of cause
and effect, the great law of the universe, and human destiny. I
learned that everything happens for a reason. I discovered that
success is not an accident. Failure is not an accident, either. I also
discovered that people who are successful in any area usually are
those who have learned the cause-and-effect relationship between
what they want and how to get it.
Determine Your Personal Growth and Development Values
To realize your full potential for personal and professional growth

and development, begin with your values as they apply to your own
abilities. As you know, your values are expressed in your words and
actions.
You can tell what your values are by looking at what you do and how
you respond to the world around you. Your values are the root
causes of your motivations and your behaviours.
Clarify Your Personal Growth and Development Vision
Create a long-term vision for yourself in the area of personal

growth. Project forward five or ten years and imagine that you are
developed fully in every important part of your life. Idealize and see
yourself as outstanding in every respect. Refuse to compromise on
your personal dreams.
Set Goals for Your Personal Growth and Development
Now take your vision and crystallize it into specific goals. Here is a
good way to start. Take out a piece of paper and write down ten
goals that you would like to achieve in the area of personal and
professional development in the months and years ahead. Write in
the present tense, exactly as if you were already the person you
intend to be.
Determine exactly what you want to be able to do. Decide who you
want to become. Describe exactly what you will look like when you
become truly excellent in your field and in your personal life.
Upgrade Your Personal Knowledge and Skills
Set specific measures for each of your goals. If your goal is to excel
in your field, determine how you will know when you have achieved
it. Decide how you can measure your progress and evaluate your
success.
Perhaps you can use as a measure the number of hours you study in
your field each week. Perhaps you can measure the number of books
you read or the number of audio programs you listen to. Perhaps
you could measure your progress by the number of sales you make
as the result of your growing skills.
Develop Winning Personal Growth and Development Habits
Select the specific habits and behaviours you will need to practice
every day to become the person you want to become. These could be
the habits of clarity, planning, thoroughness, studiousness, hard
work, determination, and persistence.
Action Exercise
Decide today to develop yourself to the point where you can achieve
every financial and personal goal you ever set and become
everything you are capable of becoming. Write down your goals and
make sure to look at them every day, then ponder ways you possibly
achieve these goals.
40
Lonely Species
Raghu Seshadri
Amou Haji, an 80-year old man in Iran, has lived alone for the last
60 years. He hasn't bathed all this time; he eats animal carcasses,
smokes a pipe filled with animal faeces and sleeps in a pit. His house
is the open sky.
Tom Leppard, 73, lived in remote parts of Skye, Scotland, for 20

years. He recently got into a thatched home in Broadford, due to
age; yet, no TV, radio or mobile in his place. An army man for 28
years, he escaped into the wild, aged 53.
Jake Williams has lived in the wild for more than 30 years now near
Aberdeen.
The hermits above are not truth seekers but proved humans are, by
nature, individual beings. The popular notion is that we are a social
species. If individual by nature, what causes humans to coalesce in
to groups?
Primarily, security from wild animals.
Next, the need for abundance as fragmented assetholdings could not

produce enough food. The result: scale economy that required
coordination. Third, insecurities due to uncertainties; associating
with each other helped them forget their fears, at least temporarily.
A simpler solution exists.
Once men confront their fears, and get to know they are unreal,
social needs get discounted to the extent of guarding the assets. Go
for an austere life, scale economy goes; learn some defence tricks,
do away with society altogether.
This is what these men did.

But wait, they have done more than meets the eye. They proved
‘cleanliness’ is just a notion. These ‘dirty’ souls have lived a long and
healthy life! Lord Shiva, the Indian Amou Haji, proved this long ago.
40
Everyone is Important
During Mark’s first month of college, the professor gave his students
a pop quiz. He was a conscientious student and had breezed through
the questions, until he read the last one: “What is the first name of
the woman who cleans the school?” Surely this was some kind of
joke. He had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall,
dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would he know her name? He
handed in his paper, leaving the last question blank.
Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would
count toward the quiz grade. “Absolutely,” said the professor. “In
your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They
each deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and
say ‘hello’”. Mark never forgot that lesson. He also learned her name
was Dorothy.
Everyone in your life is everyone just like the people you give
importance to.
40
Soldier's Father
by: Wing Comdr Venki Iyer
(This is a true Story)
The helicopter appeared over the late morning horizon. We were to

receive Mr Lachhman Singh Rathore who was visiting our Flight Unit
to perform the last rites of his son, Flying Officer Vikram Singh.
Only the day before, I had sent the telegram, “Deeply regret to
inform that your son Flying Officer Vikram Singh lost his life in a
flying accident early this morning. Death was instantaneous.”
It was the first time for me to meet and manage the bereaved next
of kin, in this case, the Father of the brave officer. While most of the
desolate family members insist on seeing the body, many a time
there isn't a body to show!! Flying Officer Vikram Singh's remains
were only a few kilos scrapped from what was left in the cockpit. We
had to weigh the wooden coffin with wood and earth. The pilot
brought the helicopter to a perfect touchdown. Soon Mr Lachhman
Singh Rathor was helped down the ladder. A small and frail man he
was, maybe of 80 years, clad in an immaculate dhoti.
As I approached him, he asked in a quiet and dignified whisper, “Are
you Venki, the Flight Commander?”
“Yes Sir.”
“Vikram had spoken to me about you. I'd like to speak to you alone
for a minute.”
We walked to the edge of the concrete apron.
“I have lost a son, and you have lost a friend. I'm sure that you have
taken great care in arranging the funeral. Please tell me when and
where you want my presence and what you want me to do. I'll be
there for everything. Later, I would like to meet Vikram's friends,
see his room and, if it is permitted, visit his work place. I then would
like to return home tomorrow morning.”
A commander couldn't have given me clearer instructions.
The funeral, with full military honours, was concluded by late

afternoon. After the final echoes of the ‘Last Post’ faded away,
Lachhman Singh spent the evening talking to the Squadron Pilots.
Vikram's roommate took him to see Vikram's room. Lachhman Singh
desired to spend the night in his son's room instead of the guest
house we had reserved for him. Early next morning after a tour of
the squadron area, my boss took him to his Office.
As the car disappeared round the corner, I remarked to my Boss, “A

brave man he is. Spoke to me like a General when he told me exactly
what he expected from us during his stay here. I have never seen a
more composed man on such an occasion. I admire him.”
“Yes, Mr Lachhman Singh Rathore is a warrior in his own way. He

sired three sons and has laid to rest all three of them. His first son
Captain Ghanshyam Singh of the Gurkha Rifles was killed in Ladakh
in 1962 War. His second son, Major Bir Singh, died along the Ichogil
Canal in 1965 in an ambush. His youngest, Vikram Singh, who had
the courage to join the Air Force, is also gone now. This simple
farmer has contributed more to our country's defence than All of us
combined”.
Yes, he is indeed a brave Indian; in fact HE is MORE INDIAN than

anyone else - His sacrifice can never ever be repaid by the Country !!
He is almost a Martyr himself!
But our Great Nation does not know this simple Giant-- India only
knows that Super Rich Cricketers need to be conferred BHARAT
RATNA while a bunch of actors and actresses need to be conferred
PADMA VIBHUSHANs and PADMASHREEs!!
Yes, they are so called ‘Acheivers’. Achieved Fame Fortunes mostly

for themselves and a wee bit for the country. (Ever wondered as to
HOW on earth do actresses bring glory to the Nation??)
But what about the ‘Losers’??
Those who have SIMPLY LOST their EVERYTHING to the Nation. Like
this Father of Three Brave Soldiers.
CRY INDIA CRY for our real Bharat Mahans, the great soldiers.
Published in the April-May 2014 issue of News Bulletin of SBIOA(CC)

40
Grow/Swell
Zig Ziglar
As a rookie salesman I had a very difficult time getting

started. However, once the ball started rolling, I enjoyed a
spectacular four-year run of success. This led to a career change
and new job in New York City. It was exciting and rewarding, but
required that I leave home each morning before my two little girls
were awake and most of the time when I returned at night they
were already asleep. I could not handle that style of parenting, so in
just three months' time we moved back to Columbia, South Carolina.
I got into a promotional-type business and temporarily enjoyed

some success which quickly evaporated. At that point I stopped
growing and started swelling, which led to sixteen additional job
and career changes within the following five years. I became a
super-critic, a know-it-all, and a very difficult person to work
with. One of the companies I briefly worked for was an insurance
company which had been in business for many years. This
astonished me because they were obviously way behind the times
and I had some absolutely brilliant ideas which would revolutionize
their business and expand their market share. They rejected these
very significant ideas. I left in a huff, wondering how they would
ever survive- which, incidentally, they did.
After five frustrating years I finally had a reality-check and realized

that the success I enjoyed earlier had come because I had
completely committed myself to improving what I did instead of
assuming I knew it all. I made a strong commitment to the new
company I represented and worked hard and enthusiastically, while
continually acquiring new information from those who had beaten
many a path before I came along. Interestingly enough, results
were excellent and progress was steady so that just two years later
I was back on a career path that has been most rewarding and
satisfying.
I hope the message is clear. Keep growing. Don't start

swelling. Listen to those who have had successful experiences and
I'll see you at the top!
40
Citings Dynamics & Change
Stephen Smith
This book argues that economic growth generates -and is necessary

for -broad improvements in humanity's material well-being. Because
economic growth marks a boundary between wealth and human
flourishing, on one side, and poverty and degradation, on the other,
it is no exaggeration to say that fewer issues are more important....
Economists use the term “economic growth“ to mean a sustained

increase in the economy's overall output of goods and services
-gross domestic product, or GDP -or a sustained increase in overall
output per person, often called a country's “standard of living“.
Because those producing output require payment, a nation's output
basically equals its income, so GDP is often called “gross domestic
income“.
When GDP per person rises, average incomes are rising....
Whether the focus is on equality, the environment, markets or

demographic pressures, actual growth experiences of the past
century support the judgement that growth is good for human
flourishing.
Though the record of growth's benefits is compelling, economic

analysis alone cannot sustain a social consensus for growth. Rather,
economic approaches cannot inspire the moral imagination.
Societies must be convinced of growth's moral legitimacy, and of the

merits of the market-oriented systems in which growth blooms, if a
consensus for growth is to develop.
From “Economic Growth: Unleashing the Potential for Human Flourishing“
40
The Art of Body Language
Harry Master
Body language is the most under-appreciated form of non-verbal
communication. How can this be? Well the answer is rather simple.
How can a person appreciate something that they do not understand
or know how to utilize? Do you know who is the biggest culprit?
Males! Now I am probably going to get a lot of emails telling me of
how wrong this is, but it is far from this. Before you log into your
email, consider one question. Which sex uses body language the
most, and in all its forms? The answer is females. If they use it more
often then males, then they would probably have a better eye for
body language. A males main tool to initiate body language is his
eyes, which are usually accompanied by subtle face gestures. This is
why males tend to be better at it then females. On the other hand,
females use all the forms of body language. Not to say that males
don't, but it is not as common.
Women are the ‘masters’ of body language. The type of body

language used by women depends on the personality of that
individual women. Shy and quiet women usually use more subtle
forms of body language, which hinders a mans ability to tell whether
or not body language is being used. With these type of women, the
initial reads are hard. However, if you get to know that woman, then
over time comfort while remove this inability to produce readable
body language. An out-going and playful women is not subtle at all
when it comes to using body language. They use it more liberally
and is very easy to notice. They are very flirtatious with their non-
verbal communication, and could escalate to slight caressing.
Since I mentioned it, I will briefly explain the use of a light touch.
This touch sends signals up to receptors in a man's brain, which
releases euphoric neurotransmitters. In doing so, the man feels a
sensation of happiness, comfort, acceptance and attractiveness all in
one, hence the euphoric state. The trick is that you want to leave
them wanting more, therefore leave this slight caressing to a
minimum. Not enough to make them drool, but not too little that
they do not feel teased.
What are the main tools a women has that she uses to show body
language? This question is similar to me asking someone how to
determine how big a person's net worth is. The number one answers
is their ASSETS. The same answer applies to women and their use of
body language; however, this is far from the only thing they use.
How do women use their assets? A major way is by revealing a little
skin. Men go internally crazy when they see a little skin. However,
everything has to be applied in moderation too. Too much revealed
skin can be seen as attention craving; where as too little can be seen
as being up tight. The following are a couple of ways in which
women use sex appeal to show body language:
1) Body Contour
Women that normally use this have a nice, voluptuous body. They
use the contours of their body to tell how they are feeling. They try
to increase the arch of their body to amplify its affect on the person
who she is trying to grab their attention. This is a personal favourite
of mine because it shows off the natural beauty of a woman's body,
similar to that of a sculpture. Why did I start with the body? Studies
show that the first judgment a male passes on a female without
seeing facial features is the body. Usually, if they do not like what
they see then they move onto the next woman; however if they do
then they move onto the other assets of the breasts and rear-end.
Ladies, when I say "if they do not like what they see", this is not
eluding to body type, different men have different tastes therefore if
you do not fit their criteria then they move on. My philosophy is that
EACH and EVERY woman is uniquely beautiful, it just takes the right
guy to discover it.
2) Body Position
Usually, if woman are self-conscious about their body, they will use
what they believe is to be the best asset that they have. They may
use their breast, rear-end or even legs. Now this all depends on the
preference of the guy as well. Some men favour one asset over the
other and can make the difference whether a man shows interest
back to your body language. Woman that like to flaunt their breasts
will wear low cut shirts, those that like to flaunt their rear-end will
wear tighter jeans and those that like to flaunt their legs will wear a
skirt of some sort. Just to prove a point, the next time you go out for
lunch with some friends go to a Moxie's, Keg or some sort of bar-
lounge atmosphere. Guess what all the cocktail waitress do? They
flaunt all three parts mentioned above. Can you guess their main
customers? MALES, what a surprise! Just a quick fact. These cocktail
waitresses can make up to 5x more tips than a waitress at
restaurant of equal comparison. These are crazy phenomenon, I
know. This is the biggest problem I see when I help people with
either their businesses or with their love lives. People look for the
non-obvious, I always tell them to start with the things that they
know or the things that they have in this case.
For men it is a totally different ball game. You will never see them
flaunt skin unless at the beach, nor will they try to make body
gestures because males bodies were not made for that. Like I stated
in Part 1 of this article, men mainly use their eye language to
communicate non-verbally. However, the difference here is whether
or not the man has the CONFIDENCE to initiate or return non-verbal
communication. Firstly, a lot of men in general lack confidence so
this in itself is not surprising. I will cover confidence and how to
overcome its inhibition in another article because this a whole beast
by itself to tame. The main reason why men are not comfortable
initiating in body language is because they are not confident in their
ability to understand it or how to give it back. So they will just shy
away, unless they are under the influence of alcohol which is a
instant confidence booster. So ladies if a man does not show any
non-verbal communication back, do not be alarmed because chances
are that he has no idea what he is doing. However, if you encounter
a man that does show it back but is absolutely horrible at it, give
him a chance because this is easily fixable. It is easier to teach a
man body language than it is to teach them how to be confident.
Therefore, think of yourself as a teacher, and you are teaching your
student, the man, how to conduct proper body language. As well as,
it helps the man learn what to look for in the future so that they are
not as clueless.
As you may have noticed I am gradually progressing towards actual

initiation or what I call 'engagement' of a person that you are
attracted to, whether it be to their physical appearance, or to their
perceived personality. It is very important to take it step by step
because a lot of people when they sell dating advice, they just tell
you the "how-to", but the dating world is so volatile because as I
said before every situation is unique but the patterns shown are
eternal. A person selling a product would have started at the
initiation of a individual. But how do you do that without first
understanding out how they think and what they do to show that
they are interested in you. This small aspect is HUGE, it is almost
like going fishing without bait. Good luck catching any fish;)!
40
Six Sets of Questions to Ask Yourself (if you dare)
Chuck Sink
My early working years were spent misguided by my own

assumptions. I passed by obvious wealth-building opportunities
without recognizing them. I blindly continued to struggle needlessly.
Today I apply the brakes and change course when I'm heading in
the wrong direction.
Here is a vital piece of advice for you if you feel stuck in neutral or
missing out on the success of which you are worthy:
"If someone is going down the wrong road, he doesn't need

motivation to speed him up. What he needs is education to
turn him around." -Jim Rohn
Motivational speakers and coaches won't do a thing for you if you

won't discover your own talents and offer them to a willing market.
Perhaps more importantly, you must stop procrastinating. The best
way to end procrastination is by scripting your character according
to good purpose.
I spent many highly motivated years studying some of the best

materials ever written on the subject of personal development and
sales growth. I attended speeches and seminars, bought and
listened to CDs, wrote out my goals and daily affirmed my future
achievements. I worked very hard at the activities prescribed for
success. But my achievements were temporary. I achieved spikes of
success followed by demoralizing defeats and periods of lacklustre
performance.
Not until I discovered what my true motivations and talents were

did I begin to experience sustained, measurable professional
growth. I've been a talented writer all my adult life and didn't
discover it until a few years ago. I wasted over 20 years leaving the
talent dormant and under-utilized. I withheld value from the
marketplace! Shame on me but you know what? This story is now
integral to the value of my work.
Six to Fix
These six principles and sets of questions could have a high impact
on your life and business performance. Dare you ask these questions
of yourself?
1. Do you have the capacity to be completely honest with

yourself? If you don't, you're doomed. Can you think about your
own thinking and recognize when you are rationalizing your
behaviour rather than being an unbiased referee of your motives?
The whole truth will set you free to accomplish your noblest goals!
2. Acceptance of people, places and things as they are, not as you

would have them, opens deeper understanding of how the world
works. Acceptance is not advocacy or approval. Do other people
and situations disturb you often? Do you fret about injustice,
politics, culture shift or coworkers? Focus on only those things
over which you have control and leave the rest to divine
providence. Try to accept this axiom: "Whenever I am disturbed,
there is something wrong with me!" A very tall order, I know, but
think about it. You are not the CEO of the universe! Temporary,
justifiable anger is understandable and acceptable but holding
grudges or harbouring resentments is not. Revenge is never an
acceptable motive because it is subjective and totally self-serving.
Remaining angry at a competitor, customer, supplier or anyone
else is bad business. You can't change them but they sure are
affecting your thoughts and attitudes, aren't they? Don't let them.
Forgive them and let go or be dragged!
3. Script and build better character traits based on service to others

instead of self-enrichment. Is your character based on how good you
look or how good you are? Can you believe that serving others is the only
way to serve your own best interests?
4. Know what you're great at! Do you recognize what your unique,
best-in-class talent is? What do you love to do? What tickles your
creative imagination? About what do people compliment you the
most? That is probably your key to a rich and happy life!
5. Get excited about what you know you can accomplish and apply
the necessary discipline to keep yourself accountable for victories
and defeats. Can you pull away from distractions and apply
yourself to important work? Can you tell yourself the truth about
whether you're procrastinating or moving ahead? Fact:
procrastination is nothing but sloth in five syllables! You've got to
get excited enough to look forward to working. It's called work for
a reason but it will be fun if it's what you're best at!
6. Allow self-fulfilling momentum to kick in and turn a labour of

love into labour you love. The brass ring of career success is
looking forward to Mondays. Do you love your job? Is your work
exciting, fulfilling and fun? Are you serving and making your
customers better off?
Examine your beliefs and summon the courage to ask yourself these
six sets of questions. You may save yourself years of
disappointments. I'm finally experiencing the real meaning in the
many great motivational books I've read: Nothing out there will get
better until I do! Discover, fine-tune and build wealth with the tools
freely given you at birth.
40
Seven Wonders of the World
Author: unknown
A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the
present "Seven Wonders of the World."
Though there were some disagreements, the following received the

most votes:
1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. Taj Mahal
3. Grand Canyon
4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall
While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had
not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having
trouble with her list. The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite
make up my mind because there were so many."
The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can
help." The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the 'Seven Wonders of
the World' are:
1. to see
2. to hear
3. to touch
4. to taste
5. to feel
6. to laugh
7. and to love."
The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. The things
we overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are
truly wondrous!!
If wealth is the secret to happiness, then the Rich should be dancing

on the streets.
But only Poor Kids do that.
If power ensures security, then top Officials should walk unguarded.
But people who live on roadside feel more secure.

If beauty brings ideal relationships, then celebrities should have the
best marriages.
But they have one of the worst relationships.
That’s why... Live simply... Walk humbly
Love genuinely!!!
The Edsel was an Outstanding Success
40
Zig Ziglar
For those of you who are old enough to remember, you might recall
that the Edsel automobile, when produced by the Ford Motor
Company, was, in the view of the buying public, a dismal
failure. Tens of millions of dollars were lost; it was the butt of
numerous jokes and was soon in the graveyard of cars that did not
make it.
The rest of the story, however, is quite different. You fail not when
you're beaten, but when you quit. The Ford Motor Company - as you
know - did not quit. As a matter of fact, out of the Edsel came
incredible success. Some of the technology they learned and
research which followed enabled them to produce the Mustang,
which was, until that time, their all-time best-seller and most
profitable motor car. From what they learned about the Mustang
they were able to produce the Taurus and for several years the
Taurus was the number one selling automobile in America.
The key to all of this is that when we make a mistake - and all of us
periodically do fail - we should make it a point to ask the question,
"What can I learn to change this temporary failure into a resounding
success?" That's the beginning point of doing great things. As a
matter of fact, it has been said by many people, "The only way to the
mountain top is through the valleys." We never really reach our full
potential until we've been tested and tried. Traditionally, the team
that takes the toughest route to the Super Bowl, challenging and
beating the toughest teams, is the one that wins the Super Bowl.
Message: When adversity is staring you in the face and you fail in an
endeavour, look at it as a learning experience. That's what Ford
did. That's why the Edsel was ultimately such a success in the
overall scope of things. Adjust your thinking to that approach and I
will see you at the top!
40
One Hour Makes all the Difference

Brian Tracy
Did you know that one hour per day of study will put you at the top
of your field within three years?
Think about it. You've gone as far as you can with what you now
know. Any progress you make from this moment onward will require
that you learn and practice something new.
Commit to Lifelong Learning
One quality of leaders and high achievers in every area seems to be

a commitment to ongoing personal and professional development.
They look upon themselves as self-made people, as “works in
progress.” They never become complacent or satisfied. They are
always striving toward ever greater heights of knowledge and
understanding.
Get to the Top in Five Years
Earl Nightingale said many years ago that one hour per day of study
in your chosen field was all it takes. One hour per day of study will
put you at the top of your field within three years. Within five years
you’ll be a national authority. In seven years, you can be one of the
best people in the world at what you do.
Read Everything You Can
Read all you can about your field. Subscribe to the executive book
clubs and book summaries. Build your own library of important
books in your field. Never be cheap about your education.
In fact, if you make a decision today to invest 3% of your annual
income back into yourself, back into your own personal and
professional development, you will probably never have to worry
about money again.
Go Through 50 Books Per Year
If you read one hour per day in your field, that will translate into
about one book per week. One book per week translates into about
50 books per year. 50 books per year will translate into about 500
books over the next ten years.
Join the Top 1% of Money Earners
If you read only one book per month, that will put you into the top
1% of income earners in our society. But if you read one book per
week, 50 books per year, that will make you one of the best
educated, smartest, most capable and highest paid people in your
field. Regular reading will transform your life completely.
Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into
practice.
 First, ask the successful people around you for their best book
recommendations. Whatever advice they give you, immediately
go out and buy those books, take them home and begin reading
for one hour every morning before you start work.
 Second, when you read, underline and take notes when you find
important ideas that you can use. Implement them immediately.
Take action of some kind on good ideas. You will be amazed at
the change in your career.
40
Dress for Success
Zig Ziglar
One of the major problems in our society today is the lack of pride
many people have in their personal appearance. Research clearly
proves that a neat appearance and manner of dress has a direct
bearing on conduct and performance. It is also instrumental in
gaining employment and has a bearing on your future with the
company which employs you. The person who hires you forms an
opinion of you in roughly three seconds and that opinion is a factor
in every decision made about you for several months.
Unfortunately, a reasonably high percentage of our population

appear to deliberately dress to make themselves look unattractive
and, therefore, less desirable as employees, associates, friends or
mates.
My friend and fellow training consultant, Nido Qubein, in his

Executive Briefing newsletter, says that "pride is closely tied to self-
esteem." He quotes Robert W. Darvon, a founder of Scandinavian
Design, Inc., who says:
"There's only one thing that counts in a business - building the

self-esteem of your employees. Nothing else matters, because
what they feel about themselves is what they give to your
customers. If an employee comes to work not liking his job,
not feeling good about himself, you can be sure that your
customers will go away not liking or feeling good about your
company."
The way you feel about your employees has an influence on the way
they feel about themselves, which, in turn, has a direct bearing on
their performance. You can make your people feel better about
themselves by treating them with dignity and respect.
The reality is that the way you treat your "internal customers" (your
employees) is the way they will treat your and their external
customers when they encounter them. Develop pride, improve the
self-esteem of your people and I will see you at the top!
40
Self-Validation - How to Validate Yourself
Margaret Paul
From the time we are born, we need validation. Loving parents offer
consistent validation to their children, validating their feelings, their
perceptions, their gifts and talents, their particular form of
intelligence, their interests, their kindness, caring, and intuition. You
are very fortunate if you received this kind of validation from your
parents.
If your parents also validated their own feelings, perceptions, and so

on, then you are extremely fortunate, as you likely learned to do this
for yourself from their role modeling.
However, if your parents did not validate you or themselves, then

the chances are that you not only don't know how to do this for
yourself, but you don't even know that it is your responsibility to do
this for yourself.
Since I received very little validation as I was growing, and I never

saw my parents validate themselves, I had no idea how to do it or
even that it was possible to do this for myself. Now I know that self-
validation is not only possible, but absolutely necessary to feel
happy, inwardly peaceful, secure, worthy, and have loving
relationships with others.
How To Validate Yourself
In order to validate yourself, you need to start to notice two things:
 You need to start to notice how much you judge yourself rather
than value yourself.
 You need to start to notice your feelings, your inner knowing,

and your acts of kindness to others, and consciously value them.
Judging yourself is the opposite of validating yourself, and creates

much inner pain and insecurity. Self-judgment is generally a form of
control to get yourself to do things "right" so that others will
validate you and approve of you. But as much as you may succeed in
getting others to approve of you, as long as you are judging yourself
you will continue to feel badly about yourself.
All feelings are informational, letting you know when you are
abandoning yourself with your self-judgments and various
addictions, and when others are being uncaring toward you and
disconnected from you. As you learn to attend to your feelings and
validate the information they are giving you, you will start to feel a
deeper sense of self-worth and self-esteem. As you learn to trust
your inner knowing rather than make others your authority for what
is right or wrong for you, you will start to feel more inwardly
powerful. When you choose to be kind to yourself and to others and
value yourself for your kindness, you will find yourself feeling very
happy with yourself.
Think of your feelings and inner knowing as an actual child - your

inner child. If you have an actual child and you want to raise that
child to feel very secure, loved, and valued, how would you treat
that child? How do you wish you had been treated as a child? This is
how you need to treat yourself - your own inner child, if you want to
become a self-validating person.
Finally, you need to do a third thing to self-validate:
 You need to take loving action in your behalf based on what is

loving to you - on what is in your highest good. In order to do
this, you need to be devoted to learning to see yourself through
the eyes of your Higher Self rather than through the eyes of your
ego wounded self. You need to tune into the wisdom of your
Higher Self to know what is loving action toward yourself and
others. Your inner child will not know that he or she is important
to you if you do not take loving action in your own behalf: eating
well, getting enough sleep and exercise, speaking up for yourself
with others without blame, creating a balance between work and
play, moving yourself toward doing work you love, and so on.
You will discover yourself feeling better and better about yourself
and needing less and less validation from others as you take these
steps.
40
Make Failure the Beginning of Greatness
Harvey Mackay
The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a
distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures
can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a three-foot wall. The
animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will land.
A lot of humans are like this. They are afraid to take a risk. Not I. I
understood at an early age that in order to triple your success ratio,
you might have to triple your failure rate.
Thomas J. Watson, the founder and first president of IBM

said: "Failure is a teacher - a harsh one, perhaps, but the
best... That's what I have to do when an idea backfires or a sales
program fails. You've got to put failure to work for you ... you can be
discouraged by failure or you can learn from it. So go ahead and
make mistakes. Make all you can. Because that's where you will find
success. On the far side of failure."
Failure can be one more step on your road to success - you just have
to turn it around in a positive direction. Failure can push you harder
to succeed. Failure can strengthen your determination to overcome
obstacles. Failure can make you braver in the face of
opposition. Failure can help you learn what you need to do in order
to succeed. Failure can teach you what your limitations are - and
your strengths. Failure can encourage you to change your strategy.
"Failure is not an option" became a popular catchphrase after the

release of the movie Apollo 13. Failure happens, but when you're
responsible for the people working for you, you have to do
everything you can to guard against it. As a leader, devote yourself
to avoiding these crucial failures in leadership.
• Disconnecting from people. Don't get so caught up in strategy

and planning that you forget to talk to the people who work for
you. Most of the time, they know more than you about how things
work from the ground level, and their insights can be invaluable.
• Doing too much. Delegate appropriately so you don't get

overwhelmed and lose sight of the big picture. When you hire, look
for people who can perform aspects of your job as well as or better
than you can. Your role is complicated enough without adding tasks
that your team should be able to handle.
• Avoiding risk. Play it safe, and your organization will never

grow. That doesn't mean being foolhardy with your organization's
assets. Seek opportunities everywhere, and be willing to commit
resources wherever you've got a reasonable chance of success.
• Exhaustion. Take care of yourself, physically and mentally. Eat

well, exercise, and take time off so you can stay fresh as you
confront the day's challenges. Pushing yourself to the brink will
only increase everyone's anxiety.
• Falling in love with authority. You're the boss, not a monarch

ruling by birthright. Don't rely on your title, and the volume of your
voice, to get employees to do what you want. Base your decisions
on your experience and judgment, and be willing to listen to other
points of view instead of assuming that only you know what's right.
When J. K. Rowling, author of the phenomenally successful Harry

Potter series, had been out of college for seven years, she found
herself at a dark juncture in her life. At that time, she says, she had
failed in life on an epic scale. "An exceptionally short-lived marriage
had imploded. I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is
possible to be in modern Britain without being homeless."
In short, Rowling says she was the biggest failure she knew. And
while she says there is nothing ennobling about being poor, she
believes she reaped benefits from her failures. Failure, she says,
stripped away all the inessential aspects of her life. She stopped
pretending to be anything other than herself, and it was then that
she began to earnestly pursue the only work that mattered to
her. It was not, she says, the fairy-tale transformation to success so
often written about her in the media.
It never is, by the way. "Overnight sensations" are rare indeed -

most of us have to plug away, pay our dues and have a few failures
before we can begin to imagine real success.
Mackay's Moral: Failure isn't final unless you say it is.

40
Your Environment: By Design or Accident?
Germaine Porché
According to the late Walter Hailey, a behavioural scientist and sales

and marketing consultant, “People have 12,367 thoughts per day. Of
those, 90 percent are automatic, and 84 percent are negative.” More
than 12,000 thoughts! That’s a lot of self-talking going on. How do
you think that might affect your environment, especially if most of
your thoughts are negative?
The key is to manage your self-talk. Infuse it with positivity and

confidence.
Jerry Rice, former wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, is one
of the greatest receivers of all time. He also had a reputation for
having the sharpest uniform on the field. When asked, he said that
he had to have everything about his uniform be impeccable. The only
thing he wanted to stand out in his environment on the field was
catching the ball. He didn’t want any distractions, not even a loose
thread on his jersey.
Jerry found a way to quiet those 12,367 thoughts in his head when it
came to producing the results he wanted: catching the football.
What can you do within your own environment to quiet the noise in
your head to allow you to fully focus on the task at hand?
Organize Your Desk: Set up a system to keep your workspace
uncluttered and your necessary files easily accessible.
Multitask: If you’re committed to exercise but don’t have time to go

to the gym, place a treadmill in front of your TV so that you can work
out while watching the morning news or reading reports.
Evaluate Your Environment: Colours and temperature can affect your

moods and energy. Take a good look at your workspace. Are your
surroundings pleasant? Is the temperature comfortable? It’s
important to spend your working hours in an environment that’s
pleasing to you.
Stand Up!: A Princeton University study showed that people are 75

percent alert when sitting down and 90 percent alert when standing
up. The next time you have an important decision to make or an
important telephone call, try standing.
Make Things Visible: You won’t work on what you don’t see, feel,
hear, or somehow sense. Instead of burying your work in a drawer,
try using stand-up files, placing them where they’re easily visible
and will call you to work on them. Also, try placing your to-do list on
a small easel on your desk, upright and visible.
If you can become aware of and manage your environment, you can
be proactive in what shapes your actions. Design your environment
from the outcomes that you’re committed to accomplishing, and
have your environment call you to effective action.
Needed - One More Friend
40
Zig Ziglar
Somebody once said that a stranger is simply a friend you haven't

met. The dictionary says that a friend is one who is attached to
another by affection which leads him to desire his company, or one
who has sufficient interest to serve another.
The dictionary definition amply describes Mike Corbett who, along

with his friend Mark Wellman, on July 19, 1989, started their assault
on El Capitan. El Capitan is a sheer rock wall 3,569 feet above the
floor of Yosemite Valley in Northern California. It is one of the most
difficult mountains for rock climbers to scale. The combination of
difficulty and danger is sufficient to test the strength and courage of
even the world's most elite climbers.
It took Mark Wellman and Mike Corbett seven days to make the
climb. During that time they encountered temperatures of up to 105
degrees and wind gusts that made the ascent even more
difficult. When they reached the summit, Corbett stood in triumph
but Mark Wellman just kept his seat. He's a paraplegic and the first
person to scale El Capitan without the use of his legs.
Wellman had given up climbing in 1982 after he was paralyzed as a

result of a fall. From that point on the only rock climbing he did was
in his dreams. Then Mike Corbett convinced him they could climb
the mountain together. Wellman certainly couldn't have done it
without Corbett, who led the way and helped Wellman move through
each stage, higher and higher. Perhaps the pinnacle of friendship
and courage was reached when on the seventh day Corbett was
unable to secure the pitons in the loose rock skirting the
summit. Knowing that a misstep would send them both plunging to
their deaths, Corbett hoisted Wellman onto his back and clambered
the remaining distance to the top. On September 4, 1991, Wellman
and Corbett set out to conquer Yosemite's other big wall, Half Dome.
Thirteen days later they reached the top of the 2,200 foot vertical
Tis-Sa-Ack route on Half Dome.
There's an old but very true statement that if you would have a
friend, be a friend. I encourage you to be a friend like Mike Corbett
was to Mark Wellman, and I'll see you at the top!
40
Secrets to becoming a Powerful Communicator
Brian Tracy
Did you know that your ability to communicate effectively with

others will do more to make you successful than any other skill that
you can develop?
Nearly 85% of what you accomplish in your career and in your

personal life will be determined by how well you can get your
message across, how capable you are of inspiring other people to
take action on your ideas and recommendations.
Once you’re able to master the skill of powerful communication,

you’ll be living a life full of unlimited happiness.
Imagine being able to express yourself openly and honestly to the

degree in which others are influenced to do something because of
what you have to say and HOW you say it.
Even if you are limited in education, experience or intelligence,

being able to communicate effectively with others is the most
powerful, un-limiting success tool you could ever have.
Nearly 99% of all of the difficulties between human beings, and

within organizations are caused by breakdowns in the
communication process. Either people do not say what they mean
clearly enough, or other people do not receive the message that was
sent in the form in which it was intended.
The good news is that effective communication is a learned skill.
The 3 Elements of Direct Communication
According to Albert Mehrabian of UCLA, there are 3 elements in any

direct, face-to-face communication. They are the elements of words,
tone of voice, and body language.
The Elements of Words
Words only account for 7% of any message. For an effective

communication to take place, of course, all three parts of the
message must be congruent and consistent with each other. If there
isn’t any congruency, the receiver will be confused and will have a
tendency to accept the predominant form of communication rather
than the literal meaning or words.
Emphasis and Tone
The emphasis and tone have the power to completely change the
message that is being communicated. Often, you will say something
to a person and they may become offended. When you express that
the words you used were intended to be inoffensive, the other
person will tell you that it was your tone of voice that was the issue.
Body Language
You can dramatically increase the effect of your communication by

leaning toward the speaker or shifting your weight forward onto the
balls of your feet. If you can face the person directly and give them
direct eye contact, combined with fully-focused attention, you
double the impact of what you’re saying.
The more you can coordinate all 3 of these ingredients, the more
impactful your message will be and the greater likelihood that the
other person both understands and reacts the way you want them
to.
The most important part of good communication is clarity. When you

ask or say something clearly and then wait calmly and patiently for a
complete answer, you will be amazed at how much more quickly the
process of sending and receiving takes place.
The very best communicators are those who are the very best at
asking for the things they want.
They ask questions to uncover the real needs and concerns of the
other person. They ask questions to illuminate objections and
problems that the other person might have with what they’re
suggesting.
When you seek first to understand, by asking questions and

listening carefully to the answers, and by presenting your viewpoint
and your requests in such a way that they are consistent with the
interests of the other person, you’ll become much more effective in
getting the other person to act in a way that will be beneficial to
both of you.
Once you can master the skill of effective communication, not only
do you achieve incredible clarity in what you think, say and do, but
you’ll also become known as a respected communicator everywhere
you go.
40
Capital Question
Thomas Piketty
The Economic Times
Published on April 28, 2014

The distribution of wealth is one of today’s most-widely-discussed
and controversial issues…. Let me say at once that the answers
contained herein are imperfect and incomplete. But they are based
on much more extensive historical and comparative data than were
available to previous researchers, data covering three centuries and
more than 20 countries, as well as on a new theoretical framework
that affords a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms.
Modern economic growth and the diffusion of knowledge have made

it possible to avoid the Marxist apocalypse but have not modified the
deep structures of capital and inequality — or in any case not as
much as one might have imagined in the optimistic decades
following World War II.
When the rate of return on capital exceeds the rate of growth of

output and income, as it did in the 19th century and seems likely to
do again in the 21st, capitalism automatically generates arbitrary
and unsustainable inequalities that radically undermine the
meritocratic values on which democratic societies are based.
There are nevertheless ways democracy can regain control over

capitalism and ensure that the general interest takes precedence
over private interests, while preserving economic openness and
avoiding protectionist reactions. My policy recommendations tend in
this direction. They are based on lessons derived from historical
experience….
From “Capital in the Twenty-First Century”

40
Needed - One More Friend
Zig Ziglar
Somebody once said that a stranger is simply a friend you haven't

met. The dictionary says that a friend is one who is attached to
another by affection which leads him to desire his company, or one
who has sufficient interest to serve another.
The dictionary definition amply describes Mike Corbett who, along

with his friend Mark Wellman, on July 19, 1989, started their assault
on El Capitan. El Capitan is a sheer rock wall 3,569 feet above the
floor of Yosemite Valley in Northern California. It is one of the most
difficult mountains for rock climbers to scale. The combination of
difficulty and danger is sufficient to test the strength and courage of
even the world's most elite climbers.
It took Mark Wellman and Mike Corbett seven days to make the
climb. During that time they encountered temperatures of up to 105
degrees and wind gusts that made the ascent even more
difficult. When they reached the summit, Corbett stood in triumph
but Mark Wellman just kept his seat. He's a paraplegic and the first
person to scale El Capitan without the use of his legs.
Wellman had given up climbing in 1982 after he was paralyzed as a

result of a fall. From that point on the only rock climbing he did was
in his dreams. Then Mike Corbett convinced him they could climb
the mountain together. Wellman certainly couldn't have done it
without Corbett, who led the way and helped Wellman move through
each stage, higher and higher. Perhaps the pinnacle of friendship
and courage was reached when on the seventh day Corbett was
unable to secure the pitons in the loose rock skirting the
summit. Knowing that a misstep would send them both plunging to
their deaths, Corbett hoisted Wellman onto his back and clambered
the remaining distance to the top. On September 4, 1991, Wellman
and Corbett set out to conquer Yosemite's other big wall, Half Dome.
Thirteen days later they reached the top of the 2,200 foot vertical
Tis-Sa-Ack route on Half Dome.
There's an old but very true statement that if you would have a
friend, be a friend. I encourage you to be a friend like Mike Corbett
was to Mark Wellman, and I'll see you at the top!
40
This Way to Happiness
Zig Ziglar
"Happiness is not pleasure. It is victory."
There's much truth in the above statement. Happiness, it is safe to

assume, is something everybody wants to have. It's true that other
people can give you pleasure, but you will never be happy until you
do things for other people. Nothing brings us more joy and
happiness than doing things for others which increases their
enjoyment of life. Incidentally, happiness is not something you can
buy with money, though it is true that an adequate amount of money
helps us to eliminate some of the things which produce discomfort.
Studies reveal that people who are absorbed in tasks they enjoy and
find challenging have taken a step towards happiness. It has long
been recognized that people (particularly males) who are married
are happier and live longer. Those who are on a regular exercise
program, keeping themselves physically in shape, particularly from
an aerobic point of view, are happier. In an issue of Psychology
Today it stated that one way to be happy is to "take care of the
soul." The article points out that actively religious people tend to
report more happiness and to cope better with crises. Faith
provides a support community, a sense of life's meaning, a reason to
focus beyond self, and a timeless perspective on life's temporary ups
and downs.
A study conducted by David Jensen at UCLA covering a broad range

of people from every walk of life concluded that people who set
goals and develop a plan of action to reach them are happier,
healthier, earn considerably more money and get along better with
the people at home than do those people who have no clearly
defined objectives. Consider this happiness factor as you set your
goals and I'll see you at the top!
40
Strategic Choices
Anoop Menon
Our focus is on how a firm’s strategy may change over time in

anticipation of and in response to competitors’ strategy. We
designate a firm’s configuration of resources and activities as its
“activity system” and we reserve the use of the term “grand
strategy” to designate overall plans that allow for major changes in
activity systems consistent with the idea of strategic change.
“Repositioning costs” refers to the costs associated with changes to

the existing activity system or changes from one activity system to
another. These definitions reflect our focus on strategy-level
questions and are consistent with the use of the term “strategy” in
game theory wherein a strategy is a plan of action for the entire
game. The repositioning cost approach is also applicable to tactical
actions.
Our starting point is Pankaj Ghemawat’s theory of commitment as

the essential element in identifying strategic choices. Ghemawat
identifies commitment as the distinguishing feature of strategic
choices. He argues that committed choice creates the persistent
pattern of action typically characterised as strategy.
Top-level strategists are advised to focus their attention on

irreversible choices since the decisions will guide and constrain a
firm’s future path. While more easily reversed choices — e.g., pricing
in most cases — may be important, they are not, in this view,
strategic.
From “Elevating Repositioning Costs: Strategy Dynamics

and Competitive Interactions in Grand Strategy”
40
The 4 parts of visualization
Brian Tracy
Did you know that there are 4 parts of visualization that you can
learn and practice to assure that you use this incredible power to its
best advantage all the days of your life?
How Often?
The first aspect of visualization is frequency. This is number of times

that you visualize yourself performing in an excellent way, in a
particular event or circumstance, to achieve a particular goal. The
more frequently you repeat a clear mental picture of your very best
performance or result, the more rapidly it will appear as part of your
reality.
How Long?
The second element of visualization is the duration of the mental

image, the length of time that you can hold the picture in your mind
each time you replay it. When you deeply relax, you can often hold a
mental picture of yourself performing at your best for several
seconds, and even several minutes. The longer you can hold your
mental picture, the more deeply it will be impressed into your
subconscious mind and the more rapidly it will express itself in your
subsequent performance.
How Clearly?
The third element of visualization is vividness. There is a direct

relationship between how clearly you can see your desired goal or
result in your mind and how quickly it comes into your reality. This
element of visualization is what explains the powers of the Law of
Attraction and the Law of Correspondence. The vividness of your
desire directly determines how quickly it materializes in the world
around you.
Here is an interesting point: When you set a new goal for yourself,
your image or picture of this goal will usually be vague and fuzzy.
But the more often you write it, review it, and repeat it mentally, the
clearer it becomes for you. Eventually, it will become crystal clear.
At that point, the goal will suddenly appear in your world exactly as
you imagined it.
How Intensely?
The fourth element of visualization is intensity, the amount of

emotion that you attach to your visual image. In reality, this is the
most important and powerful part of the visualization process.
Sometimes, if your emotion is intense enough and your visual image
is clear enough, you will immediately achieve it.
Of course, the elements of frequency, duration, vividness, and

intensity can help you or hurt you. Like nature, the power of
visualization is neutral. Like a two-edged sword, it can cut in either
direction. It can either make you a success or make you a failure.
Visualization brings you whatever you vividly and intensely imagine,
whether good or bad.
Action Exercise
Continually feed your mind with clear, exciting, emotional pictures.

Remember, your imagination is your preview of life's coming
attractions.
40
How much money do you need to live a good life?
Swatee Jog
The Deccan Herald
Published on April 19, 2014
Will more money bring you more happiness? You don’t get rich when
you earn more, save more or spend more; you get rich when you
need no more, avers Swatee Jog.
Have you met people who almost always lie about their earnings?
Some who earn less, flaunt more than they can afford, while others
who make exorbitant money, say it’s way too less to even make
ends meet! Which brings us to the key question – how much money
is good enough to make us happy?
Money is a strong motivating factor for almost everyone. It is

stronger so in the early years of one’s career when all we think of is
how to get rich – fast! In the initial, heady days, many young men
and women strive to reach the targets, put in extra time and tap
alternative sources of income. Often, this mad rush to earn more is
based on comparisons with ‘other people’ who seem to be living a
better life.
After all your needs of food, clothing, shelter, children’s education,

medical insurance and the like are met, there’s still the urge to earn
more. The human mind needs to satiate the ego. Have a car – want a
bigger, better, costlier model. Taken a holiday to Shimla? Now, want
to go to Switzerland.
Ambition is a good thing and money is, certainly, important. But if it

becomes the most important driving force in your life, you are
definitely heading for a disaster. Moderation is the key when it
comes to splurging and displaying wealth as an achievement.
As Gandhiji had said, “There is enough on earth for everyone’s need,

but not for everyone’s greed.” This greed to earn more, spend more,
inevitably, leads to various lifestyle problems, including - but not
limited to - diabetes, hypertension, obesity, insomnia and the like.
Too much greed comes at a cost. One has to pay with ones well-
being.
Little wonder then so many youngsters who started earning at the

cusp of campus life, speak of retiring (and often do) by 40. They
burn themselves out to such an extent that their mind and body can
no longer perform as they used to, even if they wish to.
Of course, the family will be happy if they get a better house, a

better car or a fancier vacation, but given a choice, they would want
your company and well-being more than anything else. Long hours
spent at the office, sadly, can never compensate for the lost
moments of familial bliss at home.
When a person’s life revolves around money, time becomes a

commodity.
Finding no time for exercise, family, entertainment or friends, means

that you have enslaved yourself to the wads of notes. Later in life
when you look back, you will most likely see an empty nest and all
the time in the world with no one to speak to and children whose
childhood is sadly devoid of any contribution from you. As clichéd as
it may sound, children often fondly reminisce the time spent with
parents and seldom remember all those fancy toys or expensive
dinners.
Rather than repenting when all is lost, it is time to pause and think –
are you running behind a mirage? Richness, as someone has rightly
said, is not in earning more, saving more or spending more; it is
when you need no more.
So, make it a point to inculcate the value of frugal living in children

from a very young age. Infants don’t really know the price or make
of a toy and will not hesitate to bang it down into pieces.
Children can play happily even with utensils and spoons from the
kitchen. In other words, splurging on designer clothes or branded
toys is definitely not the way to express love. Not unless you want
them to grow into someone who puts price tags on happiness.
Invest in good books that you can read and discuss with your child;
expensive holidays can make way for nature excursions and trekking
with family. It’s a great idea to encourage children to earn for
themselves, even if it means doing odd jobs. A dinner out after good
grades at school, a cycle if the child teaches the maid’s daughter to
draw. Such acts will exemplify that earning is hard work and not an
entitlement.
Involve in philanthropy at a young age. Contrary to popular notion,

philanthropy is not only about donating huge sums of money. It
could also be the time, efforts and ideas that you may provide to a
worthy cause.
Once your priorities are sorted, sit down and think: How much
money do I really need? Take stock of your life; make a plan; work
on it. But not at the cost of your health, happiness and household.
40
Part-Timer Makes it Big Time
Zig Ziglar
When Dean Sanders was a college student, he went to work part-

time with Sam's Wholesale Warehouse. He became the president of
this company which, at the time of his presidency, did in the
neighbourhood of $25 billion in business each year. Many years ago,
I met and came to know Dean when I was speaking for Sam's grand
opening of their new stores.
One morning it was my pleasure to address Sam's staff at a

breakfast before they opened for business. Dean's openness with his
staff, his "shirt-sleeve" approach, and his friendliness were
refreshing, but I was really impressed when I noticed that Dean was
moving some empty plates and cups over to the trash barrel. As I
observed this I wondered in my own mind how many CEOs of $25
billion corporations would be doing such a thing. First, would they
be at a working breakfast; second, would they mingle so easily and
freely with the staff, which included highly paid executives and
hourly wage earners; third, would they be "cleaning up" the
breakfast dishes when there were so many other people around?
The thing that struck me is that Dean did it so matter-of-factly

without any obvious thought or a feeling that, "Well, somebody's
gotta do this and nobody else is doing it, so I suppose I will." It was
an attitude of it was there, it needed doing, he was the closest and
therefore the most logical one to do it.
It's true: "He who would be the greatest among you must become
the servant of all." Today there are many people who think others
should be serving them, but the reality is that those who serve best
are those who will lead the most. Think about it. Adopt the
servant's attitude (without being servile), and I will see you at the
top!

40
Get To Or Got To?
Zig Ziglar
Every morning for several years, promptly at 10:00 a.m., a

prominent business woman visited her mother in a nursing
home. She was close to her mother and loved her very much. Often
she had requests for appointments at that time of day. Her response
was always the same: "No, I've got to visit with my
mother." Eventually, her mother died. Shortly thereafter someone
asked this woman for an appointment 10:00 a.m. It suddenly hit her
that she could no longer visit her mother. Her next thought was,
"Oh, I wish I could visit my mother just one more time." From that
moment on, she changed her "got to's" to "get to's."
Her story makes us realize that pleasurable things are "get-

to's." Burdensome things are "got-to's." I get to play golf today; I
get to go on vacation this week, etc. We use the term "got to" when
it's not necessarily pleasurable: I've got to go to work at 7:00 a.m.
tomorrow; I've got to clean house; etc. Since perceptions influence
our thinking and performance, try this. Instead of, "I've got to go to
work," think about those who have no job. Then you can
enthusiastically change it to, "I get to go to work tomorrow." If
somebody invites you to go fishing, instead of saying, "No, I've got
to go to my child's game on Saturday," think about the fact that
someday your child will grow up and you won't be able to go to his
or her games. Then it's easy to change it to "get to."
It's amazing what that change in words will eventually do for your
attitude. You'll find yourself looking forward to doing those things
instead of feeling as if you have to do them. With a difference in
attitude, there'll be a difference in performance. With a difference in
performance, there'll be a difference in rewards. So think about
those things, change your "got-to's" to "get to's" and I'll see you at
the top!
40
Unhappy Reactions Where They Belong: Behind You
Guy Finley
All unhappy reactions have an allotted life span and will pass away...
but only if you pass on identifying with their painful presence in you.
Release Yourself from Runaway Reactions
When the doctor taps your knee and it suddenly jerks, you don't get
upset with your leg for jumping out of control. Why? Because in that
moment, you realize your temporary jumpy experience is an
involuntary physical reaction.
But, how do you view your emotional reactions when they start
jerking you around? Not only are they hard on you, but once they're
done, you're then hard on yourself with a negative reaction to your
first reaction. Here's how to release and relax yourself from these
runaway self-wrecking reactions.
To begin with, understand that you are not your own reactions,
anymore than the burst of a flashing skyrocket is the night sky it
temporarily illuminates. And yet, it really does feel that way. Let's
find out why.
Painful reactions to life events are just mechanical, emotional knee

jerks. They only become more than a package from the past when
you say "I" to the first reaction. This misplaced identification may
feel like you, but it's not. And now you can learn this rescuing fact
for yourself.
Each time you feel a reaction about to take you over, just relax from
yourself. Let that reaction be there, within you, without your
involvement. Don't say "I" to it.
This conscious new action releases the reaction to complete its life,
instead of stealing yours. It soon fades and you're free. So, relax.
And release yourself.
Excerpted from ‘Freedom From the Ties That Bind’ by Guy Finley
40
Applying the Four D’s

Jill Tibbels
If you feel overwhelmed by TOO MUCH INFORMATION, you are not

alone. With 24-hour news channels, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,
e-mail, etc., we are constantly being bombarded with
information. In order to keep from feeling overpowered you can
take control of the flow of information you receive. It doesn’t matter
if you are receiving your information in the form of business
journals, paperwork or e-mails. The basic 4 D’s apply.
When you get any information, you quickly scan it and apply one of
these options. You can Do it - whatever action is called for, you do
immediately. For example, if it is a business journal or industry
magazine, once you sit down and start to look through it commit to
yourself that you will read it now. Or you can Delegate it - send this
report/memo/paper to the appropriate person with a note attached
and dated. Or you can Dump it - you’ve read it, you understand the
information, now you can put it in the trash and move on. Too often
we keep papers unnecessarily. The last choice, and the one you
want to choose the least, is to Delay it. If you can’t perform any of
the other choices and you must delay it, place it in an appropriate
file. Is it a bill that needs to be paid? Put it in a folder along with
other bills. Does it require a phone call? Put it in a folder along with
other papers that require a phone call. You will be bundling like
tasks. When it is appropriate, you can pick up the folder and your
chequebook and write three or four cheques all at once - much more
efficient use of your time.
These same 4 D options apply when you are reading your e-

mails. When you first open the e-mail, can you go ahead and Do
it? If you decide to Delegate it, click on “forward” and send it along
with a suitable message. Once you’ve gotten the information on the
e-mail, can you Dump (or delete) it? Or do you need to Delay it and
do it later? Then you will want to have virtual files to put those e-
mails in so that you can quickly and easily find them and decide
what you are going to do about them.
Jan Jasper, in her book Take Back Your Time, recommends creating
folders based on the next action required. Not where it came from,
not what it is - these are not specific enough to be useful. Think of
the next action called for. Each time you encounter a piece of
information (paper or electronic), decide what your next action will
be, then file it accordingly in your action files. You can also make a
note in your planner as a backup. Just because something is in a file
doesn’t mean you will forget to work on it. The files work in tandem
with your planner/calendar. You then must leave time to follow
through with things– otherwise, your action files turn into
procrastination files! You can master the flow of information by
daily applying the 4 D’s. With a little persistence this can become a
positive daily habit that keeps you feeling on top of the information
you receive.
40
This is Personal
Zig Ziglar
As a speaker who has spoken in numerous countries on all five

continents and has flown over three million miles in the process,
I've had some "interesting" experiences. Several years ago, I was
speaking in San Antonio, Texas, when, during one of the breaks, a
shy senior citizen came up to me and with a big smile on her face
said, "You kind of make a nice little ol' fee for these little ol'
speeches you make, don't you?" With a smile on my face I looked at
her and said, "Ma'am, I don't know where you got that idea, but
whoever gave you that information was sadly misinformed. The
reality is, I make a great big ol' fee for making these little ol'
speeches."
I mention the story in order to make a significant point. I did not

tell her the number of times I've spoken in prisons, drug
rehabilitation centres, schools, churches, civic clubs and made
scores of other appearances for free as I struggled to get started in
my career. I was willing to do those things because I honestly
thought I had something to say and knew that I had to learn how to
say what people needed to hear in a way that would keep them
interested. I also instinctively understood that anything worth
doing was worth doing poorly - until I could learn to do it well.
All professionals prepare. Highly-skilled athletes, actors, singers

and musicians, physicians, etc., all go through the same procedures
getting ready for their next "performance" to make certain they
keep their skills sharp. It's true: "Proper preparation prepares us
for peak performance," so prepare properly and I will see you at the
top!
40
On Managing Attention
Daniel Goleman
Vital abilities build on the basic mechanics of our mental life. For
one, there’s self-awareness, which fosters self-management. Then
there’s empathy, the basis for skill in relationship. These are
fundamentals of emotional intelligence. Weakness here can
sabotage a life or career, while strengths increase fulfilment and
success. Further, systems science takes us to wider bands of focus
as we regard the world around us, tuning us to the complex systems
that define and constrain our world…
Systems awareness helps us grasp the workings of an organisation,

an economy or the global processes that support life on this planet.
All that can be boiled down to a threesome: inner, other, and outer
focus. A well-lived life demands we be nimble in each. The good
news on attention comes from neuroscience labs and school
classrooms, where the findings point to ways we can strengthen this
vital muscle. Attention works much like a muscle: use it poorly and it
can wither; work it well and it grows…
For leaders to get results, they need all three kinds of focus. Inner
focus attunes us to our intuitions, guiding values and better
decisions. Other focus smooths our connections to the people in our
lives. And outer focus lets us navigate in the larger world. A leader
tuned out of his internal world will be rudderless; one blind to the
world of others will be clueless; those indifferent to the larger
systems in which they operate will be blindsided.
From “Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence” by Daniel Goleman

40
Win-Win Negotiations
Zig Ziglar
Virtually everything involves some sales or negotiation skills.

Negotiations are easier if we come from a position of power - having
complete confidence in our product. It's also nice to have an "ace in
the hole" (a persuasive bargaining chip) that enables us to influence
the other party in a positive way.
I love this story told about a negotiation that transpired between

France and Japan. When the Renault cars manufactured in France
were sent to Japan, the Japanese required each car to be
individually inspected. On the other hand, the French allowed
Japanese cars into their country on the basis of type inspection,
where one vehicle picked at random represented all others of the
same make. Needless to say, this was not an equitable arrangement.
French President Francois Mitterand did not register a complaint.

Instead, he ordered that all Japanese VCRs be inspected one at a
time. He also insisted that VCRs be imported through one port in
Southern France. The port was manned by two slow-moving customs
inspectors who were assigned to conduct thorough inspections of
the tens of thousands of Japanese VCRs that were quickly piling up
on the dock. It wasn't long before the Japanese government
understood that the walls they had built and the counter-walls the
French had built were costing the citizens of both countries a lot of
time and money. After a brief negotiation, the Renault cars began to
roll into Japan at a faster pace and the VCRs resumed their normal
import pace into France.
As nearly as I can tell, there was no threatening or media hoopla of
any kind. The French quietly took their stand and the Japanese
quickly made the change. The negotiations were skilful, resulting in
a win for both sides. Remember this basic lesson in life: If you can
arrange any transaction or any agreement so that both sides win,
the long-range best interests of both will be served. Take that
approach and I'll see you at the top!
40
Being Fully Alive
Dan Miller
Here’s an example of how people are sitting on top of new kinds of

opportunities without seeing them. On a recent radio interview we
had a lady caller who had been teaching at a school. She loved
being able to motivate and inspire the students– and the philosophy
of the school aligned with her personal values. But she was being
paid a meagre salary and felt the financial strain at home. So she
quit that job and took a position as director of a day care
facility. She doubled her salary – but was confronted with business
values that conflicted with her own. She found non-supportive,
critical parents and general tension in much of what she tried to do.
Her question for me: “Should I work in a school where it embraces
my faith and values– but I don’t make any money– or should I keep
the job that pays double the money but conflicts with my values?”
What do you think – is this lady fully alive? And what is the problem
with her question?
Here’s a short illustrative story:
There May Be More Solutions Than What You First See . . .
Many years ago in an Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of

owing a large sum of money to the village moneylender. The old and
ugly moneylender fancied the farmer’s beautiful daughter, so he
proposed a bargain. He would forgive the farmer’s debt if he could
marry his daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified
by the proposal, but the cunning moneylender suggested that they
let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a
black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money-bag. The girl
would have to reach in and pick one pebble from the bag. If she
picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father’s
debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white pebble, she need
not marry him and her father’s debt would still be forgiven. If she
refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail until
the debt was paid. They were standing on a pebble-strewn path in
the farmer’s field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick
up two pebbles. The sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up
two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl
to pick a pebble. Now, imagine that you were the girl standing in the
field. What would you have done? If you had to advise her, what
would you have told her?
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
(1) The girl could refuse to take a pebble—but her father would
then be thrown in jail.
(2) The girl could pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in
order to save her father from debt and imprisonment. Or
(3) The girl could pull out both black pebbles in the bag, expose
the moneylender as a cheat, and likely incite his immediate
revenge.
Take a moment to think through this story. I’ve used it with the
hope that it will help you see alternate solutions beyond the obvious
ones. The girl’s dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical
thinking. You may be in a similar situation. You may be in a job you
hate—but the pay is great. You have two choices:
(1) You can stay in a job you hate.
(2) You can leave the job but will then give up the great pay.
Are these really all the options?
Here is what the girl did. She put her hand into the money bag and
drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall
onto the pebble strewn path, where it immediately became lost
among all the other pebbles. “Oh, how clumsy of me,” she said. “But
never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will
be able to tell which pebble I picked.” Since the remaining pebble
was black, it would have to be assumed that she had picked the
white one. And since the moneylender dared not admit his
dishonesty, the girl would have changed what seemed an impossible
situation into an extremely advantageous one. Now, how could you
see more creative solutions for your situation?
Now let’s go back to that teacher – remember the one who

wondered if she should be in the school that aligned with her values
but didn’t pay much – or in one that paid double but conflicted with
much of what she believed. Did she perhaps have options she was
not seeing?
Here’s a related example --

Several years ago Jim was eager for a change. He had an academic
background but was just exiting a career in the military. Over a
casual dinner conversation his wife asked Jim, “If money were not
important, what would you do?” Jim responded immediately, “I’d sit
around the house and read old history books.” Guess what Jim does
today. He reads old history books. He creates audio CDs as he brings
to life old historical novels with his dramatic, engaging readings.
With primarily a home schooling customer base, children beg to hear
the next instalment as they are simultaneously learning the rich
stories from history. Recently I received this note from Jim – “Just
thought you’d like to know that, doing what I love, my profits
increased this year to over 104K. A great year for me that was a lot
of fun and a lot of work. All with a seven second commute.”
If you created ten alternatives for moving forward rather than just
two, what are the chances you could uncover an application that
allows you to engage your passion – and make more money than
you ever imagined?
40
Attitude vs. Aptitude
Brian Tracy
Did you know that a major source of stress in your life is the "fear of
rejection" or "fear of criticism?"
This fear of rejection manifests itself in an over-concern for the

approval or disapproval of your boss or other people. The fear of
rejection is often learned in early childhood as the result of a parent
giving the child what psychologists call "conditional love."
Rise Above the Need For Approval
Many parents made the mistake of giving love and approval to their
children only when their children did something that they wanted
them to do. A child who has grown up with this kind of conditional
love tends to seek for unconditional approval from others all his or
her life. When the child becomes an adult, this need for approval
from the parent is transferred to the workplace and onto the boss.
The adult employee can then become preoccupied with the opinion
of the boss. This preoccupation can lead to an obsession to perform
to some undetermined high standard.
Avoid Type A Behaviour
Doctors Rosenman and Friedman, two San Francisco heart

specialists, have defined this obsession for performance as "Type A
behaviour." Experts have concluded that approximately 60% of men
and as many as 30% of women are people with Type A behaviour.
Don't Burn Yourself Out
This Type A behaviour can vary from mild forms to extreme cases.
People who are what they call "true Type A's" usually put so much
pressure on themselves to perform in order to please their bosses
that they burn themselves out. They often die of heart attacks
before the age of 55. This Type A behaviour, triggered by conditional
love in childhood, is a very serious stress-related phenomenon in the
American workplace.
Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to deal with the fear of
rejection, criticism and disapproval.
 First, realize and accept that the opinions of others are not
important enough for you to feel stressed, unhappy or over
concerned about them. Even if they dislike you entirely, it has
nothing to do with your own personal worth and value as a
person.
 Second, refuse to be over concerned about what you think

people are thinking about you. The fact is that most people are
not thinking about you at all. Relax and get on with your life.
40
All of Us Are in Debt
Zig Ziglar
Albert Einstein said, "A hundred times every day I remind myself
that my inner and outer life are based on the labours of other men
living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the
same measure as I have received." As you think about what
Einstein said, you will come to realize the completely unselfish
wisdom of those words. First, we're indebted to our parents
because they were responsible for bringing us into the world. Next,
we are indebted to the doctors, nurses, aides, orderlies and other
hospital personnel for the part they played in making our arrival a
safe and healthy one.
We're indebted to the educational structure where we learned

reading, writing and arithmetic which are critical to our lives. It's
sobering to realize that yes, somebody did have to teach Albert
Einstein that two plus two equals four.
We are in debt to all the pastors, priests and rabbis who taught us
the essence of life by instructing us in those character qualities that
are important to us, regardless of our chosen field of endeavour -
athletics, medicine, education, business, government, etc.
We certainly owe a debt to those people whose messages have been

encouraging and positive, as well as informative and
instructional. We are deeply in debt to those public servants who
committed their lives to service through appointed or elected offices
in this great land of ours. This includes the postman who brings the
mail, the press men and reporters who are responsible for putting
these words in print, and those workmen who build the highways
upon which we move from one location to another.
The list is endless - which brings us back to Einstein and his

quote. We do have a heavy debt and one way to repay that debt is to
regularly express thanks and gratitude to the men and women who
make our lives worth living. Think about it. Thank a lot of people
and I'll see you at the top!
40
Leaders are Managers
(Part Two of a Two-Part Series)
Zig Ziglar
Richard Kerr of United Technologies Corporation explains the

difference between leadership and management: "Leaders clearly
know that people don't want to be managed, they want to be
led. Whoever heard of a 'world manager'? 'World
leader'? Yes. Educational leaders, political leaders, religious
leaders, Scout leaders, community leaders, labour leaders, business
leaders - they lead, they don't manage.
The carrot always wins over the stick. Ask the horse. You can lead
your horse to water, but you can't manage him to drink. If you want
to manage somebody, manage yourself. Do that well and you'll be
ready to stop managing and start leading.
After all, if you can't manage yourself, how can you legitimately
expect to manage others?"
The manager must understand that a superb leader is far more likely
to be loved than is an outstanding manager. One deals with his
people daily; on the other hand, the leader will have several
managers and will deal with the manager's people only indirectly
and seldom. For that reason, managers must have thicker skins and
learn not to take things personally.
The leader dreams the dream and sets the direction of the company,
but it's the manager's responsibility to produce the
results. Managing is an "all-the-time thing," while the leader stands
aside and encourages his manager who directs his people. The
leader and manager must communicate effectively and regularly so
all the people understand the support each supplies to the other.
Peter Drucker said that the secret of management is never to make a

decision which ordinary people can't carry out.
General Norman Schwarzkopf says, "The leader lays out the concept
but he lets the people execute it. Yes, the leader is responsible for
putting the right people in place, but then he steps back and allows
the people to do their work." That's leadership.
Think about it; adopt that as a principle and I'll see you at the top!
40
Leaders are Managers

(Part One of a Two-Part Series)
Zig Ziglar
Today we hear a lot of discussion, read a lot of articles and look at

an amazing number of books on leadership and managing. They are
different functions, but leaders need to know a great deal about
managing and managers need to know a lot about leading. The
greater part of all U.S. companies are comprised of fewer than 100
people. The overwhelming majority of those employ less than
fifty. This means that the roles of leader and manager often fall on
the same shoulders. It is, therefore, imperative that each knows
something about leading and managing. This is also true in the
family.
In the business world, the manager is in the trenches and on the

front line, "getting his hands dirty." He handles the daily
responsibilities of dealing with his people in an effective way. He
makes certain that what needs to be done is done in an effective and
timely manner. On the other hand, a leader encourages the
manager while the manager enforces the leader's program.
The leader has an aura that frequently goes with being the head of
the organization. The manager exposes his warts in his daily
interchanges with his people and uses discipline when necessary.
That's one of the reasons the leader must regularly embrace the
manager, so that the entire team gets the full message. The leader
must also understand that the way he treats the manager is the way
the manager will treat his people and the way those people will treat
their customers.
In an ideal situation, the leader makes the manager more effective

and the manager makes the leader more effective. The leader gives
the manager responsibility as well as authority, support and
encouragement. It's safe to say that leaders, then, are the spark of
encouragement that lights someone else's torch of hope who, in
turn, passes it on. If you aspire to a position of leadership,
implement that idea and I'll see you at the top!
40
How much do we need?
B N Bharath, Chief Manager,
State Bank of India, RACPC, Hubli
Has anybody done any survey anywhere in the world, to ascertain

how much one needs, for peaceful living on this earth? Well…none
to my knowledge. Whether anyone has calculated or not, how much
do we need, by the by? Actually, no one knows how much one
requires for having a contented life. Just as no one knows about
his life span, no one is aware how much is essential for him.
Ask this question to a person who spends his night on the pavement
begging for his food. Perhaps, he might say that he wants one
square meal a day and a shelter on his head. Those living in small
house might crave for slightly bigger accommodation. This desire
goes on endlessly. A person having one house, definitely, wants
another house or a vacant site. Next, he wants to have villas, farm
houses and houses in the name of each of his children. There is no
end for such desires. One travelling by public transport might be
eager to go for a two-wheeler and a two-wheeler rider might look
for a car. One owning a small car desires to drive a bigger
car. Afterwards, each member in the family will go for separate car
for each of them! Such desires go on endlessly.
Normally one is expected to be satisfied with basic clothing

needs. As children we used to be content with one or two pairs of
new dresses in a year. Alas! It is not the case, now, any more. We
go on buying for different occasions like birthdays, marriages,
anniversaries, religious functions etc. and of course, to cash in on
some mega discount sale also! Shops are encashing on our
weakness, with some discounts and catchy advertisements. It is a
different matter that the actual price would have already been
jacked up by then! The tempting offers like “Buy one Get one FREE”
forces you to buy the things, which otherwise you wouldn't have
bought! If you peep into the wardrobes of people you will find
sarees in different colours, shades, materials, matching and so
on. Have you come across any person who says, “No more clothes, I
have enough”. Well, we are yet to come across such satisfied
persons.
Majority of the persons might say that to enjoy the life one should
go on accumulating materials like these. But, is there any
end? How long one goes on in this buying spree? It is really
difficult to answer. If one loses interest in buying these items, will
he lose the interest in life itself? Hmmm.... difficult question to
attempt, no? There is no yardstick to measure the satisfaction level
of human beings.
We need to be guided by the quote of H. Jackson Brown who

says,“Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity,
they think of you.” If we think of our children and the moral
standards, which we want to inculcate, then perhaps we will not do
things which are unethical. We will be within our means earning
lawful money only. When our desires do not match our earnings, we
will be tempted to go awry. Then we will do all sorts of things
forgetting ethics, values, humane angle, legality and common
sense. It is equally shocking to know that greed is the root cause of
violence, world over. It is obviously greed which has led several
wars between different countries, time immemorial.
Till we get answer to this question, Happy Shopping! May the tribe
of real estate builders, shop-keepers, motor vehicle manufacturers,
textile industry etc. increase!
40
This is a Philosophy, Not a Tactic
Zig Ziglar
I frequently use the phrase, "You can have everything in life you
want if you will just help enough other people get what they
want." Here's a story that validates this in an interesting and life-
saving way.
Dr. Bob Price of Tri-City Hospital sent us this little gem: One of the
greatest success stories in the history of the United States in this
century is the story of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was largely
financed by Oakland and San Francisco, the two cities it eventually
connected. Underneath the bridge there were two other
"cities." One was a city of the men who were working on the bridge
and the other city was composed of men waiting for someone to get
killed so they would have a job.
Sometimes the wait was not very long because during the first part
of the construction of The Golden Gate Bridge, no safety devices
were used and 23 men fell to their deaths. For the last part of the
project, however, a large net which cost $100,000 was
employed. At least ten men fell into it and their lives were
spared. The interesting sidelight, however, is the fact that 25%
more work was accomplished when the men were assured of their
safety. The 25% increase in productivity paid for that safety net
many times over, not to mention what it did for the men's families
and the men themselves whose lives were saved.
Both cities got what they wanted. Their magnificent bridge served a
wonderful purpose, and they got it at a much-reduced price because
they helped those workers get what they wanted - a safe, secure,
well-paying job.
Think about it. Buy that philosophy and I will see you at the top!
40
Change the World!
Lee Colan
Some people literally change the world; people like Gandhi, Mother
Teresa, Abraham Lincoln, Ben Franklin.
Although it’s an ambitious goal to change the world, we often

underestimate our singular power to change the world of those
around us. We don’t have to be Oprah giving away new cars to
positively change someone’s world. We each have that same power.
We don’t even have to do anything! We only have to say three
simple words.
Try one of these three-word, power-packed statements to change

someone’s world:
I love you.
I thank you.
You are terrific.
I am sorry.
I trust you.
I promise you. (and keep it!)
God bless you.

I can help.
I understand you.
You are talented.
I believe you.
You will succeed.
You inspire me.
It’s no problem.
I forgive you.
You’re the best!
Whether we have a long conversation with a friend or simply place

an order at a restaurant, every word makes a difference. The results
of our interactions are rarely neutral; they are almost always
positive or negative.
Ask yourself, "Do my words reflect my commitment to helping

others, creating win-wins, continuously learning, embracing change,
supporting my team's success?"
Words are the seeds of commitment. We plant the seeds with each
movement of our lips. Once they are spoken, our words either grow
in the form of an immediate response or they take time to
germinate. Whether the result becomes apparent sooner or later, we
cannot speak words of failure and defeat and expect a life of success
and victory.
Plant the seeds of success in someone’s mind and heart today. You’ll
start a positive ripple effect that can be felt by many people and
many miles away, not to mention the positive effect you will feel
inside.
Do not do a thing! Just say three simple words.
I will close with a three-word challenge: JUST SAY IT!
40
How to Unleash Your Emotional Intelligence and
Become a Great Leader
Nick Arrizza
Do you know that becoming a great leader rests on the ability to

master one's internal emotional landscape? Do you know that
greatness is manifest by individuals who are able to display courage,
inner strength, integrity, high moral values, clarity of vision,
empathy, understanding, self confidence, charisma, a sense of
determination and a depth of self knowledge?
Do you know that this isn't something that one needs to be born
with but can be acquired in short order? How does one do that you
ask?
Well simply by erasing all of the internal emotional impediments to

greatness that you were programmed with during your life. These
impediments exist as negative limiting beliefs and negative
emotions that run amok with your brain, body and life. Examples
include:
 The fear of failure
 Lack of self confidence
 Worry
 Self doubt
 Feelings of inadequacy
 Fear of making mistakes
 Fear of taking responsibility
 Fear of delegating to others
 Need to be in control
 The need to impress others
And so on.
If we look at the consequences of harbouring one of these, say self

doubt we can readily see that this will undermine self confidence,
create indecisiveness, lead to procrastination, create confusion and
loss of focus, will undermine one's credibility and influence and
therefore erode one's power to lead effectively.
If one could simply erase self doubt from one's experience the
converse would result i.e. one would feel self confident, self
assured, at ease, be decisive, have clarity of mind and a clear sense
of what needs to be done, able to inspire others and therefore to be
a strong and credible leader.
40
25 Sure Ways to Improve Communication
Bill Cottringer
“The greatest problem with communication
is the illusion it has taken place.”
~ George Bernard Shaw.
Communication is the main currency in the today’s Information Age,

but sadly, miscommunication is our number one failing problem.
Good communication involves quality thinking and it can be achieved
with a plan and a little effort. Here are twenty-five practical ways to
improve your communication and achieve more success in what you
are trying to do at work, home or play.
1. Start with the assumption there is much more miscommunication

going on today than communication. This refreshing admission is the
only starting point to improving communication. If you can’t be
honest about how bad communication has gotten, then you are
missing the starting point for actually improving your own
communication.
2. The prerequisite of good communication is good thinking. First,

take some time to clarify your own mind about what you think to be
true about what you want to communicate. Then engage in thinking
about important things like—what you want to say and why, how to
say it for the best impact, and what not say which will result in the
most misunderstanding and miscommunication.
3. Good communication is mainly about good listening (or careful

reading as the case may be). When you listen or read more closely
and carefully, you are more likely to understand what is meant and
be in a much better position to ask the right questions or respond in
the best way.
4. The majority of communication today is written and that is where

the most miscommunication goes on. This is because non-verbal
communication has to be assumed from written words rather than
validated in person in real time, and we all know where assumptions
get us. In the majority of miscommunication going on in written
form, misunderstanding gets no airtime to correct. This problem will
take some creativity to overcome.
5. Knowing your audience can help improve communication

significantly. The key is to know your audience well enough so that
you can customize the communication better with the right style and
content, honesty and openness, length, humor, details, language,
sophistication, comprehension level and all the other things that
help you connect better.
6. Always aim for the simple—not on this side of complexity, but

rather on the other side of it. That is where peak communication
most often occurs. And, arriving at the truth of something and then
speaking it quietly usually has a dramatic effect.
7. You can’t ever make improvement in communicating better unless

you ask for and use relevant feedback about how well or poorly you
are doing, to make appropriate course corrections. But, this will be
easier if you accept the beginning admission in # 1 above.
8. Try to leave the emotions out of electronic communication

because they can rarely be accepted in the spirit they are being sent.
Thoughts drive emotions and behavior, so think you way through the
communication, minus the emotions that are distracting to making
the needed connection.
9. Sometimes communication can improve by not saying something

you would prefer to say even though you know it probably won’t do
any good. This is true when someone is unclear in their own mind
about what they are trying to say or are wrong in what they think.
The criticism has more power left unspoken.
10. On the flip side of this sensitivity about what not to say, it is a
real art to be able to talk openly about the “elephant in the room” in
a cautious, prudent way, leaving everyone wishing they had had
enough nerve to say the thing.
11. If you are not clear or sure of what you are trying to say, at least
offer that propaganda or better yet, take the time to figure out your
purpose and then proceed with more clarity and certainty.
12. Be very careful about adding to the communication minefields

things like confusing ambiguous words, poor grammar, spelling
mistakes, typos, overly long sentence structure, disorganized
chronology, etc. because these distractions are very annoying and
get the audience off target with the message. They interfere greatly
with making a connection with the audience.
13. Be brutal with re-writes, phone conversations or in-person

communication to learn to only say what is cost effective if every
word costs you a dollar to speak or write. We all have way too much
information in e-mails alone to digest with any real meaningfulness,
so do your part in lightening the overload. Everyone is short on time
and the motto “be brief, be brilliant and be gone” conveys great
respect for others’ time.
14. Use words that blast visual meaning instantly with graphic
pictures that can’t possibly be miscommunicated, misunderstood or
not make your point. Can’t you just see the impossibility of trying to
herd chickens and cats on a moving flatbed truck or trying to roll
molasses up a sand hill?
15. When all else fails start with writing down a good outline that
helps organize your main ideas so you can develop them in enough
detail that they make good sense. This kind of effort will usually
improve getting your important thoughts and ideas across more
clearly.
16. With very important conversations, e-mails or letters always let

some time pass between what you need to say rather than what you
want to say at the heat of the moment. And never be afraid to get a
trusted second opinion. The best writers and speakers always test
drive their material.
17. Increase your vocabulary daily by taking the word quizzes in

Reader’s Digest of browsing through an on-line or hard copy of a
Thesaurus. Using words with their correct meanings cuts down on a
lot of unnecessary miscommunication.
18. Learn the importance of perceptions and perspectives. Write or
wrong, these are reality and the reason why a person thinks and
communicates the way he or she does. When you are more aware of
perceptions of yourself and the perspectives of others you are
communicating with, there is much more understanding and
understanding always facilitates better communication.
19. Collect good quotes and use them strategically to emphasize

your important points. When you can succinctly summarize a couple
of paragraphs into one short sentence of high impact, you have done
much to help reduce the information overload which is a huge
obstacle in communication.
20. We all have beliefs, mostly wrong, which we seem willing to

argue to the death over. Be brave and shed those wrong beliefs with
an open mind to attract better ones which help improve
miscommunication.
21. When you cultivate important virtues like patience, empathy,

tolerance, tentativeness and acceptance, your communication will be
doubly more effective and fun.
22. Learn to develop your own signature style of communication,

like great actors and actresses do in the roles they play. Fit you
communication style to your personality and character traits that
make you unique.
23. By communicating your beliefs, thoughts and feelings in a

likeable manner, you will make huge gains in improving your
communication. This is done by good listening and being positive,
agreeable, honest, accepting, funny, relaxed, genuine and non-
judgmental.
24. Politeness has seemed to have been lost in electronic

communication without the formalities of names and general
sensitivities and niceties. This seemingly unimportant part of
communication may be detracting in not so small a way and getting
your important message heard and understood.
25. Know when to stop talking or writing. There is no 25th

communication tip so why try to make one up?
Consider applying several of these suggestions and reap the results

of more successful communication.
“A man's character may be learned from the
adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation.”
~ Mark Twain.
40
Courageous Leadership Skills: Busters and Backers
Sandra Walston

Leader Talk
Martin Crowe & Arundhati Bhattacharya
40
Press Release: The CNN-IBN
Mumbai, March 20: After a successful first season last year,

CNN-IBN is back with its second season of Leader Talk, in
association with Gulf Oil. The talk show features some of the
world’s most well-known corporate giants and sports legends
who share their ideas, thoughts, experiences and leadership
mantras.
In the seventh episode of this season, Rajdeep Sardesai

speaks to Martin Crowe, New Zealand’s successful batsman
and former captain; and Arundhati Bhattacharya, the
chairman of State Bank of India.
On the show, the two leaders talk about how important it is

for a leader to inspire others through their deeds and
overcome their fears. While Crowe believes in living in the
moment, without fearing the past or the future, Bhattacharya
says that one needs to be grounded to achieve something
great; once you create a reputation thereafter your reputation
precedes you.
Don’t miss this episode of Leader Talk – Season 2 on

Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 11:30 AM followed by a repeat
telecast on the same day at 10:30 PM and on Sunday, March
23, 2014 at 10:00 AM and 6:30 PM, only on CNN-IBN.
40
Is Good, Good Enough?
Dan Wilson
"Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24
At the beginning of his long-running best-seller, Good To Great, Jim

Collins proclaims "good" is the enemy of "great." What I think he
means by that is that good - defined as "good enough" - can settle
us into complacency, thus holding us back from reaching our full
potential.
I once envisioned success as being a destination, that is attaining a

certain level of achievement in some lucrative field such as law,
medicine, or finance, so that I could kick into maintenance mode and
reap the rewards, similar to winning the lottery then living on easy
street. But the closer I came to attaining that kind of success the
more I began to realize that easy street is a dead-end street, the
very thing that threatened me from ever reaching my highest
potential, a perfect example of good being the enemy of great.
It was my own battle with the enemy "good" that eventually led me
to the profession of coaching, first to be coached myself, then to
coach others. It opened my eyes to the great potential that exists
among bright, well educated high achievers in today's marketplace
who, in my opinion, represent one of the world's greatest under-
developed resources. The potential lies in transforming proven
successful people and their endeavours from good to great rather
than settling into maintenance mode as I had been tempted to do.
Coaching is not about teaching or offering advice. Instead, it is

about exploring possibilities together with a fellow human
being. The thrill occurs when new potential is discovered and begins
to develop.
Like easy street, "good enough" is a dead-end street. It is the enemy

that becomes a barrier between us and our fullest potential. "Run in
such a way as to get the prize," the Apostle Paul encourages us. The
prize is not a destination or a finish line; rather, it is that thrill that
occurs when new potential is discovered and begins to develop. It is
about staying in the race, seeking and pursuing opportunities,
growing and learning.
40
Respond Don't React
Zig Ziglar
Most people would agree that the loss of both arms for a three-year-
old would be a tragedy beyond belief, and it is tragic. That's what
happened to Jon Paul Blenke. He and his parents quickly accepted
the fact that he would be without his arms for the rest of his life and
decided to adapt and use what was left and not moan about what
was lost.
Unfortunately, most people, when they lose part of a physical or

financial asset, take the "I've lost it all and there's nothing I can do"
approach. Jon Paul instinctively knew better, his parents
encouraged him and the results speak for themselves. Today any
parent would be proud to have Jon Paul as a son, and any coach
would be delighted to have him on his team. At age eleven, Jon Paul
is an outgoing, enthusiastic, highly-motivated youngster who has an
incredible attitude. When someone tells him what he can't do, he
starts figuring out a way to do it. He plays soccer, he writes with his
feet, drives the lawnmower with his legs, swims, skates, skis, and
plays football.
Coach Bob Thompson of the Leduc Bobcats says that Jon Paul is a
capable player and his teammates say "he really hits like heck." His
teammates have respect for him and the coach says he is a super
athlete. "In his mind, he doesn't have a disability. The only position
he won't play is quarterback, but if there's a way, he'll find
it." There are few hurdles in his mind he can't overcome. If there's
frustration, it's short-lived and seldom will he give up.
I have an idea this young man is going to do well in his life and he
already serves as a marvellous role model. I encourage you to learn
from this enthusiastic eleven-year-old and I'll see you at the top!
40
Key Skills to Become a Successful Supervisor
Patrick Kee
• Manage a diverse workforce
Managing a diverse workforce can be a challenging task. A

supervisor has to deal with a number of situations on a daily basis.
Moreover, there can be multiple ways to handle a seemingly tough
situation. Hence, a supervisor must use his skills to judge the best
possible way to act in a given situation.
• Delegate tasks and authority
To be effective, a supervisor needs to delegate tasks within his

team. He must look at each individual member's strength areas and
interests while undertaking this delegation.
• Resolve a conflict situation
Another key responsibility for a supervisor is improving

relationships between employees. A supervisor must try to establish
cordial ties between co-workers in order to maximize their work
efficiency. He should inspire them to work together to achieve the
common goal. A conflict between employees can not only reduce
productivity, but it can also destroy the cohesiveness of the team.
This is because a conflict discourages members on the team and
hampers an otherwise productive work environment.
• Motivate employees to increase productivity
To increase productivity and enhance overall performance, a

supervisor also needs to motivate his team members. He must be
able to encourage them to do better. He should be aware of how
each member on the team is performing as against a set
expectation. This exercise would help to identify under-performing
workers and their areas of improvement.
• Communicate effectively
Communicating effectively implies clear, precise understanding of

messages by subordinates. Whether it is setting individual goals,
making a presentation or providing a routine feedback, each
member on the team must be able to follow the communication
clearly.
• Provide a constructive feedback
A supervisor must also learn to provide a constructive feedback to

employees. Delivered in a proper manner, a feedback can help an
under-performing worker to work upon some main areas of
improvement. In the same manner, it helps to recognize and reward
the contribution of employees.
Start Procrastinating Tomorrow

Lee Colan
You've heard the old procrastinator's turn of phrase, "Don't do today

what you can put off until tomorrow." Well, the same goes for
procrastination itself. Put if off until tomorrow. Seize the future you
want by seizing the present you have. Get started now – not
tomorrow, next week or when you get around to it. "Around to it"
never seems to get here.
We grasp at the latest fads and the newest techniques, all with the
hope of capturing the magic we see in others who are highly
successful. We emulate strong role models, we study, we strive – all
to find the secret of success.
Ultimately, scientific studies reveal this secret is not necessarily a

matter of talent, intelligence, creativity or strategy. Success on any
level requires the ability to follow through, to execute a plan, to
persevere ... to stick to it. A good plan might get you into the game,
but sticking to it catapults you into the winner's circle.
In my first book, Sticking to It: The Art of Adherence, I introduced

the Adherence Equation. It is based on research and real-life
experiences of the absolute highest-achieving people and teams.
In this equation, there are three success factors that high achievers
practice. They continually:
• Sharpen their Focus
• Build their Competence
• Ignite their Passion
Below is a sampling of tips from the companion book, 107 Ways to

Stick to It to help you get the year started right.
Sharpen your Focus
 Keep your goal visible at all times... literally! Keep your goal on
your desk, in your wallet or purse, on your bathroom mirror, on
your refrigerator. This plants the seeds of success in your mind
and focuses your attention on things that will help you achieve
your goal.
 Worry wrecks your focus. We all worry... the trick is to minimize

the time between your first worried thought and your first action
to attack it. Remember, much of our worry is based on concerns
in our minds, not reality. Mark Twain once said, "I've suffered a
great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never
happened."
 Tame your technology... or it will become your master. In today's

highly connected world, you have to define boundaries around
your time. Just because your Blackberry or cell phone notifies
you of a new message doesn't mean you have to shift your focus
to attend to it. Constant accessibility can blur your focus. Block
out time to respond to texts, voice and e-mail messages.
Build your Competence
 Prepare for two steps ahead. Balance your focus on the task at
hand with preparation for the next step. This prevents
complacency. Ask yourself, "What knowledge, skills,
relationships, experiences do I need to develop, to be prepared
to succeed?"
 Create it once, use it many times. If you know you will perform a
task more than once, create a checklist, form or template to save
time and improve your consistency over the long haul. No need
to reinvent the wheel every time you conduct or coordinate an
off-site meeting, prepare a proposal, send out a mailing, plan a
new project timeline, etc.
 Ask the right questions. The fastest way to change the answers
you receive – from yourself and others – is to change the
questions you ask. Asking the right questions will get you better
answers whether you are asking it of yourself or of others. The
questions you ask will either limit or expand the possible
responses.
Ignite your Passion
 We gravitate to our dominant thought and we move toward that

which we believe to be true. Use these natural forces to pick a
goal that ignites your passion (you should feel the tingle up your
spine!). Next, select an image (i.e., relaxing on the beach, the
smiling face of a friend, a hand reaching out for help), word
(e.g., victory, abundance, legacy) or physical item (e.g., ring,
coin, sticker). Then, use the image, word or item you select as a
constant reminder of your goal. It will trigger an emotional
response, ingrain your goal into your mind and more quickly
start moving you toward your goal.
 Ask yourself before leaving the office each day, "Did I do

something today that leaves a positive, lasting impact?" If the
answer is no, stay until you do.
 Listen to Yoda. In the immortal words of the Star Wars Jedi

Master, "Do or do not. There is no 'try.'" If you are nervous that
your plan won't work, you might find yourself saying, "Okay, I'll
try to do it." You are laying the foundation for being
unsuccessful from the beginning, giving yourself a way out.
Yoda's adage is a passionate reminder that life rewards those
who let their actions rise above their excuses.
 We get what we expect. Expect the very best of yourself and of

others. Great success is always rooted in great expectations.
Procrastinate tomorrow. Stick to it today!
Getting Things Done
Judi Moreo
Have you ever heard anyone say "There's just not enough time to
get everything done?" "The world is just going so fast." "Technology
is making life so hard." "The faster I go the behinder I get." The rate
of change we are experiencing today does make it seem like the
world is going faster. But we can deal with this and get things done
if we will set some priorities.
A priority is a choice. Every time you choose to do one thing before

another in your life you're establishing priorities. One activity has
been assigned greater importance than another activity. Your
priorities should be to do those things that will lead you to the
accomplishment of your goals. Many people do a lot of things, work
hard, and still don't accomplish their goals. They don't have an
objective, organized, common sense understanding of how what we
do today relates to tomorrow, next week, next year or what they
want in life. If you want to be sure to achieve your goals, you must
work backward from the desired achievement. In order to do this, I
will first have to do that. Before I do that, I must do this. Go all the
way back to where you are right now. What do you need to do now?
What we do or don't get done is a result of our habits...many of

which began in childhood and have carried on with us throughout
the rest of our lives. Some are beneficial; others are destructive.
If you are going to get things done, you must uncover your bad
habits, break them, and replace them with success habits. Some of
the questions you might want to ask yourself are:
• What are my bad habits?

For the next few days, keep your eyes open for those repeated
activities that waste time and are unproductive. When you identify
these, you are one step closer to breaking them.
• Why do I do it?
The answer is usually obvious. Look for reasons like convenience,
the social aspect of it, or just because you've always done it that
way.
• Why do I want to change?

You may need more time to accomplish something. You may want to
have more time to do other things or participate in more important
activities.
Remind yourself that destructive activities are keeping you from

doing what you want to do. Also, remind yourself why you're doing it
and why you'd like to change.
Once you know what the problem is, it's time to form new
productive habits. There are three similar questions that are the key:
• What good habits do I want to develop?

Whatever the desired activity, it should be placed in the centre of
your consciousness.
• Why do I want to do it?

Will it lead to greater productivity, more efficiency, a healthier,
stronger body, or more leisure time?
• Why do I want to change?

Are there things you would like to do or learn? Would you like to go
somewhere that you haven't been? Would you like more quality time
with your family and friends?
Repeating these three good habit questions every day could

convince you that it's time to take action and get things done!
How to Make a Vision Board- That Works!
Leslie Cunningham
I was 23 years old and living at home with my parents in Missouri
when I became inspired to create my first vision board. I was in
between seasonal work and had a deep burning desire to move out
west to Montana. I didn't have much money and I had no idea how I
could afford the move or where I would find work when I got there.
Because I struggled with so much doubt as to how I could transform

my vision into a reality, I decided to create a vision board for my "Go
West Dream" - even though I really didn't have a clue as how to
make one. I cut out photos of myself and glued them on top of
images of a cabin in the mountains.
I also cut out images of me doing my ideal work as well as images of

me surrounded by new friends. I remember looking at my vision
board daily and yearning for my dream to come true. And much to
my excitement and surprise every one of my dreams on that vision
board did come to pass.
With just a few hundred dollars in savings I decided that there never
would be a perfect time for my move - so I rented a U-haul and went
west. Miraculously, everything fell into place. I got a job that had
only become available one week prior to my moving to Montana and
was hired on the spot.
I found a place to live in a town that had very limited rental housing
at the time. Not only that but I found my "dream cabin" in the
mountains surrounded by thousands of acres of hills, forests,
streams and wildlife. I never in my wildest dreams could have
orchestrated these events so perfectly.
I can whole-heartedly attest to the power of vision boards. Put quite

simply, a vision board contains images of you achieving the things
you want to achieve, doing the things you want to do and living the
life you yearn to live.
Here's 4 simple steps you can take to make a vision board...
1. Indulge in daydreaming.
Before you begin collecting images for your vision board spend some
time imagining the kind of dreams that you want to achieve in the
next 12 months (I like to create vision boards for a year at time, but
you can create a vision board for any desired time frame).
And you can create vision boards anytime throughout the year -- not
just at the beginning of the year.
I'll also create smaller vision boards throughout the year for a
specific goal that I'm working on (for example, if I'm training for a
half marathon or leading a live two-day event).
Create an inspiring atmosphere for your initial
daydreaming/visioning session. You might want to light a candle or
play some soft music. Give yourself full permission to be a kid again
and to daydream about everything you'd love to achieve in the next
12 months.
If physical activity stimulates your creativity you might also consider

going for a hike, walk or run. If you have animals that you are
attached to and that inspire you like horses or dogs you might want
to spend some time with them.
The bottom line is to go someplace that makes you feel inspired and
supports you in tapping into your creativity.
2. Capture your inspirational insights in a journal.
After you've spent some time dreaming, capture your ideas in your
journal.
A great way to stimulate additional ideas and dreams is to ask

yourself, "If I could achieve anything in the next 12 months what
would I love to achieve?" Or, "What would I love to achieve -- if only
I believed it were possible for me to achieve it?"
You can also challenge yourself to list out 30 dreams that you'd love
to accomplish in the next 12 months and see what ideas come to
mind for you.
After you've finished journaling review your dreams and decide

which ones resonate the strongest for you. Hint: Make sure you only
choose dreams that truly resonate-- not ones that you feel like you
should accomplish.
3. Gather supplies and collect images.
To create your vision board you'll need to get some foam core board,
scissors, glue stick, tape and lots of magazines with inspiring
images. You can often find used magazines at your local library or
Book store.
Another alternative for finding images to include on your vision

board is to use the internet. Simply type in the name for the kinds of
images you are searching for and make sure you include the word
"image". For example, if you're looking for images of houses you
would type in the word "house images."
You'll get search results for hundreds of free images. Once you find
something you like simply cut and paste it into a Word document
and then print them out (this way you can include 4 or 5 images on a
page).
I personally like to fill my entire vision board so that there is very
little white space remaining. I also make sure to include images of
both my business and personal goals.
4. Create an inspiring atmosphere while working on your vision

board.
I'll often play soft music or light a candle. I make sure to work on
my vision board when I have at least an hour or two of
uninterrupted time so that I can completely immerse myself in the
process.
Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's teacher
He will have to learn, I know,

that all men are not just,
all men are not true.
But teach him also that
for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish Politician,
there is a dedicated leader…
Teach him for every enemy there is a friend,
Steer him away from envy,

if you can,
teach him the secret of
quiet laughter.
Let him learn early that

the bullies are the easiest to lick…
Teach him, if you can,

the wonder of books…
But also give him quiet time
to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun,
and the flowers on a green hillside.
In the school teach him

it is far honourable to fail
than to cheat…
Teach him to have faith

in his own ideas,
even if everyone tells him
they are wrong…
Teach him to be gentle

with gentle people,
and tough with the tough.
Try to give my son

the strength not to follow the crowd
when everyone is getting on the band wagon…
Teach him to listen to all men…

but teach him also to filter
all he hears on a screen of truth,
and take only the good
that comes through.
Teach him if you can,

how to laugh when he is sad…
Teach him there is no shame in tears,
Teach him to scoff at cynics

and to beware of too much sweetness…
Teach him to sell his brawn

and brain to the highest bidders
but never to put a price-tag
on his heart and soul.
Teach him to close his ears

to a howling mob
and to stand and fight
if he thinks he’s right.
Treat him gently,

but do not cuddle him,
because only the test
of fire makes fine steel.
Let him have the courage

to be impatient…
let him have the patience to be brave.
Teach him always

to have sublime faith in himself,
because then he will have
sublime faith in mankind.
This is a big order,
but see what you can do…
He is such a fine little fellow,
my son!
5 Reasons People Fail (and What to Do Instead)
Geoffrey James
These barriers to success are easy to overcome, but only when you
know they’re there. Why do some people achieve their goals while
others fail? I believe it’s because successful people manage to
overcome five barriers that, in many cases, guarantee failure. Here
are those barriers and how to overcome them:
1. Uninspiring Goals
When most people set goals, they envision a “thing,” such as a

particular amount of money, an object (like a new car), or a specific
achievement (like writing a book). Unfortunately, these “things I’m
gonna get or do” goals don’t appeal to the core of what motivates
you, because they miss the point that what you’re actually seeking
in life and work is the POSITIVE EMOTIONS that you believe those
things will produce.
Fix: Rather than envisioning a “thing” as your goal, envision–with all

the strength in your imagination–how you will feel when you
achieve the goal. That way, you’ll be inspired to do whatever it takes
(within legal and ethical bounds) to achieve that goal.
2. Fear of Failure
If you’re afraid of failing, you won’t take the necessary risks

required to achieve your goal. For example, you won’t make that
important phone call, because you’re afraid that you’ll be rebuffed.
Or you won’t quit your dead-end job and start your own business
because you’re afraid that you might end up without any money.
Fix: Decide–right now!–that failure, for you, is a strictly temporary

condition. If things don’t go the way you’d like, it’s only a setback
that, at most, delays your eventual success. In other words, accept
the fact that you’ll sometimes fail, but treat that failure as an
unavoidable (yet vital) component in your quest.
3. Fear of Success
In many ways, this fear is even more debilitating than the fear of
failure. Suppose you achieved something spectacular, like enormous
wealth. What if it didn’t make you happy? What then? What if you
ended up losing all of it? What then? Would your friends start acting
weird? Would your family be envious? Such thoughts (and they’re
common) can cause even a highly motivated person to self-
sabotage.
Fix: Decide that you’re going to be happy and grateful today and
happy and grateful in the future, no matter what happens. Rather
than focus on possible problems, envision how wonderful it would
be to be able to help your friends and family achieve THEIR goals.
(Hint: Watch the last season of the TV series Entourage!)
4. An Unrealistic Timetable
Most people vastly overestimate what they can do in a week and

vastly underestimate what they can do in a year. Because of this,
most people try to cram too many action items into the short term
rather than spacing out activities over the long term. The inability to
get all the short-term steps accomplished creates discouragement
and the impression that the final goal is slipping away.
Fix: As you list the activities and steps required to achieve a goal,
schedule only the 20% of the activities that will produce 80% of
your results. (I explain more about this in the post The Secret of
Time Management.) Beyond that, set ambitious long-term
timetables, but always leave some “wiggle room” when you plan
short term.
5. Worrying About “Dry Spots”
It’s easy to get discouraged when you reach a point at which

nothing you do seems to advance you toward your goal. For
example, suppose you’re trying to master a certain skill. You make
swift progress at first but then, after a while, it seems as if you’re
not doing any better, or maybe a little worse. Some people use these
“plateaus” or “dry spots” as an excuse to give up and therefore fail.
Fix: Whenever you reach a plateau or dry spot, it’s time to celebrate
rather than give up. A plateau is almost always a sign that you’re on
the brink of a major breakthrough, if you just have the patience to
stick with it and trust that you’ll eventually achieve your goal.
Words to Live By
Zig Ziglar
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things money can't buy. If
you removed the rocks, the brook would lose its song. There are
hundreds of languages in the world, but a smile speaks all of them.
One thing you can give and still keep is your word. We're all faced
with a series of great opportunities, brilliantly disguised as
"impossible situations." If we fill our hours with regrets over the
failures of yesterday, and worries over the problems of tomorrow,
we have no time in which to be thankful for the laughter and the
sunshine, the love and the joy of today. If I cannot do great things,
I can do small things in a great way. There are two ways to get to
the top of an oak tree: Catch that first limb and climb, or find a good,
healthy acorn and sit on it.
The message so beautifully expressed in the above paragraph

(excerpt from Words to Live By) is that we need to start from where
we are with what we have in order to get full measure of what life
has to offer. Speaker Joe Sabah says that you don't have to be great
to start, but you must start to be great. The basic problem is that
many people want to wait until everything is "just right" before they
start anything. Actually, you do not have to see the end of the road
in order to take the first step. The rule is simple: Go as far as you
can see, and when you get there you will be able to see farther.
Don't wait for all circumstances to be just right. Start, and take
control of the circumstances. That way you won't have to wait for
the acorn to grow - you'll be climbing the oak tree on your own.
Take this approach to life and I will see you at the top!
Eliminate the Negative and Accentuate the Positive
Zig Ziglar
That was the title of a popular song of yesteryear. Unfortunately,
according to Aubrey C Daniels, Ph.D., and Neil Baum, M.D., in too
many businesses we are managed in the negative rather than in the
positive. They point out that management often says to their staff,
"Don't mention the competitor's product," or "Don't forget to make
five cold calls this week."
"That which is recognized and rewarded is repeated," is a truism. If

employees get attention through the use of the negative,
unfortunately, they will continue in that behaviour. The good
doctors point out that if employees receive positive reinforcement
for behaviour, they're likely to repeat those actions and that,
"Employees are not primarily motivated by money. Money will get
them to show up, but once they have checked in or reported for
duty, they are more influenced by other elements in their
environments."
Nearly everyone is motivated by positive attention from their

managers and peers. Some respond to physical reminders, like a
note or a bouquet of flowers. Others will thrive on public recognition
at a sales meeting. But some may be embarrassed if their name is
called out in public and they are asked to come forward and accept
their reward or recognition. That's why astute managers are
sensitive to each person's personal preferences; and understand
that what makes one person tick, may stop another's clock in its
tracks.
The best way to show appropriate recognition is to get to know

people and reinforce their positive performance with things that are
important to them. Sometimes even a card, a note, a fax, recognition
for acquiring a new account or simply for maintaining such an
upbeat, positive, cheerful attitude, will be the very reinforcement
they need. I'm talking about motivation, not manipulation. When
only the manipulator wins, somebody else loses. In the business
world, as well as in our social and family life, if the other person
wins, you win, too. Give it a try. Put it to work, and I'll see you at
the top!
The Five Secrets of a Phenomenal Business
Howard Partridge
“The secret is the system.” –Michael E Gerber
Secret #1: A Phenomenal Marketing System
Marketing is everything you do to attract prospects to your business.

Notice that I said a phenomenal marketing system. The marketing of
most small business owners is poor.
Marketing is the key to business growth. Without customers you

have nothing. You can do a wonderful job, but if you don’t have
enough customers, nothing else matters. So, you want to have not
just good marketing, but phenomenal marketing.
What is phenomenal marketing? Marketing that is remarkable,

Extraordinary and Outstanding. Phenomenal marketing creates
experiences that engage, educate, and build a sense of belonging.
And you want to have a marketing system. Once you determine what
phenomenal marketing looks like in your business, you want to
figure out how to duplicate it without you having to be involved in
every detail.
Here’s an example: Let’s say that you determine that mailing a

newsletter to your database helps you bring in more business. You
write a procedure on how to compile the newsletter and get
someone else to do the mechanics of it. You might still write it, but
let someone else lay it out, print it, mail it, get the database
together, etc. Then put the task on a calendar so it happens without
your direct supervision.
Secret #2: A Phenomenal Sales System
“Sales” is everything you do to turn a prospect into a paying

customer. Once you generate prospects through marketing, the
sales system is what turns them from prospects to customers.
Remember, you want a phenomenal sales system.
This system includes answering the phone, your phone scripts,

responding to an email opt-in, presentations, and so on. Once they
have actually purchased something from you, they are now
customers.
Many times you may not need more prospects, but you need to take
better care of the leads you get. Is your phone answered live? Is
your phone answered in the most professional way possible? Do
prospects and clients have a great experience when they call your
company? Are your closing ratios what they need to be? Do you
consistently make the add-on sale?
Do you have proven scripts for your people to follow so that you
aren’t the only one who can close the “big deals”? Do you have
phenomenal on-site sales materials? How effective is your response
to Internet leads? Increasing your closing ratios and your job
averages can have a big impact on your business.
Secret #3: A Phenomenal Operations System
Operations is everything you do to service your customer, patient, or

member. The level of service you provide determines whether they
will ascend the “loyalty ladder” and go from customer to client.
What’s the difference between a customer and a client? A customer
buys something solely on the price, value, or special, but doesn’t
have any loyalty to you. A client wants a consultant, an adviser, or a
partner, so to speak, to “take care of that area of their lives.”
You wouldn’t choose a doctor based on price, would you? Or how

about finding the cheapest accountant or attorney? If you do, you’ll
get what you pay for. Clients are loyal, they want a relationship,
they want information, and they refer others like them.
Do you have service systems in place so that your clients get the
most phenomenal service experience ever, consistently every time?
Without you having to be personally involved?
Secret #4: A Phenomenal Administration System
Administration is tracking results. It is also internal office systems

that include financial, accounting, legal, insurance, and those types
of things.
Do you know what your cost of doing business is? Do you know what
your marketing efforts are producing? Do you know what your sales
closing rates are? Do you know what your production rates are? Do
you have a budget for the next 12 months? Do you have the right
insurance and legal protection?
I think I just felt you become overwhelmed with all the “work” you
have to do. If you want to build a predictable, profitable, turnkey
vehicle that will take you where you want to go in life, it will be a lot
of work to build it. But it will be worth it.
Can you imagine a 747 flying across the ocean without knowing
stats? Without knowing what the fuel level is? Yet, this is what small
businesses do every day. They guess. They don’t track. This is one of
the most important parts of your business.
If you don’t make money, your business isn’t working! A business

without a profit is just a hobby! And the only way you know whether
you are making a profit is to track.
Tracking helps you make more while working less.

Read that sentence again. Tracking will help you work less and make
more. Why? Because when you get in touch with your actual
numbers (prepare to be surprised), it will cause you to stop running
harder on the hamster wheel and take action on the things that
actually matter.
Secret #5: A Phenomenal Leadership System
In 2011, I had the opportunity to meet John Maxwell, the world’s

number one leadership expert. As the first person to become a
founding member of John’s very first coaching program, The John
Maxwell Team, I had the opportunity to spend time with John. The
highlight was watching the Super Bowl at his home in Florida.
John says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” Everything?

Can that be true? He goes on to say that “leadership is influence.”
Nothing more, nothing less. And to gain influence, you must “add
value to people.” Is leadership required for marketing? Only if you
want to influence people to do business with your company. And
remember that all of business is about relationships. Marketing,
sales, and service is about relationships. Tracking your numbers
reflects your relationship with yourself! Are you serious about your
life goals? Or are you using your business just to get by in life? To
have something to do?
Speaking of this, John Maxwell also says the toughest person to lead
is yourself. When you begin to understand your strengths and
weaknesses, and you begin to understand how to add value to other
people—to influence them and to “enlist their willing cooperation to
reach a goal” (Dale Carnegie)—you can begin to build a phenomenal
team.
This means that you don’t have to do everything yourself. It means

you can now find those people who can do the things you don’t like
to do (and probably aren’t very good at). My strengths are
marketing, sales, service, and leadership. Did you notice that
administration wasn’t listed? I hated the numbers! Until I got in
trouble. Then I began to love the fact that I could predict a loss in
the future and do something about it before it happened!
I have a staff of forty people who run my companies for me. I can
tell you without hesitation that one of my greatest joys in life is
watching my team grow. To watch my managers grow as leaders
(there is a difference you know), is thrilling. The reason it is thrilling
is because we now have a phenomenal leadership system.
Success is a Partnership
Zig Ziglar
There is an old cliché that behind every successful man there is a

surprised mother-in- law. In most, if not all, cases, success is a
direct result of the efforts of the individual and the support and
encouragement of another person or persons.
Like the fellow says, when you see a turtle on a fence post, you can
rest assured that he did not get there by himself. When you see an
individual climbing the success ladder and reaching the top, you can
rest assured he or she did not get there entirely as a result of his or
her own efforts. In virtually every case they had hope and
encouragement from others.
Nathaniel Hawthorne is a good example. He was discouraged and

had a broken heart when he went home to tell his wife that he was a
failure because he had been fired from his job in the customs house.
Upon hearing the news she startled him with an exuberant
exclamation of joy. "Now," she said triumphantly, "you can write
your book!" To that, Hawthorne responded with the question,
"What are we going to live on while I am writing this book?" To his
surprise and delight, she opened a drawer and drew out a
substantial sum of money. "Where did you get that?" he asked. Her
response is classic: "I've always known you were a man of genius,"
she told him, "and I knew that someday you would write a
masterpiece, so every week, out of the money you gave me for
housekeeping, I saved part of it. Here's enough to last us for a
whole year." From Sophia's (his wife) trust, confidence, thrift and
careful planning came one of the classics of American literature -
The Scarlet Letter. That story can be repeated a few thousand times
- or make that a few million. It happens all the time.
If that is your story in life, I hope you're careful to give credit to

those who assisted you because, if you do, I will see you farther up
the ladder to the top!
11 Powerful Ways to Expand your life

Jim Cathcart
1. Define your future. Describe the life you'd like to live. The future
you see defines the person you'll need to be. Identify the traits and
qualities you'd like to acquire. Think bigger than yourself. An acorn
that only thinks as an acorn will never become a mighty oak. Stretch
yourself. You are undoubtedly capable of more than you ever
dreamed is possible for you.
2. Become the person who would achieve your goals. As you

develop the skills, knowledge, relationships and demeanour of the
“future you,” your goals will be the natural by-product of your
growth. Spend an extra hour each day in the study of your chosen
field.
3. Give more than you must. Nothing advances until somebody

does more than they are paid to do. Always deliver more value than
others expect. Don't require others to acknowledge your generosity.
Give with "class."
4. Make time for what you love. If you don't live fully, you deny the
world your potential contributions. Your "play" sometimes
contributes as much as your "work." What you love reveals the
value you bring to the world.
5. Refine your Inner Circle. We define ourselves through our key

relationships. Explore the mix and depth of those with whom you
spend most of your time. Release those who limit you and connect
with those who can help you live more fully.
6. Resolve your unfinished business. Either deal with it or discard

it. Say your apologies, face your fears, pay your debts, express your
gratitude and get on with living. Don't let yesterday drain value from
today and tomorrow. Break out of the limited world of your past and
start to grow.
7. Rethink existing habits and routines. Describe your typical day

and then reconsider every aspect of it. Change or expand the places
you go, people you see, things you do, and the time you devote to
each. Try new things. Learn a new language, go someplace different,
do some things you'd typically pass by. Find out what your
possibilities really are.
8. Lighten up. Stop stressing over things that only matter to you
emotionally. When life isn't fair to you, get over it quickly. Take your
misfortunes as "course corrections" rather than "catastrophes." Let
go so you can grow.
9. Tighten up. Sloppiness in life allows more variables to creep in

and spoil your plans. Stay on target, increase your self-discipline,
master the art of self-motivation. Sometimes details matter a lot.
10. Profile yourself. Keep a journal of your goals, concerns, fears,

and dreams. Review it at least once a year. Look for patterns that
reveal your core values, natural velocity, natural intelligences and
recurring situations. Realize how life ebbs and flows for you. Notice
the natural cycles of life. Know yourself.
11. Invest in yourself. Set aside a portion of each year's income to

acquire new tools and teachers to increase your potential. Refine
your systems, get expert coaching, attend special conferences,
cultivate a study group, and appoint a board of advisors. You are
your only true asset. Send part of today ahead to the person you'll
be in the future.
Everyone has a Story in Life
A 24 year old boy seeing out from the train’s window shouted….
“Dad, look the trees are going behind!”
Dad smiled and a young couple sitting nearby, looked at the 24 year
old’s childish behaviour with pity.
Suddenly he again exclaimed…
“Dad, look the clouds are running with us!”
The couple couldn’t resist and said to the old man…

“Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?”
The old man smiled and said…
“I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was blind
from birth, he just got his eyes today.”
Every single person on the planet has a story.
Don’t judge people before you truly know them.
The truth might surprise you.
Learning Japan’s success secrets
Rocio Arenas/Beatriz Muñoz-Seca

The New York Times
Japanese performance improvement tools have helped transform

manufacturing around the world. They can also be implemented in
the services sector
The so-called “5S” philosophy focuses on effective workplace

management to reduce waste and non-value-adding activities. It’s
about instilling discipline and order in the workplace, and is based
on five words beginning with the letter “S”:
 Seiri (to sort) aims to remove all extraneous items from the
working area, to avoid clutter and distraction.
 Seiton (to set in place or straighten) is about having what is

needed within easy reach and maximising ergonomic
considerations.
 Seiso (to shine) involves making everyone responsible for, and
conscious of, cleanliness in the workplace. Seiso serves to
reduce workplace accidents, while eliminating the risk of product
contamination. Regular cleaning also makes it easy to spot
malfunctioning tools or equipment.
 Seiketsu (to standardise) assimilates an understanding of how

workstations should look, feel and function. The goal is for
everyone to feel that he or she has contributed to success and
will benefit from it.
 Shitsuke (to sustain) consists of creating and maintaining the

best environment to meet the challenges of sustaining “5S”
through visible commitment on the part of management,
communication to keep everyone informed, regular audits of
“5S” activities, reward and recognition for a job well done,
education to reinforce the importance of “5S,” creating the right
environment by using a programme detailing what is needed to
sustain “5S” and keeping copies of audits and photographs of
the workplace for the evidence portfolio.
To implement “5S,” a simple, measurable, positive and inspiring

vision that captures the key objectives is required.
Once this vision has been established, action lists are easier to
generate, because everyone knows what they are aiming to achieve.
There are other Japanese methods which can be useful to managers.

Here are four of them:
Hoshin kanri
This is a step-by-step planning, implementation and review process

for change. The purpose is to make it possible to break the status
quo and make performance improvements by analysing problems
and deploying solutions.
Hoshin kanri allows top management’s vision to be translated into a

set of coherent and attainable policies that can be understood and
achieved at all levels of the company. It operates both at the
strategic-planning level and at the daily-management level, at which
it addresses more routine aspects of operations.
The Taguchi method
This approach is useful, among other things, for fine-tuning a given

process for best results. It is a system for evaluating and
implementing improvements in products, processes, materials and
facilities.
According to the Taguchi quality-loss approach, a high-quality
process should perform consistently, irrespective of variables in
external conditions. Process variables should never deviate from
desired values.
There is a standard procedure for implementing Taguchi that

involves identifying the main function, side effects, noise factors,
objective functions and control factors.
Then, having conducted a matrix experiment, the data are analysed

and a verification experiment is performed.
Jidoka
Jidoka (automation, or automation with a human touch) is often

described as “stop and respond to every abnormality.” Jidoka
prevents the production of defective products, eliminates
overproduction and focuses attention on understanding any problem
to ensure that it never occurs again.
Rather than waiting until the end of the process to inspect a product,
automation may be employed at early stages of the process to
reduce the amount of work that is added to a defective product. It is
a complete system of machine and human, to ensure that no defect
is passed on to the next process.
Jidoka makes it possible to rapidly or even immediately address,

identify and correct mistakes that occur in a process.
The Takt Time approach
This became a cornerstone of the Toyota production system. It is

one of three elements for standardised work, the others being work
sequence and standard work in process.
Toyota combined a German production concept with flow production,

pull system and level production to form the basis of the just-in-time
system. At Toyota the company uses Takt Time to analyze individual
jobs and make small, incremental improvements.
Takt Time does not solve problems, but it does expose them, along
with any weak points in the production chain.
While these tools of the Japanese improvement movement were

designed for, and mostly have been applied to, manufacturing
processes, their implementation in the service world could generate
new ideas on how to create more competitive service enterprises.
Top Ten Reasons You Don’t Achieve Your Goals
Michael Angier
A great deal has been written about how to achieve your goals. But
for most of us, we still have goals that remain unrealised. We’ve
failed, been frustrated and sometimes never even got started. So
here’s a quick Top Ten list to help you zero in on what’s missing,
what’s stopping you and what you need to focus—or refocus—upon
to achieve your goals.
1. Lack of Clarity.
Very few people are clear enough about what they want to achieve.
Their goals are simply not specific enough, they aren’t measurable,
they lack a target date, and there is little way to know when, if ever,
they will achieve them. They’re also not written down. You can’t hit
a goal you can’t see any more than you can come back from a place
you’ve never been.
2. Not Enough Reasons.

A big enough why will overcome any of the challenges on this list.
Reasons come first, answers come second. The Universe seems to
hang on to the answers and gives them up only to those who are
sufficiently motivated and inspired. Find and enhance your why and
you will almost assuredly win.
3. Not Having a Clear Plan.

Not being sure of the next step creates more procrastination than
almost anything else. You have to have a plan. It may not get
followed exactly, but planning is essential.
4. Insufficient Knowledge.
Never in the history of the world has knowledge been so easy and
inexpensive to acquire. Not knowing can be easily solved by learning
what you need to know or hiring someone who already knows it.
Never let this be an excuse.
5. Lack of Belief.
This one can be a little tougher to recognize and to defeat. Do you
have faith the goal can be achieved? Do you believe you can do it? If
it’s been done, you can learn from those who have done it. If it’s
never been done you can be the first. You do have to believe in order
to make the effort to achieve.
6. Insufficient Skills.
Like Number 4 above, learning how to do something or hiring it done
has never been easier. You do, however, need to know what skills
will likely be needed to get the job done. What resources, skills,
talents and attitudes will be needed?
7. Lack of Focus.
Distractions are aplenty. Like weeds, they appear without effort. Our
job is to work at eliminating and reducing those distractions. A
powerful WHY will go a long way in pushing them aside.
8. Not Enough Accountability.

For most of our important goals, we don’t have a boss. And there
may be few to whom we have to answer. It’s up to us to generate
the accountability, tracking, consequences and rewards to create the
accountability we need.
9. Lack of Health/Energy.
Vince Lombardi, the great football coach said, “Fatigue makes
cowards of us all.” Not having good health or vitality is a serious
challenge for sure. But it CAN be overcome or worked around. It’s a
matter of playing the hands we are dealt and making the most of it.
It should never be used as an excuse.
10. Not Enough Support.

Far too many people try to go it alone without sufficient support. But
any successful athlete, explorer or professional will tell you that to
go after anything substantial, you need help. You need a team or a
coach or both. Get the support you need. Your goals, dreams and
aspirations are worthy of your best efforts. You need to POSITION
yourself to win.
Develop your vision, values, and personal growth
Brian Tracy
The turning point in my life came when I discovered the law of cause
and effect, the great law of the universe, and human destiny. I
learned that everything happens for a reason. I discovered that
success is not an accident. Failure is not an accident, either. I also
discovered that people who are successful in any area usually are
those who have learned the cause-and-effect relationship between
what they want and how to get it.
Determine Your Personal Growth and Development Values
To realize your full potential for personal and professional growth

and development, begin with your values as they apply to your own
abilities. As you know, your values are expressed in your words and
actions.
You can tell what your values are by looking at what you do and how
you respond to the world around you. Your values are the root
causes of your motivations and your behaviours.
Clarify Your Personal Growth and Development Vision
Create a long-term vision for yourself in the area of personal

growth. Project forward five or ten years and imagine that you are
developed fully in every important part of your life. Idealize and see
yourself as outstanding in every respect. Refuse to compromise on
your personal dreams.
Set Goals for Your Personal Growth and Development
Now take your vision and crystallize it into specific goals. Here is a
good way to start. Take out a piece of paper and write down ten
goals that you would like to achieve in the area of personal and
professional development in the months and years ahead. Write in
the present tense, exactly as if you were already the person you
intend to be.
Determine exactly what you want to be able to do. Decide who you
want to become. Describe exactly what you will look like when you
become truly excellent in your field and in your personal life.
Upgrade Your Personal Knowledge and Skills
Set specific measures for each of your goals. If your goal is to excel
in your field, determine how you will know when you have achieved
it. Decide how you can measure your progress and evaluate your
success.
Perhaps you can use as a measure the number of hours you study in
your field each week. Perhaps you can measure the number of books
you read or the number of audio programs you listen to. Perhaps
you could measure your progress by the number of sales you make
as the result of your growing skills.
Develop Winning Personal Growth and Development Habits
Select the specific habits and behaviours you will need to practice
every day to become the person you want to become. These could be
the habits of clarity, planning, thoroughness, studiousness, hard
work, determination, and persistence.
Action Exercise
Decide today to develop yourself to the point where you can achieve
every financial and personal goal you ever set and become
everything you are capable of becoming. Write down your goals and
make sure to look at them every day, then ponder ways you possibly
achieve these goals.
The Heart of a Leader (Part-8)
Brian Tracy
7. Cooperation: The Ability to Work Well with Others

is Essential for Effective Leadership
Your ability to get everyone working and pulling together is

essential to your success. We will talk about the key elements of
building an effective team later in this book. Just remember that
leadership is the ability to get people to work for you because they
want to.
The 80/20 rule applies here. Twenty percent of your people

contribute 80 percent of your results. Your ability to select these
people and then to work well with them on a daily basis is essential
to the smooth functioning of the organization.
Gain the cooperation of others by making a commitment to get along

well with each key person every single day. You always have a
choice when it comes to a task: You can do it yourself, or you can
get someone else to do it for you. Which is it going to be?
You Become What You Think About
The greatest principle ever discovered, which underlies all religion,

psychology, and philosophy, is, ‘‘You become what you think about
most of the time.’’
Most of the time, leaders think about the qualities of leadership and
how to apply them daily.
Leaders have a clear vision of where they are going, and they convey
this vision to everyone around them.
Leaders have the courage to take risks, to move forward, to face

danger with no guarantee of success.
Leaders have integrity. They deal honestly and straightforwardly

with each person. They tell the truth, and they always keep their
word.
Leaders are humble. They get results by using the strengths and
knowledge of those around them. They know how to listen, and they
know how to learn.
Leaders have foresight. They continually look ahead and anticipate
what might happen. They make provisions to guard against possible
reversals and put themselves into a position to take advantage of
possible opportunities.
Leaders focus on what’s important. They concentrate their time and

resources, and the time and resources of the company, on the
activities that will make the most difference.
Leaders cooperate well with others. They are liked and respected by
everyone around them. They go out of their way to get along well
with the key people upon which the company depends. They truly
believe that people are their most valuable asset.
The best companies have the best leaders. The second-best

companies have the second-best leaders. The third-best companies,
in these times of turbulence, are unfortunately on their way out of
business.
The most important contribution you can make to your company is

to be a leader, accept responsibility for results, and dare to go
forward.
From the book 'How the Best Leaders Lead' by Brian Tracy
[Concluded]
Brian Tracy
6. Focus: The Ability to Focus Personal and

Corporate Energies and Resources is Essential to Leadership
Leaders always focus on the needs of the company and the situation.
Leaders focus on results, on what must be achieved by themselves,
by others, and by the company. Leaders focus on strengths, in
themselves and in others. They focus on the strengths of the
organization, on the things that the company does best in satisfying
demanding customers in a competitive marketplace.
Your ability as a leader to call the shots and make sure that
everyone is focused and concentrated on the most valuable use of
their time is essential to the excellent performance of the enterprise.
The natural human tendency, at home and at work, is toward
entropy, toward a dissipation of energy, toward diffusion of effort
and ‘‘majoring in minors.’’
As Goethe said, ‘‘The things that matter most must never be at the
mercy of the things that matter least.’’
The job of the leader is to help every person in the company achieve
laser-like focus on the most valuable contributions they can make to
the growth of the enterprise. And, of course, the leader must lead by
example. The leader must be a role model. If you want everyone
else to concentrate on their highest value activities, you must do the
same, every hour of every day.
How do you recognize the highest value activities? The answer lies
in your core competencies and the core competencies of your
organization.
Start with your personal core competencies; what is it that you do

extremely well? What special skills and abilities have been most
responsible for your personal success to date? What is it that you,
and only you, can do, that, if done well, will make a real difference
to your organization?
What are the core competencies of your organization? What is it that

your company does especially well? What makes your company
superior to your competition? What are the areas where you are
recognized as a leader in your industry? What should those areas be
in the future?
What are your most profitable and successful products and services?
Who are your best and most productive people? What are your most
important markets, and who are your most valuable customers?
Focus on the Future
Leaders are intensely solution-oriented, not blame-oriented. They

think in terms of solutions most of the time. They think about what
can be done immediately to resolve the situation, rather than who
did what and who might be to blame for the problem in the first
place.
Leaders focus on the future, on the opportunities and actions of

tomorrow, rather than the problems and difficulties of yesterday.
Leaders do not complain or criticize. They remain positive and
focused on their goals and the goals of the organization.
One of the keys to calmness and mental clarity is to refuse to spend

a single second worrying or becoming angry about something that
you cannot change. And in most cases, you cannot change a past
event. If something has happened, like spilled milk, there is nothing
you can do about it.
Instead, focus your precious mental and emotional energies on what

can be done, and on what others can do, to deal constructively with
the situation now and solve the problem today.
The only real antidote for worry is purposeful forward action. As the
leader, you should get so busy working on the solution, on the
future, that you have no time to think about what happened in the
past and how it might have been avoided.
[To be concluded]
Brian Tracy
5. Foresight: Leaders Have the Ability to

Look Into the Future and Anticipate What Might Occur
Excellent leaders are good strategic thinkers. They have the ability
to look ahead, to anticipate with some accuracy where the industry
and the markets are going.
Leaders have the ability to anticipate trends, well in advance of their

competitors. They continually ask, ‘‘Based on what is happening
today, where is the market going? Where is it likely to be in three
months, six months, one year, and two years?’’ Because of
increasing competitiveness, only the leaders and organizations that
can accurately anticipate future markets can possibly survive. Only
leaders with foresight can gain the ‘‘first mover advantage.’’
Leaders are astute in what I call extrapolatory thinking. They have

the ability to accurately predict what is likely to happen in the future
based on what is happening in the present. They accurately predict
the consequences of their actions and the consequences of the
changes taking place in the current market.
Project Forward
The extrapolatory thinking and foresight of leaders cover all aspects
of the business. What is it that your customers want, need, and are
willing to pay for today? Based on current trends, what kinds of
products and services will they be demanding in the future? Based
on your current results, what changes are you going to have to make
to ensure that your products and services of tomorrow are exactly
what the customers will be wanting at that time?
A key aspect of foresight is crisis anticipation. Leaders look down

the road into the future and ask, ‘‘What could possibly happen that
could threaten the survival of my business?’’
Leaders think clearly about the future. They think about what might
happen. They think about what they are trying to accomplish today
and what might happen to interfere with their plans for tomorrow.
Only leaders can think about the future. This is one of their primary
jobs. No one else in the organization is tasked with this degree of
future orientation. The greater accuracy with which leaders can
predict the likely consequences of their actions and the changes in
the market, the greater the success of the business will be.
What are the worst possible things that could happen to your
business in the months and years ahead? Of all those things, what
would most threaten the survival of your business? And what could
you do, starting today, to make sure that the worst possible events
do not occur?
The more information you gather and the more people you talk to,
the greater your clarity about future conditions will be. The greater
clarity you have, the better your decisions will be for taking actions
to guard against the possible crises or to take advantage of the
possible opportunities.
One of the best tools to help leaders anticipate both crises and
opportunities is called scenario planning. A wide variety of
problems, setbacks, and unpleasant surprises can befall your
company in the long term. Scenario planning gets you thinking about
what could go wrong so you prepare for the future today.
With scenario planning, you develop three or four detailed scenarios

of your company and its environment 5, 10, or 20 years down the
road (the number of years depends on how quickly change can
dramatically affect your industry). Each scenario is filled with
details; you describe not only your product line, customers, and
competitors, but all the other environmental factors that could
impact your business, such as new federal regulations. Once you
have filled in the scenarios, you can then take realistic, short-term
steps to prepare for the scenarios. Does one scenario anticipate a
new competitor underselling you with cheaper products?
If so, what do you need to do today to reduce costs and increase the
value of your product?
With scenario planning, you can identify the worst possible things
that might happen that could affect the ability of the company to
survive. Then, make a plan to ensure that if one of those reversals
took place, you have already developed a strategy to deal with it.
[To be concluded]
Brian Tracy
3. Integrity: The Most Respected and Admired Quality
of Superior People and Leaders in Every Area of Activity
In every strategic planning session that I have conducted for large

and small corporations, the first value that all the gathered
executives agree upon for their company is integrity. They all agree
on the importance of complete honesty in everything they do, both
internally and externally.
Some years ago, after all the executives around the table had agreed
that integrity was the most important of all values in the company,
the president, one of the richest men in America, made a statement
that I never forgot. He said, ‘‘It seems to me that integrity isn’t
really a value in itself; it is simply the value that guarantees all the
other values.’’
In his best-selling book Winners Never Cheat, Jon Huntsman, who

started a chemical company from scratch and grew it into a $12
billion enterprise, writes, ‘‘There are no moral shortcuts in the game
of business—or life. There are, basically, three kinds of people: the
unsuccessful, the temporarily successful, and those who become and
remain successful. The difference is character.’’
The core of integrity is truthfulness. Integrity requires that you

always tell the truth, to all people, in every situation. Truthfulness is
the foundation quality of the trust that is necessary for the success
of any business.
Steven Covey says that the key to earning the trust of others is to be
‘‘trustworthy.’’ Imagine that everything that you do or say is going
to be published in the local newspaper. Always tell the truth, no
matter what the price, because the price of not telling the truth is
going to be even higher. Jack Welch says the lack of truthfulness, or
‘‘candour’’ in his words, can destroy any business. ‘‘Lack of candour
basically blocks smart ideas, fast action, and good people
contributing all the stuff they’ve got. It’s a killer.’’
A key part of trustworthiness is to always keep your promises. You

should give promises carefully, even reluctantly, but once you have
given a promise, you must always follow through on that promise.
The natural extension of personal integrity is quality work. A person

who is truly honest with himself continually strives to do excellent
quality work in the service of his customers.
It seems that the very best companies, those that are famous for the
quality of their products and services, also have the highest internal
ethical standards.
The Reality Principle
When he was the president of General Electric, Jack Welch was

interviewed in Fortune Magazine and asked what he considered to
be the most important principles of leadership. He said that the most
important principle, in his estimation, was what he called the Reality
Principle.
Welch defined this principle as, ‘‘Seeing the world as it really is, not
as you wish it would be.’’
He was famous for going into a problem-solving meeting and

immediately asking, ‘‘What’s the reality?’’
The Reality Principle is a practical application of the value of

integrity. It requires truthfulness and honesty. It requires dealing in
a straightforward way with the reality of the situation, based on
facts rather than hopes, wishes, or assumptions.
Accepting Responsibility
Leaders with integrity are responsible. They accept responsibility for

themselves and for getting the results that they have been hired and
appointed to achieve. Leaders continually remind themselves, ‘‘I am
responsible.’’
Leaders say, ‘‘If it’s to be, it’s up to me.’’
Leaders refuse to make excuses when things go wrong. Instead,

they make progress. They refuse to dwell on what might have
happened; instead they focus on what can be done now to resolve
the problem.
Leaders do not blame other people for mistakes. The leader accepts
that ‘‘the buck stops here.’’
[To be concluded]
Brian Tracy
2. Courage: The Second Quality That Leaders Have in Common
‘‘Courage is rightly considered the foremost of the virtues,

for upon it, all others depend.’’ (- Winston Churchill)
General Douglas McArthur once wrote, ‘‘There is no security in life;

only opportunity.’’
The quality of courage means that you are willing to take risks in the
achievement of your goals with no assurance of success. Because
there is no certainty in life or business, every commitment you make
and every action you take entails a risk of some kind. This is why
courage is the most identifiable outward quality of a great leader.
The fact is that the future belongs to the risk-takers, not the
security-seekers. The future belongs to leaders who are willing to
move out of their comfort zones and take the necessary risks that
are required for the enterprise to survive and thrive in any economic
situation.
Boldness means the willingness to initiate action with no

guarantees. Samuel Johnson wrote, ‘‘Nothing will ever be attempted
if all possible objections must first be overcome.’’
The more information you gather and opinions you seek before you
make an important decision, the more likely it will be that the
decision will be the right one. But you can never eliminate the
element of risk. It always exists.
Audacity is the Key to Victory
Frederick the Great, who was renowned for his propensity to attack
the enemy no matter what the odds, said, ‘‘L’audace! L’au-dace! Y
toujours l’audace!’’ (Audacity! Audacity! And always audacity!)
Robert Green, in his book The Laws of Power, said, ‘‘Always be

audacious. Audacity will get you into trouble occasionally, but even
more audacity will usually get you out.’’
The practice of boldness and audacity means that you continue to

think in terms of actions you can take. You practice what is called
the ‘‘continuous offensive.’’ You dare to go forward in all
circumstances.
By continually taking aggressive action in the direction of your

goals, you put yourself on the side of the angels. The more action-
oriented you become, the greater will be your confidence and the
more likely it will be that you will do the right things at the right
time that lead to victory.
Hang in There
An essential part of courage is called ‘‘courageous patience’’: the

ability to stay the course and not give up when you do not seem to
be making any progress, or when things are going against you.
After every great offensive action begins, there is a period when

things slow down, and often nothing seems to be happening, neither
victory nor defeat. In this gap, many people lose heart and retreat or
withdraw, or, even worse, fight on half-heartedly. But the leader,
once committed to a course of action, continues to persevere, carry
through, and push forward with the same vigour and energy with
which he began.
In 1941, in the darkest days of World War II, Winston Churchill’s

cabinet members were urging him to ‘‘make peace’’ with Hitler.
Churchill absolutely refused to consider the idea. He gave his famous
speech, which ended with those stirring words, ‘‘We will never
surrender!’’
When he was asked privately why it was that he was so adamant

about fighting on in the face of overwhelming odds, he replied,
‘‘Because I study history. And history tells you that, if you hold on
long enough, something always happens.’’
This conversation took place in November 1941. On December 7,

1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour. Two weeks later, Hitler
declared war on the United States, bringing the United States and its
great industrial power into the war on the side of England, changing
the course of history.
The Ultimate Challenge
The ultimate test of courage in leadership is how well you perform in

a crisis. The only thing that is inevitable and unavoidable in the life
of the leader is crisis. This is the testing time.
Your ability to function well in a crisis largely determines the

success or failure of your organization. This ability cannot be taught
in a classroom. It is only developed when you actually face a real
crisis—a real emergency with serious potential losses.
One of the qualities that I have observed over the years is that,
when presented with a crisis, an unexpected reversal, or a setback,
leaders immediately become calm. They take a deep breath and
deliberately slow down. They have learned over time that the calmer
you remain in a crisis, the better you can think, analyse, and decide.
The crisis is the true testing time of leadership. During the crisis,
you demonstrate to yourself, and everyone who is watching you,
what you are really made of, deep inside.
The key to dealing with a crisis effectively is to decide, in advance,

that no matter what happens, you will remain calm, cool, and
relaxed. You resolve in advance that you will not become angry or
upset. You will get the information you need, make the decisions
that are required, and take the actions that are necessary.
This is the true mark of leadership.
[To be concluded]
A New Kind of New Year's Resolution

That Will Make You Happy
Kathy Caprino
The Forbes Magazine
Published on December 31, 2013
I once read that if you can create a little bit of something positive
that brings you joy and success, then you can create more of it – you
can learn to scale it and build on it. I believe in the power of this
idea, and have used it as a guiding principle to great success in my
business and my personal life.
So let’s apply this to develop a new kind of New Year’s Resolution –

one that won’t just die on the vine and leave you feeling
demoralized and depressed, but will:
 Stick with you – encourage you to continue to commit to it

 Bring you happiness and fulfilment – won’t be some idle fancy
or fad, but will bring you true joy and fulfilment
 Pave the way for more growth – since you’ve already created a
little of it, and know how great that feels, attracting and
building more of it will help you continue to grow and stretch
 Build confidence and self-esteem – bringing more of this into
your life will help you flourish, and remind you that you are
indeed accountable, responsible, and capable of being the
master of your own ship
Think about what you’ve already created in your life today, but want
more of. Let’s start with these key categories:
Love and Kindness: Look around you. Are your relationships

supportive, loving, gentle, kind? Do you have at least one friend and
loved one who believes in you without reservation, who sees the
future vision of you before it’s hatched, and would do anything for
you? Then you can build more relationships that will offer this type
of unconditional support. Think about the glue that holds this
mutually-loving and respectful relationship together. You are part of
this glue; you’ve helped make it possible. Where can you apply that
“glue” to form new bonds that will help you be more of what you
wish to in the world, and help others do the same?
New Year’s Resolution: I will build at least one new relationship in

my life that is mutually loving, caring, supportive and nourishing.
Money: I’ve seen first-hand in my own coaching and consulting

business that if you have built one product that serves your clients
well, and brings great success and fulfilment to them, you can build
more. Examine what you offer in your work and/or your business.
What skills, talents and passions are you drawing on that generate
great outcomes for your employer or for your own clients and
customers? How can you leverage these skills to bring more success
to those around you? What new product or program can you develop
that will help others in a deeper way than you are today?
New Year’s Resolution: I will use my skills in a brand new way this
year that will bring more success, wealth and well-being to those
around me, and thus, to me.
A sense of meaning and purpose: Do you feel that you were meant
for something bigger than what you are experiencing today? If
you’ve ever felt that, I can you tell — you ARE meant for something
bigger. I know because I had that feeling for years, and finally, it led
me to a complete, successful reinvention. And the hundreds of
clients I work with each year have felt the same urging and finally
mustered the courage to act on it. People who dream of doing
something big, something important, making a difference, leaving a
legacy, have the seed of greatness inside of them and are longing to
do something about it. Make 2014 the year you do.
New Year’s Resolution – I will honour the longing I have to play

bigger, to go for something important in my life that will bring a
sense of meaning and purpose to my life. I will define concretely
how I want to play bigger, and walk towards that in 2014.
Belief in what’s possible for you: Some people like to create a theme
for their new year – using one word to describe what they want
more of. A theme is a great way to focus on something important,
and to help bring it into being. Here is a list of some powerful
themes or concepts you could choose from, or build your own:
 Authenticity
 Love
 Forgiveness
 Creativity
 Courage
 Integrity
 Honesty
 Vulnerability
 Openness
 Mentorship
 Wealth
 Peace
 Serenity
 Compassion
 Tolerance
 Prosperity
Choose a word or theme that represents what you want more of.
Print it out, and post it on your computer, your closet, your mirror –
wherever the reminder will have the most impact on you. Then,
make a pact with yourself that you will act, perceive and think in
ways that are in close alignment with this positive experience you
want to bring forth.
New Year’s Resolution – I will honour my new theme for 2014. I

will keep a keen focus on what I want to expand, and cultivate a
practice of gratitude each time I see this theme expanding in my
life.
My theme for 2014 – “expansion.” I’m committing here and now to

overcoming my “upper limit” problems and to stretching into new territory
that, in the past, would have frightened me. I’ve finally let go of the fear of
the “evil eye” (a Greek superstition I learned in childhood that something
evil will befall you if you are too successful, happy, wealthy, attractive,
etc.). I’m done with that darn evil eye – I’m focusing only on loving,
positive and supportive eyes from now on.
What new kind of resolution can you make that will guarantee to bring you
more joy, peace and fulfilment in 2014? Make that resolution today.
[Author Kathy Caprino is an expert in Career-Growth and Leadership Development]
40
Managing Timely
Ron Ashkenas
Have you ever been asked to drop everything to complete a

seemingly urgent task, and then found that the task wasn’t so
urgent? Because we live in a world of continual, real-time
communication from anywhere in the world, we’re used to assuming
that everything happens instantaneously.
As such, it’s almost unthinkable for managers to give an assignment

— whether to a consultant or subordinate — and say, “take your
time” or “think about what it will take and let me know when you
can get to it”. Instead, the almost unconscious default position is to
push for rapid action. Intersecting with this drive for speed is the
reality that many organisations have slimmed down over the last
few years… The result of trying to drive more work through fewer
people, and at greater speed, is a jamming of the queue. The
problem is that some tasks or assignments really do need to be
carried out quickly. But unless they are treated differently, they get
caught up in the same bottleneck with everything else. Are there
repetitive activities that your team is doing that don’t make a
difference, or could be done less often or with less effort?
One overloaded manager, for example, got permission from her boss
to report her team’s activities on a monthly, instead of weekly,
basis. That change gave her team more bandwidth to handle urgent
projects. Work with your team to identify those few things that
really need to be done with speed.
From “Two Ways to Reduce 'Hurry Up and Wait' Syndrome”
40
Is Guilt Good or Bad?
Zig Ziglar
If you follow trials in our courtrooms on a regular basis, you know
that after the judge has passed sentence he will read one of two
statements. If the criminal is given a sentence lighter than the
crime seemed to warrant, the statement will frequently include the
fact that the perpetrator of the crime was genuinely remorseful and
had a deep sense of guilt for the wrong done, so the judge believed
he or she would not be a threat to society.
On the other hand, if the sentence is the maximum for the crime, the
judge, the arresting officers and others will say the accused had
absolutely no remorse, felt no guilt, and "we believe he/she will
repeat this crime."
The dictionary says that "guilt" is the "fact of being responsible for
an offence or wrong-doing; the disposition to break the law." It is
"guilty behaviour and remorseful awareness of having done
something wrong."
Were it not for the feeling of guilt, anarchy would exist. Merited
guilt serves some useful functions in our society. Unmerited guilt,
which is imposed upon us by someone else for an imagined wrong,
can be destructive and debilitating. Merited guilt is closely akin to
empathy, which enables us to, in a real sense, feel the way the
victim feels. As a result, we are more likely to deal more sensitively
with that person in the future. If we, as wrongdoers, have no sense
of remorse, chances are excellent that we will repeat the action and
further damage the individual and destroy any possibility of a
reconciliation or a permanent relationship.
Message: The next time you feel guilty about something, analyse it
and if it is merited guilt, get excited because that means you're on
the way to being a better person. If it's unmerited guilt, simply
reject it and go on with your life. Do this and I will see you at the
top!
40
Finding Happiness is in Your Hands
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
The Times of India
Published on March 14, 2014
A report published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, details

experiments conducted on ‘trying to become happier’. The
participants were made to listen to ‘happy music’, and those who
actively tried to feel happier subsequently reported the highest
levels of positive mood. (Dec 19, 2012).
Such happiness is certainly of an artificial kind. Life is full of

problems. When one is living with the so-called ‘feel-good’ factor
brought on by ‘happy music’, problems still exist all around you. It is
but natural for your mind to keep reacting to these problems, as you
cannot stop the thinking process of your mind. Therefore, this
happiness through music will be artificial and unrelated to reality.
It is not possible to achieve absolute happiness by using this

procedure. It is like wearing an artificial smile on your face while
you are sad within. And anything less than real happiness cannot
satisfy you. What is achieved by this method is only a temporary
state of happiness. It is better to recognise it as self-deception
rather than happiness.
If researchers were to extend their investigation to the entire life of

the participants, they would certainly find that these people in the
long run had become dull. In actual life, there are always problems.
If you want to live in a state of happiness, that will be possible only
if you stop the thinking process. And, when your thinking process is
stopped for long periods, it is but natural that you will become
intellectually dwarfed.
The only formula for happiness is to manage problems rather than

forget about them. Problems are created not by man but by nature.
Because according to nature, problems are nothing but challenges.
When you call a problem a problem, it seems to be an evil, but when
you call it a challenge, it becomes a useful part of life, something
that spurs your intellectual development.
Select two persons from your neighbourhood: one, who was born in
affluence and never experienced any kind of difficulty, and the other
born into difficult circumstances, who had no choice except to face
the difficulties as a challenge and tried to achieve success. You will
certainly find that the first person is intellectually dwarfed, while the
second will be intellectually enhanced.
The British historian Arnold Toynbee has insightfully formed his

well-known formula which he calls the mechanism of challenge-
response. According to this, the formula is: a problem creates a
challenge, the challenge leads to a response and the response
results in success. This is the scheme of things in nature. And, in this
world, a positive result can be achieved by following the path of
nature.
According to the law of nature, happiness is not the greatest good;

struggle is the greatest good. One who escapes from struggle and
tries to live in happiness, is trying to live in a fool’s paradise. This
kind of artificial living is bound to fall apart. Such people can live in
a state of happiness for a temporary period, but then they are
doomed eventually to become sad.
It is not happiness but seriousness, it is not an easy-going life but

struggle, it is not living in comfort but being involved in hard work
that matter in life. This is the natural path and it is by following the
natural path alone that can one attain success.
40
Is Guilt Good or Bad?
Zig Ziglar
If you follow trials in our courtrooms on a regular basis, you know

that after the judge has passed sentence he will read one of two
statements. If the criminal is given a sentence lighter than the
crime seemed to warrant, the statement will frequently include the
fact that the perpetrator of the crime was genuinely remorseful and
had a deep sense of guilt for the wrong done, so the judge believed
he or she would not be a threat to society.
On the other hand, if the sentence is the maximum for the crime, the
judge, the arresting officers and others will say the accused had
absolutely no remorse, felt no guilt, and "we believe he/she will
repeat this crime."
The dictionary says that "guilt" is the "fact of being responsible for
an offence or wrong-doing; the disposition to break the law." It is
"guilty behaviour and remorseful awareness of having done
something wrong."
Were it not for the feeling of guilt, anarchy would exist. Merited
guilt serves some useful functions in our society. Unmerited guilt,
which is imposed upon us by someone else for an imagined wrong,
can be destructive and debilitating. Merited guilt is closely akin to
empathy, which enables us to, in a real sense, feel the way the
victim feels. As a result, we are more likely to deal more sensitively
with that person in the future. If we, as wrongdoers, have no sense
of remorse, chances are excellent that we will repeat the action and
further damage the individual and destroy any possibility of a
reconciliation or a permanent relationship.
Message: The next time you feel guilty about something, analyze it
and if it is merited guilt, get excited because that means you're on
the way to being a better person. If it's unmerited guilt, simply
reject it and go on with your life. Do this and I will see you at the
top!
40
Changes
Jim Berryman
Whether these changes are good or bad depends in part on how we
adapt to them. But, ready or not, here they come!
1. The Post Office. Get ready to imagine a world without the post
office. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably
no way to sustain it long term. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just
about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post
office alive. Most of your mail every day is junk mail and bills.
2. The Cheques. Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away

with cheques by 2018. It costs the financial system billions of
dollars a year to process cheques. Plastic cards and online
transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the check. This plays
right into the death of the post office. If you never paid your bills by
mail and never received them by mail, the post office would
absolutely go out of business.
3. The Newspaper. The younger generation simply doesn't read the

newspaper. They certainly don't subscribe to a daily delivered print
edition. That may go the way of the milkman and the laundry man.
As for reading the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in
mobile Internet devices and e-readers has caused all the newspaper
and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with
Apple, Amazon, and the major cell phone companies to develop a
model for paid subscription services.
4. The Book. You say you will never give up the physical book that
you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages. I said the same
thing about downloading music from iTunes. I wanted my hard copy
CD. But I quickly changed my mind when I discovered that I could
get albums for half the price without ever leaving home to get the
latest music. The same thing will happen with books. You can
browse a bookstore online and even read a preview chapter before
you buy. And the price is less than half that of a real book. And think
of the convenience! Once you start flicking your fingers on the
screen instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the story,
can't wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you're
holding a gadget instead of a book.
5. The Land Line Telephone. Unless you have a large family and
make a lot of local calls, you don't need it anymore. Most people
keep it simply because they're always had it. But you are paying
double charges for that extra service. All the cell phone companies
will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge
against your minutes.
6. Music. This is one of the saddest parts of the change story. The
music industry is dying a slow death. Not just because of illegal
downloading. It's the lack of innovative new music being given a
chance to get to the people who would like to hear it. Greed and
corruption is the problem. The record labels and the radio
conglomerates simply self-destruction. Over 40% of the music
purchased today is "catalogue items," meaning traditional music
that the public is familiar with, older established artists. This is also
true on the live concert circuit. To explore this fascinating and
disturbing topic further, check out the book, "Appetite for Self-
Destruction" by Steve Knopper, and the video documentary, "Before
the Music"
7. Television. Revenues to the networks are down dramatically, not

just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies
streamed from their computers. And they're playing games and
doing all lots of other things that take up the time that used to be
spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to
lower than the lowest common denominator. Cable rates are
skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30
seconds. I say good riddance to most of it. It's time for commercials
run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I say good riddance to
most of it. It's time for the cable companies to be put out of our
misery. Let the people choose what they want to watch online and
through Netflix.
8. The "Things" That You Own. Many of the very possessions that we
used to own are still in our lives, but we may not actually own them
in the future. They may simply reside in "the cloud." Today your
computer has a hard drive and you store your pictures, music,
movies, and documents. Your software is on a CD or DVD, and you
can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple,
Microsoft, and Google are all finishing up their latest "cloud
services." That means that when you turn on a computer, the
Internet will be built into the operating system. So, Windows,
Google, and the Mac OS will be tied straight into the Internet. If you
click an icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you
save something, it will be saved to the cloud. And you may pay a
monthly subscription fee to the cloud provider. In this virtual world,
you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any
laptop or handheld device. That's the good news. But, will you
actually own any of this "stuff" or will it all be able to disappear at
any moment in a big "Poof?" Will most of the things in our lives be
disposable and whimsical? It makes you want to run to the closet
and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open
up a CD case and pull out the insert.
9. Privacy. If there ever was a concept that we can look back on

nostalgically, it would be privacy. That's gone. It's been gone for a
long time anyway. There are cameras on the street, in most of the
buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you
can be sure that 24/7 "They" know who you are and where you are,
right down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street View. If
you buy something, your habit is put into a zillion profiles, and your
ads will change to reflect those habits. And "They" will try to get you
to buy something else. Again and again.
All we will have that can't be changed are Memories

40
The power of one
The Times of India
Published on March 6, 2014
Almost exactly a decade ago, the day after the 2004 Lok Sabha
elections were announced, The Times of India launched its special
‘Dance of Democracy’ coverage, bringing readers a 360° ringside
view of one of the great wonders of the modern world. In every
election since, whether general or state, ‘Dance of Democracy’ has
sought to empower, entertain and enlighten you with ground-level
reportage, numbers-driven analyses, and agenda-setting thought
pieces. We will do all that and more in the weeks to come, capturing
the sights, smells and sounds of the mother-of-all political carnivals
on earth, even as we help you separate choice from noise.
Ours is by far the largest democracy in the known universe, equal to

the population of the next five democracies, including the US and
Brazil. We have been called a flawed democracy, and indeed there
are times when we find ourselves drowning in hopelessness and
cynicism, when the only change we see is for the worse. But it is
also the flaws that help us appreciate beauty when it shines
through. And there is no greater beauty than to behold the will of
the people being given voice without their having to resort to
violence. “Ballot over bullet” has become a clichéd newspaper
headline, but it’s one of those clichés we should never take for
granted. Imagine the power of 815 million people exercising their
constitutionally-given franchise in a largely disciplined and
peaceable manner, voting in and out representatives and
governments that they, in their collective wisdom, believe will or
won’t serve their interests. There is a magic to it that people in
totalitarian states can never grasp, and those in smaller
democracies can only wonder at. How can a nation where so many
cannot read or write, or get a decent meal a day, or have access to
basic amenities like water and electricity show such dignity in the
face of so much adversity? Much of the credit goes to our founding
fathers, who set a path that their often-less-than-illustrious
successors have not been able to deviate from (except one, and she
paid the price when she did call an election).
No one can dispute that the ‘system’ has imperfections. We know

only too well how routinely and horribly our elected representatives
let us down, through sloth, corruption and worse — forgetting that
they are meant to be servants, not masters. But at least there is a
check-and-balance in the form of elections. They give us a chance to
hold our representatives accountable. The stakes are huge — for
you, and for the nation. These elections could well shape the destiny
of India, for better or for worse. (We can only hope it will be for the
better.) The best thing about an election is that each of us has a
voice — an equal music, if you will. An opportunity such as this
comes to us but once in five years. Do you want to let it pass you
by? Democracy, in its purest form, is about the power of one. Be the
one.
40
Education is Important
Zig Ziglar
Albert Einstein said, "It is essential that the student acquire an

understanding of and a lively feeling for values. He must acquire a
vivid sense of the beautiful and of the morally good, otherwise he --
with a specialized knowledge -- more closely resembles a well-
trained dog than a harmoniously developed person." Daniel Webster
said, "Knowledge does not comprise all which is contained in the
large term of education. The feelings are to be disciplined, the
passions are to be restrained, true and worthy motives are to be
inspired, a profound religious feeling is to be instilled, and pure
morality inculcated under all circumstances. All this is comprised in
education."
James Truslow Adams says there are obviously two educations: One
should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live. In
order to acquire both educations, three things are necessary: we
need information, knowledge and wisdom. We get information out
of newspapers and magazines. We acquire knowledge through good
books, encyclopaedias, lectures and seminars. But these first two
will not give us both educations. If information and knowledge were
the complete answer, every Ph.D. in America would be rich and
happy, and every high school dropout would be broke and miserable.
Obviously, this is not true.
The third dimension of education is wisdom. Wisdom is the correct

use of the truth in the knowledge we have. Wisdom enables us to
take information and knowledge and use it to make good decisions.
On a personal level, my mother only finished the fifth grade, was
widowed in the heart of the Depression, and had six children too
young to work. Obviously, she needed wisdom to use the
knowledge she had to make right decisions to successfully raise her
family. Fortunately, she had that wisdom which comes from God
who will give it to us if we ask Him for it. Think about it. Acquire
information, knowledge and wisdom and I'll see you at the top!
40
In the Midst of Absurd...
Dan Wilson
Back in the ‘60s and ‘70s during his heyday, I was a big fan of
country singer Roger Miller. Many may remember him for his hit
song "King of the Road," but for me it was the nonsensical lyrics he
so masterfully wrote like "Do Wacka Do," followed by a little "root
doot doot doot do-wah." What I loved about those nonsensical
lyrics was . . . well, sometimes they actually made a lot of sense.
Consider my all-time favourite that goes like this: "Oh, you can't
roller skate in a buffalo herd, you can't roller skate in a buffalo herd,
you can't roller skate in a buffalo herd, but you can be happy if
you've a mind to. All you gotta do is put your mind to it, knuckle
down, buckle down, do it, do it, do it."
Who in the world would even think up such a silly idea as roller
skating in a buffalo herd except, of course, do-wacky-do Roger
Miller? It's so absurd, in fact, it makes absolutely no sense, except
that it does when you listen to the rest of the verse. And that's the
whole point of the song, that even in the midst of life's absurdities
"you can be happy if you've a mind to. All you gotta do is put your
mind to it, knuckle down, buckle down, do it, do it, do it."
Happiness is like love in that attaining it and retaining it is much

more deliberate than it is circumstantial. That is to say, it happens
because we choose it - we put our mind to it - much more than
because life hands it to us. I've told this before about when my
brother and sister-in-law celebrated their fiftieth wedding
anniversary, their grandson asked how they managed to stay
married for fifty years, to which my brother offered this simple yet
brilliant response. "You just do," he said. In other words, living
together and staying in love all those years - being happy! - does not
just happen because you're lucky. It is because you choose for it to
be so, "knuckle down, buckle down, do it, do it, do it."
As wise King Solomon once said, "I know that there is nothing better
for men than to be happy and do good while they live." And you can
be happy if you've a mind to.
40
The Five Principles of Performance
Zig Ziglar
Much of success is about performance. It’s about what we do and

what we are able to inspire others to do. There are some simple
performance principles I have learned in my life, and I want to share
them with you. They really bring success, and what it takes to be
successful, into sharp focus. They are also the basis for developing
and maintaining an expectation of success.
The Five Principles of Performance
1. We generally get from ourselves and others what we expect. It

is a huge fact that you will either live up or down to your own
expectations. If you expect to lose, you will. If you expect to
be average, you will be average. If you expect to feel bad, you
probably will. If you expect to feel great, nothing will slow you
down. And what is true for you is true for others. Your
expectations for others will become what they deliver and
achieve. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the
world.”
2. The difference between good and excellent companies is

training. The only thing worse than training employees and
losing them is to not train them and keep them! A football
team would not be very successful if they did not train,
practice, and prepare for their opponents. When you think of
training as practice and preparation, it makes you wonder how
businesses survive that do not make significant training
investments in their people.
Actually, companies that do not train their people and invest in

their ability don’t last. They operate from a competitive
disadvantage and are eventually gobbled up and defeated in
the marketplace. If you want to improve and move from good
to excellent, a good training strategy will be the key to
success.
3. You find what you look for in life. If you look for the good
things in life, you will find them. If you look for opportunities
to grow and prosper, you will find them. If you look for
positive, enthusiastic friends and associates who will support
you, you will find them. On the other hand, if you look for ways
to cheat, you will cheat. If you look for ways to justify leaving
your spouse, you will find them. If you look for justifiable
reasons to hold a grudge against another person, you will find
those, too. It is a natural tendency of us all to look for things
that will justify what we think we need or want. If you are not
living by the foundation stones of honesty, character, integrity,
faith, love, and loyalty, you will be drawn to seeking selfish
gratification, and that leads to misery and unfulfilled dreams.
Whatever you have will never be enough. Always look for the
good and for ways to help others.
4. Never make a promise without a plan. Far too many people
make promises they can never keep. They may have the best
intentions in the world to keep their promise, but if they have
not made a plan to keep it, they will not be able to do it.
Business leaders who make promises to their employees will
not honour them if they do not create a plan on how the
promises will be kept. If you make a future commitment, you
must understand and be willing to do whatever it takes to
complete that commitment. One of the reasons marriage
commitments fail so frequently is because the husband and
wife do not understand what it takes to have a great marriage.
They do not plan for or understand the sacrifices each must
make for the other to enable a long-lasting relationship.
5. Happiness, joy, and gratitude are universal if we know what to

look for. I believe you can have everything in life you want if
you will just help enough other people get what they want. All
people want happiness and joy in their life, but you have to
know what produces real happiness and how to do the things
that produce it. The moment you begin to worry about the
things you want and the things you don’t have in life is the
moment you will lose your gratitude for what you actually
have. If you are ungrateful, you will never be satisfied or
content or joyful about your life. The greatest source of
happiness is the ability to be grateful at all times.
The Right Attitude
Obviously, the right attitude to expect the best in your life is a

positive attitude. But I want to be very clear that the kind of positive
attitude I describe is not one that is contrived or falsely
manufactured to impress or manipulate others. The positive attitude
I talk about is one that you are filled with, and when you are jostled,
it just spills out! What I’m saying is that a genuinely positive
attitude is part of who you are at your core.
If you have a bad attitude, it is a reflection of who you are, as well.

It’s a “heart condition,” and to get rid of that bad attitude, you need
a change of heart. I would be remiss if I did not encourage you by
saying that God is the most amazing heart surgeon available to us
all. He does not just repair a bad heart; He can give you a new one
that your body will not reject. The new heart He provides will
produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control in your life. When you have those
characteristics and qualities in your life, you will be rightfully
positioned to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are truly
born to win.
40
Reasons why parents don't love enough...
Brian Tracy
You may not know this, but I’m a father of 4. I have 2 sons, Michael
and David, and 2 daughters, Christina and Catherine. Parenting is
not only extremely rewarding, but it’s also an incredible learning
experience.
In addition to being a father for over 30 years, I’ve also done

extensive research into the art of parenting.
This is what I’ve learned…
The most important single role of parenting is to love and nurture

your children and to build in them feelings of high self-esteem and
self-confidence. If you raise your children feeling terrific about
themselves, if you bring them up full of eagerness to go out and take
on the world, then you have fulfilled your responsibility in the
highest possible sense.
Why Parents Don't Love Enough
There are two major reasons for the failure by parents to love their
children enough. First, the parents do not love themselves. Parents
with low self-esteem have great difficulty giving more love to their
children than they feel for themselves. The second reason that
parents don’t love their children enough is they often have the
mistaken notion that their children exist to fulfil their expectations.
Children are Not Property
The starting point of raising super kids is to realize that your

children are not your property. Your children belong to themselves.
They are a gift to you from high above, and a temporary gift at that.
Children are a Precious Gift
When you look at your children as precious gifts that you can only
enjoy for a short time, you see your role as parents differently.
When you celebrate and encourage the special nature and
personality of your child, he or she grows like a flower in sunshine.
But if you try to get your child to be something he or she is not, your
child's spirit will wither, and his or her potential for happiness and
joy will shrivel like a leaf on a tree in autumn.
Love Makes the Difference
The most important consideration in raising super kids is the amount

of love they receive. Children need love like flowers need water. A
continuous flow of love and approval from the parent to the child is
the child's lifeline to emotional and physical health. Love deprivation
is surely the most serious problem that a child can suffer during his
or her formative years.
Unconditional Love and Acceptance
Make it clear to your child that nothing he or she does could ever
cause you to love him or her less than 100%. The most wonderful
gift you can give your child is the absolute conviction that you love
him or her completely, without reservation, no matter what he or
she does and no matter what happens.
Praise and Encouragement
Give your children continual praise and encouragement for the

positive things they do, even small things. Praise and reinforce what
you would like to see repeated. Praise them to build their self-
esteem and self-confidence.
Action Exercise
Ask yourself what it would be like to be your own child. Put yourself
in the position of your child or your children, and then evaluate
yourself as a parent. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What do you do well and what do you do poorly? What are some of
the things that you do that might be causing your children to grow
up with lower self-esteem than you would like?
40
How to join the top 1%
Brian Tracy
Did you know that one hour per day of study will put you at the top
of your field within three years?
Think about it. You've gone as far as you can with what you now
know. Any progress you make from this moment onward will require
that you learn and practice something new.
Commit to Lifelong Learning
One quality of leaders and high achievers in every area seems to be

a commitment to ongoing personal and professional development.
They look upon themselves as self-made people, as “works in
progress.” They never become complacent or satisfied. They are
always striving toward ever greater heights of knowledge and
understanding.
Get to the Top in Five Years
Earl Nightingale said many years ago that one hour per day of study
in your chosen field was all it takes. One hour per day of study will
put you at the top of your field within three years. Within five years
you’ll be a national authority. In seven years, you can be one of the
best people in the world at what you do.
Read Everything You Can
Read all you can about your field. Subscribe to the executive book
clubs and book summaries. Build your own library of important
books in your field. Never be cheap about your education.
In fact, if you make a decision today to invest 3% of your annual

income back into yourself, back into your own personal and
professional development, you will probably never have to worry
about money again.
Go Through 50 Books Per Year
If you read one hour per day in your field, that will translate into
about one book per week. One book per week translates into about
50 books per year. 50 books per year will translate into about 500
books over the next ten years.
Join the Top 1%
If you read only one book per month, that will put you into the top
1% of income earners in our society. But if you read one book per
week, 50 books per year, that will make you one of the best
educated, smartest, most capable and highest paid people in your
field. Regular reading will transform your life completely.
Action Exercises
practice.
 First, ask the successful people around you for their best book
recommendations. Whatever advice they give you, immediately
go out and buy those books, take them home and begin reading
for one hour every morning before you start work.
 Second, when you read, underline and take notes when you
find important ideas that you can use. Implement them
immediately. Take action of some kind on good ideas. You will
be amazed at the change in your career.
40
Strategic Sense
Roger Martin
The Economic Times
Mistaking planning for strategy is a common trap. Even board

members, who are supposed to be keeping managers honest about
strategy, fall into it. They are, after all, primarily current or former
managers, who find it safer to supervise planning than to encourage
strategic choice.
Many companies are damaged or destroyed when they let their costs
get out of control. The trouble is that planning oriented managers
tend to apply familiar, comfortable cost side approaches to the
revenue side as well, treating revenue planning as virtually identical
to cost planning and as an equal component of the overall plan and
budget…
However, when the planned revenue doesn’t show up, managers feel
confused and even aggrieved. “What more could we have done?”
they wonder. “We spent thousands upon thousands of hours
planning.” So, what’s missing?
There’s a simple reason why revenue planning doesn’t have the

same desired result as cost planning. For costs, the company makes
the decisions. But for revenue, customers are in charge. Except in
the rare case of monopolies, customers can decide of their own free
will whether to give revenue to the company, to its competitors, or
to no one at all.
Companies may fool themselves into thinking that revenue is under

their control, but because it is neither knowable nor controllable,
planning, budgeting and forecasting it is an impressionistic exercise.
From “The Big Lie of Strategic Planning”
40
Paid in Full With A Glass of Milk
One day, a poor boy, who was selling goods from door to door to pay
his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he
was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house.
However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the
door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought
he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank
it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us

never to accept pay for a kindness."
He said... "Then, I thank you from my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically,
but his faith in God and man was stronger also. He had been ready
to give up and quit.
Many years later that same young woman became critically ill. The
local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city,
where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard
the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.
Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her
room.
Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. As he recognized

her at once, he went back to the consultation room determined to do
his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to
her case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won.
Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him
for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and
the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure
it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked,
and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read
these words.....
"Paid in full with one glass of milk." — Signed — Dr. Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank
you, God, that Your love has spread through human hearts and
hands."
40
It's Better to Give
Zig Ziglar
"When Wally Jansen told me about my new company's Christmas

'trip to the island' tradition," says Phillip Kelly, I was intrigued.
"Ten days before Christmas the two hundred Puerto Rican families in
this particular parish would gather and each family would place five
dollars in the 'pot,' which was about a day's pay for a fruit picker
back then. Each family would write its name on a slip of paper.
Then they would blindfold someone to draw the name of the family
that would get to go home for Christmas - two glorious weeks on the
island, and enough money to buy Christmas presents for everyone.
I went to the drawing that year, my first Christmas with the
community, but it was going to be Wally Jansen's last. Wally was
retiring after working forty years with the company, and for the last
25 he had been the canning factory foreman.
"By three o'clock everyone had parted with their five dollars and the
announcer called the committee on stage to witness the drawing.
Then they called me up to draw the name of the lucky family. On
went the blindfold and I was led to the drum. I reached in, sorted
out a handful, and finally settled on one. I opened the slip of paper
and read, 'Wally Jansen.' The cheers were deafening. Everyone
surrounded him, hugging him, crying, congratulating him, wishing
him a Merry Christmas and a joyous trip. While the commotion
continued I casually reached back into the drum and drew out a
handful of slips and opened a couple. Each one, in different writing,
carried the same name - Wally Jansen."
I imagine that the Wally Jansen family was thrilled beyond words,
but I believe the joy that each person felt, thinking that maybe they
had written the name "Wally Jansen" which was drawn, was greater
still. Think about that. Become a giver, and I'll see you at the top!

Five takes on life from MindTree chairman Subroto Bagchi
40
Subroto Bagchi
The Economic Times
Contemporary Jataka
VG Siddhartha, founder of Cafe Coffee Day and an astute investor

himself, learnt his first lessons in investing from the late Mahendra
Kampani. Siddhartha had arrived in Mumbai after a 24-hour bus ride
from Bangalore, checked in to a shanty hotel with a shared toilet, to
go the next day and ask a man who didn't even know him, to be
taken under his tutelage.
The next day, Siddhartha arrived at Mahendra Bhai's office only to

be flustered seeing people queue up in front of the elevator. The boy
from Chikmagalur had never seen an elevator before.
Afraid that he would embarrass himself, Siddhartha walked up the

six floors and managed an audience with Mahendra Bhai. The latter
was so taken aback with the village boy's persistence that he was
signed up to join the next day.
After a year-and-a-half, Siddhartha went to Mahendra Bhai to tell

him that he would now return home and that he owed the man so
much! Mahendra Bhai dismissed the statement and told him a
Buddhist tale to explain that Siddhartha didn't owe him anything;
that everything in the Universe is connected in a timeless web and
that Mahendra Bhai must have owed a debt to Siddhartha in the
previous life that he was simply squaring up.
Home truth
Gopal and Venu Srinivasan had started a retail grocery chain

business in 1988. The two brothers did a public listing to raise
money for it. Thanks to the reputation of the TVS Group, investors
enthusiastically
responded to the issue.
But the business model was ahead of its time. The reason was there,
but the season hadn't arrived. The business tanked, the company
closed down and the two brothers moved on. Until one day, their
mother, Mrs Prema Srinivasan, who had nothing to do with the
family business, called them and said the following, "I don't know
but I hear that you have done something very wrong. You shouldn't
have done it", she was referring to retail investors losing their
money because her sons had failed in their business.
Chastised by the matriarch, the two brothers simply diluted their

stakes in another profitable business and gave the equity to the
investors of the failed business.
What modern day regulators cannot do today, a mother had done,

giving her two sons a lesson that went beyond legal obligations and
the so-called corporate governance.
Grace under fire
Dr Devi Shetty's father ran an Udupi hotel in Mumbai, leaving behind

a brood of nine children in Mangalore. From that humble beginning,
Dr Devi Shetty eventually found his way to London to learn cardiac
surgery. During his medical college days, he used to teach karate.
Every six months a new batch arrived and batch after batch one
thing was consistent: the kids who had the finest movement and
grace and the talent in the beginning simply dropped off somewhere
midway. The average ones always persisted, got better at their work
and eventually rose to the top.
And it is not just in karate, too many talented people in every single
profession simply drop off as they go along. It is a sad but hard
reality.
Dr Devi Shetty also told me the story of Dr Christian Bernard who did
the world's first heart transplant. He had crooked fingers from
rheumatoid arthritis from a very young age. But he persisted and
became one of the finest surgeons in the world.
Owning up to adversity
During my encounters with the many path-creators, I sometimes

met creative entrepreneurs, like Aamir Khan, who told me about the
wrenching pain he had experienced after separating from his first
wife, Reena. For a few years, he stopped working altogether and
simply brooded. People worried that he was over. In tinsel town,
used to two, sometimes more movies for a superstar per year, here
was someone gone completely out of circulation. But eventually,
Aamir returned.
Ostensibly, not to brood. But Aamir told me that it was critical to

brood because if a relationship has been important to you, how can
you not brood? You have to give yourself time to heal. To illustrate
that point, he told me something commonsensical.
If you are hit by a car and get a fracture, you don't pretend nothing
has happened. You do not get into denial. You get a plaster and you
allow your limb to heal. But when it comes to a mental hurt, we
pretend nothing has happened, we say we are alright but inside we
have not healed. It is like having a broken leg and hobbling around
with it.
Purpose behind power
Along the way, I met the Dalai Lama. It was a day after his 74th
birthday. If you recall, he had fled Tibet at the age of 16. So, for 58
years, the man had failed in his original mission: that of freeing
Tibet. Yet, every morning, the Dalai Lama gets up and smiles at his
followers, at the waiting television crew, at the heads of state and a
world that thinks he stands for human dignity and not just Tibet.
In contrast, people like us suffer a mental breakdown if we don't

meet our numbers for one quarter! So my query to the Guru was
simple: from where does he get the power to smile? The monk told
me that people who just work for money, fame or simple curiosity
are more likely to give up in the face of an adversity. A scientist who
is working for the benefit of humanity would persist because the
larger sense of purpose keeps him going. He told me that your
purpose determines your power!
The author is Chairman, MindTree.
40
The #1 cause of stress and unhappiness

(find out inside)
Brian Tracy
Did you know that perhaps the greatest challenge you will ever face
in life is the conquest of fear and the development of courage?
Fear is, and always has been, the greatest enemy of mankind. When
Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear
itself,” he was saying that the emotion of fear, rather than the
reality of what we fear, is what causes us anxiety, stress, and
unhappiness.
When you develop the habit of courage and unshakeable self-

confidence, a whole new world of possibilities opens up for you. Just
imagine—what would you dare to dream or be or do if you weren’t
afraid of anything in the whole world?
Develop the Habit of Courage
Fortunately, the habit of courage can be learned just as any other

habit is learned, through repetition. We need to constantly face and
overcome our fears to build up the kind of courage that will enable
us to deal with the inevitable ups and downs of life unafraid. The
starting point in overcoming fear and developing courage is to look
at the factors that predispose us toward being afraid. The root
source of most fear is childhood conditioning, usually associated
with destructive criticism. This causes us to develop two major types
of fear. These are the fear of failure, which causes us to think “I
can’t, I can’t, I can’t,” and the fear of rejection, which causes us to
think “I have to, I have to, I have to.” Our fears can paralyse us,
keeping us from taking constructive action in the direction of our
dreams and goals.
The More You Know, the Less You Fear
Fear is also caused by ignorance. When we have limited information,

our doubts dominate us. We become tense and insecure about the
outcome of our actions. Ignorance causes us to fear change, to fear
the unknown, and to avoid trying anything new or different. But the
reverse is also true. The very act of gathering more and better
information about a particular subject increases our courage and
confidence in that area. You can see this in the parts of your life
where you have no fear at all because you know what you are doing.
You feel competent and completely capable of handling whatever
happens.
Analyse Your Fears
Once you have identified the major factors that cause you to feel
afraid, the next step is to objectively define and analyse your
personal fears. At the top of a clean sheet of paper, write, “What am
I afraid of?” Remember, all intelligent people are afraid of
something. It is normal and natural to be concerned about your
physical, emotional, and financial safety and that of the people you
care about. A courageous person is not a person who is unafraid. As
Mark Twain said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not
absence of fear.”
Action Exercise
Begin your list of fears by writing down everything, major and

minor, that causes fear, stress, or anxiety. Think about the parts of
your work or personal life where your fears might be holding you
back or forcing you to stay in a job or relationship in which you are
not happy. Once you have written down your fears, arrange them in
order of importance, and then pick them apart one by one.
40
Learn of Me
A merchant, an old man, and his little daughter met by the side of a
fountain of clear, sparkling waters. On the fountain was an
inscription that read, "Learn of me!"
The merchant said he learned a great lesson from the fountain. It

started as a trickle of water, but as it wended its way to the sea, it
was joined by streams and brooks and creeks and, in due course,
became a roaring river. We should do our work likewise, start with
little beginnings and soon develop big.
The old man said that the lesson he learned from the fountain was to
serve silently, friends and strangers alike.
The little girl said that the lesson she learned was that the water is
useless unless it is pure. Therefore, we should live a clean and
chaste life.
The teacher is one. Everyone learns according to his or her aptitude

and capacity. In this school of life the day on which we have not
learned something new is a lost day indeed.
40
The Rose Within
A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully and before it

blossomed, he examined it.
He saw the bud that would soon blossom, but noticed thorns upon
the stem and he thought, "How can any beautiful flower come from
a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns?" Saddened by this
thought, he neglected to water the rose, and just before it was ready
to bloom... it died.
So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose. The God-
like qualities planted in us at birth, grow amid the thorns of our
faults. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the
defects.
We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us.
We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies. We
never realize our potential.
Some people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else
must show it to them. One of the greatest gifts a person can possess
is to be able to reach past the thorns of another, and find the rose
within them.
This is one of the characteristic of love — to look at a person, know
their true faults and accepting that person into your life; all while
recognizing the nobility in their soul. Help others to realize they can
overcome their faults. If we show them the "rose" within
themselves, they will conquer their thorns. Only then will they
blossom many times over.
40
Success Leaves Tracks
Brian Tracy
Many years ago I began searching for the secrets of success and
what I discovered was this interesting principle: success leaves
tracks.
A wise man who had studied success for more than 50 years
concluded that the greatest success principle of all was, "learn from
the experts."
Learn From the Experts
If you want to be a big success in any area, find out what other
successful people in that area are doing, and do the same things,
until you get the same results. When I studied the interviews,
speeches, biographies and autobiographies of successful men and
women, I found that they all had one quality in common. They were
all described as being "extremely well organized." They used their
time very, very well. They were highly productive and they got
vastly more done in the same period of time than the average
person.
Be Both Effective and Efficient
High performing men and women were both effective and efficient.
They did the right things, and they did them in the right way. They
were constantly looking for ways to improve the quality and
quantity of their output. As a result, their contribution to their
organizations was vastly higher and therefore much better paid,
than the contributions of the average person.
Action Exercises
action:
First, develop a study plan today to learn from the experts in your
field. This can save you years of hard work.
Second, decide what the most important thing to do is, and then
decide how to do it.

40
Cheerful, Upbeat People Reproduce Cheerful, Upbeat People
Zig Ziglar
Earlier, I mentioned to you the benefits of greeting people with an

enthusiastic “Good morning!” even when it’s 8:00 p.m. The reason is
simple: The best way for me to feel upbeat and optimistic is for me
to make an effort to make others feel upbeat and optimistic.
Admittedly, on rare occasions I get back a less than chipper reply,

but from my perspective, that’s their problem and not mine. For
each stinking-thinking reply I get, I get back a hundred positive
ones. The other reason I say “good morning” is that I always believe
the best part of the day is still in front of me. As far as I’m
concerned, the use of the word morning is legitimate.
When someone beats me to the draw and says something like “good
morning; how are you?” I always respond in one of two ways. I will
either say, “Better than good, and that’s an understatement,” or
“Super good, but I’m getting better!” Almost without exception after
an interchange like that, the other person is smiling. When I cause
someone else to smile, I leave that person slightly better than I
found him or her, which makes me feel better.
Phase two of this approach to life is what I say when I part company
with an individual. Instead of the usual “have a good day,” I say,
“I’ll see you over the top!,” which also brings a smile. Just in case
you’re wondering if that is the “real world,” my answer is, “You bet
it is!”
One of the interesting psychological truths is that logic will not

change an emotion, but action will. This approach is initiating a
physical action that will, in fact, make me feel better while also
making the other person feel better.
This validates the concept that you can have everything in life you
want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.
40
Success is never owned;
It is only Rented – and the Rent is Due every day...
Rory Vaden
This summer I had the esteemed privilege of being a keynote

speaker in front of 8000 of the world’s top financial professionals at
The Million Dollar Roundtable. Recently someone asked me ,“Rory,
aren’t you intimidated talking in front of people of that calibre?” My
response, “Absolutely not.”
Why?
Because contrary to what you might think, it’s not successful people
that are too good to learn anything – they got to where they are by
being a student of the game. Quite the contrary, it’s the marginal
producers of the world who are typically cynical, inconvincible
sceptics. It’s the mediocre performers, the average among the
masses, the naysayers and the un-excellent that are the ones who
often think they know it all.
Successful people, on the other hand, live by The Rent Axiom from
Southwestern mentioned in Take the Stairs that says “Success is
never owned; it is only rented – and the rent is due every day.”
People who are successful embrace the idea that the rent is due
every day. They welcome the challenge. They remain humble,
knowing that whatever they did yesterday isn’t enough to last them
forever, and they remain hungry, knowing that whatever they’ve
accomplished in their past shouldn’t restrict them to what new
heights they can achieve in their future.
Successful people became successful by doing the work that no one

else would do. They paid the price that no one else was willing to
pay. And they developed the attitude that success isn’t something
that is bestowed overnight – but that it’s earned over time.
So no, I’m not intimidated by them - I’m inspired by them. They are
people who are on the journey just like me. They are people who
know enough to know that they don’t have it all figured out.
And so, instead we take pride in, and are thankful for, one more day,
where we get the privilege to pay our dues.
40
He's 85, but who's counting
Zig Ziglar
Bob Curtis is a lively 85-year-old man who married at age 80. That
in itself is remarkable, but very recently Bob took a missionary trip
to Kenya, where the pace he kept would have exhausted many
people half his age. While Bob was on the six-week crusade, he
spent eight days trekking the village trails outside Nairobi, the
Kenyan capital, because there were no cars or streets – only paths.
To this day, Bob still works full-time on the three jobs he acquired to
finance his trip to Kenya. He puts in three consecutive ten-hour
days each week as a driver for a car auction; Saturdays are devoted
to a Dallas funeral home, and he’s also a regional sales
representative for a dental company. With his fabulous attitude,
Bob smiles and says, “Whatever it takes. If I’m able, I’ll do it,” and
that seems to be the guiding principle of his life.
Bob knows that it’s just a question of time before this life is over for
him, so while he was in Nairobi he trained one of the natives to
continue his work. Since 1990, Bob has been on every continent and
in 21 countries. At the moment, he’s planning to go to Sweden in
1996 and to France in 1997. Bob credits God with his good health
and ability to travel widely. His faith is such that he says he never
experienced an anxious moment overseas because he believes if God
challenges him, then God will enable him to do it.
With faith and an attitude like that, who knows – maybe ten years
from now I’ll be writing another column about Bob Curtis and his
worldwide travels. The Bob Curtis story is certainly an inspirational
example for all of us. He’s a man of action. Follow Bob’s example
and I’ll see you at the top!
40
How Much Do You Make An Hour?
With a timid voice and idolizing eyes, the little boy greeted his father
as he returned from work, "Daddy, how much do you make an
hour?"
Greatly surprised, but giving his boy a glaring look, the father said:
"Look, son, not even your mother knows that. Don't bother me now,
I'm tired."
"But Daddy, just tell me please!? How much do you make an hour,"
the boy insisted.
The father finally giving up replied: "Twenty dollars per hour."

"Okay, Daddy? Could you loan me ten dollars?" the boy asked.
Showing restlessness and positively disturbed, the father yelled: "So

that was the reason you asked how much I earn, right?? Go to sleep
and don't bother me anymore!"
It was already dark and the father was meditating on what he had
said and was feeling guilty. Maybe, he thought, his son wanted to
buy something. Finally, trying to ease his mind, the father went to
his son's room.
"Are you asleep son?" asked the father. "No, Daddy. Why?" replied
the boy partially asleep.
"Here's the money you asked for earlier," the father said.
"Thanks, Daddy!" rejoiced the son, while putting his hand under his
pillow and removing some money.
"Now I have enough! Now I have twenty dollars!" the boy said to his
father, who was gazing at his son, confused at what his son just
said.
"Daddy could you sell me one hour of your time?"

40
No one ever became a Leader by Submission
Rick Carter
One definition of a leader is “one who is followed by others.”

Another is “one who has influence or control over others.” This is
accomplished by force (including authority based on position) and
charisma (people want you to lead them).
This implies that a leader is a person who expects others to follow.

Or a person who is confident enough to seek to influence others.
We're not talking good or bad leaders, or people who abuse their
office of authority. Just making some generalizations.
So a leader has to have a fairly high sense of independence and

autonomy. Not complete isolation, because how can people follow
you if you are alone? But the sense that they can rise from the
lowest rank, where everything they do is an order from someone
else. The sense that they can take orders but also influence others,
regardless of their “official” title or position. To a leader, an
organizational chart is simply an organizational chart and not a
measurement of anyone’s worth or value.
As you advance and gain more responsibility, you will have

confrontations with upper management, or with managers at your
same level, or with people you are responsible to lead. These may be
confrontational and oppositional, or they could just be to smooth out
the details of a project. These days, people would hesitate to use the
word “confrontations” and pick some softer, wishy-washy word. But
whenever you clash with someone on an issue you feel strongly
about, it is a confrontation.
In these confrontations, you have a choice. You can stand up for

your ideas, or you can submit to ideas or positions that you do not
believe in or that you think are actually dangerous. The temptation
is to submit, to give in, so as to not "ruffle any feathers" especially
of the people who can promote you. The temptation is to choose
sycophancy over leadership.
This approach may and probably will get you promoted into a
position of authority. But look at the definitions of a leader. You will
not have real authority, the kind of authority that causes people to
want you to lead them. You will be able to make people do things.
But they won't be loyal and they won't trust you. You cannot submit
your way to being a leader.
As you advance you are creating your reputation and your legacy. If
you create a reputation of someone who submits at all times to
upper management, you are leaving a legacy of disloyalty. You think
you are being loyal to the people who can promote, but you are
being disloyal to your co-workers and really to the company.
The company (not speaking legally but philosophically) is an entity

different from, and separate from, the humans who manage it.
Those people may be the creative force that drives it. Or the
financial wizards who generate massive profits. The company has a
goal and a purpose. It is meeting a market need. It will outlive all of
the humans who work there. It will support the humans who work
there, and their families. It will provide quality goods or services to
its market.
A leader recognizes these twin responsibilities - to the company/

customers and to the employees - and see that they will require him
or her to have confrontations with upper management from time to
time.
No one has risen to a position of leadership by submitting his or her
way there. Blind submission is contrary to the definition and
character of a leader.
Leaders are not rogue contrarians, taking an oppositional position to

every suggestion. But neither are they sycophants, approving every
utterance of the person above them on the organizational chart.
A leader is developing his or her personal excellence, which includes

having an opinion and the wherewithal to defend it.
40
Reasons why parents don't love enough...
Brian Tracy
You may not know this, but I’m a father of 4. I have 2 sons, Michael
and David, and 2 daughters, Christina and Catherine. Parenting is
not only extremely rewarding, but it’s also an incredible learning
experience.
In addition to being a father for over 30 years, I’ve also done

extensive research into the art of parenting.
This is what I’ve learned…
The most important single role of parenting is to love and nurture

your children and to build in them feelings of high self-esteem and
self-confidence. If you raise your children feeling terrific about
themselves, if you bring them up full of eagerness to go out and take
on the world, then you have fulfilled your responsibility in the
highest possible sense.
Why Parents Don't Love Enough
There are two major reasons for the failure by parents to love their
children enough. First, the parents do not love themselves. Parents
with low self-esteem have great difficulty giving more love to their
children than they feel for themselves. The second reason that
parents dont love their children enough is they often have the
mistaken notion that their children exist to fulfill their expectations.
Children are Not Property
The starting point of raising super kids is to realize that your

children are not your property. Your children belong to themselves.
They are a gift to you from high above, and a temporary gift at that.
Children are a Precious Gift
When you look at your children as precious gifts that you can only
enjoy for a short time, you see your role as parents differently.
When you celebrate and encourage the special nature and
personality of your child, he or she grows like a flower in sunshine.
But if you try to get your child to be something he or she is not, your
child's spirit will wither, and his or her potential for happiness and
joy will shrivel like a leaf on a tree in autumn.
Love Makes the Difference
The most important consideration in raising super kids is the amount

of love they receive. Children need love like flowers need water. A
continuous flow of love and approval from the parent to the child is
the child's lifeline to emotional and physical health. Love deprivation
is surely the most serious problem that a child can suffer during his
or her formative years.
Unconditional Love and Acceptance
Make it clear to your child that nothing he or she does could ever
cause you to love him or her less than 100%. The most wonderful
gift you can give your child is the absolute conviction that you love
him or her completely, without reservation, no matter what he or
she does and no matter what happens.
Praise and Encouragement
Give your children continual praise and encouragement for the

positive things they do, even small things. Praise and reinforce what
you would like to see repeated. Praise them to build their self-
esteem and self-confidence.
Action Exercise
Ask yourself what it would be like to be your own child. Put yourself
in the position of your child or your children, and then evaluate
yourself as a parent. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What do you do well and what do you do poorly? What are some of
the things that you do that might be causing your children to grow
up with lower self-esteem than you would like?
40
What’s Your Problem? Are You Sure?
Michael Angier
It’s often said that very few people have clearly defined goals. I
agree. And I also think that very few people are clear on what their
problems actually are—the ones that stand in the way of those
loosely defined goals. They might complain about what they
perceive as the problem and they may even diligently work on
solving it. But in my 35 plus years working with business owners
and leaders, it's rare to find that they have the problem clearly
identified and unambiguously articulated.
Charles Kettering said, “A problem clearly stated is a problem half-

solved.” The way we define the problem has a lot to do with how we
approach the solution. Many times a re-definition will work wonders
on opening new and different possibilities.
Working on solving a problem when it’s not really the problem will
almost always create poor results. It might even be worse than
doing nothing at all.
To get clear, we usually need to challenge our premises, drill deeper
into what the problem is really about, and make sure we have it
identified and properly and effectively defined it. Only then can we
achieve elegant results.
An erroneous belief of and a misunderstanding of the actual problem

is a large and very common situation. So is an unproductive attitude
or belief.
Captain Jack Sparrow, the lead character in the Pirates of the

Caribbean movies, used the line, “The problem is not the problem.
The problem is your attitude about the problem.” Since he was a
pirate, he most likely stole or paraphrased the line. But it does have
some real truth in it.
We all have problems—some big, some small. And in most cases we

must resolve them. In fact, that’s what we get paid to do. A business
exists to provide for the needs and wants of its clients. It’s just
another way of saying the business solves problems. As an
employee, you’re paid to solve problems, too. But I’m guessing few
people think of their jobs that way. And yet the better off you are at
solving problems, the more value you bring to the marketplace.
So what are your biggest challenges? Are they truly the problems
you think them to be? I would challenge you to question that. If
you’ve been in a committed relationship for more than a few
months, you’ve probably figured out that you rarely, if ever, fight
about the things you think you’re fighting about. It’s almost always
something deeper. And when you get to the real issue, it’s much
easier to solve. It's the same with understanding the real problem.
40
This is Personal
Zig Ziglar
As a speaker who has spoken in numerous countries on all five

continents and has flown over three million miles in the process,
I've had some "interesting" experiences. Several years ago, I was
speaking in San Antonio, Texas, when, during one of the breaks, a
shy senior citizen came up to me and with a big smile on her face
said, "You kind of make a nice little ol' fee for these little ol'
speeches you make, don't you?" With a smile on my face I looked at
her and said, "Ma'am, I don't know where you got that idea, but
whoever gave you that information was sadly misinformed. The
reality is, I make a great big ol' fee for making these little ol'
speeches."
I mention the story in order to make a significant point. I did not

tell her the number of times I've spoken in prisons, drug
rehabilitation centres, schools, churches, civic clubs and made
scores of other appearances for free as I struggled to get started in
my career. I was willing to do those things because I honestly
thought I had something to say and knew that I had to learn how to
say what people needed to hear in a way that would keep them
interested. I also instinctively understood that anything worth
doing was worth doing poorly - until I could learn to do it well.
All professionals prepare. Highly-skilled athletes, actors, singers

and musicians, physicians, etc., all go through the same procedures
getting ready for their next "performance" to make certain they
keep their skills sharp. It's true: "Proper preparation prepares us
for peak performance," so prepare properly and I will see you at the
top!
40
From a Timely Survey to a Prospect
Larry Galler
Over the July 4th holiday, the Galler family congregated in the
beautiful Mt. Hood, Oregon, area. My son scouted out a half-day
white water rafting trip. It sounded like fun so we went. Naturally,
we had a great time on a beautiful, semi-wild river filled with
whoops and hollers of joy as we paddled downstream.
But, if you were to ask, I didn't remember the name of the rafting
company. I do remember the experience, how professional and
organized the company was and the skill of the guide, but I didn't
remember the name of the company. Almost the end of the story
except, about an hour ago, I received an email from them. It
suddenly took me away from wintry NW Indiana to the memories of
that glorious July afternoon on the river.
The email was a three-question survey gathering information about

our views on extended trips down the Snake River:
How many days would we prefer? How many hours rafting per day?
Would we enjoy a jet-boat ride (at additional cost)?
That's it, just three questions.
So I answered them, sat back and said to myself, “That was so much
fun, I wonder if we should consider one of their extended trips for
our next family vacation.” And I suddenly realized that their email
survey was great advertising, suddenly making me a prospect for
future trips. At the very least, it made me remember the name of the
rafting company and, gosh, if we were to take that trip, they would
get ten customers, all for the price of sending out that email survey.
Now, what do you bet that I get a brochure sent to my “in-box”

pretty soon? I certainly wouldn't bet against that… and I might even
take them up on it. But I'm not writing a travelogue nor an ad for
the rafting company, I'm really asking you to think of some creative,
low-cost marketing that can make your customers ride that same
wave back to you for more from your company.
40
A Special Teacher
Years ago a John Hopkin's professor gave a group of graduate
students this assignment: Go to the slums. Take 200 boys, between
the ages of 12 and 16, and investigate their background and
environment. Then predict their chances for the future. The
students, after consulting social statistics, talking to the boys, and
compiling much data, concluded that 90 percent of the boys would
spend some time in jail.
Twenty-five years later another group of graduate students was

given the job of testing the prediction. They went back to the same
area. Some of the boys - by then men - were still there, a few had
died, some had moved away, but they got in touch with 180 of the
original 200. They found that only four of the group had ever been
sent to jail.
Why was it that these men, who had lived in a breeding place of
crime, had such a surprisingly good record? The researchers were
continually told: "Well, there was a teacher..." They pressed further,
and found that in 75 percent of the cases it was the same woman.
The researchers went to this teacher, now living in a home for

retired teachers. How had she exerted this remarkable influence
over that group of children? Could she give them any reason why
these boys should have remembered her? "No," she said, "no I
really couldn't."
And then, thinking back over the years, she said amusingly, more to
herself than to her questioners: "I loved those boys..."
40
Believe in Yourself: The 5 Levels of Personality
Brian Tracy
You can imagine your personality by thinking of a target with

concentric rings. Your personality is made up of five rings, starting
from the centre with your values and radiating outward to the next
circle, your beliefs and values in life.
Believe in Yourself:
Your values in life determine your beliefs, about yourself and the
world around you. If you have positive values, such as love,
compassion, and generosity, you will believe that people in your
world are deserving of these values and you will treat them
accordingly. When you believe in yourself and chose to be a good
person you will find yourself to be more positive and successful in
life.
Set Expectations and Know Your Values in Life:
Your beliefs, in turn, determine the third ring of your personality,

your expectations. If you have positive values, you will believe
yourself to be a good person. If you believe in yourself to be a good
person, you will expect good things to happen to you. If you expect
good things to happen to you, you will be positive cheerful, and
future oriented. You will look for the good in other people and
situations.
Attitude: Expect Good Things to Happen:
The fourth level of your personality, determined by your

expectations, is your attitude. Your attitude will be an outward
manifestation or reflection of your values, beliefs, and expectations.
For example, if your value is that this is a good world to live in and
your belief is that you are going to be very successful in life, you will
expect that everything that happens to you is helping you in some
way.
As a result, you will have a positive mental attitude toward other

people and they will respond positively toward you. You will be a
more cheerful and optimistic person. You will be someone who
others want to work with and for, buy from and sell to, and
generally help to be more successful.
Be a Good Person Through Your Actions:
The fifth ring, or level of life, is your actions. Your actions on the
outside will ultimately be a reflection of your innermost values,
beliefs, and expectations on the inside. This is why what you achieve
in life and work will be determined more by what is going on inside
of you than by any other factor.
Action Exercise:
Make a list of your three to five most important values in life today.
What do you really believe in and stand for? What are your values in
life? What qualities are you best known for among the people who
know you? What do you consider the most important values guiding
your relationships with others in your life?
Learn to expect good things to happen and work hard towards your
goals and you will find yourself living a happy and successful life.
40
Motivating Your Team
Allison Rimm
Motivating people is difficult under the best of circumstances…

Regardless of your industry, if you poll your team, you will likely find
that they’re feeling overtaxed, and that their “joy quotient” at work
is seriously down. But it gets even harder when employees have
already faced a series of crises, as is the case with so many workers
today (those lucky enough to still have jobs).
It was clear from the literature on motivation and from my

experience that employees would need five things: a solid
understanding of their work’s relevance. A chance to use their skills
and expertise to make a positive contribution. More control over
their work environment and their future. Opportunities to develop
new friendships and interdisciplinary collaboration. New tools and
the support necessary for their efforts to succeed…
Energise your exhausted employees by showing them how essential

their work is to the organisation’s mission, giving them a structured
opportunity to contribute, supporting their efforts to innovate and
committing to implementing their best ideas. Don’t underestimate
the value of giving people the chance to develop initiatives that
improve their work lives and to address problems vexing them for
years. It takes time for managers to learn what’s on the minds of
their team members, but the return on that investment may well
mean a stronger product and a more enduring commitment over the
long term.
From “Tips for Energizing Your Exhausted Employees”
40
Staying Positive When Things Get You Down
Zig Ziglar
You get back what you send out. I am a very “up” person, and
people frequently ask me how I maintain my enthusiasm. I do
several things, including reading an average of three hours each day
for the past 26 years. One of the fun things I do is to give people my
special greeting. Whether it’s eight o’clock in the morning or eight
o’clock at night, I always try to greet others before they have a
chance to speak to me.
My greeting is always the same, whether I’m in Auckland, New

Zealand, or Augusta, Maine. I use an enthusiastic “good morning!”
Interestingly enough, 85% of those who respond will respond by
saying “good morning” — even if it’s eight o’clock at night. Many of
them cut it short before they finish the word morning, and then say,
“It’s not morning!” And I respond, “Then, why did you say ‘good
morning’?” They tell me it’s because I said “good morning.”
The point I make is significant. If you go out in life looking for

friends, they’re hard to find; but if you go out in life to be a friend,
you will find them everywhere. What you send out is exactly what
you get back. You send out a “good morning,” and in most cases
you’ll get back a “good morning.” Send out a cheerful, positive
greeting, and most of the time you will get back a cheerful, positive
greeting. It’s also true that if you send out a negative greeting, you
will, in most cases, get back a negative greeting. I encourage you to
make this positive approach to life a way of life. It’ll definitely make
things interesting!
Staying focused on what’s important through the ups and downs
Very frequently I’m asked to give my definition of success. Here is

one of my responses: I believe success is getting a reasonable
number of the things money will buy and all of the things that
money won’t buy. (People who say they’re not interested in money
will lie about other things, too!)
I confess that I like the things money will buy. I like to live in a nice
house, drive a nice car, wear nice clothes, belong to the country
club, play on beautiful golf courses, travel to nice places, take my
family out for relaxing dinners. I like all of those things, but I love
the things that money won’t buy. Money will buy me that house, but
not a home. It’ll buy me a companion, but not a friend. It will buy
me pleasure, but not happiness. Money will buy me a bed, but not a
good night’s sleep. It will buy me a good time, but not peace of
mind.
I’m grateful for the fact that I have many of the things money will
buy and all of the things that money won’t buy. I know many other
people who can make the same statement. I mention that only to
say that these things are available and, by following the right
procedures, playing by the rules of the game, and dealing with all
phases of your life, you can have them all. That’s exciting!
40
8 Simple Ways to Celebrate and Find More Joy Everyday
Sherry Richert Belul
If you're not living each day in a way that brings you happiness,
then take a look at these 8 joyful tips below and brighten up your
daily routine!
1. Play Dead
I know this may feel counterintuitive, but the first way to practice
joy is to remind yourself every morning that you are going to die and
everyone you love will die. Wait! Don't go. Read on! When we
remember that our days are limited and that at any moment we
could lose someone we love, we bring more attention to what a gift
life is. When my son walks out the door to go to school in the
morning, I look him in the eye, I tell him I love him, I give him a big
hug. Thinking of death doesn't have to be morbid; it can be a
reminder of how much we love and who we want to be while we're
here.
2. Give Thanks
Every morning take the time to list 10 things you're grateful for.
You've heard it 1000 times before. And there's a reason for that.
What we focus on expands. When we focus on what we have, we
feel good. And we start looking for more things to appreciate. And
we find more things. And we feel even better. When you make your
list, and as you go about your day, try to include things you take for
granted -- like being able to see, the car starting, running water,
heat, having a bed, your child's creative mind.
3. Inspire Ourselves
Face it; there is a lot of negativity out there in the world. It's key to
seek out the beauty and inspiration we want in our life. To
consciously create our own sense of well-being. Here are a few ways
to inspire yourself:
• Spend just 10 minutes in the morning playing music, reading or

writing poetry, laughing with your children, dancing, reading good
fiction, or walking out in nature.
• Pay attention to messages you are hearing inside or outside of

your head. Consciously turn your attention elsewhere when
something negative crops up. Do this over and over and over. Feed
yourself inspirational audio rather than the news.
4. Energize and Revitalize
There's no separation between our bodies and our emotional states.

Make it key to be healthy. Eat well, sleep well, and exercise. Seek
ways to feel energetic. Energy=joy. Here are a few:
• Play music you love and dance for three minutes.
• Do ten minutes of yoga.

• Take a 10-min walk and look at the sky.
• Deliberately drink Amazing Grass vs coffee at the afternoon low.
• Add a vegetable or leafy green to your lunch or dinner.
5. Create extraordinary Moments
Consciously choose to make someone feel great or to create a

beautiful moment for yourself.
• Send a thank you note to the clerk at the drugstore, an author, a

teacher, etc.
• Look someone in the eyes.
• Deliberately compliment someone.
• Give someone a flower -- even a stranger.
• Start a conversation or share a laugh with a stranger.
• Creative, conscious gift giving.
• Write three things you love about someone and mail 'em.
6. Seek an Adventure
One simple joy that we often forget about occurs when we break out
of our rut and challenge ourselves, even in the smallest of ways. I
have a coaching client who told me one day that he was dedicated to
doing something differently every day for a week. Driving a different
route, going someplace new for lunch, wearing clothes he didn't
normally wear. Try it.
• Sign up for a new class.
• Pick up a book about something brand new.

• Meet someone new.
• At lunch today, take your lunch and sit somewhere brand new.
• Use a coffee mug you never use.
• Wear something you don't normally wear.
• Speak your mind in a new way.
7. Elevate the Ordinary
Buddha said, "If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly,
our whole life would change." Often what creates a real feeling of
joy is simply that we are present to life. Try it, right now. Stop
reading. In the next two minutes, breathe deeply and focus on
something in front of you. Really see it. Imagine this is the first time
you are seeing this object or person. What happens?
8. Celebrate
At the end of the day, spend just 5 or 10 minutes making a list of

everything that went right. What did you do that made someone
smile? What electronics didn't break? Were you able to
walk/see/think? Did you have a connection with your spouse or
child? Did you make someone feel great or create an extraordinary
moment for them? Don't let these things go unnoticed. Celebrate
yourself and your life. You want more joy in your life? Celebrate the
joy you do have. Celebrate the amazing person you already are. Bill
Cunningham said, "Those who seek beauty are sure to find it." When
you find it, celebrate it!
Here's to a life filled with joy!

40
Why? Why? Why?
Why do supermarkets make the sick walk all the way to the back of
the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy
cigarettes at the front?
Why do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet

coke?
Why do banks leave vault doors open and then chain the pens to the
counters?
Why do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in our driveways

and put our useless junk in the garage?
Ever Wonder...
Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?
Why can't women put on mascara with their mouth closed?
Why don't you ever see the headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?
Why is 'abbreviated' such a long word?
Why is it that doctors and attorneys call what they do 'practice'?
Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavouring, and dish washing
liquid made with real lemons?
Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
Why isn't there mouse-flavoured cat food?
Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?
Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?
You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes?

Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff??
Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

40
Success – What it is and isn’t
Zig Ziglar
What is success? It is many things to many people. Here are a few

signs of success:
 Success is closing the door to your office at the end of the day
with a smile of satisfied contentment crossing your face. It’s
knowing that you did a good job and that those who interacted
with you had a positive experience.
 Success is looking forward to getting home and seeing the people
you love. It’s being mentally and emotionally free to share
yourself with them and to be interested in them. Success is being
loved by the people you love.
 Success is sitting down to pay the bills and knowing that you
have enough money to cover them, this month and next month.
It’s knowing that you have taken measures to ensure the
financial security of your family in the event of your demise.
 Success is knowing where to turn when it seems that there’s
nowhere to turn. Having a spiritual life is akin to eating food and
drinking water. It’s necessary!
 Success is having interests or hobbies to call your own. It’s things
that you personally anticipate doing again and again. Having
interests gives you joy and peace.
 Success is waking up in the morning and feeling good. It’s
knowing that you eat right and exercise regularly and that you do
everything you personally can to ensure continued good health.
 Success is turning out the lights, slipping under the covers, and
thinking to yourself, “It just doesn’t get much better than this!”
It’s whispering a prayer of gratitude to your Creator before you
fall into a deep, restful sleep.
And here are a few things that success is not:
 Success isn’t calling home from work for the fourth time this
week, apologizing because you’re going to miss dinner with the
family again.
 Success isn’t hurrying into the house and hiding behind closed
doors or the television set because “After the day I’ve had, I need
my space!”
 Success isn’t having all the riches in the world and still trying to
figure out how to have more of all the riches in the world.
 Success isn’t physically going to a worship service and mentally
writing a to-do list for when you get home.
 Success isn’t all work and no play.
 Success isn’t burning the candle at both ends and living on a diet
of food that’s delivered through little windows.
 Success isn’t spending mental energy figuring out how to explain
why your project isn’t going to come in on time, why you have to
miss your child’s school play, why you can’t pay the bill in full as
you promised, why your eyes are red and your blood pressure is
going through the roof, why you’re cancelling your golf game, and
why you just don’t find any joy in living.
 Success is directly related to having a balanced life. If any one
area is out of sync, all the areas of your life suffer. Take the time
to examine your life and take small steps to gain balance.
40
7 disciplines for high performance
Brian Tracy
There are 7 disciplines you must develop if you want to achieve all
that is possible for you. You can learn these disciplines through
practice and repetition until they become automatic.
Goal Setting: Every morning, take 3 to 5 minutes to write out your

top goals in the present tense. Get a spiral notebook for this
purpose. By writing out your 10 goals at the beginning of each day,
you will program them deep into your subconscious mind. This daily
goal writing will activate your mental powers. It will stimulate your
mind and make you more alert. Throughout the day, you will see
opportunities and possibilities to move more rapidly toward your
goals.
Planning and Organizing: Take a few minutes, preferably the night

before, to plan out every activity of the coming day. Always work
from a list. Always think on paper. This is one of the most powerful
and important disciplines of all for high performance.
Priority Setting: The essence of all time management, personal

management, and life management is contained in your ability to set
proper priorities and use of your time. This is essential for high
performance.
Concentration on your Highest-Value Activities: Your ability to work

single-mindedly on your most important task will contribute as much
to your success as any other discipline you can develop.
Exercise and Proper Nutrition: Your health is more important than

anything else. By disciplining yourself to exercise regularly and to
eat carefully, you will promote the highest possible levels of health
and fitness throughout your life.
Learning and Growth: Your mind is like a muscle. If you don’t use it,
you lose it. Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for
success in any field.
Time for Important People in your Life: Relationships are everything.

Be sure that in climbing the ladder of success, you do not find it
leaning against the wrong building. Make time for your relationships
every day, no matter how busy you get.
Action Exercise: These 7 disciplines will ensure that you perform at

the highest level and get the greatest satisfaction and results from
everything you do. Study these 7 disciplines and then make a plan
for how you can incorporate each of them into your daily life.
40
The Embodiment of Great Leadership
Nick Arrizza
It has been said that great leaders are born and not made. In truth
they are both. Let me explain.
Inside of all of us there is the essence of a great leader.

Unfortunately many of us, before we are too young to realize it
choose to accept beliefs about ourselves from our caretakers that
buries this essence deep in our unconscious mind.
All we are left with a dark veil that separates a desire of who we
would like to be from who we are truly capable of.
As a reminder this is who you truly are:
An individual who at heart has courage, resilience, clarity of

purpose, decisiveness, integrity, vision, focus, self confidence, self
esteem, intuition, perspective, creativity, and the ability to co-
operatively empower others to great heights.
How do I know this?
Well as you were reading that how did it make you feel at your core?
Well if you felt any of the following: buoyed up, happy, content, a
feeling of resonance, joyful, empowered, clear, light, expansive,
energized, alive and so on then I ask you to reflect on what it means
that you felt any of this at all.
With some reflection I think you'll see that such feelings speak to
the truthfulness of what was said.
I know that some of you will have been filled with not so good
feelings i.e. self doubt, frustration, sadness, inadequacy, skepticism
and so on.
All of that is the result of the veil I mentioned above. It is the veil of
unconsciously held dysfunctional beliefs that you hold that keep you
from experiencing and living as your true and genuine self.
Such conditioning is only limiting and life detracting. You can see
this for yourself by noticing what it does to your life force energy
whenever you focus on it.
Many individuals choose to steer clear of ever addressing it because

of their fear of doing so. Such fears simply cause it to remain
embedded in the unconscious mind where they act to usurp control
of your Will and therefore your life away from you.
All of this is not only life detracting it is also killing you at an

emotional and physical level.
Take charge of your life, go ahead and become the leader you were
meant to be.
40
Puppies for Sale
A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies
for Sale." Signs like that have a way of attracting small children and
sure enough, a little boy appeared by the store owner's sign. "How
much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked. The store
owner replied, "Anywhere from $30-$50."
The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "I
have $2.37," he said. "May I please look at them?" The store owner
smiled and whistled, out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the
aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy
was lagging considerably behind.
Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy
and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?" The store owner
explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and
had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It
would always be lame. The little boy became excited. "That is the
little puppy that I want to buy." The store owner said, "No, you don't
want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I'll just give him
to you."
The little boy got quite upset. He looked into the store owner's eyes,
pointing his finger, and said, "I don't want you to give him to me.
That dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay
full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until
I have him paid for."
40
Corporate Practices
Ben Heineman
There are two reasons “why” high performance and high integrity
are foundational corporate goals. First, their fusion allows
organisations to avoid catastrophic risk that injures the company
and its stakeholders. But it also confers affirmative benefits inside
the company, in the marketplace and in the broader global society.
Ultimately, performance with integrity creates the fundamental trust

among shareholders, creditors, employees, recruits, customers,
suppliers, regulators, communities, the media and the general
public... But the hard question is “how” companies can achieve this
all-important combination in a complex, fast-moving global
enterprise. The fundamental task of the CEO is to create a strong,
uniform and global performance-with-integrity culture, which entails
shared principles (values, policies and attitudes) and shared
practices (norms, systems and processes).
Although this culture must include some elements of deterrence

against ethical and legal wrongdoing, at the end of the day, it must
be affirmative. An underlying tenet of this culture should be that
people want to do the right thing because leaders make this a real
company imperative. Clear lines must be set for all employees that
this culture applies in every nation and cannot be bent by corrupt
local practices, regardless of short-term business costs.
From ‘High Performance with High Integrity’
40
Tribute to a master alchemist
R A Mashelkar, The Business Line
Published on November 18, 2013
The Bharat Ratna to Prof. C N R Rao recognises his tremendous

contribution to science, particularly in solid state and materials chemistry
The news of Prof. C N R Rao being bestowed with the nation’s

highest honour, the Bharat Ratna, has sent waves of excitement in
the scientific community. In a way, the nation has given a signal —
‘science matters to India and India wants to matter more to
science’. It is a recognition of the achievements of a living legend.
I have been very fortunate to have known Prof. Rao closely for over
four decades now. He has been my guru, guide, friend and
philosopher. When I was at the National Chemical Laboratory, he
and made me a member of the Science Advisory Council to the Prime
Minister (SAC-PM) set up by Rajiv Gandhi in the mid-eighties. At
barely 42, I was the ‘baby’ of the team!
Prof Rao chaired such bodies set up by successive prime ministers,

including the one set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. And I
continue to be a member of the current SAC-PM. During this time, I
have watched Prof. Rao as a scientist, as a science leader, and
indeed as a leader of leaders of science. What makes Prof. Rao so
different?
Passion for science
The first is his passion for science. Prof. Rao loves science, lives
science and lives for science, displaying the same passion today at
the age of 80 as he did when he was in his 20s.
His passion for igniting the minds of children is seen in his devotion
to writing books on science for school children and talking science to
tens of thousands of students across the country practically every
week.
The second is his bold vision. He has not only built institutions such
as the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research,
but has also created others on which India’s future scientific
explorations will be built. But for his relentless persuasion with the
political leadership, the five Indian Institutes of Science Education
and Research (IISERs) would not have come into being.
I particularly recall an instance when C. N. R. Rao had broken his

hand and it was in plaster. We were at the airport. By the time I
completed the check-in formalities for both, I found him immersed
in correcting his latest manuscript with his famous green ball pen,
balancing his hurt hand on his thigh.
The third is his courage in expressing his views. I remember a SAC-

PM meeting where Rajiv Gandhi was present. He asked Rao and the
Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission to meet and take a
decision on a critical issue that was discussed. The Deputy Chair
asked Prof Rao to meet him the following morning. The latter shot
back by saying that he was a working scientist and needed to go
back to his lab — and that would let him know when he was free.
I have seen Prof. Rao agonise over our value systems and about
scientists in India not being given their due by the society and the
government. He once wrote: “I have noticed a tendency to give
undue importance and much publicity to commercial successes,
foreign investment, sensex, profits in the IT sector, new billionaires
and such matters, like nowhere else in the world.” Born on June 30,
1934, Prof. Rao had stints ranging from a professorship of Chemistry
at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (1963-76) to the
directorship of the Indian Institute of Science (1984-94), to the
founder presidentship of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced
Scientific Research (1994-2004).
Solid identity
Prof. Rao began his career working on spectra and the structure of
molecules. Gradually, he laid the foundation of solid state chemistry
and materials chemistry 50 years ago, giving these disciplines a
distinct identity. He worked mainly on phenomena and properties
exhibited by transition metal oxide systems, including high
temperature superconductivity, colossal magneto-resistance and
metal-insulation transitions.
He has made outstanding contributions to synthesis and

characterisation of designer solids with novel structures and
properties, synthesis of nano particles and nano particle assemblies,
fullerenes and nano-tube structures, grapheme-based electro-
chemical super capacitors, open framework structures and porous
solids. He has published over 1,500 papers in international journals
of repute having more than 30,000 citations with an H index
exceeding 100. He has, to his credit, 45 books, including an
autobiography which is synonymous with the path of progress in
Indian science.
Prof. Rao is one of the most decorated scientists of India. His major
international accolades include the Dan David Prize for Science in
the Future Dimension in the field of Materials Science (2005);
Chemical Pioneer (American Institute of Chemists, USA, 2005);
Chevalier de la Legion D’honneur by the President of the French
Republic (2005); Nikkei Asia Prize for Science, Technology and
Innovation from Japan (2008); Order of Friendship by the President
of Russia (2009); the Royal Medal (the Queen's Medal) by the Royal
Society, London, UK (2009) and the August Wilhelm von Hofmann
Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Chemistry by the German
Chemical Society (2010).
He has received 60 doctorates from universities around the world.

He is a fellow of 25 science academies and was President of the
Indian National Science Academy, the Indian Academy of Sciences
and TWAS-The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World. He
has the unique honour of being a fellow/member of all the major
academies of the world.
The future generations will find it hard to believe that all this could
be achieved by a single individual. It is only appropriate that the
nation has said ‘thank you’ to this living legend in science in the
most befitting way.
40
Secrets to becoming a powerful communicator
Brian Tracy
Did you know that your ability to communicate effectively with

others will do more to make you successful than any other skill that
you can develop?
Nearly 85% of what you accomplish in your career and in your

personal life will be determined by how well you can get your
message across, how capable you are of inspiring other people to
take action on your ideas and recommendations.
Once you’re able to master the skill of powerful communication,

you’ll be living a life full of unlimited happiness. Imagine being able
to express yourself openly and honestly to the degree in which
others are influenced to do something because of what you have to
say and how you say it.
Even if you are limited in education, experience or intelligence,

being able to communicate effectively with others is the most
powerful, un-limiting success tool you could ever have.
Nearly 99% of all of the difficulties between human beings, and

within organizations are caused by breakdowns in the
communication process. Either people do not say what they mean
clearly enough, or other people do not receive the message that was
sent in the form in which it was intended.
The good news is that effective communication is a learned skill.
The three elements of direct communication
According to Albert Mehrabian of UCLA, there are three elements in

any direct, face-to-face communication. They are the elements of
words, tone of voice, and body language.
1. The Elements of Words: Words only account for 7 % of any

message. For an effective communication to take place, of
course, all three parts of the message must be congruent and
consistent with each other. If there isn’t any congruency, the
receiver will be confused and will have a tendency to accept the
predominant form of communication rather than the literal
meaning or words.
2. Emphasis and Tone: The emphasis and tone have the power to
completely change the message that is being communicated.
Often, you will say something to a person and they may become
offended. When you express that the words you used were
intended to be inoffensive, the other person will tell you that it
was your tone of voice that was the issue.
3. Body Language: You can dramatically increase the effect of your
communication by leaning toward the speaker or shifting your
weight forward onto the balls of your feet. If you can face the
person directly and give them direct eye contact, combined with
fully-focused attention, you double the impact of what you’re
saying.
The more you can coordinate all three of these ingredients, the more
impactful your message will be and the greater likelihood that the
other person both understands and reacts the way you want them
to.
The most important part of good communication is clarity. When you

ask or say something clearly and then wait calmly and patiently for a
complete answer, you will be amazed at how much more quickly the
process of sending and receiving takes place.
The very best communicators are those who are the very best at
asking for the things they want.
They ask questions to uncover the real needs and concerns of the
other person. They ask questions to illuminate objections and
problems that the other person might have with what they’re
suggesting.
When you seek first to understand, by asking questions and

listening carefully to the answers, and by presenting your viewpoint
and your requests in such a way that they are consistent with the
interests of the other person, you’ll become much more effective in
getting the other person to act in a way that will be beneficial to
both of you.
Once you can master the skill of effective communication, not only
do you achieve incredible clarity in what you think, say and do, but
you’ll also become known as a respected communicator everywhere
you go.
40
Growing Good Corn
There was a Nebraska farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each

year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue
ribbon...
One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned

something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered
that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbours.
"How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your
neighbours when they are entering corn in competition with yours
each year?" the reporter asked.
"Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The wind picks up
pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my
neighbours grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily
degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must
help my neighbours grow good corn."
He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot

improve unless his neighbours' corn also improves.
So it is in other dimensions. Those who choose to be at peace must

help their neighbours to be at peace. Those who choose to live well
must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by
the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help
others to find happiness for the welfare of each is bound up with the
welfare of all.
The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we

must help our neighbours grow good corn.
40
The Age of Tendulkar
Prashant Kidambi
The Business Standard

The Little Master's imminent departure reflects the individual and
collective meanings that have been invested in him by a billion Indians
Much has changed since Sachin Tendulkar began, but in one

interesting respect Tendulkar's final appearance as an international
cricketer will be rather like his first.
Now, as then, those watching him will do so with a mixture of hope

and anxiety. Then, the hope was based on what they had heard
about the boy wonder from Bombay, and the anxiety was about his
ability to withstand the fearsome opponents that awaited him across
the border.
Now, the hope is that he can harness his fading skills one last time
and leave on a high, the anxiety that it will all end in a whimper.
After all, history is replete with instances of great careers ending in
failure. Even the most famous Test average in cricket history, as
every cricket follower knows, was the product of a last innings duck.
Sandwiched between the tentative debut at Karachi and the grand

finale at the Wankhede is a career the likes of which we are unlikely
to see again. The sheer statistics are staggering: the relentless
accumulation of runs, against all kinds of opposition, on all kinds of
wickets, in all manner of formats and conditions, over two and a half
decades. But it is likely that Tendulkar will be remembered not so
much for keeping cricket statisticians in business as for the
enchantment that his mesmerising talent produced in those who
watched him play. In his pomp, in the closing years of the last
century, Tendulkar frequently attained cricketing perfection in his
stroke play, making some of the world's greatest bowlers look
pedestrian.
However, the most fascinating aspect of Tendulkar's career has been

his willingness to embrace the methods of the journeyman when
time began to test his abilities. That was the crucial difference
between him and Brian Lara, the other batting giant of his
generation. Lara could not settle for mere mortality after tasting the
elixir of genius; for Tendulkar batting remained a vocation that was
worth pursuing through all the vicissitudes of form and age. It was
the desire and ability to change his approach and technique in the
face of new challenges, as much as his innate talent, that made
Tendulkar compulsively watchable as a batsman even when he was
well past his prime.
But the emotions stirred by Tendulkar's imminent departure from

the game are not simply about cricket; they also reflect the
individual and collective meanings that have been invested in him by
a billion Indians. Tendulkar has been, for this cricket-obsessed
nation, a reassuring constant during the turbulent transformation
that it has undergone in the past 25 years. It is worth recalling that
when Tendulkar walked out to bat in a Test match for the first time,
the licence permit raj in India was yet to be dismantled, the Babri
Masjid yet to be demolished, and the telecommunications revolution
yet to take off. Through all these changes and their fractious
consequences, Tendulkar has stood forth as a symbol of national
unity and pride, his popular appeal cutting across the boundaries of
caste, class, region and religion.
Thus viewed, the "Age of Tendulkar" can be set alongside the "Age
of Grace" and the "Age of Bradman": epochs in which an
extraordinary sporting hero became the focal point of the
aspirations and anxieties of an entire society. It is the parallels with
Bradman that are most frequently drawn in the case of Tendulkar,
not least because the Don himself famously perceived the
similarities in their styles. But it is the similarities between Grace
and Tendulkar that are more compelling. They were both from
professional middle-class backgrounds; W G's father was a doctor,
Tendulkar's a college professor. Both grew up in milieus saturated
with cricket - the "Doctor" on the outskirts of Bristol and the Little
Master in Bandra - and both were able to rely on the support of their
families as they set about carving out a career in cricket. Both
attained cricketing fame as teenagers, with a series of astonishing
feats in first-class cricket that made them an instant box-office
draw. In both instances, again, the precocity of youth gave way to a
canny adaptation to changing circumstances that enabled the two
men to outlast their peers. And, by way of clinching evidence,
consider this: both communicated on the field in a distinctive, high-
pitched squeak, a charming incongruity that was not easily
reconciled with their robust genius.
As India prepares to bid farewell to its greatest cricketer, perhaps
we can leave the last word to C L R James: "He has enriched the
depleted lives of two generations and millions yet to be born. He has
extended our conception of human capacity and in doing all this he
has done no harm to anyone." That heartfelt tribute to W G Grace
could serve equally well for Sachin Tendulkar.
The author is a senior lecturer at the University of Leicester
40
What a rock star taught me about perseverance
Nathan Magnuson
For the record, I never wanted to be a rock star. But as a college

freshman I decided I was going to make an album. I hadn’t quite
grown out of my belief that I could do absolutely anything I set my
mind to. It was a good sentiment from my growing up years, but in
this particular case it didn’t prove very helpful. I knew how to play
the guitar and a buddy played the piano, so we decided if we wrote
one or two songs each semester, we’d have an album by the time we
graduated. In fact, I was so sure I would graduate with a diploma in
one hand and a record in the other that I even volunteered to write
the first song. Back in my dorm room, I sat down with my guitar, a
pen, a notebook, and my thinking cap. Nothing happened.
Somewhere during the next five long, lonely minutes, I decided
song-writing just wasn’t in the cards for me. So I told my buddy, “I
got nothing” and got back to my business management homework.
Even though I didn’t make it very far in the whole five minutes I
spent as an aspiring songwriter, I did have some classmates who
were incredibly talented at it. One was Peter Schottleutner (front
man for Schottsy & the Sharpshooters). He packed a guitar just
about everywhere he went around campus and if there was a social
event, he usually had a house band providing the tunes. He even
spent one semester at The Contemporary Music Centre in Nashville
for aspiring songwriters.
It was probably a couple years since my failed attempt at song-

writing that Peter got back from his semester at CMC, but I still had
to know the secret. While that conversation didn’t do much for my
(lack of) ability, it taught me a leadership principle I’ll never forget.
My conversation went something like this:
“Peter, that’s a nice album you’ve got there. So what’s the secret to
writing songs?” I asked.
“Well, at CMC, they had us write and record a song every week,” he
said.
“Every week??” I repeated. “How did you come up with something

good every week??”
“Well, actually we all came up with a lot of crummy songs,” he

admitted. “But we did get a few good ones, too.”
And that’s it. That’s what a rock star taught me about perseverance.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve recalled this conversation. Not
when I was trying to write a song, but when I was writing a blog
post, training for a race, giving a business presentation, or
attempting to make a sale. This was pressed home even further
about a year after college when I made call after call to a community
centre director about a training program I wanted to list in the
directory. Each time I missed him I felt like I was wasting my time.
After about 20 phone calls he eventually agreed to list my program
and it ended up being a big enough hit that I was featured on the
following semester’s directory cover. If I would have given up after
the 19th call, nothing would have ever happened.
So let’s take a quick look at the implications:
Success doesn’t come all at once.
It often takes more than five minutes to arrive. In fact, fifteen

minutes of fame sometimes takes a lifetime of perseverance to
attain (tweet). Don’t undervalue the upfront costs in terms of time,
effort and emotional investment.
Success doesn’t always look good at first.
Zig Ziglar once said that anything worth doing is worth doing
wrong… until you can learn to do it right. No one is born an expert at
anything. I interviewed a multi-millionaire entrepreneur once who
told me that his first 10 businesses failed before he finally broke
through.
Success sometimes comes down to the person who holds out the
longest. In many cases success doesn’t go to the most privileged,
skilled, or talented. It’s not a 100-yard dash, it’s a marathon. Some
get a better jump coming off the blocks, but ultimately, the winners
are the ones who don’t give up.
It was Joe Sabah who said, “You don’t have to be great to start, but
you have to start to be great.” Then once you start, you’ve got to
keep at it. So who knows, maybe there is a rock star inside of me
after all.
40
All of us are in debt
Zig Ziglar
Albert Einstein said, "A hundred times every day I remind myself
that my inner and outer life are based on the labours of other men
living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the
same measure as I have received."
As you think about what Einstein said, you will come to realize the
completely unselfish wisdom of those words. First, we're indebted
to our parents because they were responsible for bringing us into
the world. Next, we are indebted to the doctors, nurses, aides,
orderlies and other hospital personnel for the part they played in
making our arrival a safe and healthy one.
We're indebted to the educational structure where we learned

reading, writing and arithmetic which are critical to our lives. It's
sobering to realize that yes; somebody did have to teach Albert
Einstein that two plus two equals four.
We are in debt to all the pastors, priests and rabbis who taught us
the essence of life by instructing us in those character qualities that
are important to us, regardless of our chosen field of endeavour -
athletics, medicine, education, business, government, etc.
We certainly owe a debt to those people whose messages have been

encouraging and positive, as well as informative and instructional.
We are deeply in debt to those public servants who committed their
lives to service through appointed or elected offices in this great
land of ours. This includes the postman who brings the mail, the
press men and reporters who are responsible for putting these
words in print, and those workmen who build the highways upon
which we move from one location to another.
The list is endless - which brings us back to Einstein and his quote.
We do have a heavy debt and one way to repay that debt is to
regularly express thanks and gratitude to the men and women who
make our lives worth living. Think about it. Thank a lot of people
and I'll see you at the top!
40
Shake it Off and Step Up

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell
into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' -- or
whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully
assessing the situation, the farmer felt sorry for the mule, but
decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth saving.
Instead, he called his neighbours together and told them what had
happened and asked them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in
the well and put him out of his misery.
Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his
neighbours continued shovelling and the dirt hit his back, a thought
struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load
of dirt landed on his back: he should shake it off and step up! This is
what the old mule did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up...
shake it off and step up... shake it off and step up!" he repeated to
encourage himself.
No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation

seemed, the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on shaking
it off and stepping up! You guessed it! It wasn't long before the old
mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of
that well! What seemed like it would bury him, actually end up
blessing him. All because of the manner in which he handled his
adversity.
40
Thinking Out of The Box

Many years ago in a small Indian village, A farmer had the
misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender.
The Moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's
beautiful Daughter. So he proposed a bargain.
He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his

daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the
proposal.
So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence

decide the matter.
He told them that he would put a black Pebble and a white pebble
into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one
pebble from the bag.
1. If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and
her father's debt would be forgiven.
2. If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her
father's debt would still be forgiven.
3. But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown

into Jail.
They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As

they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As
he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked
up two Black pebbles and put them into the bag.
He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the
bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order
to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.
Take a moment to ponder over the story.
The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate
the difference between lateral and logical thinking.
The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking.
Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.
What would you recommend to the girl to do?
Well, here is what she did....
The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble.
Without Looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-
strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other
pebbles.
"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into
the Bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I
picked."
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she

had picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not
admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible
situation into an extremely advantageous one.
Moral of The Story: Most complex problems do have a solution. It is

only that we don't attempt to think.
40
Post-retirement blues
Shyamal Majumdar
The number of financially well-off people seeking

emotional crutches after retirement is increasing rapidly
Seven years after he retired as chief executive officer of a fairly

large company, Mr X (who has requested anonymity) and his wife
are shifting from Mumbai to a city he thought he had left for good
over 40 years ago. His children are settled abroad and the large
house that was once the venue of many get-togethers of Mumbai's
famous faces, is now adding to the emptiness of the couple's lives,
so he has put it up for sale.
"I have now realised you can have only professional acquaintances
in this city but no friends," he says during a chance meeting. His
wife has a few relatives in the city to which he is shifting. "I know
one of us will have to live alone. I want her to have at least some
company when I am gone," the gentleman says.
As someone who met him frequently in his heyday, I found it

difficult to come to terms with this despondence. But it has nothing
to do with Mumbai. The inability to deal with a post-retirement life
may be more prevalent in cities like Mumbai and Delhi but is
becoming common everywhere. Some have, of course, coped by not
retiring at all - even if that requires changing and re-changing the
retirement age of directors or appointing an executive head who will
retire much before his own extended term. But these blessed souls
are rare.
The notion that post-retirement blues is all about financial stability

isn't entirely true. Money is not an issue for most of the people to
which this column is referring. Listen to this lady, who retired as
principal of one of Mumbai's top colleges, and poured her heart out
to a counsellor: "I retired a little over three years ago and feel as if I
will never adjust. I wish I had a plan to keep myself busy."
The counsellor says the number of financially well-off people

seeking emotional crutches after retirement is increasing rapidly.
It's ironic that most of them looked forward to retiring in the hope
that it would free them from daily work obligations. However, most
never really planned for their big respite and soon grew bored, lost a
sense of purpose and felt unwanted. The recurring question they
face when they go to bed every night is: What do I do after I wake
up tomorrow? For most, this boredom comes not immediately after
retirement but a few years later when they have finished touring
places they hadn't visited earlier or meeting relatives they couldn't
find time for during their hectic professional years.
So, how does one deal with this no-one-wants-me kind of a feeling
after formal retirement? One obvious solution is to work as long as
you can - but preferably not in the same company (even if the top
management wants you) for three reasons. One, your colleagues will
always see you as unwanted competition who isn't allowing others
to grow. Two, you could end up feeling you are doing the same job
over and over again. And three your organisation runs the risk of
being crushed under the burden of one man or woman's
indispensability.
But counsellors say regular work is the best solution. Many people
are already doing that in India and abroad. Recent research by Aviva
showed that since 2010, the number of people working after
retirement has soared. In December 2010, less than one in five
people aged 65 to 75 years received wages or other earned income.
By the end of 2012, the figure had climbed to 23 per cent.
There are examples galore to verify this data. A former bank

chairman is earning much more as a management consultant than
his last-drawn salary at the bank, though he says he isn't doing it for
money but to keep himself busy. He could well be right since
counsellors say for the majority of these affluent older men who are
choosing to return to work after quitting their first careers, it's a
lifestyle choice. That's why a retired top executive in a multinational
firm has gone in for a different vocation: directing stage
productions, while yet another - an engineer by profession - has
opened an image management firm.
Thankfully, there are other solutions and counsellors suggest

options that include hitting the gym; meeting new people at your
walking area; or thinking about things you really liked when you
were younger. Say, singing, painting, photography or even, perhaps,
writing. You may want to take classes to enhance your skills. There
is also plenty of volunteer work as well and such jobs often promote
a feeling of belonging and will give you a social life as well. Or,
remember the time you wanted to keep a pet but couldn't because of
your hectic work hours?
But whatever you choose to do, craft a detailed plan and budget.
These may sound trivial, but as the counsellor says, try them out.
They might just give you a sense of purpose.
40
How Not to Fight: Myths about Fighting in Relationships
(And What to Do about Them)
Tina Tessina
In my counselling practice, couples are often surprised to learn they

can communicate and solve problems effectively without fighting;
but sometimes you may find it's not so easy to give up your
struggles. You may have trouble letting go of the fighting habit
because of two factors: social expectations (expectations the people
around you have about marriage) and myths (common beliefs not
based on fact.)
Myths and Expectations about Fighting
There are many myths and expectations about fighting in marriage.

Couples come into my office frequently believing that fighting is a
necessary part of being a couple; that all married couples fight; and
it's a normal part of marriage. But the fact is that fighting
accomplishes nothing, and it isn't necessary for couples to argue, to
yell, or to have heated discussions to get problems solved. Hanging
on to these ideas makes it difficult to let go of fighting.
Some of the most prevalent myths about fighting are:
Myth #1: Fighting clears the air, and brings out the truth.
Fighting is not necessary to "clear the air." Getting heated up does

not make you tell truths you wouldn't tell otherwise. What happens
when couples fight and get emotional is that both parties say things
they don't mean, or say them in much nastier ways than is really
true. It is possible to discuss anything that is or is not happening
between you in a calm and logical manner that will lead to more
truth telling and air clearing than fighting and arguing will ever
accomplish.
Myth #2: Within your family, it's OK to "let it all hang out" -- to be
as emotional as you want, and say things you'd never say to a friend
or a boss.
Whether you're fighting or not, (or drunk, or upset) you're still

responsible for everything you say and do. The hurtful or mean or
outrageous things you say will be remembered by your spouse or
the other family members who hear them.
Myth #3: Fighting just happens, you can't control it.

You always have a choice about your behaviour and how you
express yourself. If you've developed a fighting habit, or never
learned to control your temper, you may need to do some work, but
you can learn to behave differently.
Myth #4: My wife (or husband) makes me do it. He (she) yells first.
No one else is responsible for your behaviour. You are not

responsible for anyone else's words or actions. You can always
choose not to yell back, to speak calmly, or to leave the room. Your
partner cannot fight alone.
Myth #5: Any time we get angry, it's natural to argue and yell.
Arguing, and shouting is not the only way to express your anger. It's
just the most dramatic way. As a matter of fact, it's the least
effective way to reach a solution for whatever is making you angry.
Myth #6: It's a family trait -- everyone in my family argues.
Fighting, temper tantrums and arguing may be common in your

original family, but it's not genetic, inherited, or inevitable. It's still
learned behaviour, and it's a dysfunctional family trait. It's a habit,
and you can overcome it for the benefit of your spouse and children.
Myth #7: It's OK to yell, shout, curse , throw things and hit walls as
long as I don't hit a person.
These raging behaviours are classified as emotional abuse, which is

just as damaging to families as physical abuse. Evidence of
emotional abuse is enough to have your children detained by Child
Protective Services in many states, and can even cause a raging
spouse to be hauled off in handcuffs, if a problem is reported and
the police arrive to witness the behaviour. I tell clients who are
behaving this way to separate until they get their anger under
control, which requires anger management classes or therapy. If
this is happening in your house, it must be stopped now -- get
counselling right away.
Fighting = Bad Communication
No matter what you're fighting about: money, sex, kids or

something else, the fighting is an indication that your
communication isn't working. If this happens only occasionally, such
as when one or both of you are tired or stressed; it's not too big a
problem. However, if you argue or bicker on a daily or weekly basis,
or you keep fighting about the same thing over and over, then your
communication is not functioning as it should, and you don't know
how to move from a problem to the solution. When this happens,
problems are recurrent, endless, and they can be exaggerated into
relationship disasters.
Use these guidelines to make your discussions more productive:
Guidelines for Not Fighting
1. Don't participate: Disagreements always require two people. If

you don't participate, your partner can't argue without you. If the
issue arises at an inopportune time, you can just find a temporary
resolution (temporarily give in, go home, leave the restaurant) and
wait until things calm down to discuss what happened (the squabble
may just have been a case of too much alcohol, or being tired and
irritable.) Then talk about what you can do instead if it ever happens
again.
2. Discuss Recurring Problems: To resolve recurring problems,

discuss related decisions with your spouse and find out what each of
you does and does not want before making important decisions. You
have a lot of options; so don't let confusion add to the stress.
3. Seek to Understand: Make sure you and your partner understand

each other's point of view before beginning to solve the problem.
You should be able to put your mate's position in your own words,
and vice versa. This does not mean that you agree with each other,
just that you understand each other.
4. Solve it for the Two of You: Come up with a solution that works
for just the two of you, ignoring anyone else's needs. It's much
easier to solve a problem for the two of you than for others, such as
children, co-workers, friends and family. After you are clear with
each other, discuss the issues with others who may be involved.
5. Talk to Others: After you've solved it for the two of you, if

extended family members or friends might have problems with your
decision, talk about what objections they might have, so you can
diffuse them beforehand. Discuss possible ways to handle their
objections.
Squabbles often occur because you're following automatic habit

patterns that lead to a problem before you know it. Using these
guidelines will help you overcome negative habit patterns you may
have built that lead to arguments or bickering.
40
You're Not Working Hard Enough!
David Leigh Weber
Insulting title, huh? The reason I used it is it reflects the common

myth that if you aren't rich (or making 'enough' money) you aren't
working hard enough. I saw this in college when I worked in a
factory. The way to make money was to work overtime, sometimes
LOTS of overtime, so you could have the things you wanted. If you
were white collar the solution was to work a second (or third) job to
get what you wanted. Then, of course, there is the usual working
late at the office to please the boss in hopes of someday getting that
promotion. In these ways you were working hard and providing for
your family and your future.
But what is really going on here? Let's start with the core of the
issue -- if someone has money they are ‘working hard’. Conversely,
if they don't have money or are struggling they aren't working hard
enough. Um, okay...
The reality is money has little or nothing to do with working hard in

the traditional sense. You can work hard at a fast food restaurant for
a year and never make as much as a stockbroker who presses a few
buttons and makes a killing on a hot stock. Likewise, a celebrity like
Justin Beiber or Lady Gaga can put their name on any product and it
will make more money than you could ever make at McDonald's.
Even worse, statistics show that millions of people are working hard
yet getting nowhere relatively speaking. Real wages are basically
the same they've been since the early 1970's. And a recent report
shows the income gap between the majority of workers (often
referred to as the 99%) and the rich (the 1%) is the largest in over
100 years. So, by the accepted definition of the term, the rich are
the only ones who are really working hard.
Are you insulted even more? Don't be. There are reasons I am
bringing this all up:
1) It may sound weird but you have to give up the notion of

'working hard': If you live your life thinking you're not working hard
enough or that everyone around you (especially those portrayed in
the media) are working harder you'll drive yourself crazy. It's a
vicious cycle that never ends, unless of course you work yourself to
death. (I've known many people who have)
2) Substitute ‘working hard’ with ‘working smart’: Working smart
means everything you do is as efficient and seamless as possible. I
can't tell you the number of meetings and teleconferences I've been
on over the years where the entire reason for the meeting could
have been resolved in five minutes.
3) Learn to work in flow, from your core: Flow is about doing

everything naturally, like breathing. Work should be both enjoyable
and rewarding, financially or otherwise. In high school I used to
work as a dishwasher in a nursing home. I actually loved it, and felt
I had both worked hard and gotten something out of it. I have used
that same feeling (doing a job in flow) to determine whether a job
or project was truly right for me.
4) Don't stress! If you are working in flow you are calm and
content, and any challenge is surmountable. Plus, your concerns
about 'doing it right' as far as working hard suddenly disappear.
Only when you lose sight of who you are and how YOU work will you
succumb to all the anxiety and stress people traditionally
experience.
Bottom line? Discover how you work, ignore the media and the
'keeping up with the Jones' mentality, and ensure your work life
revolves around you instead of the reverse.
40
Leadership Essential: Graciousness
Dan Wilson
"From everyone who has been given much, much will

be demanded; and from the one who has been
entrusted with much, much more will be asked." - Luke
12:48
When I was in eighth grade I competed on the football field against

a guy from a neighbouring community named Arthur Hernandez.
What I wish I could forget about him after all these fifty years but
have been unable to is that every time I lined up against him he took
me out- every time! But the thing I'll remember forever and hope I
never forget is what an incredible leader and gentleman Arthur was -
even at the ripe old age of fourteen. Every time he knocked me on
my fanny, when the play was over I would look up and see Arthur's
hand extended to help me up along with an encouraging word and a
pat on the back, just before giving me another pounding. It will
come as no surprise that Arthur was the captain of his team, and to
prove what kind of leader he was he always addressed the referees
with utmost respect calling them "sir," and would apologize when
his team committed an infraction that resulted in a penalty.
I had a chance to get to know Arthur off the field at various area
youth events, and I can honestly say he lived up to being very much
the gentleman I witnessed on the football field. He inspired me to
want to be like him - then and now - playing to win but ever
gracious, regardless of victory or defeat. Above all, Arthur exhibited
all the characteristics of a truly great leader, like I've rarely seen in
my entire lifetime.
I've heard it said that a great leader never sets himself above his
followers except in carrying responsibilities. That pretty well sums
up Arthur Hernandez. Unfortunately, we lost touch and I never knew
what became of him, but I can only imagine that he must have
become enormously successful and a highly effective and respected
leader in whatever endeavours he pursued; for great leaders are
always given increased opportunities and responsibilities.
A hard-charging guy who played to win (and I've still got bruises to
prove it), but always gracious and fair with an extended hand and an
encouraging word, that was Arthur Hernandez, the model of a great
leader, still inspiring me to want to be like him.
40
40 facts you didn't know about Sachin Tendulkar
The Times of India
Published on October 11, 2013
Mumbai, October 10: Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar has

announced his retirement from Test cricket, leaving his millions of
fans disappointed. His 200th Test, to be played against the West
Indies, will be his last. TOI presents to you 40 facts you didn't know
about this living legend.
1. Named after legendary music director Sachin Dev Burman by his

father
2. Grew his hair and tied a band around it to copy idol John
McEnroe. Was even called 'McEnroe' by his friends. Admires
Boris Becker,Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Diego Maradona.
3. Wanted to be a fast bowler and even went to the MRF Pace

Academy but head coach Dennis Lillee asked him to concentrate
on batting.
4. Has scored big runs on Indian festivals like Gokulashtmi, Raksha

Bandhan, Holi and Diwali
5. Loved to have 'I-can-eat-more-vada-pavs-than-you'

competitions with cricket buddies Vinod Kambli and Salil Ankola
6. Loves sea food. Owned a restaurant.
7. Loves playing at Sydney Cricket Ground.
8. Loves Kishore Kumar and rock group Dire Straits. Was extremely
possessive about his personal stereo.
9. A devout worshipper of Lord Ganesha, he often visits

Siddhivinayak temple in the early hours of the morning.
10. Wears his left pad first. Has the Tri-colour pasted inside his kit
bag.
11. Remembers every dismissal and even the bowler who dismissed
him.
12. Likes to dunk his glucose biscuits into his tea and have them
with a spoon.
13. He is ambidextrous. Bats with his right hand but autographs and
eats with his left.
14. Used to sleep with his cricket gear on during his junior days.
15. Refused to shoot for a soft-drink ad that showed him smashing
cricket balls with a fly swatter. He reportedly told film-maker
Prahlad Kakkar, "That would make me greater than the game."
The ad was modified: he hit the balls with a stump,
16. Loves to zoom across Mumbai in his swanky cars in the wee
hours.
17. Fell from a tree one Sunday evening during his summer
vacations, when the movie 'Guide' was showing on national TV.
It infuriated brother (and mentor) Ajit, who packed him off to
cricket coaching class as a punishment!
18. Came back from the four-month tour of Australia after the 1992
World Cup and turned up to play for Kirti College in April 1992.
19. Was without a bat contract during the 1996 World Cup in which
he emerged highest run-getter. A famous tyre company
promptly signed him on soon after.
20. His coach at Shardashram, Ramakant Achrekar, used to offer a

one rupee coin as prize to any bowler who dismissed him. If he
remained not out, the coin belonged to Sachin. Still has a good
bunch of those coins.
21. Fielded for Pakistan as a substitute during a one-day practice

match against India at the Brabourne in 1988.
22. Was a ball boy during the 1987 World Cup match between India
and Zimbabwe at Wankhede.
23. The first ad he shot was for sticking plaster.
24. In school, he was once mistaken for a girl by good friend Atul
Ranade because of his long curls
25. After watching Deewar and Zanjeer, he became a fan of Amitabh

Bachchan
26. Played tennis-ball cricket and darts during rainbreaks
27. Sang and whistled with Vinod Kambli during their 664-run
record stand in the Harris Shield in 1988 to avoid eye contact
with the coach's assistant, who wanted to declare while the duo
wanted to bat on.
28. Teammate Praveen Amre bought him his first pair of

international quality cricket shoes.
29. Was a bully at school but was kind to cats and dogs. His first
captain, Sunil Harshe, said that he loved to pick a fight. Every
time he was introduced to someone, his first reaction was, 'Will
I be able to beat him?'
30. Used to go fishing for tadpoles and guppy fishes in the stream
that ran through the compound of Sahitya Sahwas, his
apartment in Bandra East.
31. Once made his mother look for a frog bhaji recipe.
32. The nanny who looked after him is now universally called
Sachuchi bai
33. Colony watchman's son Ramesh Pardhe, who was his playmate,
said Sachin would ask him to dip a rubber ball in water and hurl
it at him. He wanted to see the wet marks left on the bat to find
out whether he had middled the ball correctly
34. An incorrigble prankster, he once put a hose pipe in Sourav

Ganguly's room and turned on the tap. Ganguly awoke to find
his gear floating. Calls Ganguly 'Babu Moshai'. Sourav calls him
'Chhota Babu'.
35. Great spinner of yarns. If he had a cut on his finger it was

because it had been chopped by a helicopter flying low!
36. Sachin Tendulkar's debut Test also was legendary allrounder

Kapil Dev's 100th.
37. Sachin faced his first ball in Tests from legendary Pak pacer
Waqar Younis, who was also making his debut.
38. Sachin scored the first-ever double hundred in ODIs on February

24, 2010, 22 years to the day that Kambli and Sachin had put on
664.
39. He equalled Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 Test hundreds and

went past the record on the same date, December 10. His 34th
ton came against Bangladesh in Dhaka on 2004 and the 35th
was against Sri Lanka at the Kotla in 2005.
40. During an under-15 tour in Indore, he couldn't sleep and woke

up in the middle of the night to shadow practise. As the flooring
was wood-based, the noise that emanated from the bat hitting
the flooring disturbed the other tenants. As the hotel manager
went to complain to coach Vasu Paranjpe, he was ticked off by
the coach and told to 'Go and bowl to him’.
40
Why You Might Just Be a Perfectionist
Liisa Kyle
I understand. You're not a perfectionist. You're just picky. Or 'hard

on yourself'. Or you 'have high standards'. Or you like things to be
done properly.
Guess what?
 If you're emails, tweets & Facebook posts are free of spelling

mistakes, you just might be a perfectionist.
 If you noticed the typo in the previous sentence, you might just
be a perfectionist.
 If you get frustrated fast when you are learning a new skill and
haven't quite got the hang of it yet, you just might be a
perfectionist.
 If you have a wonderful dinner party...and you find yourself

beating yourself up after your guests leave when you realise you
forgot to serve the grapes with the hand-dipped chocolates...you
just might be a perfectionist.
 If you ignore a dozen terrific reviews to fret about the one lousy
write-up you got, you just might be a perfectionist.
 If your loved ones are hesitant to show you their creations, you
just might be a perfectionist.
 If you score 96% on something...and yet you feel a tad

disappointed, you just might be a perfectionist.
What's in a label?
No-one likes to be labelled. Nobody enjoys thinking of themselves as

anything but their unique self. In this case, however, the value of
the label "perfectionist" is that it alerts you to patterns of behaviour
that are (a) hurting yourself and (b) hurting others around you. The
label per se isn't important -- but what is key is that you are aware
of how this concept is affecting you.
How does Perfectionism affect you?
1. It generates excessive stress.
If you're picky, hard on yourself or have high standards, you're

putting yourself under excessive stress. You're probably toiling,
rather than working. You're making life much more difficult than it
needs to be.
2. It puts those around you under excessive stress.
I promise you that if you are stressing over something, you are not
doing so solo, in a vacuum. You are leaking stress onto everyone
with whom you come in contact -- your colleagues, your friends,
your family, your pets and innocent passersby as well. Think of the
family member you snapped at or the slow cashier you stomped
away from. When you're stressed out, you leave few in your wake
unscathed.
3. It makes you judgmental.
You may think you are open to experience, tolerant of others and
otherwise zen. And perhaps you're all of those things to some
extent. But part of being perfectionistic is a process of constantly
evaluating yourself. And others. And how things are done -- or
should be done. You frequently make judgments -- especially when
things unfold differently from your expectations.
4. Fear and anxiety are your constant companions.
You fret. You worry. You're afraid of how things are unfolding. This
takes its toll physically, psychologically, professionally and socially.
Think of the 'nervous Nellies' you know. How healthy are they? How
pleasant to be around? Think of them as mirrors.
5. You tend to be a pessimist.
You tend to expecting the worse (I'll never finish and if even if I do,
this is going to be terrible). When negative events do happen, you
tend to extrapolate and exaggerate them. (See? I didn't get the part.
I'm a lousy actor. I'm a complete failure. My whole life is a waste.
I'm worthless).
6. You're a control freak.
You expend a lot of energy trying to control outcomes, regardless of

whether or not you actually have any power to affect how things
unfold. Part of fretting or worrying, for example, is a false way of
attempting to control the future. It's as if your subconscious
believes that if you pay your dues by worrying enough about it, it'll
turn out alright. I promise you, it's going to turn out the way it's
going to turn out...regardless of how much you worry or don't
worry.
7. Contentment is rare and fleeting.
You are rarely satisfied with yourself and with circumstances. Even
when things turn out magnificently, your happiness is brief.
So what's a perfectionist to do?
1. Be aware.
Monitor yourself for signs of stress, fear, anxiety and pessimism.

Notice when you judge yourself or others. Realise when you are
trying to control the situation...or others. Observe your effect on
others.
2. Interrupt perfectionistic behaviours.
When you catch yourself judging or controlling or fretting...stop. Pat

yourself on the back for recognizing your perfectionism when it
happens.
3. Aim for 'good enough' rather than perfect.
Life is imperfect. It's impossible for everything to be ideal in every

moment in every life domain. Learn to loosen your very high
standards so that you are content with 'good enough' rather than
making yourself crazy striving for perfection.
4. Practice acceptance.
Learn how to accept your situation as it is, accept others as they

are...and also to accept yourself especially when you feel you're
falling short in some way.
5. Learn to relax.
By learning meditation and relaxation techniques, you will disrupt

the stress and fear that underlies perfectionistic behaviours.
6. Be kind to yourself.
Perfectionists are notorious for beating themselves up -- for being

hard on themselves. Counter this by treating yourself well. Try the
carrot instead of the stick to motivate yourself. Savour frequent
simple pleasures. Ensure your life is well balanced. Live healthfully.
40
Reinventing Yourself
Melanie Keveles
Here are ten principles for you to ponder as you consider how you
might reinvent your work and your life:
1. Stay open and flexible: Keep your options open and go with the
flow. Don't turn down opportunities just because they are outside of
the parameters of what you have thought to be your job title or
place in life.
2. Cross pollinate: Take your ideas, skills and know how from one
field to another. Step outside your comfort zone. Look for ideas to
bring into your field from others. Plant your ideas within entirely
new fields.
3. Follow your heart's desire: Your heart is a wise barometer of what

you need to be doing with your life. Don't overrule it entirely with
practical suggestions from other people or with notions your mind
invents.
4. Live a little: Life experience provides hints. The more experiences

you accumulate, the more you get a view of what works for you and
what doesn't. These experiences provide the fodder for continuous
reinventions of yourself. Through these experiences you amass
wisdom and skills that will become invaluable to you in your next
pursuits.
5. Visualize: Paint a picture in your mind's eye of what you want in

your life. See this image occurring as you fall asleep at night and
upon awakening in the morning. Take every chance to experience
this inner image with all of your five senses.
6. Be curious: Keep your eyes and ears open and your antenna up for
new people and new ideas to enter your life.
7. Network like crazy: Make a point to meet new people as often as
you can. New people in your life will enrich you and lead you to new
opportunities.
8. Overcome the know it all stages of life: Adopt a beginner's mind.

Even if you are well schooled, you have much more to learn.
9. Be a life long learner: Seek new ways to stretch yourself. Find

new challenges to master. Attend classes, workshops, read
numerous books.
10. Embrace new ideas and technology: Don't get locked in a time
warp, only interested in the gadgets and gizmos you knew when you
were young.
40
How would You Like to be Remembered?
About a hundred years ago, a man looked at the morning newspaper

and to his surprise and horror, read his name in the obituary column.
The news papers had reported the death of the wrong person by
mistake. His first response was shock. Am I here or there? When he
regained his composure, his second thought was to find out what
people had said about him. The obituary read, “Dynamite King Dies.”
And also “He was the merchant of death.”
This man was the inventor of dynamite and when he read the words
“merchant of death,” he asked himself a question, “Is this how I am
going to be remembered?” He got in touch with his feelings and
decided that this was not the way he wanted to be remembered.
From that day on, he started working toward peace. His name was
Alfred Nobel and he is remembered today by the great Nobel Prize.
Just as Alfred Nobel got in touch with his feelings and redefined his
values, we should step back and do the same.
 What is your legacy?
 How would you like to be remembered?
 Will you be spoken well of?
 Will you be remembered with love and respect?
 Will you be missed?
40
Be A People Person
Zig Ziglar
In his inspiring book by that title, John Maxwell tells a story. In
England there is a monument to the sport of rugby, the forerunner of
American football. The monument depicts an eager boy leaning
down to pick up a ball. At the base of the statue is this inscription:
"With a fine disregard for the rules, he picked up the ball and ran."
The statue and inscription tell a true story. An important game of

rugby was taking place between two English schools. During the
closing minutes of the contest, a boy more gifted with enthusiasm
and school spirit than with experience, was sent into the game for
the first time. Forgetting all the rules, particularly the one that says
a player does not touch the ball with his hands, and conscious only
of the fact that the ball had to be at the goal line within seconds if
his school were to be victorious, the boy picked up the ball and, to
the amazement of everyone, started the sprint of his life to the goal
line. The confused officials and players remained frozen where they
stood, but the spectators were so moved by the boy's spirit and
entertained by his performance that they stood up and applauded
long and loudly. This incident totally eclipsed the rest of the game's
action. As a result, a new sport was born: Football. It wasn't
because of carefully worded arguments and rule changes, it was
because of one boy's enthusiastic mistake.
The bottom line is that sometimes spontaneity produces incredible

results and enthusiasm is always an asset in life. Be spontaneous
and enthusiastic and I'll see you at the top!
40
A gift made precious by love
Ramesh K Dhiman
The Tribune
Published on October 5, 2013
This year, the gift my spouse and I received from our eldest
daughter, a Hindi teacher, on our 30th wedding anniversary was
indeed heartwarming. This time, it was not a pair of branded shirt-
and-trouser or imported perfume for me and a multi-hued, swanky
saree or a trendy leather purse for her doting mom.
She sprang a surprise for us as she walked in our room with a

bouquet and an envelope tucked in her hands, as the pendulum of
our Victorian wall clock chimed at 12 midnight. She handed over the
gift to us, her younger siblings in tow, who trooped in with a heap of
goodies for us.
After a brief anniversary bash they had meticulously planned, I

snappily opened the two-page congratulatory letter in Hindi,
entitled: "Merey Piyare Mata-Pita…" It was an ode from a
quintessential daughter to her parents. Each couplet of her self-
composed lyrical composition singing paeans for her parents’ well
being left an indelible imprint on my memory.
“Mera jeevan aapke bina uss patte ke samaan hai, jisse patjhar mein
briksh bhi apne se alag kar deta hai, merey jivan ko haryali se
jinhone sajaya hai, voh aap hain mere piyare mata-pita…” (My life
without you is like a dry autumn leaf that even a tree doffs off as the
season sets in. It is you, my adorable parents, who infused life in my
lifeless frame). The terse and telling metaphors used as powerful
vehicles continue to reverberate in my mind.
“Janam yadi sachai hai to mrityu bhi nischit hai, meri ishwar se yehi
viniti hai, ki jub bhi iss dharati par janam loon, aur jis roop mein
pana chahun, woh aap hai mere piyare mata-pita" (If birth is a
tested truth, death too is ordained to happen. I earnestly pray to
God that if I am born again, I wish to be your progeny). The soulful
outpourings of a daughter left us teary-eyed. We hugged her.
That night I tossed in the bed, without getting a single wink of

sleep. Around midnight, I tip-toed to the terrace of my office
residence facing a sprawling park in the backyard, skirted by groves
of ‘amalatas’ and other trees. It wore a cold look with the shrill
sounds of cicadas shattering the serenity of the moonlit night.
Reclining on a huge worn-out sofa that lay abandoned for years, I
can't recall when I fell asleep.
I got up the next morning to the pre-dawn chirpings of humming

birds. It was a staid Sunday with clouds fleeting overhead like the
elusive morning mist. A soothing breeze caressed my body. Each
precious pearl of the composition, winsomely woven into an
immortal piece of poetry, kept tugging at my heart.
I was transported into a wonky world where we rogue mortals rush

to offend daughters. We kill them in the wombs without qualms,
hound them for dowry, and even brutally kill them for 'honour'.
While we perpetrate atrocities on them, their heart never stops
beating for their parents.
As I was caught in a whirlwind of thoughts, a knock at the door

stirred me out of reverie. My daughter was there with a hot cup of
tea for me. While I relished the morning cuppa, I gazed at her
cherubic face in adoration!

40
What have Unrealisable Fantasies
got to do with being Organized?
Germaine Porché
Do you have a picture in your mind of how you think your life should
be? When chaos seems to seize the upper hand, we tend to have
conversations with ourselves—conversations that, in truth, have no
bearing on reality. See if you can hear yourself in any of these:
 Things should always go as planned. In other words, nothing

should ever go wrong. If only things went as planned, my time-
management system would work perfectly and everything would
be just fine.
 I should never have too much to do. I should always have just the
right amount to do in the time I have available. If my to-dos take
more time than I have available, whoever made up all those tasks
was cruel, stupid, and unfair. Even if it was me.
 I should never make mistakes, and no one else should, either. If I

do make a mistake, I’m a bad person and probably incapable of
achieving whatever I was trying to do. If someone else makes a
mistake in something that affects me, he should disappear
forever.
 Life should have no interruptions. I deserve a continual, unbroken

cycle of productivity and bliss.
 I should finish everything I start. If there’s a chance it won’t get

done in the time I have available, I probably shouldn’t start it in
the first place.
Sound familiar? You may be wondering why we’re calling these

unrealisable fantasies. Think about it, whenever you use words such
as should, should always, should never, you’re setting yourself up
for failure. Not only that, who likes to operate being “should upon?”
These unrealistic fantasies can shape our entire relationship to
ourselves and our productivity—preventing a real celebration of
what is complete and limiting our prospects for the future and how
far we are likely to go.
There is a certain freedom, however, in acknowledging what words

are shaping these attitudes and recognizing them as fantasies,
nothing more. Chaos sometimes prevails, no matter how hard we try
to avoid it.
You can experience a release, an unburdening, a sense of lightening

up by merely acknowledging these ideals for what they are:
unrealisable fantasies. We’re not advocating that you should be
disorganized or not care about managing your life.
What we do suggest is that, for most people, the source of feeling

disorganized, guilty, and upset comes not from what you are or are
not doing, but from the unrealisable fantasies that continue to play
in the background, invalidating all you do and inhibiting action
toward future goals.
Master your words, own chaos, and acknowledge and appreciate

what you have achieved!
40
The Midas Touch

We all know the story of the greedy king named Midas. He had a lot
of gold and the more he had the more he wanted. He stored all the
gold in his vaults and used to spend time every day counting it.
One day while he was counting a stranger came from nowhere and
said he would grant him a wish. The king was delighted and said, "I
would like everything I touch to turn to gold." The stranger asked
the king, Are you sure?" The king replied, "Yes." So the stranger
said, "Starting tomorrow morning with the sun rays you will get the
golden touch." The king thought he must be dreaming, this couldn't
be true. But the next day when he woke up, he touched the bed, his
clothes, and everything turned to gold. He looked out of the window
and saw his daughter playing in the garden. He decided to give her a
surprise and thought she would be happy. But before he went to the
garden he decided to read a book. The moment he touched it, it
turned into gold and he couldn't read it. Then he sat to have
breakfast and the moment he touched the fruit and the glass of
water, they turned to gold. He was getting hungry and he said to
himself, "I can't eat and drink gold." Just about that time his
daughter came running and he hugged her and she turned into a
gold statue. There were no more smiles left.
The king bowed his head and started crying. The stranger who gave
the wish came again and asked the king if he was happy with his
golden touch. The king said he was the most miserable man. The
stranger asked, "What would you rather have, your food and loving
daughter or lumps of gold and her golden statue?" The king cried
and asked for forgiveness. He said, "I will give up all my gold. Please
give me my daughter back because without her I have lost
everything worth having." The stranger said to the king, "You have
become wiser than before" and he reversed the spell. He got his
daughter back in his arms and the king learned a lesson that he
never forget for the rest of his life.
What is the moral of the story?

1. Distorted values lead to tragedy.
2. Sometimes getting what you want may be a bigger tragedy

than not getting what you want.
3. Unlike the game of soccer where players can be substituted,

the game of life allows no substitutions or replays. We may not
get a second chance to reverse our tragedies, as the king did.
40
When Disaster Strikes -- Who Do You, Call?
Shannon Panzo
Disasters hit us on all levels of life. It can be the latest hurricane,

earthquake, tidal wave, or any other natural disaster; it can be
personal tragedy or it can be something small like dropping that
'first cup of coffee' on the floor as you are running out the door --
you just know you are going to have a bad day. Disasters come in all
shapes and sizes.
Life is full of emotions, feelings, events, circumstances, and more.

Some things in life are not comfortable to think about. An
interesting thing about life is you can make gains from even the
most adverse of situations. We call these "Lessons". Please read
on...
Discovering a Disaster: Disasters cause us to feel like less of the
person we know we are. We lose self-worth. They make us feel small
and impotent. It may be overwhelming, even when others see it as a
minor inconvenience. So, really, it is our perception that turns
events into disasters for us. Most of all, disasters can impact a little,
or all of your life.
Disasters Provide: Disasters teach us many things if we are willing

to listen and observe. They teach us strength. They teach us
resiliency. Disasters teach you to be more; an improved version of
your old self. Disasters force you to look at yourself in a different
way. Think of how you perform in a disaster or crisis. Alas, most of
us don't perform very well at all. Why? Because most people are not
trained to handle such moments; and they rely on others who are.
Preparing for a Disaster: Disasters come in all shapes and sizes.

They can be natural disasters, such as tsunamis and tornadoes. Or
they can be man-made, like war, terrorism, and economic collapse.
And again, disasters can be events in your life that create a difficult
circumstance for you. You would spend your whole life preparing if
you were to prepare for all crises. But there is a way that will give
you the edge for coping with disasters. Condition your mind.
Condition Your Mind for Disasters: I told you about people that are
steadfast in their ability to deal with disasters of whatever making.
So, what makes them different from you? (This assumes you are not
one of those people already.) The one thing that all of them have in
common, no matter what their disaster specialty, is they have
undergone mental training that helps them with ALL disasters. It is
a part of their conditioning. Does it make them callous and
uncaring? Of course not! It simply means they can assess and help
others in those situations without "losing their head".
Brain Management for Disasters: Take steps to strengthen your

mental state for dealing with disasters:
 Gain access to your subconscious. Your subconscious is most

easily reached with meditation or prayer. Learn the basic proper
methods for using these techniques. Start doing this first. It may
take you some time to build the relationship with your
subconscious mind.
 Make a comprehensive list of the qualities you want to achieve.

Some of these qualities will be about how you react and behave in
emergency, crisis, and disaster events. Learn how to build your
own simple and effective programs for installing these qualities in
you your subconscious while you are meditating. This is the first
proactive step to creating your desired outcome.
 Observe yourself. After you have the programs installed into your
subconscious, observe how you behave and react, especially
when you are confronted with a crisis or emergency. Compare
these new reactions to how you would have previously reacted to
a crisis or emergency.
The steps I have given you are very simple. But there is more to it
than that. There are other things you can do to amplify your results,
or to get the results quicker.
Facing an Emergency, Crisis, or Disaster: Here is the "crux" of this

exercise. Don't ask how to do all this overnight, and expect it to just
work. TOO LATE! I see it all the time. People wait, and wait, and
wait, until the right time. Face it! There is NO RIGHT TIME! Your
pursuit requires you to be prepared. That means taking steps
consistently for months, maybe years in advance. That is the same
steps those with training and mental conditioning have done before
you. Those are the same basic steps you must do too.
An Alternative to Shorten Disaster Training Time: We just painted a

picture for you that you would be spending a considerable amount of
time walking in the well-trodden footsteps of others that have gone
before you. The truth is, there is a simple way to absorb all of the
information at lightning speed, and be able to pick up the nuance of
walking in those same boots, with breakneck efficiency.
Your TIME Starts now!

Your Future Starts NOW!
40
The Mouse Trap
Sandra Walston
A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and
his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" the mouse
wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.
Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning:

"There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the
house!"
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said "Mr.
Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no
consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."
The mouse turned to the pig and told him "There is a mousetrap in
the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized,
but said "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can
do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."
The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the
house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said "Wow, Mr.
Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."
So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to
face the farmer's mousetrap alone.
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house – like the
sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to
see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a
venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the
farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she
returned home with a fever.
Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the
farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main
ingredient. But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and
neighbours came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the
farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; she
died. So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow
slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.
The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great
sadness. So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem
and think it doesn't concern you, remember:
when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved

in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another
and make an extra effort to encourage one another. Each of us is a
vital thread in another person's tapestry.
40
It's all about people
Dan Wilson
During my corporate career I had the good fortune for many of those
years of being associated with the hardest working, most dedicated
team of professionals one could imagine. Not only were they
extraordinarily proficient at what they did, but also innovative and
adaptable to new and better processes, procedures, and technology,
always open to better ways and new ideas. What was even more
impressive though, beyond their professionalism and technical
expertise, was their caring attitude toward the people they
served. I know that for a fact for I had the opportunity to observe
day to day how they fretted and sweated over doing the right thing
– for people.
What I learned from that team is this, that ultimately it is all about
people. In everything, all our endeavours, if it is not about people it
simply does not exist. Regardless of our jobs, careers, professions,
vocations, businesses or organizations – whatever products or
services we provide, for profit or not-for-profit – if the ultimate
purpose and end result does not benefit other people in some way,
our jobs, professions, and organizations would have never come into
existence in the first place.
Too often, I’m afraid, in this complex and competitive world, people
are treated as commodities rather than being valued as fellow
human beings. Customers are valued only by the contents of their
wallets, and employees as nothing more than tools or machines,
replaceable or expendable at the slightest whim – “human
resources,” we call them, rather than “human beings.” And,
unfortunately, when that attitude becomes too pervasive in any
business, organization, or profession, eventually – eventually I say –
it will falter. Consider the Enron debacle, for instance, from a few
years back. Enron’s demise did not begin with the greedy
shenanigans of its senior executives; it began when the company
and its leadership lost sight of its true purpose, of serving and
providing for people.
Take a look around this week and see if you can identify one single
worthwhile endeavour that does not ultimately serve and benefit
people. Can there be such a thing? It’s all about people, you see,
and as long as we, in whatever we do, do not lose sight of that fact,
we will flourish. But if we do we are sure – eventually – to falter.
40
The Picture is Important
Zig Ziglar
Some believe it is irresponsible and a waste of time to teach the
subject of self-image. I'm convinced, based on my own life
experience and thousands of encounters with people who have
improved their performance by building a strong self-concept, that a
healthy self-image is crucial.
An exciting example was reported in The Executive Speechwriter

Newsletter, which I quote verbatim: "Tom Kalinski, President of
Sega America, tells the story about how a junior high school in
southern California responded to a new computer system. The
school was chosen because its students scored in the lowest state-
wide percentiles in every subject. Incredibly, in just one semester,
some of these kids learned more than in the preceding ten
years. The most touching story was about a kid named Raymond,
who had every problem in the book - a dysfunctional home, acute
shyness, bad eyesight and zero academic performance. But in the
one semester he had with the computer, Raymond caught up seven
years of math. They got him in front of the camera for an interview
and asked how it was that he blossomed so magnificently. 'Well,' he
replied, 'the kids here call me a "retard," but the computer calls me
Raymond.'"
As a rookie salesman, I struggled desperately until I met my hero,

Mr. P.C. Merrell, who told me he believed I "could be a great one,"
and maybe even become a national champion if I really went to
work and started believing in myself. In the previous two-and-a-
half years I had learned how to get prospects, make appointments,
conduct demonstrations, handle objections and close sales- so I had
the training I needed and "the salesman was ready."
Unfortunately, the man was not ready because I did not believe I
could be successful until I talked with Mr. Merrell. That year I was
the number two salesman in America out of over 7,000 and received
a significant promotion. When the picture I had of myself changed,
my performance changed. Make those changes and I'll see you at
the top!
40
The Law of Clarity
Brian Tracy
Did you know that clarity accounts for probably 80% of success and
happiness?
Lack of clarity is probably more responsible for frustration and

underachievement than any other single factor. That’s why we say
that "Success is goals, and all else is commentary." People with
clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time
than people without them could ever imagine. This is true
everywhere and under all circumstances.
The Three Keys to High Achievement
You could even say that the three keys to high achievement are,
"Clarity, Clarity, Clarity," with regard to your goals. Your success in
life will be largely determined by how clear you are about what it is
you really, really want.
Write and Rewrite Your Goals
The more you write and rewrite your goals and the more you think
about them, the clearer you will become about them. The clearer you
are about what you want, the more likely you are to do more and
more of the things that are consistent with achieving them.
Meanwhile, you will do fewer and fewer of the things that donâ€™t
help to get the things you really want.
The Seven Step Process for Achieving Goals
Here, once more, is the simple, seven-step process that you can use
to achieve your goals faster and easier than ever before.
 First, decide exactly what you want in each area of your life. Be
specific!
 Second, write it down, clearly and in detail;
 Third, set a specific deadline. If it is a large goal, break it down

into sub-deadlines and write them down in order;
 Fourth, make a list of everything you can think of that you are
going to have to do to achieve your goal. As you think of new
items, add them to your list;
 Fifth, organize the items on your list into a plan by placing them
in the proper sequence and priority;
 Sixth, take action immediately on the most important thing you

can do on your plan. This is very important!
 Seventh, do something every day that moves you toward the

attainment of one or more of your important goals. Maintain the
momentum!
Join the Top 3%
Fewer than three percent of adults have written goals and plans that
they work on every single day. When you sit down and write out
your goals, you move yourself into the top 3% of people in our
society. And you will soon start to get the same results that they do.
Review Your Goals Daily
Study and review your goals every day to be sure they are still your
most important goals. You will find yourself adding goals to your list
as time passes. You will also find yourself deleting goals that are no
longer as important as you once thought. Whatever your goals are,
plan them out thoroughly, on paper, and work on them every single
day. This is the key to peak performance and maximum
achievement.
Action Exercises
Here is how you can apply this law immediately:
 First, make a list of ten goals that you would like to achieve in
the coming year. Write them down in the present tense, as
though a year has passed and you have already accomplished
them.
 Second, from your list of ten goals, ask yourself, "What one
goal, if I were to accomplish it, would have the greatest
positive impact on my life?" Whatever it is, put a circle around
this goal and move it to a separate sheet of paper.
 Third, practice the seven-step method described above on this

goal. Set a deadline, make a plan, and put it into action and
work on it every day. Make this goal your major definite
purpose for the weeks and months ahead.
Get ready for some amazing changes in your life.
40
Meaningless Goals
A farmer had a dog that used to sit by the roadside waiting for
vehicles to come around. As soon as one came he would run down
the road, barking and trying to overtake it.
One day a neighbour asked the farmer "Do you think your dog is
ever going to catch a car?"
The farmer replied, "That is not what bothers me. What bothers me
is what he would do if he ever caught one."
Many people in life behave like that dog who is pursuing

meaningless goals.
40
Spiritual Atheist:
Do Gooding as Policy
Vithal C Nadkarni, The Economic Times
Published on September 23, 2013
“Bhale bano, bhala karo,” Swami Sivananda, the doctorturned-yogi,

said. Abigail Adams, the first Second Lady of the US, said the same
thing, “Be good, do good,” adding that the motto “comprised the
whole duty of man in a few words”.
The negative variant, “Don’t be evil”, became Google’s informal logo

in our age. The employee who suggested it said he “wanted
something that, once you put in there, would be hard to take out”.
This is a mark of insight and an anxiety: because evil is an albatross
that no one, not even monsters, want to sport around their necks;
it’s awful for public relations!
Deep within, even monsters want to be good and to be loved. What

about corporations? They aren’t individuals. The “Don’t be evil”
pillar of corporate ethic has, thus, been augmented by Panchsheel,
or five pillars: core values such as “Do the right thing”, “Honesty
and integrity in all things”, “Irreproachable business practices” and
“Making money by doing good things”.
There is, therefore, no conflict of interest in making money (Artha)

meaningfully and in striving to fulfil the right sort of desires (Kama)
even while hankering for liberation (Moksha). This is also the
essence of the discourse that Grandsire Bhishma delivers on his bed
of arrows to Prince Yudhisthira in the Shanti-Parva of the
Mahabharata.
Renowned as the Ethical Warrior — an oxymoron to Pacifist ears —

Bhishma saw purity as being inseparable from his core concept
Dharma. Given his violent vocation, his selfdenial was all the more
exemplary; a lesson for statesmen and entrepreneurs alike.
40
5 Ways to Cultivate Patience

Rob White
1. Pay attention to what's making you feel like you're in a hurry.
Our minds are constantly jumping from thought to thought, task to

task, worry to worry. We live interrupted lives, punctuated with
distractions that come at us from all sides. Multi-tasking is the norm.
(Even though there's strong evidence that shows there's no such
thing!) All this adds up to a state of hurry. Here's a little trick that I
like to call "number it." There are two steps to the "number it"
process: (1) list and number all of the things that are pulling you
every which way, and (2) reduce the list to things that have to be
done. These steps alone will illuminate the insanity of the jumping
mind and the value of slowing down.
2. Take your mind to obedience school and learn the command "Sit!"
Sounds trite, but when you break the impatience mode, even for a
second, you have a chance to make a choice: (a) continue business
as usual, or (b) opt out for a moment of patience. Saying sit reminds
you of option B. Patience not only relaxes you, it also offers that
wonderful state of being that we call "peace of mind," which has an
incredible effect of the quality of life.
3. Take a time out to notice all of the good things that life offers you.
Begin by noticing that every time you breathe in, there is fresh air
available. That, right there is wonderful, and it is only one of ten
thousand ways that life supports you, every day, with living a great
life. When you pause to notice, you'll appreciate how much more life
is in your favour rather than against you. Just realizing this calms
you, which in turn promotes patience.
4. Let go until you feel underwhelmed.
The feeling of impatience is often a consequence of feeling

overwhelmed. You never achieve patience through brute force or
rushing. I think of the idea of being underwhelmed as the calm state
that comes with letting go of anxious feelings that destroy the
easiness of life. The best way to let go is to breathe deeply and
stretch your hands, letting this remind you that it is wise to stretch
out your jobs, too. By just prioritising your tasks and committing to
do them one at a time, you loosen the grip that feeling overwhelmed
has on you.
5. Be patient with your patience.
Patience requires a change of attitude. This cannot always happen

with the flip of a switch. A great way to create a new attitude is to
ask yourself, "What's the bigger picture here?" This creates a state
of productive curiosity that helps you to realize how many good
things often happen over time. Don't get too deep or complex about
the big picture; simply know that when you broaden your
perspective, you interrupt old patterns of impatience, which
immediately opens the door to a fresh, new attitude.
Finally, remember that many of life's miracles often do not happen

quickly; they require patience. Illnesses and wounds heal best with
patience. Life often reveals its mysteries with patience. Difficult
problems sometimes solve themselves with patience. We grow into
healthy, functioning adults with patience. Impatience is self-
destructive because you tie yourself down with a rope of unhealthy
thoughts -- you now have five ways to cut the rope.
40
On Energy and Outlook
Rosabeth Moss Kanter
Some people become leaders no matter what their chosen path

because their positive energy is so uplifting. Even in tough times,
they always find a way. They seem to live life on their own terms
even when having to comply with someone else’s requirements.
When they walk into a room, they make it come alive. When they
send a message, it feels good to receive it. Their energy makes them
magnets attracting other people.
Just plain energy is a neglected dimension of leadership. It is a form

of power available to anyone in any circumstances. While inspiration
is a longterm proposition, energy is necessary on a daily basis, just
to keep going. Three things characterise the people who are
energisers. A relentless focus on the bright side. Energisers find the
positive and run with it. Energisers are can-do people. They do not
like to stay in negative territory, even when there are things that are
genuinely depressing.
“Positive thinking” and “counting blessings” can sound like naïve

clichés. But energisers are not fools. They can be shrewd analysts
who know their flaws and listen carefully to critics so that they can
keep improving. Energisers don’t dawdle. Energisers don’t tell you
all the reasons something can’t be done. They just get to it. They
might take time to deliberate, but they keep the action moving. The
only requirements for energisers are that they stay active, positive,
responsive and on mission.
From “Three Tips for Becoming an Energizer”
40
Workplace Smart
Tony Schwartz
Most of us respond to rising demands in the workplace by putting in

longer hours, which inevitably take a toll on us physically, mentally
and emotionally. The core problem with working longer hours is that
time is a finite resource. Energy is a different story. Defined in
physics as the capacity to work, energy comes from four main
wellsprings in human beings: the body, emotions, mind and spirit.
In each, energy can be systematically expanded and regularly

renewed by establishing specific rituals — behaviours that are
intentionally practised and precisely scheduled, with the goal of
making them unconscious and automatic as quickly as possible.
To effectively reenergise their workforces, organisations need to

shift their emphasis from getting more out of people to investing
more in them so that they are motivated and able to bring more of
themselves to work every day. To recharge themselves, individuals
need to recognise the costs of energy-depleting behaviours and then
take responsibility for changing them, regardless of the
circumstances they are facing…
Most large organisations invest in developing employees’ skills,

knowledge and competence. Very few help build and sustain their
capacity— their energy— which is typically taken for granted.
In fact, greater capacity makes it possible to get more done in less

time at a higher level of engagement and with more sustainability.
From “Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time”
40
How to Give a Meaningful "Thank You"
Mark Goulston
The Harvard Business Review
Forget the empty platitudes; your star employee is not a “godsend.”

They are a person deserving of your not infrequent acknowledgment
and worthy of appreciation and respect. When was the last time you
thanked them — really thanked them?
In my line of work, I frequently communicate with CEOs and their

executive assistants, and nowhere is the need for gratitude more
clear.
After one CEO’s assistant had been particularly helpful, I replied to

her email with a grateful, “I hope your company and your boss know
and let you know how valuable and special you are.”
She emailed back, “You don’t know how much your email meant to
me.” It made me wonder — when was the last time her boss had
thanked her?
This happens frequently. For instance, a few years ago, I was trying
to get in touch with one of the world’s most well-known CEOs about
an article. His assistant had done a great and friendly job of
gatekeeping. So when I wrote to her boss, I included this: “When I
get to be rich, I’m going to hire someone like your assistant — to
protect me from people like me. She was helpful, friendly, feisty vs.
boring and yet guarded access to you like a loyal pit bull. If she
doesn’t know how valuable she is to you, you are making a big
managerial mistake and YOU should know better.”
A week later I called his assistant, and said, “I don’t know if you
remember me, but I’m just following up on a letter and article I sent
to your boss to see if he received it.”
His assistant replied warmly, “Of course I remember you Dr. Mark.
About your letter and article. I sent him the article, but not your
cover letter.”
I thought, “Uh, oh! I messed up.” Haltingly, I asked why.

She responded with the delight of someone who had just served an
ace in a tennis match: “I didn’t send it to him, I read it to him over
the phone.”
Needless to say, that assistant and I have remained friends ever

since.
Yes, CEOs are under pressure from all sides and executives have all
sorts of people pushing and pulling at them. But too often, they
begin to view and treat their teams, and especially their assistants,
as appliances. And a good assistant knows that the last thing their
boss wants to hear from them is a personal complaint about
anything. Those assistants are often paid well, and most of their
bosses — especially the executives to which numbers, results, ROI
and money means everything — believe that great payment and
benefits should be enough.
What these executives fail to realize is that many of those assistants

are sacrificing their personal lives, intimate relationships, even their
children (because the executive is often their biggest child).
There will always be people who think that money and benefits and
even just having a job should be thanks enough. There are also
those that think they do a great job without anyone having to thank
them. But study after study has shown that no one is immune from
the motivating effects of acknowledgement and thanks. In fact,
research by Adam Grant and Francesca Gino has shown that saying
thank you not only results in reciprocal generosity — where the
thanked person is more likely to help the thanker — but stimulates
prosocial behavior in general. In other words, saying “thanks”
increases the likelihood your employee will not only help you, but
help someone else.
Here’s a case in point: at one national law firm, the Los Angeles
office instilled the routine of Partners earnestly and specifically
saying, “Thank you,” to staff and associates and even each other.
Everyone in the firm began to work longer hours for less money —
and burnout all but disappeared.
Whether it’s your executive assistant, the workhorse on your team,

or — they exist! — a boss who always goes the extra mile for you,
the hardest working people in your life almost certainly don’t hear
“thank you” enough. Or when they do, it’s a too-brief “Tks!” via
email.
So take action now. Give that person what I call a Power Thank You.
This has three parts:
1. Thank them for something they specifically did that was above
the call of duty. For instance, “Joe, thanks for working over
that three-day weekend to make our presentation deck
perfect. Because of it, we won the client.”
2. Acknowledge to them the effort (or personal sacrifice) that

they made in doing the above. “I realize how important your
family is to you, and that working on this cost you the time
you’d planned to spend with your daughters. And yet you did it
without griping or complaining. Your dedication motivated
everyone else on the team to make the presentation
excellent.”
3. Tell them what it personally meant to you. “You know that,

rightly or wrongly, we are very much judged on our results
and you were largely responsible for helping me achieve one
that will cause my next performance review to be ‘over the
moon,’ just like yours is going to be. You’re the best!”
If the person you’re thanking looks shocked or even a little misty-

eyed, don’t be surprised. It just means that your gratitude has been
a tad overdue.
Mark Goulston, M.D., F.A.P.A. is a business psychiatrist, executive consultant,

keynote speaker and co-founder of Heartfelt Leadership. He is the author of Just
Listen and co-author of Real Influence: Persuade Without Pushing and Gain Without
Giving In (Amacom, 2013).
40
The age factor on your plate
Madhuri Ruia, The Mint
Careful attention to nutrient intake and physical activity plays a

significant role in determining life expectancy and quality of life
Nourishment for a newborn as well as a senior citizen revolves

around the adequate intake of three macronutrients—proteins,
carbohydrates and fats. All of the nine essential amino acids,
unrefined and high-fibre sources and essential omega fats must
come from the diet. Essential nutrients are those that cannot be
produced by the body and therefore must be obtained from food
alone. The forms (of the nutrients) and required quantities differ
according to age.
Careful attention to nutrient intake and physical activity plays a

significant role in determining not just life expectancy but also the
quality of life and absence of disease across the lifespan. For
instance, recommendations for controlling the intake of foods that
are high in saturated fats begin as early as the age of 2. The build-
up of atherosclerotic plaque within the arteries can begin early in
life, and it has been documented that infants and children whose
diet lacks in healthy nutrition tend to follow similar habits as they
age. Also parents who are obese and sedentary for the most part of
their life indirectly influence their children to adopt unhealthy eating
practices and become obese themselves.
It is important to note that energy needs, and therefore nutrition

needs, vary in accordance with the growth phases that are affected
by age and gender. These phases are broadly infancy and early
childhood, followed by adolescence, adulthood and old age. For the
most part, macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate and fats), as well
as micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and antioxidants) are always
required throughout the lifespan. However the emphasis on calories,
specific nutrients and water intake might require special attention
as you grow older.
An active one-year-old requires about 1,000 calories a day, because

of an enhanced growth rate. A two-year-old, however, requires just
300 calories more, and by the age of 10, a child needs 2,000 calories
per day. In other words, energy needs increase to some extent, but
the energy need per kilogram of body weight declines with age. This
means that a one-year-old needs 100 calories per kilogram of body
weight and a three-year-old needs 81.5 calories per kilogram of
body weight.
With adolescents, the growth spurt begins at the ages of 10 and 11

for females and 12 or 13 for males and lasts up to two years prior to
puberty. For females, body fat percentage increases, and for males,
conversely, the percentage of lean tissue increases. Energy needs
depend on individual rates of growth, gender, body composition and
activity. A 15-year-old boy who typically gains more muscle tissue
than a 15-year-old girl would require to eat at least 4,000 calories
per day while the girl just 2,000 calories. The RDI (recommended
daily intake) for most vitamins increases during adolescence and is
similar to those for adults. During puberty, the absorption of calcium
and vitamin D increases to strengthen bone structure, and as such
the nutrient needs for these increases during this phase. The need
for iron also increases during adolescence. For girls, more iron is
required to facilitate the menstrual cycle and for males, iron
supports the growth of muscle and lean tissue.
For adults, the average energy needs decline by approximately 5%

every decade. This is because activity levels reduce sharply and this
in turn results in a loss of body mass. Adults would do well to
eliminate calorie-dense foods especially after the age of 50, and this
is why an important emphasis in adulthood lies in choosing nutrient-
dense foods. Protein food sources must be lower in calories and high
in protein quality. Lean poultry, egg whites, skimmed-milk paneer
(cottage cheese) are important for adults. Unrefined, coarse and
high-fibre carbohydrate foods like wholegrain and legumes are
nutrient-dense choices. Limiting saturated fats is important to
control blood cholesterol levels as is the adequate intake of vitamin
D and 1,200mg of calcium per day, especially for women.
Older adults need to take care especially of their water intake as

total body water and the thirst response decreases with old age.
Deficiencies of vitamins B12 and iron that could occur typically in
later years might need supplementation under the guidance of a
physician.
Madhuri Ruia is a nutritionist and Pilates expert
40
The ‘I’ of Leadership

The Mint
Leaders can learn new behaviours, and

tailor their response to situations they haven’t faced before
Adapting to change
With the will, opportunity, right tools and practice, leaders can be
truly versatile and adjust their style to match the needs of the
situation,” writes Nigel Nicholson in The “I” of Leadership:
Strategies for Seeing, Being and Doing. Nicholson, professor of
organizational behaviour at the London Business School, UK, says of
course leaders are shaped by their experiences, and depend on their
qualities and the situation to make important decisions. But leaders
can also adapt to change and learn new behaviours. In the chapter
“The Adaptive Leader—Leadership Processes”, Nicholson talks about
how we are all less flexible than we think, and how we can improve.
Edited excerpts:
Effective leadership processes have three levels: acts, tactics and

strategies.
Acts: The leader is quick to recognize when some new response is

required—this is improvisation. Duke Ellington, a professional
improviser in music, was likewise in management; constantly
inventive, finding new ways of dealing with the troublesome people
that inhabit the world of jazz production, distribution and
consumption. Ernest Shackleton, hero of the Antarctic, showed he
was willing and able to do anything he required of his men,
constantly inventing new diversions and actions to keep people
motivated and happy under conditions of extraordinary privation.
Tactics: Tactics are to acts as phrases are to words—they bundle

ideas and actions. Leaders are often at their most tactical in
meetings—for example, knowing when to interject for maximum
effect. One of the most common and powerful tactical forms is what
cognitive scientists call “heuristics”—commonly known as rules of
thumb. These are operational principles to govern thought and
action. Of course, the trick is knowing when to apply them, but you
can see how many a smooth operator can appear no more than a
slick trickster if that’s all they’ve got. Ellington and Shackleton were
tactical masters. Everything they did was nuanced and sequenced to
meet a specific goal.
Strategies: Forty years ago, management guru Henry Mintzberg

published his groundbreaking analysis of managerial work—an
intimate ethnographic observation of what executives actually do,
rather than what the textbooks at the time depicted, in which he
noted how their daily life was a blizzard of improvised action,
dealing with unscheduled meetings and unexpected events. But
Mintzberg shrewdly noted that some are able, by shot selection, to
shape this blizzard into a coherent, purposeful shape. Others just
churn—frustrated and frantic, driven by events. The wheel is turning
but the hamster is dead!
Shackleton and Ellington were strategic, in that each had an

overarching goal and purpose which all their actions served; which
gave direction to their choices. For Ellington it was his grand vision
of music, connection and spirituality. For Shackleton it was simpler—
his singular goal to save all his men.
The Duke Ellington Method
It was said by one of his band that “everyone loved Duke, he was on
everybody’s side.” This is a statement to ponder at, not least
because of the vicissitudes of running a 16 or so piece jazz
orchestra. Of all the difficult people in the world to organize and
lead, jazz musicians must come near the top of the list—feckless,
drug and alcohol abusers, undisciplined, anti-authority, you name it.
One of his long-standing tenor players—Ben Webster—was

distinguished by his magical ability to produce a lush, almost
sentimental, subtle and beguiling sound from his horn. However, off
the bandstand, he was such a roughhouse that he earned the
nickname “Animal.” Not a man to get the wrong side of. But
Ellington was an impervious charmer—a man of grace, elegance and
unruffled good humor. He knew how to turn away wrath, as the
Good Book recommends, to the extent that, as legend has it, when
Oscar Pettiford, a bass player given to emotional firestorms, started
screaming grievances in Duke’s face, the great man simply fell
asleep. A superb instance of the right behaviour for the moment.
As a motivator, Duke was a great strategist as well as a tactician.

One of his most winning techniques was to have numbers especially
tailored to showcase the talents of particular instrumentalists.
Everyone got their place in the sun—very addictive. Moreover, he
had a great contrarian strategy for dealing with the bad boys who
showed up late or, worse, under the influence. He would not only
feature them, but allow their solo spots to extend beyond the point
of creative comfort. It was one such a mammoth solo that Ellington
used to turn around the band’s fortunes at its nadir in 1956, when,
at the Newport Jazz Festival, Nelson-like he turned a blind eye to
frantic instructions to close his set and make way for the “bigger”
acts that were supposed to follow. Instead, he launched the band
into a 12-bar blues, “Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue,” in which
the prolific genius of tenor man Paul Gonsalves turned in an
unprecedented 27 choruses of his solo, lifting the crowd to heights
of ecstatic appreciation unseen for years at the festival, and reviving
the band’ s reputation overnight.
The “I” of Leadership—Strategies for Seeing, Being and Doing: By Nigel

Nicholson, Jossey-Bass/Wiley, 310 pages, £18.99 (around Rs1,900)
40
The Midas Touch
We all know the story of the greedy king named Midas. He had a lot
of gold and the more he had the more he wanted. He scored all the
gold in his vaults and used to spend time every day counting it.
One day while he was counting a stranger came from nowhere and
said he would grant him a wish. The king was delighted and said, "I
would like everything I touch to turn to gold." The stranger asked
the king, "Are you sure?" The king replied, "Yes." So the stranger
said, "Starting tomorrow morning with the sun rays you will get the
golden touch." The king thought he must be dreaming, this couldn't
be true.
But the next day when he woke up, he touched the bed, his clothes,
and everything turned to gold. He looked out of the window and saw
his daughter playing in the garden. He decided to give her a surprise
and thought she would be happy. But before he went to the garden
he decided to read a book. The moment he touched it, it turned into
gold and he couldn't read it.
Then he sat to have breakfast and the moment he touched the fruit
and the glass of water, they turned to gold. He was getting hungry
and he said to himself, "I can't eat and drink gold." Just about that
time his daughter came running and he hugged her and she turned
into a golden statue. There were no more smiles left.
The king bowed his head and started crying. The stranger who gave
the wish came again and asked the king if he was happy with his
golden touch. The king said he was the most miserable man. The
stranger asked, "What would you rather have, your food and loving
daughter or lumps of gold and her golden statue?" The king cried
and asked for forgiveness. He said, "I will give up all my gold. Please
give me my daughter back because without her I have lost
everything worth having." The stranger said to the king, "You have
become wiser than before," and he reversed the spell. He got his
daughter back in his arms and the king learned a lesson that he
never forgot for the rest of his life.
What is the moral of the story?
1. 1. Distorted values lead to tragedy.

2. 2. Sometimes getting what you want may be a bigger tragedy
than not getting what you want.
3. 3. Unlike the game of soccer where players can be substituted,
the game of life allows no substitutions or replays.
4. 4. We may not get a second chance to reverse our tragedies, as
the king did.
40
Eating an Elephant
Zig Ziglar
It's been around for years, but the statement that you can eat an
elephant one bite at a time is as true as ever. It's also true that you
can benefit mankind and change the lives of countless others a little
bit at a time.
One of the most heartwarming stories I've heard in years is that of
Oseola McCarty from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She spent a lifetime
washing, ironing and mending dirty clothes. These clothes were
worn at parties she never attended, weddings to which she was
never invited, and graduations which she was not privileged to see.
Her needs in life were extremely simple. She didn't mind living in a
small house and economizing in every possible way - including
cutting the toes out of shoes if they did not fit right. Her pay over
the decades was small and mostly in dollar bills and change, but she
saved consistently and was able to donate $1,50,000 to finance
scholarships for black students at the University of Southern
Mississippi. The impact of her gift has been incredible. She has been
identified as the most unselfish person anyone knows. The business
leaders of Hattiesburg matched the $1,50,000 and the $3,00,000 is
being used for those scholarships.
Ms. McCarty was stunned at the amount of attention she received

from the media and the number of people who came by to see her.
She had only one request and hope, that she will be privileged to
attend the graduation of at least one of the students who received
his or her college education as a result of her generosity. She wished
she had been able to get a college education herself, but said she
was always "too busy." Her hope is that her "busyness" will enable
others to get the education she never had.
Fact: It's not how much you have but how well you use what
you have that counts. I encourage you to follow the Oseola
McCarty example and you will help others get to the top!
40
Why are Goals Important?
On the best sunny day, the most powerful magnifying glass will not
light paper if you keep moving the glass. But if you focus and hold it,
the paper will light up. That is the power of concentration.
A man was travelling and stopped at an intersection. He asked an

elderly man, "Where does this road take me?" The elderly person
asked, "Where do you want to go?" The man replied, "I don't know."
The elderly person said, "Then take any road. What difference does
it make?"
How true. When we don't know where we are going, any road will
take us there.
Suppose you have all the football eleven players, enthusiastically

ready to play the game, all charged up, and then someone took the
goal post away. What would happen to the game? There is nothing
left. How do you keep score? How do you know you have arrived?
Enthusiasm without direction is like wildfire and leads to frustration.
Goals give a sense of direction. Would you sit in a train or a plane

without knowing where it was going? The obvious answer is no.
Then why do people go through life without having any goals?
40
The problem with the parable
Devangshu Datta
Moral standards change. When you read an old story, you

have to cherry-pick the moral lessons you should imbibe from it
The legend of Raja Harish Chandra is up there with that of Devdas in

terms of popular appeal. Schoolchildren are taught this parable and
it has inspired umpteen stage and screen adaptations.
The virtuous king, Harish Chandra, donated his kingdom at the

behest of Maharishi Vishwamitra. Then, in order to pay dakshina, or
additional gift tax, he sold his wife and son to a Brahmin family.
After that, he indentured himself as a corpse handler, the worst job
on the caste totem pole.
When his son died, he demanded his wife pay a cremation fee. As
she stripped to offer her only garment as payment, a contingent of
assorted gods and rishis arrived. Praising the Raja for his steadfast
virtue, they restored his son to life. Then they packed the royal
couple and their erstwhile subjects off to heaven, magically
repopulated the kingdom, and installed his son on the throne.
Fifty generations have been told to emulate the virtuous monarch.

In order to keep his word, Harish Chandra was prepared to endure
the worst possible misery. The nobility of this is emphasised in every
retelling. Gandhiji, for example, loved the story and, certainly, he
lived by this principle of accepting extreme personal hardship in the
pursuit of his moral principles.
What is not emphasised is that Harish Chandra was also prepared to

put other people through equally great misery, without consulting
them, in order to keep his word. He ruined his family and humiliated
his wife by forcing her to strip in public (that particular theme has
always fascinated Indians). Apart from the patriarchal assumption
that his wife and son were disposable goods, he thought his word
outweighed his responsibilities as a family man.
We are not told what happened to the kingdom's per capita income
in the period between his abdication and the divine intervention.
Perhaps the place prospered. Perhaps not. Either way, Harish
Chandra handed over executive responsibilities and the state's
resources to someone with unknown competencies when it came to
making executive decisions, or managing state finances. As an
absolute monarch, he did not, of course, consult his subjects on the
regime transfer.
The story also contains a raft-load of caste stereotypes and biases.

Brahmins are good; Kshatriyas are good; corpse disposers are dirty,
unless they are gods or Kshatriyas in disguise. The biases and
assumptions offer fascinating insights into the social structure of
ancient India: absolute monarchy, absolute patriarchy, caste
rigidities and a twisted code that placed personal honour above the
well-being of the family, or of entire kingdoms. In itself, this would
be only of historical interest.
The scary thing is that Harish Chandra's behaviour is cited as being

worth emulating in 21st-century school textbooks. The negative
externalities of his behaviour are ignored even in the modern
versions of the story. Caste and patriarchal prejudices are
reinforced, and the concepts of democratic consultation and
consensus are conspicuous by their absence.
By contemporary moral standards, Raja Harish Chandra was a
monster. He should have broken his word and taken whatever
punishment the Maharishi handed out, sooner than cause this sort of
harm to his family. Nor should he have disposed of state resources
in this irresponsible fashion and placed the lives and fortunes of all
his subjects in potential jeopardy.
Moral standards change. When you read an old story, you have to
cherry-pick the moral lessons you should imbibe from it.
Unfortunately, as a nation, we seem to have internalised all the
wrong lessons from Raja Harish Chandra.
His laudable commitment to the truth and to keeping his word has
fallen by the wayside. But the monumental self-absorption and
absolute indifference to the well-being of others that he displayed
characterise both our public and private behaviour.
The parable also supposedly teaches us to rely upon divine

intervention. Raja Harish Chandra beggared himself and abdicated
responsibility for the state's resources. Only divine intervention put
things right again. We emulate him as best we can, by playing
ducks-and-drakes with our public finances. Unfortunately, divine
intervention is not that reliable when it comes to fixing fiscal
deficits.

40
Three Keys to Personal Power
Brian Tracy
Did you know that there are three personality powers that top
leaders use to increase their personal power and influence?
Your Emotions Are Contagious
The first power you can develop is enthusiasm. The more excited
you are about accomplishing something that is important to you, the
more excited others will be about helping you to do it. The fact is
that emotions are contagious. The more passion you have for your
life and your activities, the more charisma you will possess, and the
more cooperation you will gain from others. Every great man or
woman has been totally committed to a noble cause and, as a result,
has attracted the support and encouragement of others in many
cases, thousands or millions of others.
The Key to Charisma
The second personality power that you can develop is expertise, or

competence. The more knowledgeable you are perceived to be in
your field, the more charisma you will have among those who
respect and admire that knowledge because of the impact it can
have on their lives. This is also the power of excellence, of being
recognized by others as an outstanding performer in your field. Men
and women who do their jobs extremely well and who are
recognized for the quality of their work are those who naturally
attract the help and support of others. They have charisma.
Prepare Thoroughly for Every Event
The third power of personality that gives you charisma in the eyes of
others is thorough preparation, detailed preparation, prior to
undertaking any significant task. Whether you are calling on a
prospect, meeting with your boss, giving a public talk or making any
other kind of presentation, when you are well-prepared, it becomes
clear to everyone. The careers of many young people are put onto
the fast track as a result of their coming to an important meeting
after having done all their homework.
Get on Top of Your Subject
Whether it takes you hours or even days, if an upcoming meeting or

interaction is important, take the time to get on top of your subject.
Be so thoroughly prepared that nothing can faze you. Think through
and consider every possibility and every ramification. Often, this
effort to be fully prepared will do more to generate the respect of
others than anything else you can do.
Keep Good Notes
Remember that the power is always on the side of the person who
has done the most preparation and has the best notes. Everything
counts. Leave nothing to chance. When you do something related to
your work or career, take the time to do it right the first time.
You are a work in progress. You are always growing and improving.
Your job is to become the very best leader you can be, and you can -
with regular and persistent practice of these personality powers.
Action Exercises
action.
  First, get excited about your goals and your work if you want
others to be excited. Express your belief and commitment to
others at every opportunity.
  Second, dedicate yourself to a lifelong process of getting better

and better at what you do. Prepare thoroughly for every event.
Set an example in everything you do.
SMART Goals
40
If you ask most people what is their one major objective in life, they
would probably give you a vague answer, such as, "I want to be
successful, be happy, make a good living," and that is it. They are all
wishes and none of them are clear goals.
Goals must be SMART:
1. S--specific.
For example, "I want to lose weight." This is wishful thinking. It

becomes a goal when I pin myself down to "I will lose 10 pounds in
90 days."
2. M--must be measurable.
If we cannot measure it, we cannot accomplish it. Measurement is a

way of monitoring our progress.
3. A--must be achievable.
Achievable means that it should be out of reach enough to be

challenging but it should not be out of sight, otherwise it becomes
disheartening.
4. R--realistic.
A person who wants to lose 50 pounds in~30 days is being

unrealistic.
5. T--time-bound.
There should be a starting date and a finishing date.
40
Fifty Years of Martin Luther King Jr’s "I Have A Dream"
Krishnakumar S, The Mainstream Weekly

The March to Washington For Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963,
fifty years back, was an unprecedented assertion of the Afro-
Americans who were discriminated against in their own country,
despite the tall promises made on equality through the Emancipation
Proclamation during Abraham Lincoln’s Presidency, after the
American Civil War.
History was made with the celebrated speech of Martin Luther King
Jr.—”I Have A Dream”—that drew the attention of the world to the
poignant situation of the Afro-Americans in the United States. Ever
since, it has been considered as one of the greatest speeches in
history. Through his speech King wanted the larger American nation
to judge them not on the basis of the colour of their skin, but by the
content of their character.
Notwithstanding the rise of the United States to prominence in the

international scene in the post-World War II scenario, but for some
employment opportunities received under the Public Works
Administration of FDR’s Great Depression regime, the Afro-
Americans were feeling the pinch of the grand disdainful neglect.
The anger and angst, the agony and fear, and the expectations of a
new future were all finding fruition through the Washington March
For Jobs and Freedom. The authorities were forced to reconcile to
the changing social relations compelling President Johnson to buy
peace by passing the US Civil Rights Bill.
Despite the spectacular performance of the American economy

during the Golden Age of Capitalism (1950-70), which was also
known for the reduction in income inequalities due to a large stint of
Keynesian demand management policies, the Afro-Americans were
literally reduced to being mere spectators, who had to keep fighting
for assuring entry into educational institutions as well as exercising
their franchise. Paradoxically, it was at a time when India, then a
newly-free colony, through the Constituent Assembly, had gifted to
itself a Constitution assuring universal franchise as well as even
positive discrimination with respect to the representation in
legislatures for the historically disadvantaged sections, that the
Afro-Americans in the United States were in the streets yearning for
justice and equal treatment. The inability to exercise franchise
without fear, inaccessibility to places of education and health had
resulted in rising unemployment amidst the Afro-Americans. In fact
“I Have A Dream” is an emotionally charged articulation of Martin
Luther King in the backdrop of the consistent struggles which were
waged in the previous decades. The seeds of the speech were sown
far earlier in an address which he gave at Detroit. But the final
speech was obviously the outcome of the osmosis of sorts which
was there between the electrified audience and the enthusiastic
leader at Lincoln Memorial.
No doubt as a Pastor of the Ebenezer Church, Atlanta Georgia, he

took radical inspiration from the Holy Bible. Even “I Have A Dream”
is inundated with quotes like ‘when justice rolls down like waters
and righteousness prevails like a mighty stream’ straight from the
Bible. In fact, King Jr. had a spectacular sense of trying to achieve
secular goals like the attainment of equality and justice by relying
on the words of sacred texts. Motivated of course he was also by the
struggles waged by Gandhi against racial discrimination in South
Africa and against colonialism in India through the path of non-
violence. He underscored the importance of appealing to the
conscience of the European settlers in the United States and
garnering their support for the larger Afro-American cause.
Therefore, too, he did not want any use of violence to save oneself
out of the racial mess in which the Afro-Americans were engulfed in.
In fact the Washington March was the pinnacle of the number of

historic struggles waged in this regard by the civil rights activists in
the United States. The bus boycott agitation in Montgomery in 1955
triggered by the arrest of Rosa Parks, who refused to vacate the seat
for the Whites, the racial riots which broke out in the University of
Alabama following the court verdict directing admission to an Afro-
American, Autherine Lucia, in 1956 as well as the “Give Us the
Ballot” movement in 1957 against the Afro-Americans being refused
the right to vote, are some in which King Jr. took the lead to provide
direction. Even a day before his death at a motel in Memphis,
Tennesse, which cut his life short at the young age of thirtynine,
King was addressing the sanitation workers who were protesting
against the discriminatory practices perpetrated against the working
class by the municipal authorities. Even as he tirelessly strove
throughout his life against the social exclusion, economic destitution
as well as political isolation of the Afro-Americans, he knew so well
that the people who were used to privileges would rarely be ready to
give them up so easily.
If during the Golden Age of Capitalism, when income inequalities

were falling thanks to the Keynesian polices, the lot of the Afro-
Americans weren’t any better, less said the better of their condition
in the period since the nineties. Though the educational attainments
of the coloured have improved over the decades, the politics of the
retreat of the state in the Washington Consensus period has taken a
toll of the hapless Afro-American, who is increasingly being pushed
from the ghetto to the prison. Recent reports from the United States
speak about a larger than proportionate presence of Afro-Americans
in prisons. Their last-ditch attempt to catch up with the soaring
property prices in the mid-2000s have turned out to be sour. But,
the bankers of Wall Street were able to generate innovative financial
products so as to transform even people who had no jobs, income or
assets to be issued loans. No wonder that the sub-prime crisis has
taken a toll of the hard earned savings of the Afro-Americans.
Incidentally, even after all the period of irrational exuberance, Alan
Greenspan remarks that his term at the Federal Reserve was one in
the history of the country where people below the poverty line could
aspire in terms of a house of their own.
All said, thanks to the Great Recession, the lone Afro-American

Senator in the 2007-09 Congress, Barack Obama, got elected as the
President of the United States, only to make it better through a
second term. But that apart, even in the 112th US Congress, out of
the 435 members in the House of Representatives, only 43 are Afro-
Americans. A Congressional Research Services Report states that the
figure was always lower than 10 before the 1970s. Given the nature
of American elections and the business interests which dominate the
same, political representation in the legislatures is less likely to be
any better, given that there are no designated seats for these
historically disadvantaged sections.
As the world celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of “I Have a Dream”,

it seems to be as relevant now as then. All said, it is to be explored
as to why the Keynesian economic policy regime of the fifties and
sixties was as neglectful of the Afro-Americans as the monetarist/
Greenspan economics of the Washington Consensus period.
The author is an Assistant Professor, Department of Economics,
Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi.
40
This is Good
An old story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with
whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every
situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and
remarking, "This is good!"
One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition.
The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend
had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns,
for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his
thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked
as usual, "This is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT
good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.
About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should
have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to
their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake
and bound him to the stake. As they came near to set fire to the
wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being
superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So
untying the king, they sent him on his way.
As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken

his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went
immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he
said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded
to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry
for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."
"No," his friend replied, "This is good!" "What do you mean, 'This is
good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?"
"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."
40
Those Smart Geese
Zig Ziglar, Author of Born To Win

Surely all of us have heard the honking of a Canada goose overhead
and looked up to see them flying in V-formation. Scientists in wind-
tunnel tests have discovered that geese actually fly 72% farther in a
V-formation than they could on their own. The goose off the trailing
wing of another is flying in a partial vacuum and, consequently, is
able to fly farther. You have probably wondered why one leg of the V
is always longer than the other. The explanation for that is quite
simple: The longer one has more geese in it.
From time to time the formation appears to break, but what's

happening is the lead goose is being replaced by another who is
more rested because he's not been fighting the same amount of
headwind the lead goose has been fighting.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we were as considerate of those around

us as are the geese of their leader? Perhaps we, too, would get more
done.
The goose is also wise in another department. If some of the geese

start to lag behind, there are a large number of honks that come
forth from the rest of the geese. Psychologists believe those goose
honks are more than just noise-makers, they are honks of
encouragement. They're really saying, "Come one, Partner, pick up
the pace! Farmer Brown's pond's only four miles ahead. You can do
it!" So, in essence, they're motivators giving encouragement to their
lagging companion. In addition, if a goose gets sick or is wounded,
two other geese will drop out of formation to follow and protect it
until it either dies or is able to move on.
There's quite a lesson in that message, too. If we were more

supportive and encouraging to our associates and family members,
surely there would be more unity and accomplishment.
I believe if we will follow the examples of the goose we will get

more done individually as well as collectively. And if we do, I will
see you at the top!
40
It is the Little Things that Make a Big Difference
There was a man taking a morning walk on the beach. He saw that
along with the morning tide came hundreds of starfish and when the
tide receded, they were left behind and with the morning sun-rays,
they would die. The tide was fresh and the starfish were alive.
The man took a few steps, picked up one and threw it into the water.
He did that repeatedly. Right behind him there was another person
who couldn't understand what this man was doing. He caught up
with him and asked, "What are you doing? There are hundreds of
starfish. How many can you help? What difference does it make?"
This man did not reply, took two more steps, picked up another one,
threw it into the water, and said, "It makes a difference to this one."
What difference are we making? Big or small, it does not matter. If

everyone made a small difference, we'd end up with a big difference,
wouldn't we?
40
Powerful Communication:
Apology Do's and Don'ts
Julie Donley
Do you apologize for anything and everything?
Do you apologize for things that are completely out of your control?
How about apologizing for other people's behaviour?
Do you tend to apologize just to see if the other person will

apologize?
An apology can be a very cathartic act. It can mend fences and build
bridges. It is an act of a true leader when you are able to admit a
wrong or mistake.
An apology done well is powerful. For this reason, making an

apology should be taken very seriously.
When they are thrown around without much thought, they lose their
potency. An empty apology does not serve you but rather can
diminish the respect others have for you.
Why do we struggle so much with apologies?
1) Some people don't ever want to admit they are wrong. This
relates to their self-esteem, although they might not admit it.
Human beings are of greatest value. When a person cannot accept
their value, they seek something external to give them the
validation they need. Often people's value is attached to their ideas.
To the person whose self-esteem is attached to their ideas,
admitting you are wrong means that YOU are wrong and you cannot
NOT have value.
2) Other people don't want to be seen as weak. They don't want to

make a mistake. They seek perfection. To admit fault is to admit
failure, in their perspective. They value appearances over truth and
humility.
3) And others apologize for everything. Guilt, shame, needing to be

liked or needed, or fear of confrontation or conflict causes them to
accept responsibility for everything. Their fear is in charge and they
are at Fear's mercy.
How well do you do with apologizing? Here are some dos and don'ts
for making an apology:
DO listen to the other person's feelings. If they are hurting,
acknowledge their pain.
DON'T accept responsibility for their pain. It's not yours; it's theirs.
If you did or said something inappropriate and that resulted in their
pain, then yes.
DO apologize for anything YOU DO that might directly have caused

their pain. Be careful how you language your apology though.
Accepting responsibility is crucial to determine whether an apology

applies and is necessary.
DO accept responsibility for your words and actions. If they result in

harm or if you are wrong, then DO apologize.
DON'T apology out of guilt. If you carry a lot of guilt with you or if
guilt tends to drive your behaviours, then challenge the guilt feeling.
Is it true? Or is it that this person does not wish to accept their
responsibility in the situation? The guilt is yours but it is just an
emotion. Identify the anger underneath to determine if the problem
is yours or theirs. Take the assessment on my website to identify
specifically the thought processes leading to your guilt. From there,
you can learn to take charge rather than being at the mercy of these
guilt feelings.
DON'T accept responsibility for things over which you have no

control. "I am so sorry for the foot of snow we got that slowed down
traffic." Really? You have that much power you can control the
weather? Please, just apologize for being late.
DON'T explain away the apology. When you explain yourself it

diminishes the potency of the apology. And, in some cases, it
reverses it. "I am so sorry I am late but you see, the traffic was a
mess and my kids were unruly and I couldn't get..." What happens is
that you water-down your apology. Your excuses tell the other
person that you are not really at fault. These outside factors were
the real cause for your behaviour. You are perceived as being out of
control.
DO apologize for your behaviour or the result of your behaviour. "I

apologize for missing the deadline." Say no more. This means, you
may have to listen to others complain about the results of your
actions. They have every right to their thoughts and feelings about
your behaviour. Let them vent.
DON'T let them go on and on. And DON'T let them chastise you. It is
never acceptable to be put down or otherwise belittled or abused.
You may have to set a boundary and tell them that it's enough. You
can move the conversation along by changing the subject or if you
have to, then leave.
DON'T keep apologizing! Say it once. Make sure it is heard and then
let it go. It is up to the other person to receive your apology. You
have no control over what they do with your apology.
Will you get in trouble because you missed the deadline or didn't
finish your work? You may. Next time, meet the deadline.
DO understand if the other person is unwilling to forgive. They do

not have to. And they will have to live with that. You have done your
part by saying what needs to be said and "clearing the space". And
while you may feel badly that the other person cannot find
forgiveness at this time, you can only do what you can do which is to
accept responsibility for you. They are responsible for themselves.
DON'T apologize simply to get the other personal to apologize. They

may accept responsibility for their part; they may not. You do not
have control over that. As a leader, be the role model and be
understanding. They may not be ready to accept responsibility for
their flaws. It's a big step in personal development, one that many
people are just not ready for. Their self-esteem may be too fragile.
And, we've all been there at some point in our lives.
DON'T accept responsibility for other people's poor behaviour and
words. This is a huge source of stress! When you accept
responsibility for other people, you do not allow them to feel the
pain of their own actions and receive the consequences. You,
however, will become angry and resentful.
DO put responsibility where it belongs.
Oh, and one more thing, listen to your voice mail message. If you
apologize for being unable to answer the phone, change it. Instead
say that you are out having a great time and you'll return the call
when you can.
DON'T be sorry that you missed the call. Be happy that you have a
life away from the phone!
40
“How much is an ice cream sundae?”

This is from an old story, back in the 30's, in the days when an ice
cream sundae cost much less. A 10 year-old boy entered a hotel
coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in
front of him.
"How much is an ice cream sundae?" the little boy asked. "Fifty
cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his
pocket and studied the coins he had. "Well, how much is a plain dish
of ice cream?" he enquired.
By now, more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was
growing very impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.
The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream,"
he said.
The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and
walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and
left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry. As she wiped
down the table, there placed neatly beside the empty dish were two
nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae
because he had to have enough money to leave her a tip.
40
It's All About People

Dan Wilson
During my corporate career I had the good fortune for many of those
years of being associated with the hardest working, most dedicated
team of professionals one could imagine. Not only were they
extraordinarily proficient at what they did, but also innovative and
adaptable to new and better processes, procedures, and technology,
always open to better ways and new ideas. What was even more
impressive though, beyond their professionalism and technical
expertise, was their caring attitude toward the people they served. I
know that for a fact for I had the opportunity to observe day to day
how they fretted and sweated over doing the right thing – for people.
What I learned from that team is this, that ultimately it is all about
people. In everything, all our endeavours, if it is not about people it
simply does not exist. Regardless of our jobs, careers, professions,
vocations, businesses or organizations – whatever products or
services we provide, for profit or not-for-profit – if the ultimate
purpose and end result does not benefit other people in some way,
our jobs, professions, and organizations would have never come into
existence in the first place.
Too often, I’m afraid, in this complex and competitive world, people
are treated as commodities rather than being valued as fellow
human beings. Customers are valued only by the contents of their
wallets, and employees as nothing more than tools or machines,
replaceable or expendable at the slightest whim– “human
resources,” we call them, rather than “human beings.” And,
unfortunately, when that attitude becomes too pervasive in any
business, organization, or profession, eventually – eventually I say –
it will falter. Consider the Enron debacle, for instance, from a few
years back. Enron’s demise did not begin with the greedy
shenanigans of its senior executives; it began when the company
and its leadership lost sight of its true purpose, of serving and
providing for people.
Take a look around this week and see if you can identify one single
worthwhile endeavour that does not ultimately serve and benefit
people. Can there be such a thing? It’s all about people, you see, and
as long as we, in whatever we do, do not lose sight of that fact, we
will flourish. But if we do we are sure – eventually – to falter.
America was populated and freed by a salesman
Zig Ziglar
World conditions were horrible when the settlement of America

started and people were desperately needed to populate the new,
uncharted wilderness. Sir Walter Raleigh toured the coffee houses of
London, persuading people who were living in distress that there
was a better land and a better way to live. The people were
ignorant, fearful and superstitious, so it took a lot of selling on
Raleigh's part to persuade them to leave the "security" of their
homeland.
America was freed by a salesman. George Washington's task to

recruit for the Continental Army looked insurmountable. He had to
convince the farmers, merchants, ship builders, fur trappers, etc., to
stop what they were doing and go to war against the most powerful
nation on earth, the one with the dominant Navy and a large,
professional, well-trained, well-equipped army. He had to tell them
if they won the war there would be little, if any, money to pay them,
and if they lost the war, they would be hung from the highest trees.
Yes, it was a tough sell, but Washington was a salesman on fire for
freedom.
America was explored by a salesman. Though America had been

discovered in 1492, by 1776, or nearly three hundred years later, it
had been settled only as far west as the Appalachian Mountains.
However, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton persuaded
Congress to appropriate money to study the methods the British had
used to establish themselves around the world. Trading posts were
the result and Lewis and Clark got their jump-start towards reaching
the Pacific Coast. In less than fifty more years, a strong presence
had been established all over this great land.
Yes, the salesperson has played a significant role in developing our

country. Sell somebody something and I'll see you at the top!
5 ways to sharpen your decision making skills
Devina Sengupta
The Economic Times
Published on August 27, 2013
In an unpredictable economy, a nimble captain of a company can

save the ship from sinking with some quick decision making. There
are theories and tools that business leaders can adopt in these times
of financial stress. While some captains have designated leaders for
particular tasks, others are sending their middle and senior
management to B-schools to learn from others who have faced
similar situations. Although some people are born with the ability to
take quick decisions, others can learn this much-needed skill, says
Devina Sengupta.
(1) Don Six Thinking Hats: E Balaji, former CEO of Randstad India,
says companies often use Edward de Bono’s tool, ‘Six thinking hats’.
It is based on the belief that the brain can think in six different
directions. The so-called hats are colour-coded and the group comes
up with possible solutions to a problem. White hat signifies data
available, red hat for intuitive and gut reactions to a problem, black
is for using discerning abilities and logical approach, yellow is for
optimism, green hat is used to come up with solutions and blue hat
for meta-cognition to look at processes & procedures.
(2) Assign a Leader: The top brass should assign a leader while
delegating team work to ensure accountability for the decisions.
“There can always be a debating society and inputs are welcome
from all members. But for quick decisions, a leader has to be
appointed,” says Shiv Agrawal, managing director of recruitment
firm ABC Consultants.
(3) A Few Minutes of Solitude: For those who prefer working in silos,
not having a group huddle jotting down the problem and road maps
for a solution often helps. Balaji says he has been practicing
meditation for past seven years and this has helped him escape the
clutter and distraction in times of crisis.
(4) A Degree can Speed Up the Process: Swifter and correct decision
making can be taught in classrooms, says V Nagadevara, professor
of quantitative methods and information systems at IIM, Bangalore.
Short-term classes teach how to access data and come up with the
best possible solutions, he says. “Students are taught how to
evaluate the cost of information and when to stop relying on data,
and they are exposed to many case studies from which they can
gauge decisions taken by companies and their impact,” he says.
(5) Gather Experience from Far and Wide: Those in the hot seat can
learn from the experience of their colleagues and competition,
besides keeping a dialogue on with as many people as possible
irrespective of age and hierarchy.
Monkey business
Mahesh Grover
The Tribune, Chandigarh
Like all sagacious kings, the lion knew that fires, disturbances and
epidemics know no borders. He had been particularly perturbed to
read about the affairs of ‘humandom’. Sexual assaults on women
had plagued the society like an epidemic, and deeply concerned
about the welfare of his kingdom he had summoned the fox, his
trusted adviser, and the wolf, in-charge of internal security.
Seeing them enter, he muttered, “Greetings! Vixen and wolf”, as

they both stood humbled in his presence.
“Tell me about the provision of rape, its consequences and

punishment in the Jungle Penal Code”, said the king.
“Rape? You mean sexual assault on females?”, the fox questioned, a

bit bewildered. Then racking her brains said, “We have never had
any such incident and looked at the wolf, who was by now nodding
his head vigorously in assent.
“What? You mean animals do not indulge in assaults?” said the king,
a bit unbelievingly.
“No, animals do assault the others for food and, if you remember,
you had introduced a benevolent scheme ‘Prahar for Aahar’ (assault
for food only) and since then animals have scrupulously adhered to
it. We animals understand that sexual desires are a part of nature’s
endowment to procreate. All of us have distinct ways to win over our
ladies’ affections and never do we violate laws of courtship.”
“Courtship?” the king quizzed.
The fox suppressed a chuckle and pulled out a dictionary. Courtship

means ‘to be involved with romantically, typically with the intention
of marrying’, and creatures of animal kingdom exhibit unique
behaviours while courting their mates, spawning bewildering array
of rituals and display of exhibitionism. Hippo males fling their
faeces, humpback whales sing and leap above the ocean surface,
spiders and peacocks dance. Female eagles take a twig to the
highest level and throw it for the male to retrieve it repeating it time
and again till they are convinced of the suitors’ intentions and
lions ... “She looked at the king who by now had a distant look in his
eyes and was absent-mindedly twirling his whiskers recalling his
dalliances with the prettiest lioness, now a mother to four cubs.
The fox smiled understandingly and continued, “The thing to be

understood is that we respect our females and their wishes and
acknowledge their status. There is thus no question of violating her
person against her desires. The only animals who are known to
disobey this law are the simians, and I read somewhere that
humans have evolved from them”, she said almost in a hushed tone,
and continued, “Even the monkeys are ashamed of humans'
monkeying around and disclaim any prehistoric connection with
them.”
“Can't it all be stopped?”, asked the king.
“Not until the men in ‘humandom’ respect their women, and accept
their equal status. Till then this ho-hum and monkey business will go
on.”
As the entire truth dawned on the king, he sighed and said, “I wish
humans would emulate us and understand that nature intended a
harmonious relationship of both sexes based on love and mutual
respect.”
His gaze then settled adoringly at the lioness, giving hunting lessons
to the cubs.
No Worries
Lee Colan
"Lauren," Hank scolded, "you really have got to stop worrying so

much. You’ve made it a full-time job! You worried about James
failing high school. You worried that the girls would marry deadbeat
husbands who wouldn’t provide for them. You worried about our
flights getting cancelled before our vacation. Last month, when you
had that cold, you even worried about getting the whooping cough,
of all things. You worried about all these things, and none of them
happened!"
"See!" Lauren exclaimed. "It worked!"
How many of us are like Lauren? Sure, she was making a joke, she
knew worrying didn’t do any good, but in some situations it seemed
to be all she could do. She had long ago fallen into the habit of
worrying, and she didn’t know how to fall out of it.
Research studies have revealed that we typically worry five times as

much about things that will never happen as about things that
actually do occur. That’s a lot of wasted worry! If you’re this
distracted, you cannot effectively live up to your potential. Worry
will drain your energy and stifle your commitment. Every minute you
spend worrying is a minute that you’re not committing. Worry is the
opposite of faith, so stop worrying, and deepen your faith.
One good way to combat worry is to commit to memory Reinhold

Niebuhr’s "Serenity Prayer": "God grant me the serenity to accept
the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference."
Once you've accepted the things you cannot change, how do you
change the things you can? Simply take a rational approach. Let’s
say you have a new job and are worried about making a mistake.
The worrying mind quickly jumps to a worst-case and highly unlikely
scenario: If you make a mistake, you’ll get fired. Rationally, you
know this is improbable, but how do you prove it to yourself? It’s
simple. First, you break down the chain of events that would lead to
your firing. Then you assign a probability to each event; a rough
estimate will do.
So what are the real odds of your being fired? Even though each
individual probability is just a rough estimate, the total probability,
which is the product of all these individual probabilities, is a good
ballpark estimate:
Probability of being fired because of a mistake = 0.25 x 0.1 x 0.7 x

0.1 x 0.05 = .0000875, or .00875% (less than one chance in ten
thousand).
Now, doesn't that put things in perspective? This kind of rational

approach can help you get a handle on your worries. If the chances
of your being fired because of a mistake are less than one in ten
thousand, there’s really no reason to worry about it.
I remember the words of the wise baboon, Rafiki (is that an

oxymoron?) for the Lion King fans, "Hakuna Matata!" Meaning
"There are no worries!" Well, that works great if you are living in the
jungle ...in a movie.
However, for today’s real world, I say, "No worries, take action!"
Life’s rewards go to those whose actions rise above their excuses...
and their worries.
So take positive action today and wash away your worries!

Signs of heart attack you must know
Trina Remedios
The Times of India
Understanding the signs of a heart attack can save a life.

Heart attacks are silent killers and anyone can be a victim.
Lack of exercise, poor diet and an erratic lifestyle can increase the
risk of a heart attack. Dr Anil Bansal, Cardiologist with Columbia
Asia Hospital, Gurgaon helps you spot the warning signs. Dr Anil
Bansal explains the signs and symptoms of a possible heart attack:
When you start feeling heaviness in your chest, unbearable upper

stomach pain, left arm pain, jaw and neck pain and shortness of
breath, you must rush to the nearest hospital and get your ECG
done." There are several cases where individuals have brushed it
aside but it is important to get immediate medical assistance.
The other warning signs include the feeling of nausea, breaking into
a cold sweat and light-headedness. You may also experience intense
pressure on the chest or feeling like your chest is closing in on you.
In men, the most common warning sign of a heart attack is chest

pain; while women are more likely to experience breathlessness,
nausea, and back and jaw pain.
In case you experience any of these symptoms or it you are a

witness, call for immediate medical care or rush the concerned
person to the nearest hospital.
Ethics or Integrity
Zig Ziglar
There's a strong movement in America to teach ethical behaviour in
our personal, family and business lives. Actually, the emphasis is on
the wrong word. We should be teaching integrity because a person
with integrity will behave in an ethical manner.
According to Webster's Dictionary, ethics is "the doctrines of

morality or social manners; the science of moral philosophy which
teaches men their duty and the reasons for it. It is a system of moral
principles, a system of rules for regulating the actions and manners
of men in society." Integrity is who you are; it comprehends the
whole moral character and is the entire unimpaired state of
anything.
This example from the March 17, 1995, issue of Virtues tells a story
by Kevin Dolan about Norman Strauss, Chairman of the J. Walter
Thompson Advertising Agency. Strauss marched into RCA's CEO and
announced that the new reel-to-reel tape recorder they wanted to
market chewed up tape and turned it into spaghetti. Strauss said,
"The product doesn't work. We can't advertise it." The RCA CEO
replied, "If that's your decision, we'll give some other agency the
entire RCA account." Strauss turned to walk out the door. "Wait a
minute!" shouted the RCA Chief. "If you feel so strongly you're
willing to sacrifice the whole account, it must be a bad product. We'll
fix it." So J. Walter Thompson kept the account.
The experience made a lasting impression on Dolan and when he

became Deputy Head of J. Walter Thompson's international
accounts, Frederick's of Hollywood, the purveyor of sexy lingerie,
wanted to give him their international account. "It turned out they
needed our good name," said Dolan. "I told them that's exactly the
reason we wouldn't handle it. If we gave Frederick's our name, it
would no longer stand for a certain ethical standard."
Yes, integrity is the key, so live your life with integrity and I'll see
you at the top!
The Magic of Solitude

Brian Tracy
Did you know that your feelings, your emotions, are the access point
to your inner powers of mind? The most important part in the
process of getting in touch with your feelings is to begin to practice
solitude on a regular basis.
Solitude is the most powerful activity in which you can engage. Men
and women who practice it correctly and on a regular basis never
fail to be amazed at the difference it makes in their lives. Learn how
you can apply this wonderful technique immediately to improve the
quality of your inner and outer life.
Most people have never practiced solitude. Have you? Most people
have never sat down quietly by themselves for any period of time in
their entire lives. Most people are so busy being busy, doing
something- even watching television- that it’s highly unusual for
them to simply sit, deliberately, and do nothing. But as Catherine
Ponder points out, “Men and women begin to become great when
they begin to take time quietly by themselves, when they begin to
practice solitude.” And here’s the method you can use.
To get the full benefit of your periods of solitude, you must sit
quietly for at least 30 to 60 minutes at a time. If you haven’t done it
before, it will take the first 25 minutes or so for you to stop fidgeting
and moving around. You’ll almost have to hold yourself physically in
your seat. You’ll have an almost irresistible desire to get up and do
something. But you must persist.
Solitude requires that you sit quietly, perfectly still, back and head
erect, eyes open, without cigarettes, candy, writing materials, music
or any interruptions whatsoever for at least 30 minutes. An hour is
better.
Become completely relaxed, and breathe deeply. Just let your mind
flow. Don’t deliberately try to think about anything. The harder you
“don’t try,” the more powerfully it works. After 20 or 25 minutes,
you’ll begin to feel deeply relaxed. You’ll begin to experience a flow
of energy coming into your mind and body.
You’ll have a tremendous sense of well-being. At this point, you’ll be

ready to get the full benefit of these moments of contemplation.
The River of Ideas
The incredible thing about solitude is that if it is done correctly, it

works just about 100 percent of the time. While you’re sitting there,
a stream, a river, of ideas will flow through your mind. You’ll think
about countless subjects in an uncontrolled stream of
consciousness. Your job is just to relax and listen to your inner
voice.
At a certain stage during your period of solitude, the answers to the

most pressing difficulties facing you will emerge quietly and clearly,
like a boat putting gently to the side of a lake. The answer that you
seek will come to you so clearly and it will feel so perfect that you’ll
experience a deep sense of gratitude and contentment.
Trusting Yourself
When you emerge from this period of quiet, you must do exactly
what has come to you. It may involve dealing with a human
situation. It may involve starting something or quitting something.
Whatever it is, when you follow the guidance that you received in
solitude, it will turn out to be exactly the right thing to do.
Everything will be OK. And it will usually work out far better than
you could have imagined. Just try it and see.
You must learn to trust yourself. You must develop the habit of
listening to yourself and then acting on the guidance you receive.
Action Exercises
Here are three steps you can take immediately to put these ideas
into action.
  First, select a specific time and place to sit quietly and practice
one full hour of solitude. Don’t put it off.
  Second, take small periods of silence and solitude during the

day, especially when you feel overwhelmed with problems or
responsibilities.
  Third, take action immediately on the ideas and insights you

receive while in solitude. One good idea can save you months
and years of hard work. The key is trust.
1
Banking on Integrity
R Viswanathan
The Business Line
Published on January 19, 2013
"You too, State Bank?” exclaimed many knowledgeable people in

1992, in utter disgust, when it became evident that State Bank of
India was also caught in the swirling muddy waters of the biggest
stock market scam, known as Harshad Mehta scam. Till then, the
Bank was perceived as an institution of highest integrity, but that
reputation was seriously dented by its involvement in the scam.
My close friend and colleague R Narasimhan then said the Bank

would not have acquired this opprobrium had V S Natarajan (VSN)
been at the helm. VSN retired as Chairman of the Bank in January
1983 and passed away peacefully at the ripe age of 90 in January
2013.
Scrupulous adherence to RBI norms
VSN directed the staff working in the Bank to scrupulously follow

the policies and guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India. Not
for him the temptation to indulge in unapproved activities just
because other banks disobeyed the diktats of the RBI and made
huge gains in the bargain.
In the mid-1970s, deposit interest rates offered by banks were kept

low by the RBI and most deposits flowed into public sector banks
due to their ownership by Government. Some foreign banks were
keen to get the deposits and started offering higher “interest rates”
by a scheme called “portfolio management”: the money was
reportedly invested in high yielding Government securities and the
customer got higher interest.
The scheme was a sheer fraud. No specific securities were identified

and the customer was paid the full principal even if the value of
Government securities fell at the time of repayment. The RBI also
turned a blind eye to the repeated protests of PSU banks against the
wrong practices of foreign banks. VSN refused to follow those
practices of foreign banks.
VSN was Managing Director of SBI for many years when his
predecessor P C D Nambiar was Chairman of the Bank. Nambiar was
outward looking, especially to opening up in foreign countries,
whereas VSN kept the Indian operations on safe and sound lines.
Nambiar was the Utsava Moorthy (roving God) while VSN was the
Moolavar (the idol in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple). After
the two left, the Bank succumbed to the inexorable pulls of profit
making at any cost. SBI gradually came very close to some share
brokers of dubious reputation and lost its basic values.
Personal integrity of highest order
Besides ensuring institutional integrity, VSN practised personal

integrity of a very high order. He would not accept any gifts from his
subordinates. Once a senior executive heading a foreign branch of
the Bank visited headquarters and called on VSN who was then MD.
It was, in those days of draconian foreign exchange controls,
customary for officers working abroad to bring fancy gadgets and
present them to their superiors in India. Everybody in the Bank
knew that if such objects were presented to VSN, it would result in a
black mark on the official. The executive wanted to give something,
following the Indian tradition of giving gifts, when calling on
superiors. Finally, he gave a box of cigars, with trepidation and it
was just tolerated.
VSN was also zealous that people working under him should not be
tempted to swerve from the narrow and straight path. Once a
reputed company banking with the Bank floated a share issue. As
was customary, the company offered shares (under promoter’s
quota) to SBI officials. I was handling that account and a senior
executive of that company of impeccable integrity requested me to
accept some shares of the company under that quota. Although
there was no discount in the price, it meant that one jumped the
queue of share applicants and got full allotment whereas others got
less than what they applied for.
VSN sent word to me that I should refuse the offer of the company,
because he felt that it was unethical. Very few seniors would have
such concern about the values to be pursued by their subordinates.
VSN was generally reticent and withdrawn. But he had developed an

intelligence network by which he gathered information about the
personal predilections of the officers in the Bank. When an efficient
official reportedly bet on horse racing, VSN took particular care to
warn that official against gambling.
Many of the present day bankers occupying the highest levels in

banks have come through the mill by excelling in a particular field,
such as lending, forex, investment banking, personnel management,
etc. They should emulate the three cardinal principles VSN adopted
throughout his long career in SBI: Personal honesty, institutional
integrity and keeping a tab on senior subordinates outside the
office.
May VSN’s soul rest in peace.
She Drew the Line
Zig Ziglar
Chances are pretty good you’ve never heard of Dr. June McCarroll,
but she is truly one of the women who left their “mark” on the
world. She was born in Nebraska and was a general practitioner who
lived in California. Interestingly enough, her claim to fame lies
outside the world of medicine. An accident was the trigger that got
her thinking about making our highways safer. Her car was
sideswiped and she determined to do something about cars that
crowded others off the road.
As she was driving along a road that bulged down its centre, she
noticed that the bulge helped to keep motorists on their own side of
the road. This gave her an idea and she started trying to persuade
the town council to “paint a line down the middle of the road” to set
an example and “lead the nation in public safety.” She got the
typical bureaucratic response that her idea was ingenious but
impractical. However, Dr. McCarroll was one of these people who
will not take no for an answer so she took her idea to the local
women’s club. The vote was unanimous in support of the project.
Despite this fact, as the old saying goes, some minds are like
concrete – all mixed up and permanently set, so she continued to
face bureaucratic stubbornness for seven long years before her idea
was implemented.
C N Hamilton was a staunch local supporter of Dr. McCarroll’s

concept and when he became a member of the California Highway
Commission in 1924 he convinced the Commission to approve the
painting of a five-mile-long experimental centre-line on Route 99. An
additional test strip was also painted. Accidents on both stretches
diminished dramatically and soon the entire state boasted
“McCarroll lines” on its highways. Most of the world has since
followed suit.
Message: When you conceive an idea in which you fervently believe,

go after that idea – especially if people you respect believe it’s a
good one. Hang in there and I’ll see you at the top!
Some of the greatest innovations began with a simple idea. Paint lines in the
highways is one of such great ideas, which was a safety innovation conceived in the
year 1917 by Dr. June McCarroll. Without lines in the road, there was no clearly
delineated lane separation to help regulate the flow of traffic and avert side-swiping
and collisions. McCarroll came up with the idea to paint lines in the road, separating
lanes with a centre line.
Change is Good!
Mike Lyles
Change is a good thing. We walk around with it in our pockets every

day. But there is also change in your life, goals, and change in your
path to success.
Today I want to relate these definitions – by looking at quotes from

those who are on the ‘heads’ side of coins.
The Penny (Abraham Lincoln)
  “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the
first four sharpening the axe” – the more you plan the greater the
probability that your outcome will be successful.
  “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out

and remove all doubt” – too many times we speak before
thinking. Speak with confidence, but know your topic.
  “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life
in your years” – there’s a story “The Dash” which speaks of the
“-” between your date of birth and date of death, and the
question ‘What will you do with your dash’. Make the most of
your life while you have time!
The Nickel (Thomas Jefferson)
  “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from
achieving his goal; nothing on Earth can help the man with the
wrong mental attitude” –before you can BE IT, you must SEE IT.
With a positive mental attitude, you can accomplish anything.
  “Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as

to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances” –
easier said than done. Only a rare percentage of people can say
they remain calm in all situations. Controlling your temper is an
exercise you have to work on daily.
  “Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to

complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful
how much may be done if we are always doing” – always be
thinking, strategizing, and growing. Use your time wisely and you
will never regret the hard work you put into your life’s goals.
The Dime (Franklin Roosevelt)
  “There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of
standing still” – imagine you are at a crossroad in your car.
You’re mentally determining your next direction. Forward? Left?
Right? Turn around? Sometimes you have to stop, stand still, and
let your direction come to you – instead of you moving without a
plan.
  “Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are” – Stephen

Covey said that we cannot truly accept change unless we have a
changeless core. This changeless core are the principles which
guide your life. Rules will come and go, but your principles will
become the changeless core that allows you to grow.
  “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” – his most

memorable and true quote. Be strong, have faith, and never let
fear infiltrate your drive to succeed. Zig Ziglar once said
“Confidence is going after Moby Dick in a rowboat and taking the
tarter sauce with you!”
The Quarter (George Washington)
  “Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble” –

anyone who has ever borrowed money knows that interest never
benefits the one borrowing, it only benefits the one being
borrowed from. The same applies with worry as the interest on
trouble. If you want peace in a time of trouble, stop worrying,
build your confidence, and face the trouble without a worry in
your mind.
  “It is better to be alone than in bad company” – the saying

“Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer” is not always
the best policy. Sometimes it’s best to steer your direction clear
of those who will bring you down, exude negative feelings, and
degrade the value of your principles. If you knew there was a
dangerous animal outside that would attack you, you would not
go out. Sometimes you just need to stay away.
  “99% of the failures come from people who have the habit of
making excuses” – many people, when failures come and times
are tough, throw up their hands in defeat and look for blame.
Spend your energy finding solutions to the things that caused the
failure. And don’t assume this is the last failure. Many successful
people failed multiple times before achieving success. Stay
focused, learn from failures, don’t make excuses, and focus on
your success.
50 Cent Coin (John F. Kennedy)
  “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you;
ask what you can do for your country” – try replacing the word
“country” with “career”, “company”, “family”, “goals”. Want a
better job? Then look at what you are doing for your company.
Personal life? Focus on how you can make things better. Goals?
Stop waiting on your dreams – start planning what you can do,
every day, to make them a reality.
  “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or
the present are certain to miss the future” – ever tried to drive a
car while staring out the back window? It’s difficult to drive
anywhere if you’re not facing the direction you are going. Learn
from the past, live in the present, but always focus on where you
want to be in the future.
  “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining” –

hurricane Sandy has just hit the USA, and people are repairing
the impacts. In your situation, don’t wait until the storm hits. Be
proactive while things are good, and go from good to great.
There are many types of changes we will face in our lives – some
good; some will be trials. But all are possible to overcome and/or
accomplish, if you have the right attitude and drive.
I’ll conclude with a powerful quote from Gandhi, “Be the change that
you wish to see in the world.”
What are you doing today to be the change?
Eight Task-Management Tips to

Stop Procrastinating and Get Things Done
Brian Tracy
Because procrastination is such a major concern of so many people,

tips to help people stop procrastinating have been developed over
the years. Here are eight of the most powerful task management
tips ever devised to help you get things done and stop
procrastinating in your work and personal life. Think about which
one of these ideas could be most helpful to you right now, in your
current situation.
Task Management Tip #1:

Get things done by thinking on paper
Prepare thoroughly if you want to get things done. List every step of
the job in advance. Break the job down into its constituent parts
before you begin. Simply writing out every detail and thoroughly
preparing in advance will help you to stop procrastinating and get
things done.

Be fully prepared
When you sit down to work or to begin a task, make sure that you
have everything at hand so that you won’t have to get up or move
until the task is done. Being fully prepared is a powerful motivator
for staying with the task until it is finished.
Do one small thing to get started
There is an 80/20 rule that says that the first 20 percent of the task
often accounts for 80 percent of the value of that task. This is
probably what Confucius meant when he said that, ‘‘A journey of
1,000 leagues begins with a single step.’’ Once you have taken even
one small step to start the job, you will stop procrastinating and
often find yourself continuing on with the task to completion.

‘Salami slice’’ the task
Just as you would never try to eat a whole loaf of salami at once,
don’t try to take on all of a job from the start. Sometimes the best
way to stop procrastinating and complete a major job is to take a
small slice and complete just that piece, just as you would take a
single slice of salami and eat it.
When you select a small piece of the task and then discipline
yourself to do it and get it behind you, it will often give you the
momentum you need to counter inertia, stop procrastinating, and
get things done.

Practice the Swiss cheese technique
Just as a block of Swiss cheese is full of holes, you treat your task
like a block of cheese and you punch holes in it. Select a five-minute
part of the job and do only that. Don’t worry about the whole job.
For example, if you want to write an article or a book, break the task
down into small pieces that take an identifiable amount of time to
complete and do just one small piece at a time whenever you get a
chance.
Many authors begin by writing one page a day. If you are doing
research, you can read one article per sitting. Many people write
complete books on airplanes, or complete their college degrees with
snatches of time between other activities. If you wrote one page a
day for a year, you would have a 365-page book by the end of the
year.

Do the task that causes you the most fear or anxiety
Often, it has to do with overcoming the fear of failure or rejection by

someone else. In sales, it may be associated with prospecting. In
management, it may be associated with disciplining or firing an
employee. In relationships, this may have to do with confronting an
unhappy personal situation.
In every case, you will be more effective if you deal first with
whatever is causing you the greatest emotional distress or fear.
Often this will break the logjam in your work and free you up
mentally and emotionally to get things done.

Start your day with the most unpleasant task first
Get it over with and behind you. Everything else for the rest of the
day will seem easier in comparison.
A recent study compared two groups of people. One group started

an exercise program in the morning. The second group started an
exercise program in the evenings after work. The researchers found
that the morning exercisers were much more likely to still be in the
program six months later. Starting the day with exercise was much
more likely to lead to the habit of regular exercise than putting it off
until the end of the day when it was easier to make excuses and
procrastinate.

Think about the negative consequences
What will happen to you if this job is not done on schedule? Both
fear and desire are great motivators of human behaviour.
Sometimes you can motivate yourself by the desire for the rewards
of task management completion. Sometimes you can motivate
yourself into action by thinking about the negative consequences
and what will happen to you do not get things done as promised.
11 Leadership Resolutions for 2013
Dr Rosemary Rein
Trying to find a way to further your personal development in 2013?

Why not take on a few of these leadership-based New Year's
Resolutions?
1. Keep the Main Thing, the Main Thing!
Wise words from a successful entrepreneur in one of our recent

Young Presidents' Organization Forums. CEO giants like Bill Gates
credit their ability to avoid "shiny object syndrome" to focus on the
most important thing.
The challenge for visionary CEOs is to "See the Future First but
Focus on Core Strengths." What are your core strengths and
challenges in 2013? What's your "Main Thing?"
2. Consider Taking Technology-Free Vacations and a Power Hour.
I spent 4 days in the jungle in Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula this past
year as part of my 50x50 challenge for my first "Technology-Free"
vacation in 8 years! It was indeed a highlight for Mind, Body and
Spirit. Several Best Practice Companies are now creating
technology-free zones where employees have 1 hour per day to
focus on a key priority project free of e-mail intrusion and texting.
When you multi-task, you lose 45% efficiency as your brain boots
and re-boots. So what are you waiting for? Consider carving out
your own "Technology Free Power Hour and or/Vacation to focus on
your Main Thing."
3. There are Years of Yes and Years of No!
A female executive once shared with me that she had decided to

"have a year of No" because for her entire life she had been a "Yes
go-to" girl and needed to re-generate new creative branches. What
is it they say, "If you need something done, always go to the person
who has too much to do because they'll find a way to get it done?"
Whether 2013 is your Year of Yes, Your Year of No, or maybe

somewhere in between, I hope that you will take some time in your
Tree of Life to rest, renew and develop new creative branches for
your continued growth.
4. Take a Ruthless New Year's Personal Inventory.
While it is healthy and productive to shine a spotlight on personal

strengths and minimize weaknesses, it's sometimes valuable to do
an occasional housecleaning and a detailed and personal CSI
Inventory of your faults and character defects. Why? So you can
determine what to keep and what to throw out as you grow as a
leader and a human being.
Examine and follow the evidence of your mistakes and learn from
them. Update your mental and emotional wardrobe. Keep what fits
and throw out what doesn't. This leaves room for a better you.
5. Go for more ‘Face Time’ and less “Facebook Time.”
I for one took a Facebook-Free Holiday to spend more time with

people than machines. Rather than documenting the moment and
life, consider spending more time living and leading it.
6. The Power of a 3-Letter Word and it's Not!
We know the brain believes a truth or a lie and is susceptible to

positive programming. Thanks to a great spiritual teacher from
India, I learned the power of 1 word: "Not." When I think to say to
myself, "I'm stressed," I simply insert that 3-letter word and utter,
"Not stressed" or "Not busy" or "Not angry." Amazing results.
7. Is Thank You overused?
In some cultures, "Thank you" is typically reserved for a very special

appreciation, and not used when someone brings you a cup of
coffee, for example. Thank you ceremonies and rituals, particularly
in Asian Cultures, can be utterly overwhelming to the recipient who
is honoured with a special presentation. I received and was wrapped
in a Sari by school teachers in India following a training program I
delivered on Super Power Leadership. So by all means, if it's your
culture's tradition, do use and even over-use "Thank You;" but if
special appreciation is warranted, consider a unique and awesome
expression that extends beyond "Thank You; Hey Thanks," which is
why hand-written thank you notes versus an e-mail in these high-
tech days feels like you just received a dozen roses.
8. Let Nature be Your Creative Guide.
Our Creative Problem Solving and Innovation Course for Teams

teaches Creative Problem Solving Processes and Tools such as
Biomimicry, which uses nature as a creative guide.
Take a Mind Walk in nature as you think of a current challenge. Look

for visual connections and solutions to your challenge through
examining with focused observations the nature that appears on
your path. For example, a building design that is 85% more efficient
was developed via close examination of a termite nest.
For every challenge there is a solution to be found in nature if we

only take time to see.
9. The Gift of Perspective
Write down 3 things you couldn't bear to lose. And keep them handy
for the next time you complain about a challenge. Ask yourself,
compared to losing one of these 3 things, how important is this
challenge / problem / inconvenience? Really?
Recently, I received a humbling phone call from a long-time

employee of ours in Costa Rica. Lola has been more of a family
member to us, and she was calling to tell us that she had lost her
daughter and grandchild in the terrible flooding and sudden
mudslides that wiped out a small village here in the tropical
paradise.
Life's hardest lessons and losses teach us what's really important.
10. Know the Answer to "What Gives You Joy?"
A friend of mine spent an hour asking me the same question over

and over again as part of her 50x50 gift.
"What gives you Joy? What gives you joy, Rosemary? What really
gives you joy?"
This broken-record technique will at first make you laugh and may
have you wanting to strangle your friendly interrogator, but
eventually, you drill down below the surface and first thoughts to
much deeper layers.
You may surprise yourself.
So, what gives you Joy? Really, what gives you Joy? I ask you again,
what gives you Joy?
11. The Girl Scout Motto, "Make New Friends but Keep the Old."
People come in and out of our life in different seasons and for
different reasons. Make a list of your life's visitors and long-term
guests. What are their qualities you most admire? What are your
special memories? And in what ways has your own life been
enriched by their gifts?
Call or write to them and let them know! P.S. We're not counting
Facebook! An old-fashioned letter, a phone call or a personal visit
certainly qualify as honouring the gift of friendship.
Try taking on at least one of these resolutions and become a better

you in 2013!
You are beautiful:

Reflect on inner strengths
Bharat Savur
Here’s hoping you don’t suffer from BID — body image disorder. It
means most of your waking day you are completely obsessed with a
distorted idea of how your body looks. Your mind is tied in knots as
you visualise and feel that your body is ugly, bloated, heavy,
sagging, aging and so on.
The eyes see what the mind wants them to see. So, the reflection
you see in the mirror seems to closely resemble what you think you
look like.
The truth is: you look much better, far more attractive than your
reflection. You may think you are overweight, have a slouch or are
disproportionate, but there’s grace in your movements, a sweetness
in your smile, a unique charm in your body-language that you cannot
perceive in a static reflection.
No less a personage than Albert Einstein strongly felt that the mind
creates a kind of optical illusion, it separates things and makes us
miss our wholeness.
From this sense of separation come tension, low self-esteem and

alienation which places enormous friction on our bodies, the ensuing
damage contributing to emotional imbalance (such as depression),
disease (cancer, heart problems) and premature aging.
Clearly, you must reverse the bio-image disorder to order. The trick
is to work on the spine. For it is through the spine that the
bioplasmic energy flows, sending impulses to the brain.
Stretching the spine improves breathing, centres your consciousness

and brings on a tremendous feeling of joy and alertness. There are
two excellent exercises to restore your bio-image order:
The Tree Pose:
Stand erect with the right foot placed against the left inner knee-
thigh area. Raise your hands in the namaste pose over your head.
Hold for about 10 counts and visualise a straight rod of blazing
light all through your spine reaching your raised hands.
Affirm silently, “I am poised. I am perfect.” Repeat with the other

leg. You will find yourself affirming with growing conviction over
the next few days.
The Bending Pose:
Stand erect. Inhale deeply. As you exhale, bend forward all the
way down until your hands grasp your ankles. Drop your head
gently and feel your spine relax. Initially, if you can’t keep your
knees straight, you may bend them slightly. Hold this position for
10 counts, affirming, “I am light. I am flexible and free.” Then,
straighten up slowly.
The change in your thinking is not a dramatic eureka! or a voila! It’s
more subtle, a gradual growing feeling of belonging, of being more
comfortable in your skin.
Please know that you are experiencing wholeness. Something that

was unlovable about you earlier now doesn’t seem to exist. The
body becomes an ally, in that, it doesn’t just operate like a
mechanical device, it cooperates like a living, intelligent organism.
Simultaneously, look out for self-esteem enhancing options:
  I have the option to save money by strolling in the park

instead of spending money and eating a chocolate cake for self-
gratification.
  I have the option to make three people happy by reaching out
and doing something for them instead of sitting around like a
sad sack.
  I have the option to think of all the things I can be thankful
for instead of feeling short-shrifted.
  I have the option to think that even if life seems unfair at
times, it’s still largely good, instead of constantly complaining
about ‘unfairness’ and ‘injustice’.
  I have the option to make peace with my past instead of
simmering over it in the present.
  I have the option to feel blessed instead of feeling stressed.
Knowing you have a positive, more sensible option gives you a

wonderful sense of control over your life. The phrase, “I have the
option…” is greatly uplifting.
Please realise that instead of being wrapped in thoughts of your

ailments, sorrows, woes, resentments, you always have the option
to give joy, hope, courage, to add value to all the people you come in
contact with, including yourself!
Think about it: when a friend with low self-esteem tells you, “I’m
not capable of doing this project,” what will be your instant
response? “Of course you are capable of doing this project!” you will
say, and mean it too.
Respond in the same way to yourself. Stand in front of the mirror

and exclaim, “Of course, you are capable!”
The fact is that when you have low self-esteem, you tend to sit down
and tolerate illness and even get defeated by it. Whereas, a high
self-esteem makes you realise that you have authority over the
illness and you can overcome it, show it the door and enjoy
bounding vigour and wellness.
In sum, do not waste precious energy by looking for flaws in the

body. Give your body its due — nourishing food, regular exercise,
sunlight, fresh air, uplifting meditation, inspiring thoughts.
As a spiritualist said, “Good, positive thoughts affect you; bad

negative thoughts infect you.” Negative thoughts are debts, they
require paybacks; positive thoughts are wealth, they create
abundance. And all healing is prosperity. May you always prosper
Personal Development or Self-Fulfilment
Zig Ziglar
There is a vast difference between personal development and self-

fulfilment. Self-fulfilment is the Dead Sea. It’s the student who
acquires knowledge so he or she can parade that information in
front of their peers and society to get accolades. Personal growth is
the teacher who acquires the same information so he or she can
teach someone else who will benefit from his or her preparation.
Self-fulfilment is the individual, though there are obviously

exceptions to this, who goes to the gym, spends countless hours
building the “perfect, sculptured body,” then spends more hours in
front of the mirror admiring his or her creation. Personal growth is
the athlete who also spends countless hours in preparation so that
not only can he or she get individual benefits, but, more importantly,
so they can make a significant contribution to the team.
A classic example is Kevin Smith, a former member of the defensive

backfield for the Dallas Cowboys. He expressed a willingness to
structure his contract in consideration of the salary cap so the
Cowboys could have money left to sign other important members of
the football team. By taking this approach, he helped ensure that the
team continues strong. Kevin got a lot of personal satisfaction from
that, but you can rest assured that he was extremely popular with
his team-mates and the media.
Self-fulfilment is the “hooray-for-me, to-heck-with-you, I’m-gonna-

do-it-my-way, win through intimidation and look out for number
one” mentality. I submit that this is the perfect recipe for an
absolutely miserable human being. Real happiness comes when you
are able to teach and/or inspire others to be the very best they can
be. It’s still true that others can give you pleasure, but you will only
be happy when you do things for other people. Think about it. Be a
Kevin Smith and I’ll see you at the top!
What Really Motivates Employees
Jeb Blount
Each week I travel the country speaking to groups of leaders at

meeting and conferences. No matter where I go I’m asked the same
question time and again by leaders ranging from frontline managers
to CEOs, “How can I motivate my employees?” I’ve heard this
question repeated thousands of times. However, what the person
asking usually means is, “How can I manipulate my employees to do
what I want them to do?”
Managers and companies from every walk of life waste billions of

dollars on manipulation disguised as incentives in an attempt to
change employee behaviour. Sometimes they get short-term results,
but manipulation never works over the long haul. Because
motivating people is such a mystery for leaders, a $30 billion
industry has been built around helping companies motivate their
people. There is certainly nothing wrong with providing valuable
incentives to employees who do a good job, but what these
programs don’t do is teach leaders how to tap into what really
motivates employees.
Take Steve, a regional account executive for a huge business

services company. In a management shake-up his company hired a
new vice president of sales. The new VP came in full of ideas. One of
those ideas was to build a national incentive program. In doing so,
he took the local budgets away from his sales managers and insisted
that any recognition be in compliance and under auspices of the
corporate office and the national sales incentive program. He
established a process; rules for recognizing the salespeople, hired a
staff to administer the program, and proudly announced the new
and improved program to his field sales team of over 1,000 people.
Steve was a consistent top performer for the company, so it wasn’t a

surprise when he sold more than anyone else on his team the
quarter after the program was announced. “About a month after the
end of the quarter, UPS dropped a box off on my front porch. Inside
was a plaque with my name on it, a catalogue, and a form letter
congratulating me on my achievement that explained what I could
order from the catalogue.” Steve shook his head in disgust as he told
me his story. “It meant nothing to me. I threw the plaque back in
the box and handed the catalogue to my wife. No one, not even my
manager, called to say anything about the award. At least before the
program we would all go out to dinner at the end of the quarter and
my sales manager would toast all the top performers.”
He went on to tell me about the other plaques he’d been awarded

that were still gathering dust in his closet. “This was truly the
dumbest recognition program in the history of sales. It did not
motivate me in the least. But what really ticked me off was when I
found out that they were deducting taxes from my paycheque for the
value of the prizes in the catalogue they sent me. I finally went to
my manager to ask that they not send me anymore catalogues. I
was making plenty of money, and all I really wanted was a pat on
the back in front of the other salespeople on my team.” Steve
eventually was recruited away and said he is very happy at his new
company.
If you are shaking your head, believe me—this is not the worst story
I’ve heard. Unfortunately, far too many leaders have no idea what
actually motivates people. They wrongly assume that there is a
complex motivation formula, and the gurus and companies in the
employee-incentive trade encourage this false notion.
What Really Motivates People
The reality is that motivating people is extremely simple.

Psychologists and social scientists have proven time and again that
the most powerful motivators of people are achievement and the
recognition of that achievement. It is important to note that these
two elements cannot be separated. Achievement in the absence of
recognition is rarely rewarding, and recognition in absence of
achievement is empty.
However, when people are given the opportunity to achieve (win)

and leaders recognize those achievements, amazing things happen.
People who are being consistently recognized for their achievements
report higher job satisfaction and perform at higher levels than
those who are not. In virtually any organization, leaders who
consistently find ways to recognize the achievement of their
employees through positive emotional experiences deliver superior
results.
Recognition, to be effective, must be directed at achievement, big

and small. Most leaders find it easy to recognize the big
achievements. However, where the top leaders excel is in
consistently recognizing the many small achievements required for
big things to happen.
One of the easiest ways to motivate people for small achievements

is to catch them doing something right and recognize them for it.
The secret is paying attention. Recognizing small, everyday
achievements is difficult for leaders who are under pressure to
produce results because they are often so focused on delivering on
plans, tasks, or fixing a problem that it is easy to forget to take time
to pat people on the back.
One leader who is highly regarded by her team admitted to me that

although she knew it was important to consistently recognize small
achievements she found it difficult to remember to give those pats
on the back. So she devised a simple trick. Each morning she put a
handful of chocolates in her pocket. Each time she recognized an
employee for doing something right, she ate a chocolate. “It worked
for me because I love chocolate and I rewarded myself for doing the
right thing for my people.”
Another manager we interviewed explained that with the

unrelenting demands of his workday, which often included back-to-
back meetings, it was often impossible to recognize achievements in
real time. “I found that on many days I would be working late after
all my people had gone home. One night after a particularly hard
week where my team had gone above and beyond, I wrote
personalized ‘thank-you’ notes on sticky pads and stuck them on
everyone’s computer screens. The reaction the next morning was
amazing. People were coming into my office to thank me! It meant
so much to them. After that I made it a regular part of my day to
recognize outstanding performance with after-hours sticky notes.”
When it comes to motivation, thoughtful recognition of achievement

in real time will take you to the next level as a leader. Certainly big
experiences, like national sales meetings, president’s clubs, special
recognition dinners, contests, trips, and so on are appropriate
opportunities to recognize and appreciate employees for big
achievements. However, in most cases small gestures carry far more
meaning than big ones.
The Projection Factor:

How clearly do you see yourself in the eyes of others?
Self-Perception vs. Self-Definition
Don Neviaser
If during a variety of interactions the responses from others seem to

be more negative than the messages you intended to convey, or if
you sometimes feel others just don't like you for some reason,
perhaps it's time to consider the source. Is it possible your
messages and actions are not being accurately received because of
your delivery? Is there perhaps something in your emotional
background adding a more debasing lean to your perceptions of how
others see you, and if so, might you be reacting toward them in line
with these false perceptions?
It can be difficult to plug into a variety of interactions when one's

true self and relative values are shrouded by self-doubt and
uncertainty. When self-perceptions are rife with self-loathing and
disappointment, it can be hard for some to imagine others may
actually see them in a more positive light. With such an inclusive
mindset, it is not uncommon to project these same negative
perceptions onto the perceptions of others resulting in varying
degrees of defensive posturing; the resulting unwarranted agitation
is then picked up on and reacted to by others accordingly.
Ironically, negative reactions to a reaction based on false pretences

tend to simply verify and justify one's original negative
interpretations that were projected onto others in the first place.
Sadly, interactions such as these damage or destroy a variety of
personal and professional relationships completely unnecessarily!
Regardless of why certain negative perceptions exist, ultimately

they come down to a matter of perspective, and as such, can be
affectively controlled or curtailed by countermeasures designed to
shift focus, belief and perception. Ironically, particularly resilient
negative perceptions are actually outstanding examples of how
certain perspectives can affect and influence one's life; a reality that
can be equally utilized for life-views of a more positive nature! It
would therefore make sense to counter them by incorporating the
same recipe of assumption, attitude and perspective that brought
them to life to begin with; powerful factors in how we see ourselves,
our life and others.
It is helpful to honestly and openly attempt a realistic, relative view

of how one fits into the world and affects others. Perhaps try taking
a step back and seeing one's self, and interactions with others, from
an unbiased third party perspective to, if anything, help illuminate
outward messaging such as body language. Ultimately, one must
attempt to adhere and assimilate to one's true self so as to think,
feel and act from centre with inner confidence and faith.
An extremely effective way of doing this is to make a distinction

between self-perception and self-definition. Self-perception is based
more on an idea and can be impacted or defeated by habit, self-
doubt or old negative messages. Self-definition, on the other hand,
is a specific, definitive state of being in thought, feeling, action and
reaction that draws from one's true, unique inner-self and
incorporates specific needs, desires, talents and abilities that allow
one to rise above confining comfort zones and diminishing
perspectives.
Start by taking a realistic personal inventory of your assets,

whatever they may be, and don't be afraid to honestly and openly
ask those close to you for help. Once done, define and combine all
these factors and create a visualization of this new you and the
future you desire. Make specific notes that confirm, support and
encourage this new mindset, including ample positive affirmations,
and read them daily! Also take some time to genuinely consider this
newly defined persona in a variety of personal or professional
situations, the more uncomfortable the better, and imagine what his
or her thoughts, feelings, reactions and end results would be; taking
care not to think or react as who you are now, but as who you
ultimately want to be.
The next step is to choose a day and time when you will stand up
and make a definitive conscious decision to just "be" who you really
are, with an eye on who you WILL be in the future!
Believe that change is possible for you and that you are worthy of
being happy and enjoying life! Then simply start thinking, feeling,
acting and reacting in line with this persona.
The power of perspective and a healthy appreciation for life can

literally make all the difference between living and existing,
happiness and despair or success and failure.
The sooner this change of personal perspective begins, the sooner

you can start walking your true life path in line with who you really
are!
Below are several original quotes and perspectives that express

some of these ideas. While reading them, let them drift through your
mind and settle in your heart. As you see fit, apply them to the
unique person that is you and to any relevant experiences or
perceptions.
  "Pride and self-respect are the forerunners of self-esteem.

Neither is a given and must be earned by positive and
fulfilling actions that allow one to enjoy genuine approbation
and personal appreciation from within as well as from
others."
 "Happiness isn't a matter of who or what you are in the

world, it is a matter of who and what you are inside."
  "There will be times of great failure and disappointment in

life, but with an open mind and an expanded perspective on
the relative importance of each of these experiences, in
relation to your life as a whole, each will be less of an excuse
for accepting defeat and more of a catalyst for opportunity
and personal growth through adaptability, change, new
experience and maturity."
  "Every ending is a beginning; a change that portends the

start of something new and different and an opportunity to
make a fresh, new start.
  "How many heights of proficiency, skills, incredible

experiences and accomplishments are never known because
someone simply assumed they could or would not reach such
heights that fall so far outside of their immediate purview,
so why even try? Ironically, those who have and will acquire
incredible skills and abilities, or accomplish great things,
commit to doing whatever is necessary because they assume
they will succeed and failure simply isn't a consideration."
  "You cannot dance to the song in your heart without

knowing the rhythm that it beats."
  "Developing "inner relations" and self-awareness is vital to

happiness and success in life; One cannot know inner peace
or move forward in life without knowing who and what one
really is deep inside and acting in unison with his or her true
self. To better know one's self is to better know one's true
needs, desires, strengths, abilities, and weaknesses, as well
as how one fits into the world and affects those around him
or her. In order to be true to one's innermost self, one must
genuinely think, feel and act from that most basic person
within in order to become familiar with, validate and
appreciate one's unique, individual identity. The rewards of
learning how to comfortably feel, think and act from one's
true centre include inner unity, strength, confidence and
clarity for the right life-path upon which to walk, including
the right people or person to walk by your side!"
 "The brighter you see the light in you, the brighter others
will see it too."
Yesterday’s Impossibles
Zig Ziglar
I remember the media coverage which accompanied Sir Edmund

Hillary’s feat of being the first person to scale Mt. Everest. He
became an instant celebrity, even though he had failed in his first
effort and left five of his guides dead on the mountainside. England
recognized Sid Edmund Hillary’s tremendous effort by giving him the
highest honour awarded a foreigner. Years later he was back in the
headlines when his son climbed to the peak of Mt. Everest and a
radio-phone conversation was held between father and son.
Today, according to the government of Nepal, it’s very common for

climbers to reach the peak of Mt. Everest. As a matter of fact, a one-
day record of 37 people reaching the summit of Mt. Everest has been
reported. Seven teams arrived within a half-hour period and created
a climber’s traffic jam. Yes, yesterday’s impossibles often become
tomorrow’s standards.
On September 6, 1995, one of the world’s “unbreakable” records

was broken. I speak of the “Iron Man” stunt of Lou Gehrig, who
played in 2,130 consecutive baseball games. Gehrig’s record was
thought to be unbreakable, but Cal Ripken broke that record and
extended that streak to make it even more “impossible.” Another
record considered unbreakable was the number of hits Ty Cobb had
gotten, but several years ago Pete Rose broke that “unbreakable”
record. Today 12-year-old girls are swimming faster than Johnny
Weismuller swam when he was the Olympic Gold Medal winner.
Most of us get excited when we read about super-human

achievements, but something that is much more important is when
we break our own personal best records for accomplishments.
Achieving better grades, a better work record, a better record of

“being nice,” and a host of other records will make you a better
person in the most important game of all – the game of life.
Think about it – give it your best shot – break your own personal
records and you will be at the top!
SBI Help-Line - Mangalore Air Crash
(An initiative resulting in Collective Fulfilment)
(This is an article written by Late Chaitanya Tallur, AGM, GBU,

LHO, Bangalore, who passed away recently. An obituary for him
by his colleagues was published in yesterday’s Banking News.)
22nd May 2010 is a Black Saturday in Indian Aviation history. “A

plane has crashed in Bajpe! And it is an Air India plane from Gulf”.
We received shocking waves of News, which went screamingly into
our ears. We as a TEAM at our Branch pooled ourselves together
through an internal communication network and started dwelling on
as to what could be of its impact and what we can do in this agony
stricken situation. We knew that most of the passengers could be
our customers, friends, or other acquaintances especially when our
branch has 7,000 NRIs with nearly 400 crores business held with us.
Most of us in Mangalore branch have a habit of rushing to the branch
and form a Think-Tank group to dwell on the subject matter and
chalk out a possible road map whenever any such calamity or
disaster emerges.
2. We started getting calls and were slowly getting into the grave
situation of no come back. The members started collecting the
names and addresses of customers and family members who were
said to be affected. Even after waiting up to late noon, nothing more
could be worked out, as all routes to Airport were closed. AGM who
had excellent liaison with District Administration and Public Health
could secure a list of ill-fated passengers with their details of name,
Phone-numbers, passport number and local residential address. As
all the staff members of Mangalore branch had left by that time, the
action was shifted to AGMs residence where his college going
daughters took the responsibility of making a soft copy of the
information received in a hard copy, which was segregated into
specific areas and other logistics. The names of the bereaved family
was re-arranged, area wise and attached to our branches located in
these areas. While AGM and Manager (RM-NRI) went around places
including Morgue, to enable the onlookers and general public to
have a fair chance of identifying SBI in the crowd so that we could
also reach to the needy.
3. The following day (Sunday) was reserved for drawing up a

Holistic Plan to smoothen the after effects of the perils and
sufferings of this national disaster. The Controller and GM (NW-1)
were contacted seeking their guidance. The top leaders in Officer’s
Association and Staff Union were contacted who pledged full support
of their members. GM directed us that all help should be extended
24 X 7 to reach to the bereaved families. While it was gathered that
most of the bereaved families belong to Blue Collared Segment and
in most of the cases, the breadwinner had lost life; sanctioning of a
temporary overdraft for sustenance covering the interim period was
permitted as special case. The services of CM (NRI-Banking) at LHO
were also romped in who took special interest in drawing up of the
blue print of the total plan and securing necessary approvals. The
Help Lines at Mangalore and Udupi branches were opened and
suitable Press Releases were made to leading national and local
dailies. Our aim was to reach out to every family and their kith and
kin of those who are affected, irrespective of the fact that they were
our existing customers or not. VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM was the
mantra for us.
4. ”Whom and How we will meet them?” “How they would react?”
“What should I speak and with what information I should come back
with?”- were some of the apprehensions of the staff members at the
identified branches. Most of us had never seen any of such disasters
nor we had had done any such counselling to anyone in our career
earlier. AGM took on himself to conduct “TEST VISITS” for two or
three such families on Sunday. He came back with an idea of The
Feed Back Form, which could be filled in by the visiting staff
members which could be maintained as a master document here
after. The next working day (Monday) saw RM to direct the branches
under his control to reach out to the affected families along with
feedback form. Grahaka Mitras were to invariably accompany the
team leader. Within a couple of days most of the visits were over
and the feedback forms/information started pouring in. The
managers attached to Help Line started collecting the data and
revisited some of the families. The SOS calls started coming from
nooks and corners of Kerala state to Karwar in Karnataka. A
constant touch was also maintained with the authorities at Air India
who started directing us the people seeking help for their needs in
Banking area. A firm of our empanelled Advocates volunteered to
extend their professional service to the claimants for drafting
Affidavits and Power of Attorneys to be executed for free of cost.
Local TV channels commenced telecasting the information about our
Help Line with telephone numbers at free of cost. AGM visited most
of the Condolences Meeting of Air-crash victims not only to pay our
respects but to reiterate our firm commitment of continuing the
help-line, till all the problems of victims are averted. Needless to add
that when the compensation amount was given nearly 90% of the
families wanted to open accounts with only SBI.
4.1 We still remember that day; an elderly man poured six cheques
of Rs.20 lakhs each on the table of the AGM, which he received as a
compensation for six of his family members who had lost their life in
the Air-crash. “Keep the money the way you want, as I have nothing
to gain when six of my family members are no more. I still
remember, vividly when one of you were in my house during dark
and difficult times when none of our relatives or friends could be
with us”, he said, with his eyes sunk in despair.
4.2 We had a welcome surprise too, when a short looking man

dismounted from an Ambulance Van and started walking into our
branch with a cheque and copies of photographs in his hand. “Now I
believe only in SBI and I want to open an account here”, he said
with brimming confidence. Each one of us was eager to touch him
and shake hands with him when we learnt that he is one of the lucky
survivors. He seems to be sanguine that he wanted to bank with
only SBI and no other bank could instil confidence in him. One of our
staff members who shook hands with him quipped “Please pass on
some percentage of your luck to me!” Smilingly he hugged a few of
us with affection. He and his confidence in us, is the future for us.
5. Now it is a time for us to revisit all these homes again to smile

and say and also ensure “AAAL IZZ WEL”.
C M Tallur
Asst. General Manager
State Bank of India
Mangalore Branch - 575001
Rest in Peace: Chaitanya Tallur
By Madhusudhan Bhat, AGM (Credit Audit on Mobile Duty),

Camp: Patamata Branch, Vijayawada
madhu.bhat@sbi.co.in
“All my staff should come happily to office, work happily forgetting

worries of home and leave happily at the end of the day. If any one
of them leaves with a sad face, then he or she will be served a
Memo”. This was one of the many popular, loud and witty quips of
Shri Chaitanya M Tallur, 52, our colleague and AGM (GBU),
Bangalore, LHO, who passed away a fortnight back, battling an 18-
year long saga of kidney transplanted life.
Meeting and talking to a human dynamo like him was always an

immensely joyful and fulfilling experience. Anyone could go and
meet him to download their worries, and he would gently and
smoothly lift the spirits with his down-to-earth positive talk, and
upload the person with infinite energy and direction!! Such was his
power of counselling and charisma. And we banker colleagues, who
are always a tired, busy and harried lot needed, in good measure,
de-stressing and relaxation, every now and then. So, our man for all
occasions, Chaitanya was always there to connect with whether
personally or through mobile instrument. There was never a dull
moment when he was around. He would pack humour, ideas,
anecdotes, insights into the working style of our colleagues in the
bank and people around, and even the harshest of realities would be
articulated in the simplest and the sweetest of ways. He not only
used to engage others but also involve, encourage and galvanise
them to action.
Chaitanya Tallur, for many of us colleagues, till his death was a

living testimony of what one can achieve if one had ceaseless zest
for life, limitless enthusiasm for channelising his own and his
colleagues’ energies for the cause of Bank and enhance the quality
of lives of colleagues. Take this example of his innovative initiative
of green banking. He converted the barren compound surrounding
the AGM’s bungalow and adjoining the sprawling Mangalore Main
Branch into a kitchen garden. One section of the garden was named
after a lady staff, who met with untimely death. Rainwater
Harvesting was introduced which not only served the garden but
also the requirements of keeping the office premises and
washrooms, spic and span. Organic Waste of Kitchen was
segregated and used as manure for kitchen garden. Agriculture
customers liberally donated the best of their organic manure from
their farms to nurture the garden. And the customers, in turn, were
given back nutrient-rich fresh tomatoes and leafy vegetables,
instead of sweet boxes on certain special occasions. When the
popular District Commissioner of the District was transferred, he
was felicitated with a green basket full of home grown vegetables.
Little wonder then the popular daily “The Hindu” wrote in an
appreciative article titled “Reap more than what you sow”, that SBI
has taken “banking beyond money”.
Chaitanya Tallur always bristled with new ideas and unbundled them
like an trained magician as much as you needed them. During his
probation days, he took upon himself a project of chronicling
success stories of small time entrepreneurs in backward districts
instead of choosing a run of the mill city-centric project. In his last
branch, the customers who visited the busy ATM Centre attached to
the Mangalore Main Branch with 8-10 ATMs in it, had not only the
pleasure of receiving crisp notes, but also had a chance to pause and
watch the eye-pleasing blown up sized photos of the city and its
verdant surroundings, clicked by the reputed local photographers.
The photos were chosen by local media colleagues in a special
nature photography contest sponsored by the Bank. Needless to say,
SBI always got a good coverage in the local press in the bargain.
Banking for banking sake was not Tallur’s belief. ‘Enjoy the banking
activity we do, give delight to customers and the business will
naturally flow’ was his mantra. And the business flowed and roared
wherever he went. Be it a new branch at a distant Rajarajeshwari
Nagar in Bangalore in 1996 or the Mangalore Main branch in 2010,
when it crossed the landmark figures of Rs.1,000 crores when he
was at the helm. And he never had the time to think of promotions in
his career. His initials of the name being C.M, he used to joke that he
is a permanent Chief Manager (CM) in the Bank!!. For years he
refused promotions to AGM rank on health grounds, but when finally
he was forced by his well-wishers to attend the interview, it was a
simple cakewalk.
Another example of Tallur’s love for colleagues was, on one of our

annual Bank Days, he arranged for a whole movie theatre to be
booked, and sent complimentary passes for family of State Bank
Retirees (pensioners) to a special screening of some old hit movie
along with liberal dose of snacks or high tea. That was Chaitanya
Tallur, innovative and different, expressing love and respect, for the
elderly colleagues in the evening of their lives, who perhaps have as
much legitimate stake in the present success and glory of our Bank
as do the present lot.
It may be a sheer coincidence that the first three letters of his first
name “Chaitanya” are same as that of other inspirational words like
Charm, Change, Charismatic, Charity, Challenge. He had all these
traits embedded in his DNA. His leading from the front and
motivating style was as natural and spontaneous as the many gentle
rivers that flowed in the region he hailed from - South Kanara
District of Western Coast, Karnataka. He wanted everyone– be it our
staff or their family members, be it our customers, be it contracted
employees- to enjoy banking minutes they spend in the Bank. And
he lived by example. Not a protocol driven person, he as an AGM-
Head of Mangalore Main Port Road branch with its glorious 144-year
history, would simply walk out of his huge palatial chamber, sit in an
unpretentious style in the main banking hall, talking to all and
sundry, with wit and humour, with empathy and ready-pack
solutions on hand. In fact, one among his many popular one-liners
was “You are most welcome to meet me, only if you have problems”.
May be having had seen one giant health problem pass by in his life,
at the young age of 34 in the garb of transplanted kidney in his
body, all other problems for him looked tiny, passable and
addressable. Not the one to live wallowing in self pity for the doses
of medicines he had to live with, Chaitanya Tallur, on the contrary
used to spread ample doses of positivity, enthusiasm, and energy all
around. People close to him believe that perhaps, that was his way
and solution to face the life square on braving the odds. Doctors
generally say that with a transplanted kidney, a person can expand
his life span by 10 years, but Late Tallur extended it to 19 years by
dint of his sheer will power and love for life and for human beings
around. And in no less measure, he was extremely blessed to have a
very supportive and understanding family of wife and two
daughters. Of course, a legion of colleagues, friends, relatives, fans
and admirers, well-wishers, inside and outside the Bank were
always there at his beck and call for any assistance. Not the least of
all, it should be remembered here that the top SBI Management
team at Bangalore Circle, was always there to rally behind him to
sail through medical bureaucracy and running around.
Colleagues who knew Chaitanya Tallur from his college-going days

recollect that he was a born leader, fired up always with meaningful,
innovative and implementable ideas. Even then, he was dynamic and
untiring in all the endeavours he pursued. Perhaps, the ill-health at
the early stage of his life only hastened the ‘consciousness’ or
‘Chaitanya’ in him to inculcate a sense of urgency to complete the
countless creative agendas he had set for himself, so that he could
achieve all that he could, in whatever shortened or curtailed life he
was destined to live with. And the range of Community Services
Banking he adopted is simply mind-boggling. Whether it is
recognising the traditional folk art form of tiger dance, whether it is
sponsoring Goshalas or Areca nut plantation literature, whether it is
picnics for members of the staff, whether it is arranging for tying
Rakhis for differently-abled children, his concern and commitment
was total. And like Pied Piper, he could rally his colleagues together
for good causes and create a sense of fulfilment among them too.
And the pinnacle of his concern for humanity unfolded when the
Mangalore Air India crash tragedy occurred near around three years
ago. He stitched together a team of colleagues, networked with the
district administration, and opened an emergency help line. People
in the city could not believe that banks, who otherwise had a staid
image in the City, can be so proactive and prompt to go beyond the
call of duty and to do whatever that we could do to serve the society
that we live in and to nurture pride in our country. Does this sound
something like some excerpts from the Mission and Value
Statements of the Bank? Well, for Late Chaitanya Tallur Bank’s
Vision, Mission and Value Statements were not mere empty and
sullen words displayed on the walls. He had embodied them for long
as an integral part of his life. Looking, that way, he was a
quintessentially a born State Banker.
So, to wish an inherently restless creative soul like Chaitanya Tallur,

a formal “Rest in Peace” would be not in the fitness of things. But
then we ordinary mortals can only pray the way we can for immortal
souls like Chaitanya Tallur, who has left behind a rich treasure of
sweet memories. For many of his colleagues, the very thought of
him, can brighten the darkest of our moods and enliven our spirits.
So Chaitanya will always be there for us. Blessed are we to have
been associated with him. He would not have likened our moist eyes
and heavy heart when he passed away. May be the best tribute to
him would be to imbibe a few traits of his and create a bank or
library of his innovative ideas, which was not only visualized but
also successfully implemented. This perhaps would serve as a ready
resource reckoner for new implementable ideas for pursuing by
other colleagues. And without any qualms, IMITATION CAN BE THE
BEST FORM OF FLATTERY AT LEAST IN LATE CHAITANYA TALLUR’S CASE.
In the next issue tomorrow, we will read an article on
How ‘SBI Helpline” initiative following the Mangalore Air Crash
led to an initiative resulting in Collective Fulfilment
written by Late Chaitanya Tallur himself
Stop Doing These 7 Things Forever!
Kristie Blankenship
There are some things in our lives that we just need to stop doing.
They aren't good for us and they mess with our mindset.
I don't know about you, but I have found that some things I have
done for so long that I just do them without thinking. Yet, some of
those same things are just ruts that we get in and can't get out of. A
lot of them are about how we think about things.
Here is a list of 7 things that we could SO do without!
1. Over-thinking things.
How many times do you find yourself fixated on some thought or

idea and you've thought about it so much that you have it totally out
there like in fantasy world or something or get so worked up about
something because you've imagined all sorts of imaginary
happenings? Stop thinking so hard. I know this is one area I'm really
needing to work on some more because the way I'm made up I tend
to think and think and think about things. Thinking about things is
good, but only if you keep it balanced. Don't over think things.
2. Stuff my feelings.
There are different ways we all deal with our feelings. One way is we
don't express them and just stuff them down inside. While it may be
appropriate sometimes to not express our feelings and emotions,
always stuffing them down inside without letting them out and
expressing them is not healthy in more ways than one. When we
stuff different emotions down inside and don't deal with them or
express them or handle them, we are asking for trouble. This causes
stress to build up, which we all know causes so many illnesses in
itself. Without going into a lot of detail, for the purpose of this
article, let's just say that we all need to express our emotions in a
healthy way. If you need to cry, just do it. Don't feel ashamed
because you feel however you feel. Emotions are just emotions.
What you do with those emotions is what counts. Choose to deal
with them in a healthy way.
3. Filling up all your time slots-juggling too many things at once.
Okay. So, I imagine we've all been guilty of this -- being WAY too
busy. Do you fill up all your time slots on your calendar with stuff
that keeps you so busy you have no time to relax? Stop. Breathe. I
know we all have responsibilities and things we have to do to keep
things going, but there is a point when too much is just too much!
Let some of it go. If you really want peace and happiness in your
life, you have to find more time for yourself and spending time doing
the things you love and being with those you love to be around.
Juggling too many things does nothing but keep you run down all
the time, stressed out, and feeling like you never can get it all done.
Believe me when I say that the more simple your life is the more
peaceful you will be. So, slow down friend!
4. Tolerating stuff from other people.
We all have a personal space around us that we don't like anyone to

cross. The closer we are to someone usually the closer we let them
in. That being said, there are some things that we just shouldn't
tolerate at all and sometimes we have to set boundaries. I have had
to do this in my own life. There are some things I absolutely won't
discuss with certain people. I know I'm not going to change their
mind and all it does is upset me when we have certain
conversations. I let them know I won't discuss it and if they insist, I
leave. I refuse to stand there and listen to someone criticize me and
talk down to me or go on and on about how they disagree with my
decisions or actions. There are some things we have to take a stand
for. If someone is always making you feel bad every time you get
around them, either set some boundaries with them and gently let
them know you won't put up with it or get some new friends.
Respect yourself enough to stand up for yourself. Yes, you may have
made some mistakes in the past, but you don't have to listen to
anyone harp on them every time you see them. You will find yourself
a lot happier if you hang out with those who lift you up, inspire you
to do great things, encourage you, and make you happy!
5. Creating or tolerating drama.
I hate drama! I know a lot of people that can't survive without

always causing drama or being involved with someone else's drama.
Why would I want all the stress it brings? I can't stand being in a
conflict with someone let alone being involved in their drama. If you
are involved in creating or tolerating drama, you aren't going to find
any peace. Most of the time, all drama does is accuse, point fingers,
exaggerate, and make people feel bad. I find that drama is never
uplifting to anyone. Just remember this, what you reap you will sow.
If you create drama about others, more than likely others will be
creating drama about you.
6. Trying to change people.
I know I have been guilty of this one. Why do we try to change

people anyway? Is it because we don't appreciate them for who they
are? Maybe don't like something they do or the way they act? We
are all different. None of us are the same. You do realize don't you
that you aren't perfect either? I'm sure there are things about you
they aren't that crazy about either. Let's just give everyone the
benefit of the doubt and accept them for who they are. Give each
other a little space. We are attracted to people and like them and
don't really always know why; we just like them. When we start
faultfinding and nitpicking, we are damaging the relationship and
not enjoying the uniqueness of the other person. Just enjoy one
another in all their glory. Each one of us should be able to be our
true selves and not try to fit the mold of what someone else thinks
we should be. You are unique yourself. You are special. Just
remember, so are they.
7. Own other people's problems!
Raise your hand if you don't have any problems of your own. No
hands? Imagine that! What we have to realize is that we have our
own problems, which are enough for us to handle. Yes, we always
look for a way to help our children or loved ones or friends when
they have a problem. This is normal. This is love. Where it begins to
be a problem is when we start to "own" their problems. Don't
become so engrossed in other people's problems that you get
stressed out, ill, find yourself thinking about it non-stop, and
basically have unknowingly placed yourself right in the midst of the
problem when you don't need to be there. This is their problem. You
might be able to help or might not. Step back and let them handle it.
If they ask for your help, don't over obligate yourself. Help in any
way you feel comfortable, but remember that the other person will
only grow if they learn to handle their own problems. Always bailing
your kids out when they need money? "Oh, but mom or dad, the
phone will be cut off if I don't have the money today!" I have given
in to this one countless times (I have 5 kids), but eventually you
realize they aren't learning the lesson of blowing their bill money
and then suffering the consequences! This is just an example, but it
is a hard one to learn when we just want to help them. They are
grown ups now. Let them learn what they need to learn. If this
example didn't resonate with you, just remember this: You aren't
doing yourself or them any good if you are letting yourself get
involved in their problems when it is not appropriate.
These are just 7 things we need to stop doing forever. Can you
imagine how many there really are? This is a good start though! If
we conquer these 7 things we are coming along and will feel better
about ourselves and find more peace.
Double Duty for a Better Life
Zig Ziglar
Most people will tell you they do not have enough time, yet, since
the beginning of time all of us have had exactly 24 hours in every
day. Obviously, some people use their time more effectively than
others. When I have to wait in line at the bank, a license bureau or
doctor’s office, I always take some business-related material to
read.
While on the road I do the majority of my work so that when I get

home I can indulge in some of my pleasures in life, like a golf game
or visiting with the family. Another way I save time is by watching
the local news on television while I am getting dressed or preparing
for bed or packing or unpacking my bag. Those are things I must do,
so I do them while I get up-to-date news on the city in which I am
speaking. Often the news I hear can be incorporated into my talk.
I’m a Cowboys fan, since I’m from Dallas, but I’m unwilling to
commit three hours just to watch a game, so I read, write, plan or
get organized during the game. Since the typical play lasts only
about five seconds and there are an average of 120 of them during
the game, that means that there are 600 seconds of action or ten
minutes of actual playing time. I get a lot done during a game.
Of course, if friends or family are available, I would much rather

spend the time visiting with one another as we watch our favourite
team in action. Think about your own life and profession, organize
your time around as many “two-fer’s” as possible and you’ll be more
effective and have more fun in the process. Take that action and I’ll
see you at the top!
Choosing Just the Right Words
Michael Angier
“Not all of us are going to be great orators and writers, but being
able to articulate our ideas intelligently is critical to our success.”
The two most powerful words in any language are “yes” and “no.”
They’re often the first words we learn. And they are powerful
because they are clear.
“Words,” Rudyard Kipling once said, “are the most powerful drugs
used by mankind.” I agree. And using the “right” words, the words
that express exactly what we want to say, is the key to effective
communication.
Words stir emotion and move people to action. People like Martin
Luther King, John Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Mother Teresa and
Abraham Lincoln were not given to vague, sloppy language. They
didn’t use fluffy jargon. Their language was specific. It conveyed
their convictions and their feelings.
We certainly have no shortage of explicit words. And yet, many of us
seem to lack precise, powerful, clear communication.
In the midst of the information age, and with all the tools we have
to enhance communication, we still misunderstand one another far
more than is necessary. We experience it all the time—the missed
appointment, the job that needs to be redone, the hurt feelings—all
because what was said was not clearly understood.
A number of studies have revealed that a person’s vocabulary has

more to do with income and position than almost anything else. It
has been documented that presidents of companies have a better
vocabulary than vice presidents and vice presidents have better
vocabularies than mid-level managers. It seems to hold true right
down the line. The ability to communicate well translates directly
into income and responsibility.
One of the first steps we can take to improve our ability to

communicate is simply to be clear on what it is we want to say.
What result do we intend? What is the essence of what we want to
communicate? It may seem ridiculous to offer this as a first step,
but often we start to say something without being clear ourselves on
what our intentions are.
Ambiguity and lazy language make poor use of our minds because
our minds deal best with specifics. If you give yourself a specific
objective and articulate it with precise words, the goal is already
half accomplished.
There is something magical about a keen intention matched with

clear communication. Perhaps they are the same thing.
I once heard someone say that if a man can’t write his idea on the
back of a business card, his idea isn’t clearly enough defined. I think
there’s something to that.
It’s true for organizations, also. An organization with a clear

purpose and unclouded objectives will never be mediocre. This
clarity is the beginning of excellence.
It’s rare for people to just say yes or no. We seem to need to qualify
our responses to the point that we dilute and weaken our meanings.
Try just saying yes or no without qualifying or explaining. It’s not
easy, but it’s so powerful.
Most of us have had the thrill of finding the perfect word or words to
say exactly what we want. We know how to do it, but we’re lazy.
We’ve formed bad habits. Good communication takes conscious
effort. It takes intention. It takes practice. It is, however, worth it.
Be A Difference Maker!
Dave Reed
Great customer service is not delivered by a ‘company,’ but by

individual team members who understand what it means to be
‘difference makers.’
Yes, it is important to create a culture within a company where

customer service is valued and modelled by the leadership. Having
the support of those around you makes it much easier to deliver
great service.
But what do you do if you work for a company where delivering

exceptional customer service is not part of the culture?
That is when you have to dig deep and remember what motivates
you to deliver great customer service. Most likely it is a natural
desire within your personality to serve others. Remember these key
points when you find yourself struggling to serve your customers
while your leaders and co-workers don’t seem to care.
1. Check your Motive. When you are the only one in your group who
is providing great service, remember that your objective is to care
for your customer, not use the situation to make yourself look better
than your co-workers.
2. Stay Focused. It is easy to get caught up in the problems and poor

behaviours of leadership and your fellow team members. You can
get distracted and pay more attention to what is not going right
behind the scene than your current customer you are attempting to
serve.
3. Ignore Negative Comments. If you are the only one on your team
attempting to take care of your customers, you will likely have to
deal with negative comments from others who don’t share your
passion. Just as someone who does not want to be shown up by a
worker who is performing their duty at a faster pace, your co-
workers may resent your positive attitude and make light of any
compliments from a customer. Train yourself to ignore the critics!
4. Remain Positive. Picture a duck swimming on a pond. Unless

something is chasing it, the duck is normally calm and graceful.
What do you think you would see if you had an underwater camera?
Probably the duck paddling like crazy. We want our customers to see
the top of the water version of the duck, not the underwater version.
The same thing applies when you have things going on behind the
scene at your company that you may not be proud of or are not good
customer service practices. Your customers do not need to know
that everyone in your organization does not share your passion for
providing good service.
You can make a difference! Serving others is a privilege. Just as

there are very few companies that are known for their great service,
there is also a small percentage of people who have the desire and
skill needed to truly care for others.
The good news is that one positive person in the middle of an

organization full of negative individuals can make a huge difference
and impact the overall reputation of the company to each customer
they come in contact with.
Be that person! Your attitude may even be contagious and lead

others to catch your passion for service. Be a difference maker! Start
a SERVICE REVOLUTION where you work.
A Little Extra
Zig Ziglar
For years people have been talking about “going the extra mile,”
which is certainly a good plan if you really want to do more with
your life. Little things do make a big difference. In the business
world the “and-then-some” philosophy is the best approach. For
example, if you sell a product, goods or services, your offering
should cover every advantage you say it does—and then some. When
you make a commitment to do a certain job, you do what you said
you were going to do—and then some.
Little things do make a big difference. If you call a young lady a

“kitten” in a playful mood, she will smile; call her a “cat,” and you’ve
opened a whole new can of worms. Tell her she’s a “vision,” and
you’ll delight her; call her a “sight,” and be prepared to duck.
Somebody said that it’s the part of the blanket which hangs over the
bed that keeps you warm, and for those of you who don’t believe
that, you’ve never been in the service and been “short-sheeted.”
If my watch were two hours wrong it would not represent a problem

because I would immediately know something was fouled up, but if
it were two minutes wrong that would be different—especially if I
had a two o’clock flight and I arrived at 2:02. I’ve made an
arrangement with the airlines that if I’m not there when they get
ready to go, they’re just to go ahead without me. Just last year I
learned that they live up to their end of the agreement!
In our personal relationships, little things like “please,” “thank you,”

“you were certainly helpful and I appreciate it,” make a big
difference in building winning relationships. When you put all these
“little things” together, they will bring you a lot of big extras in life.
Think about it. Adopt the “and-then-some” approach and I’ll see you
at the top!
The General’s Rules
Zig Ziglar
General Colin Powell, the son of immigrants from Jamaica and
retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, represents an
extraordinary American success story. I’ve had the privilege of
coming to know General Powell on a personal basis and I would like
to say the qualities that impress me most are his consistency,
integrity, intellectual capacity, genuine friendliness and his ability to
balance confidence with humility. He tells the story of how his first
job was scrubbing floors at a Pepsi Cola plant and that he always
gave it his absolute best, which he’s continued to do all of his life.
From his life experiences, Gen. Powell has put together these
thirteen rules he lives by and I believe that, regardless of what your
mission in life might be, they will certainly be applicable in your life
as they are in mine.
1) 1) It isn’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the

morning.
2) 2) Get mad, then get over it.
3) 3) Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when
your position falls, your ego goes with it.
4) 4) It can be done!
5) 5) Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
6) 6) Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
7) 7) You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let
someone else make yours.
8) 8) Check small things.
9) 9) Share credit.
10) 10) Remain calm. Be kind.
11) 11) Have a vision. Be demanding.
12) 12) Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
13) 13) Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
Obviously, all of us do not have the drive, mind and determination of

a Colin Powell, but I believe if each of us will apply these thirteen
rules, all of us will come closer to being at the top!
15 leadership quotes to inspire you in the New Year

When Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg met Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the latter had said:
Focus on building the right team for a "high quality" company. Here, we bring you similar
words of wisdom that we hope will inspire you to succeed in life.
Success, we all know, is a relative term and means differently to

most of us.
Today, most of us may be struggling in our lives and careers at

different stages and looking for words of inspiration to hold on to.
We've handpicked a few personalities from different walks of life

and shared their ideas on success; change and inspiration that we
think will help you perceive your own lives differently and for the
better.
Read on to know what these people have to say about their failures,
successes and achievements...
Bill Gates:
From a young guy who had a passion for computer programming at

the age of 13, to founding one of the world's largest software
business, Microsoft, Bill Gates' story of success is an inspiration to
many.
The entrepreneur once said:
"It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure."
Ratan Tata:
The great grandson of Tata empire joined the family business after
refusing a job with IBM back in New York.
The man who took the Tata conglomerate to new heights under his
reign said:
"I don't believe in taking right decisions. I take decisions and then make them right."
Recently, on turning 75, he retired from his position as the Chairman

to let a young Cyrus Mistry take over.
Indira Gandhi:
When Indira Gandhi came to power in 1966, she was India's first
woman Prime Minister.
Four and a half decades have passed by and she continues holds the
record for the longest serving female Prime Minister of the country.
The woman with the grit of steel epitomises courage and leadership.
Speaking of her grandfather, Motilal Nehru, she'd said:
"My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work
and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group. There is much less
competition."
N R Narayana Murthy:
When his first start-up Softronics failed, N R Narayana Murthy took
up a job only to chase his entrepreneurial dream yet again with
Infosys in 1981.
Since then, there has been no looking back.
Reflecting on his journey, Murthy had said:
"Don't be cynical. Cynicism takes away enthusiasm and builds a negative mindset. Move from
apathy to action.
To finish first, you must first finish. Move from rhetoric to action.
Leadership is an action, not a word. Build a climate of honesty, hard work and excellence.
Build a social conscience and benchmark yourself with the best in the world. Be honest and
true to the profession and act fearlessly.
Always seek the truth. Learn from the advances abroad. Think how you can support
institutions that have helped you reach where you are – your school.”
APJ Abdul Kalam:
APJ Adul Kalam is one of the most popular and adored personalities
in India today.
The former president of India who is also an aerospace engineer

envisions to drive the youth and make India a developed nation by
2020.
The Bharat Ratna awardee who often advises youngsters to realise
the importance of knowledge and cognition said:
"Thinking should become your capital asset, no matter whatever ups and downs you come
across in your life.
Thinking is progress. Non-thinking is stagnation of the individual, organisation and the

country. Thinking leads to action. Knowledge without action is useless and irrelevant.
Knowledge with action converts adversity into prosperity."
Chetan Bhagat:
Born into a middle class family, Chetan Bhagat's rise to fame as the
best-selling author inspires youngsters across the country.
Here's what the youth icon wrote about quality of life:
"Life is not to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here.
We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years.
And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends.
Do we really need to get so worked up? It's okay, bunk a few classes, goof up a few
interviews, fall in love.
We are people, not programmed devices."

Mary Kom:
Mary Kom was the only Indian woman boxer to have qualified for
the 2012 Summer Olympics and she did not waste the opportunity.
The bronze medal winner who failed in her class 10 examinations

took to boxing and gave it her best.
After winning the Olympic medal, here's what the champion said:
"If I, being a mother of two, can win a medal, so can you all. Take me as an example and don't
give up."
Mark Zuckerberg:
With one billion active users, Facebook's is a lgendary success story

and part of the credit goes to Mark Zuckerberg who envisioned the
prospects of social networking and invested in it early on.
The reticent CEO who became a billionaire at the age of 23, says:
"There are people who are really good managers, people who can manage a big organisation,
and then there are people who are very analytic or focused on strategy.
Those two types don't usually tend to be in the same person. I would put myself much more
in the latter camp."
Steve Jobs:
Among the many roles Steve Jobs juggled with, his efforts to revive
Apple from near bankruptcy to profitability is the most noteworthy.
The college dropout who discontinued his education due to financial

issues went on to be addressed as the 'Father of digital revolution'.
The visionary entrepreneur was quoted saying this in The Wall

Street Journal:
"Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me... Going to bed at night saying
we've done something wonderful... that's what matters to me."
Walter Disney:
The Walt Disney Company is what it is today, because it had a

prolific leader at its helm when it was born.
Walter Disney was a well known film producer, director,

screenwriter, animator, entrepreneur and entertainer.
But very few of us know that the multitalented Disney had dropped
out of high school at 16 and was denied a job in the army because
he was underage.
The Disney co-founder had said:
"All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles has strengthened me... You
may not realise it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world
for you."
Barack Obama:
The first African American to hold the office at the White House,
Barack Obama has moved from strength to strength in his political
career.
In his commencement address at Knox College in June 2005, this is

what the American President had said:
"Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too
little of yourself.
Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you
realise your true potential."
Julian Assange:
The WikiLeaks founder is also the man who holds the secret to some
of the most sensational breaking news in the world.
The Australian editor and publisher who's quite vocal about his
views on freedom of the press and media censorship said:
"We all only live once. So we are obligated to make good use of the time that we have and to
do something that is meaningful and satisfying."
Richard Branson:
Entrepreneur Richard Branson who started his first business -- a

magazine called Student at the age of 16 has since been an
inspiration to many.
The multibillionaire and owner of Virgin Records prefers not to live

by the book.
In one of his interviews to The Guardian newspaper on September

20, 2008, Branson said:
"My general attitude to life is to enjoy every minute of every day. I never do anything with a
feeling of, 'Oh God, I've got to do this today.'"
Bob Dylan:
At the age of 19, the American singer-songwriter dropped out of

college and moved to New York to chase his creative pursuits.
In 1961, at the age of 20, Dylan signed his first recording contract
and since then has never had to look back.
In one of his popular numbers Brownswille Girl, the artist has a

word of advice for youngsters:
"People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent."
Oprah Winfrey:
For someone who was raped at the age of nine and pregnant at 14, it
takes a lot more than courage to make it this far.
Oprah Winfrey's journey to the top is garnished with stories of

struggles, determination and courage.
The popular talk show host who indulges in several philanthropic

causes and inspires many through her talks, in her commencement
speech at the Howard University on May 12, 2007, said:
"What other people label or might try to call failure, I have learned is just God's way of
pointing you in a new direction."
Three Ways to Increase Your Planning Skills
Stay Focused and Stop Procrastinating
Brian Tracy
The mark of the superior thinker is his or her ability to accurately

predict the consequences of doing or not doing something while
maintaining the ability to stay focused on the long-term goal. The
potential consequences of any task or activity are the key
determinants of how important it really is to you and to your
company. This way of evaluating the significance of a task is how
you determine what your next priority really is.
Stop Procrastinating and Stay Focused
This law says that, “There is never enough time to do everything,

but there is always enough time to do the most important thing.”
When you run out of time and the consequences for non-completion
of a key task or project can be really serious, you always seem to
find the time to get it done, often at the very last minute. When you
have no choice, when the consequences for non-completion are
serious enough, you start early, you stay focused and you drive
yourself to complete the job rather than to face the unpleasantness
that would follow if you didn’t get it completed within the time limit.
Rule: There will never be enough time to do everything you have to

do.
It has been estimated that the average person in business today,

especially managers in the age of cutbacks, is working at 110% to
130% of capacity. And the jobs and responsibilities just keep piling
up. Everyone has stacks of reading material they still have to go
through. One study concluded recently that the average executive
has 300-400 hours of reading and projects backlogged at home and
at the office.
What this means is that you will never be caught up and planning
skills are more crucial than ever. All you can hope for is to stay
focused and be on top of your most important responsibilities. The
others will just have to wait.
Deadlines Are an Excuse
Many people say that they work better under the pressure of
deadlines. Unfortunately, years of research indicate that this is
seldom true.
It is much better to better your planning skills, and then build in a

sizable buffer to compensate for unexpected delays and diversions.
However much time you think a task will take, add on another 20%
or more, or make a game of getting in done well in advance of the
deadline. You will be amazed at how much more relaxed you are,
and how much better a job you do when you stop procrastinating.
Increase Your Planning Skills
There are three questions that you can use on a regular basis to help
you stay focused on getting your most important tasks completed on
schedule. The first question is “What are my highest value
activities?”
This is one of the most important questions you can ask and answer.
What are your highest value activities? First, think this through for
yourself. Then, ask your boss. Ask your co-workers and
subordinates. Ask your friends and family. Like focusing the lens of a
camera, you must be crystal clear about your highest value activities
before you begin work.
The second question you can ask continually is, “What can I and
only I do, that if done well, will make a real difference?”
This question comes from Peter Drucker, the management guru. It is

one of the best of all questions for achieving personal effectiveness.
What can you, and only you do, that if done well, can make a real
difference?
Every hour of every day, you can ask yourself this question and
there will be a specific answer. Your job is to use planning skills to
be clear about the answer and then to start and work on this task
before anything else.
The third question you can ask is “What is the most valuable use of
my time, right now?”
This is the core question of time management. Answering this

question correctly is the key to stop procrastinating and developing
better planning skills. Every hour of every day, there is some task
that is the most valuable use of your time at that moment. Your job
is to ask yourself this question, over and over again, and to always
be working on the answer to it, whatever it is.
Do first things first and second things not at all. As Goethe said,
“The things that matter most must never be at the mercy of the
things that matter least.”
The more accurate your answers to these questions, the easier it

will be for you to set clear priorities, to stop procrastinating and to
get started on that one activity that represents the most valuable
use of your time.
Six Personal Strategic Planning Tips to

Increase Productivity and Start Getting Things Done
Brian Tracy
There are a series of personal strategic planning techniques you can

practice to increase productivity and improve the rate at which you
start getting things done. These are methods used by the highest-
paid and most productive people in every field.
(1) Key to Personal Strategic Planning
Use the principle of ‘‘concentration of power.’’ This requires that you

concentrate your talents and abilities where they will yield the
highest payoff to you at the moment. It is the key to personal
productivity and is essential to success in personal strategic
planning.
In corporate strategy sessions, managers focus on the goal of

increasing ‘‘return on equity’’ (ROE). The purpose of business
strategy is to allocate the company’s resources in such a way that
they yield the highest possible financial return on the equity
invested.
Here is another kind of ROE for you. In personal strategic planning,

your goal is to get the highest ‘‘return on energy.’’ Your job is to
allocate your talents and abilities in such a way that you achieve the
highest possible return on the mental, emotional, and physical
energies that you invest in your work.
Your highest return on energy is almost always that task where you
combine your unique talents and abilities with the specific needs of
the situation. You then focus and concentrate single-mindedly on
that one task, which is the key to getting things done efficiently.
Whenever you have a new job to do, ask yourself: ‘‘Does this job
give me my highest return on energy invested?’’ Discipline yourself
to increase productivity and apply your skills where you can achieve
the greatest results for both yourself and your company.
(2) Focus on Opportunities
Increase productivity by concentrating your strengths, and the

strengths of others, on your major opportunities. Focus on the
opportunities of tomorrow, rather than the problems of yesterday.
Concentrate your best talents and energies, and those of your best
people, on those few areas where major breakthroughs are possible.
(3) Focus on Key Result Areas
Identify the key results you are expected to get by answering the
question: ‘‘Why am I on the payroll?’’ Once you’ve identified your
key result areas, work in them exclusively. This is an important
component to personal strategic planning and can help you to
increase productivity tenfold.
Each person has five to seven key result areas where they can make
an important contribution to their job and to the organization. It is
only when you concentrate your efforts on your key result areas that
you will start getting things done and achieve the most significant
results possible for you in the shortest period of time.
(4) Increase Productivity by Setting Deadlines
To improve your personal strategic planning, set deadlines for

important goals and stick to them. Deadlines force you to work
harder and more effectively as the deadline approaches. A goal or an
assignment without a deadline is usually an exercise in futility. It
has no motivational force behind it. It creates no compulsion for
closure. It is something that you easily procrastinate on and put off
until the last minute.
In order for you to increase productivity and start getting things
done efficiently, set deadlines for everything you do. Promise other
people that you will finish certain jobs by the deadline.
When you promise others, you motivate yourself to fulfil the

promise. When you place your honour and your ego on the line by
making promises to others, you find yourself internally driven and
motivated to start getting things done exactly as you said, on
schedule.
(5) Getting Things Done with a Steady Pace
Don’t hurry or rush around frantically to get the job done. Maintain
an easy pace and work steadily. Remember the fable of ‘‘The
Tortoise and the Hare’’? Highly productive people work with a
certain rhythm that allows them to flow through enormous amounts
of work without becoming stressed or anxious.
A hallmark behaviour of successful salespeople is that they do one

thing at a time. They do the most important thing in front of them,
and they stay with it until it is complete. They set priorities and use
excellent personal strategic planning techniques.
(6) Thinking About Results
Result orientation, the ability to start getting things done, is a key

quality of all peak performers who have excellent strategic planning
skills. You can develop the ability to concentrate single-mindedly
through practice and repetition, over and over, until it becomes an
ingrained habit of success. Once you develop the skill of getting
things done, the skill will serve you for the rest of your life.
Multi-Tasking isn't the Time-Saver
Paula Eder
In your busy, daily life, time management is important, and

productivity is at a premium. So doesn't it make sense to multi-task
whenever you can? Who wouldn't want to be doing two things in the
time it takes to do one?
Well, actually ... multi-tasking is often exactly the opposite of what
you need to be doing when you are pressed for time. In fact, multi-
tasking actually works against you when you're trying to accomplish
tasks that require focus.
Tests performed by the American Psychological Association in

Washington, DC have conclusively proven that every time you shift
your attention form one task to another, you lose some ground. And
as your tasks become more complex, or if a task is unfamiliar to you,
it's even harder for your brain to make the transition back and forth
between tasks.
And the more often you move from task to task, the more time you
lose, and the more stress you create for yourself (which then also
diminishes your efficiency and effectiveness).
Multi-tasking can be dangerous, too. Consider the sort of multi-

tasking that we see so often now on our highways where a half
second of delay or inattention can literally kill you.
The bottom line? The good news is that there are ways to increase
your productivity that work in harmony with how your brain
functions. Here are 2 Time Management Techniques Work Better
Than Multitasking:
#1: Task Templates:
Create step-by-step templates to help you complete complex but

repetitive tasks. Using templates for speedy reference, you don't
have to waste energy or create unnecessary stress for yourself by
trying to rely on your memory or reinvent the wheel.
So, jot down projects that need templates as you think of them. And
try storing your templates on your computer. That makes them
easily accessible and allows you to tweak them as needed, over
time. The more you work from templates, the more uses you will
find for them, and your productivity will soar!
#2: To-Do Lists:
Lists are a great way to identify your tasks. You can keep them
manageable when you prioritise in advance and clearly label those
priorities. Remember; reduce tasks to small, workable chunks so
that your lists are stress-relievers rather than stress-creators!
Only include what you can realistically accomplish each day. Use a
master list for the more comprehensive list of tasks. And be sure to
set aside some time at the end of each day to review and adjust your
lists.
Multi-tasking can be tempting, but in reality it hampers your
productivity rather than enhancing it. Instead of multi-tasking, learn
to use these 2 powerful time tools in your daily life. Incorporate
them into your routine. I think you'll be pleased with how you are
able to create more focus and productivity with templates and to-do
lists.
So start improving your life today by making the most of your time
and energy -- the tools are in your hands!
Making New Year's Resolutions Count
If you're like most people, you've probably experienced the sudden

burst of motivation that comes in early January, as holiday
indulgences make their way to the waistline and New Year's
resolutions force a new look at the figure we see in the mirror.
"This is the year," so the resolution goes, "that I vow to lose ten
kilograms and keep it off." Other common variations include goals to
get back to one's "true" weight, to fit into a size ten, etc.
And worthy resolutions they are. Sadly, New Year's resolutions are
notoriously short-lived, if not completely forgotten by February. The
trick to making resolutions work is to follow the same steps required
to make any goal work, as follows:
1. Choose the Right Resolution
For all too many resolutions, failure is virtually assured at the offset
because the resolutions are not made with serious intent and
deliberation. The first trick is to choose the right resolution, for the
right reasons.
Give some thought to what you really want and why you want it.
What direct benefits do you hope to receive? Is a weight-loss
resolution meant to improve your self-esteem? Attractiveness?
Vitality? Longevity? Identifying the "why" helps you avoid setting
goals for the wrong reasons.
Next, decide how difficult to make your resolution. Aiming high
generally makes people try harder. Optimal performance comes from
goals that are difficult, but not so difficult that we don't believe they
can be accomplished.
Finally, be specific about your resolution and make it official. Being

specific means phrasing the goal in words that make it obvious
whether or not the goal has been completed, by a specific date. A
resolution "to lose ten Kilograms by April 30th" is much more
effective than the ambiguously phrased goal "to lose weight."
Once you've decided on the wording, formally commit. At a

minimum, write the goal down on paper. For even more
commitment, look yourself in the mirror and state the goal out loud.
This may sound corny, but it works. The important thing to
remember that a resolution is fundamentally a commitment to
yourself. Make the commitment formal. The more ceremonious, the
better.
2. Create a Plan
Most resolutions fail because people stop once they've made the
resolution. It is crucial to harness New Year's temporary motivation
into something that will carry you through an extended period of
required effort.
Upon clarifying the exact goal that you are setting, next create a
plan for how you intend to accomplish your goal. With any
reasonably good plan, you are fairly likely to make significant
progress or actually accomplish your goal. Without a plan, you are
very unlikely to succeed.
The key to constructing a good plan is to identify the exact steps

that you will take toward accomplishing your goal, and assigning
due dates to those steps. Coming up with a comprehensive list of
steps is not easy for everyone. If you encounter difficulty, the
solution is to get help, such as hiring a personal trainer or using this
site, which helps people through the planning process by first asking
people to identify all of the obstacles that stand between them and
their desired goal. Once the obstacles have been identified, it is
fairly easy for anybody to generate a comprehensive to-do list for
accomplishing the goal.
3. Stay on Track
With a good plan in hand, making significant progress toward your

goal may require very little discipline for those who live strictly by
daily planners and love nothing more than checking off items on our
to-do lists.
But for those of us who can use a little help with staying on top of
details, the answer, once again, is to seek outside help. The idea is
to find some external thing that keeps you motivated, such as a
personal fitness trainer.
4. Remain Flexible and Keep on Going
A recent realization among goal-setting experts is the need to

continually modify our approach—sometimes even changing or
abandoning a goal altogether. The reason for this is that
circumstances beyond our control frequently crop up at the most
unexpected and inconvenient times. We can also expect our short-
term and long-term priorities to change. So long as we build
flexibility into our expectations, we can simply adjust things as we
go.
It's therefore best to periodically re-evaluate our goals and plans,

perhaps once per quarter for a yearlong goal such as a New Year's
resolution. First, make certain that the goal itself still exactly
reflects what you want to do. If it's not, adjust it. Next, go through
your plan and identify any portions that aren't working well, even if
it simply means giving yourself more time to complete a particular
task or milestone. Keep in mind that missed due dates do not
necessarily indicate a problem with your performance; it might
simply mean that your plan was too aggressive, or that your
environment has changed in some unexpected fashion. Either way,
simply adjust your plan and continue onward.
Finally, the flip side of setting difficult resolutions is that you must
remember to acknowledge partial success. Losing seven kilograms is
cause for celebration, even if your original goal was to lose ten
kilograms. If you are just one step closer to your goal, then you are
better off than before you began. Pat yourself on the back and keep
on going.
Nine Success Factors for Personal Growth:

Moving Forward to Achieve Your Best Life
Brian Tracy
There are nine success factors that you must know in order to start
moving forward in life. Each one of these success factors has been
proven to be critical in the achievement of the best life possible for
any given person. By systematically implementing one or more of
these success factors into your life, you can put your foot on the
accelerator of your own career and achieve the best life for yourself.
1. Education: The first of the nine success factors is education. In

our society, the highest paid people are those who know more than
the average. They know more of the critical facts, ideas and
information than the average person in their field. As a result, they
can make a more valuable contribution in a knowledge based society
and live the best life possible. They are valued more, respected more
and ultimately paid more money and promoted more often.
The rule is that, “to earn more, you must learn more.” If you want to
increase your level of income and achieve the best life for yourself,
you must increase your level of intellectual capital and thereby the
value of the knowledge component in what you are doing.
2. Skill: The second of the nine success factors that you can use to
achieve the best life possible is simply “Skill.” Your level of ability in
your field will determine the quality and quantity of your results.
The better you get at what you do, the easier it is for you to start
moving forward to get a particular level of results. As you increase
your skill, through study and experience, you get better and better
at doing the small things that increase the speed and predictability
of your results.
3. Contacts: The third success factor for moving forward and

achieving the best life is by developing an ever widening circle of
contacts. You will find that every major change in your life is
accompanied by a person or persons who either opens or closes
doors for you. The possibility of the best life for you will be
determined by the number of people who know you and like you and
who are willing to help you. In order to broaden your network of
contacts, you must network continually, at every opportunity. There
seems to be a direct relationship between the numbers of people
you know and how successful you are.
4. Money: One of the most important of the success factors is

“money.” Having money in the bank gives you greater freedom and
the ability to take advantage of opportunities when they come along.
If you are broke, or in debt, you have very few options open to you.
One of the most important things I ever learned in life is that you
are only as free as your options. If you have no options, you have no
freedom. If you are stuck in a dead-end job that you cannot leave
because you have no money set aside, you have put a brake on your
potential. You are locked in place and have no option for moving
forward. You can end up spinning your wheels and losing months
and years of your time by the very fact that you have no choice but
to accept whatever is being handed to you.
5. Good Work Habits: The fifth of the success factors that enables
you to get far more done in a shorter period of time is simply “good
work habits.” Your ability to increase your ROTI, or “Return on Time
Invested” can enable you to accomplish vastly more in a shorter
period of time than another person who is disorganized and sloppy.
Developing good work habits requires that you think before acting.
You make a list and set priorities on the list before you begin. Good
work habits require that you consider the likely consequences,
positive or negative of what you are doing.
6. Positive Mental Attitude: The sixth success factor for your career
and life is to reduce the amount of time that it takes you to achieve
your goals is by developing a “positive mental attitude.” A positive
mental attitude is very much a decision that you make. Remember,
you become what you do. If you engage in the same activities that
positive, confident, optimistic people engage in, you will eventually
become one of them and live your best life possible. Anyone can
remain positive when things are going well. It is your ability to look
for the good in every situation that you see positive and start
moving forward in life.
7. Positive Image: The seventh of the success factors you can

incorporate into your lifestyle, and one that can help you achieve the
best life for yourself, is the development of a positive image. People
judge you by the way you look on the outside, by the way you
appear. The fact is that you judge everyone else by the way they
look on the outside, as well. Taking time to present an attractive
image in your person, your clothing, your grooming and your
accessories can have an inordinate impact on the doors that open for
you and the people who are willing to help you start moving forward
in your life.
8. Creativity: Creativity is another wonderful way to start moving

forward in life and to increase the speed at which you achieve your
goals. Creativity is something that requires that you continually look
for better, faster, easier, cheaper ways to get the job done.
Remember, one good idea is all you need to start a fortune.
9. Character: Perhaps the most important of the success factors to

accelerating your life is your character. Self-discipline combined
with honesty will open countless doors to you. Trust is the
foundation of all relationships. When people know you and believe in
you and are convinced that they can trust you to keep your word and
do what you say you will do, they will feel that they are far more
likely to get the things they want through you, to get the things they
want, faster, sooner, easier and with greater certainty.
10 Tips to help you claim more Time for yourself
Marquita Herald
Whether you are feeling over-extended, over-committed and over-

whelmed, or just ready to do a little spring cleaning to free more
time for summer, the following tips can help you take the first steps
toward conquering your time crunched lifestyle find more time for
"off the clock" fun.
"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that

which should not be done at all." - Peter F. Drucker
1. Begin by learning the difference between "Do I need to do this

now?" and "Do I need to do this at all?"
Just because you are busy and getting things done doesn't mean you
are actually accomplishing anything significant. As you plan your
day or week, really think about the things you have to do as opposed
to things you think you have to do. A lot of to do's are not
necessarily things we have to do. Often times the lines are blurred
because we over commit or feel obligated to things that aren't in
line with our goals and rob us of valuable time.
2. Organize future events with a monthly accordion file

Put birthday cards, directions to a baby shower, a note to check on
furniture deliveries, even vacation brochures in the appropriate
months for quick reference and retrieval.
3. Create a "just in case" box for the car trunk

umbrella, cheap rain ponchos, scissors, big black marker, tape,
paper towels, plastic bags, extra kids' socks and a one-size-fits-all
T-shirt, sweatshirt and pair of sweatpants for adults, another for
kids.
4. Go digital with record keeping

Instead of printing every report, article, recipe or document you
think you might need or want some day, burn records onto CDs for
storage. You will be amazed about the amount of space you'll save,
not to mention printer ink and copy paper – and as an extra bonus
you'll be saving LOTS of trees in the process!
5. Take control of managing your bill paying schedule

Rather than having to constantly trying to keep track of when
various bills are due each month, ask creditors to shift your due
dates to lump them all together or to split them between the two
pay periods of each month.
6. Make your home office an actual work space

Attempting to work at a cluttered table or desk may not be the sign
of a cluttered mind, but piles of disorganized faxes, bills, receipts
and mail are definitely off-putting when you're trying to work at
home. You need to be able to sit down in your home office and go to
work, without having to clear a space or hunt for a particular piece
of paper. Getting your home office organized and keeping it that way
prevents distractions and time-wasting. Buy an in and out basket
and use it, invest in a filing cabinet, and have a wastepaper can
handy so you can clean up when you close up for the day. Keep all
your relevant working materials in your work space. Having to walk
into another room to retrieve a file can be a serious waste of time.
Having an actual "work space" also helps to get across the point to
family and friends that, even though you are at home, you are
working.
7. Practice Chunking
This strategy refers to completing similar types of work all at the
same time. For example if you typically field a large number of calls
and or emails each day – instead of dropping everything to take
each call as it comes in or each email as it arrives, set aside specific
blocks of time dedicated to returning calls and responding to emails.
It's more effective and a better use of energy, where possible, to
accomplish similar tasks all together. Same goes for writing,
scheduling clients, etc. I know, being needed is so gratifying, but so
is self-preservation. It's especially for us ‘control freaks' to let go of
control and allow others to make decisions, but if you try just testing
the waters, you're likely to find very few true "emergencies" in a
given day. In fact, you may be pleasantly surprised at how often
problems are magically solved without your able involvement –
which leaves you the opportunity to heap praise for a job well done!
8. Be prepared before making phone calls

Before picking up the phone, make a list of things you need to talk
about and questions you need to ask. That way, you won't waste
time calling someone back because you forgot to ask an important
question. I even do this when I call my relatives if I have a lot of
things to tell them.
9. Use templates & swipe files

You can use templates and swipe files for invoices, letters of
introduction, client questionnaires, standard email responses, out of
office notices and other documents you use on a regular basis. If
you have a website or blog consider a FAQ page where readers can
easily access answers to the most frequently asked questions about
your product or programs. Keep a current copy of your online profile
in your swipe file so when you register at a new forum or website
you can simply cut and paste.
10. Finally, plan how you will use your "off the clock" fun time
As gratifying as it can feel to take control of your time and become
more productive in the process – if you don't create a plan for what
you'll do with your free time, it will be quickly lost to whatever pops
up. Even if your plan is to finally read that book that's been
gathering dust on your nightstand, schedule your personal time
around that so it feels more like a commitment – because it is, a
commitment to enjoy more of your life.
So start using these tips and enjoy all the new free time you have at
your fingertips!
Don’t worry about results
Zig Ziglar
Worrying about the results will not change them. As a matter of fact,
worry just might be the engine that starts negative thinking, and if
you are involved in negative thinking, you will not expect to win
Have you ever watched people bowl? Many of them go through a

little ritual before they actually get to the point of hurling their
bowling ball in the direction of the pins. They carefully lace up their
bowling shoes, and then the hunt for the perfect bowling ball begins.
They may put on a bowling glove as well as an elbow brace. As they
step to the line they glare at the bowling pins and get into their
approach posture. Then they step forward and release the bowling
ball down the alley. That’s when it gets interesting. As the ball rolls
toward the pins the bowler starts deploying facial expressions, body
English, and hand signals to “guide” the ball into the best impact
point on the pins. As they see the ball drifting into a less-than-
perfect point of impact they begin to give voice commands to the
ball to correct its course. Of course, once the ball is released it is on
the way, and there is nothing the bowler can do to change what is
going to happen. The bowler could just as easily release the ball,
turn around, and not even look at the impact of ball and pins. The
results would be the same.
The bowling illustration demonstrates the futility of “worrying”

about results. When you have set your goals properly and planned
the action you need to take it’s a waste of time, energy, and emotion
to worry about the results of what you have set in motion. When you
execute an action step, it is like releasing a bowling ball. The results
ball is rolling, and there is little you can do to change the point of
impact. Worrying about where the ball will impact the target won’t
improve or change what happens. The results will be the fruit of how
well you prepared and planned and executed the action.
Worrying Makes Problems Worse
Worrying about the results will not change them. I certainly

recognize that a certain amount of worry is just part of being
human. People have concerns about many things. There are
legitimate concerns about money and financial security. There are
legitimate concerns about health issues, and there are concerns
about our personal and professional relationships. People want all of
these things to go well in their lives, and a certain amount of worry
and concern is normal. But there is another kind of worry that is not
only dangerous to your health; it is dangerous to your success. The
kind of worry I’m talking about is “imagined worry.” Imagined
worry is when you spend a lot of time thinking about the future and
what might happen in your life that could be terrible. My late friend
Mary Crowley said, “Worry is a misuse of the imagination,” and she
hit the nail on the head with that remark. Now you might be
wondering why I’m so concerned about worrying and what it has to
do with success and expecting to win, so I’ll tell you. Worry is the
most significant factor that relates to the root of negative thinking.
As a matter of fact, worry just might be the engine that starts
negative thinking, and if you are involved in negative thinking, you
will not expect to win. If you spend an excessive amount of time
imagining all the bad things that can happen in your life, you will
become a person who is problem-conscious, not solution-conscious.
There is perhaps no greater example of how this can be so
dangerous than when it involves worrying about health issues. I
have known many people who receive bad medical reports, and
when they hear the news, they begin to worry so much about it that
their life may as well have ended at that moment. Yes, they have
bad days, but they choose to focus on the good days and what they
can still do. They live in the moment and know full well that
tomorrow will be what it is and they can deal with it when it arrives,
not before.
Stop Worrying . . . Start Expecting
Worry is the result of thinking and imagining what might happen in

the future. I want to stress the word “imagine.” The only reality
people have is what is going on in their lives today. It is in the
events of the day that life transpires, and anything based on
tomorrow is pure speculation. I’ve learned that if you have planned
and prepared, you can have reasonable expectations about the
future. If you take care of your health through a good diet coupled
with exercise, you can reasonably expect good health in the future.
If you save and invest your financial resources, you can reasonably
expect to have financial security in the future. If you live by
principles of love and service to others, you can reasonably expect
to have good personal relationships in the future. Good action today
will produce good living tomorrow. Reasonably good expectations
for tomorrow are based on positive thinking and prudent action
today. Try this: instead of imagining all the bad things that might
happen to you in the future based on your fear, start imagining
things working out. There’s a song titled, “What If It All Goes
Right?” by Melissa Lawson. The second line of the chorus is, “What if
it all works out, what if the stars all line up . . . ” You have to
develop a what if it does go right and work out expectancy if you
want to be the winner you were born to be.
I Don’t Worry
Worrying is something I quit doing many years ago, and today I can
honestly tell you that I don’t worry about anything—period! In fact,
when the terrorist attack happened on 9/11 and I had to find a way
to travel back home, I did not worry about the possibility of another
attack. I believe if it is not my time, there’s not a terrorist on the
earth who can change the will of God about what my lifespan should
be. I never worry because I know who I am and I know Whose I am.
I know that the principles I live by are true and correct. I also know
that I always try to do the right thing, and when you do the right
things in life, you don’t have to worry about results. As a matter of
fact, if I’ve done the right thing every day I’m not even responsible
for results. I just get the benefit of what I do, and the benefits are
usually better than I could have hoped for.
Finally, remember that if you have planned and prepared yourself to

win, there is no need to worry about the results. Like the bowler
who has released the ball down the alley, you must learn there is
nothing your worrying can do to change anything. If you have
planned well and set good goals, you can have confidence that you
know where you want and need to go. If you have done what you
need to do to prepare yourself to win, you do not have to worry. You
will have no justification to worry about failure. You can expect to
win!
What Drives the Organization Forward: People or Ideas?
Ravi Mishra
Vice President - HR. Ravi has career span of more than nineteen
years in practicing human resource management, publi... more>>
I remember the organization located at one of the very remote

location and that too in Naxal infested area in India where even
police officers do have fear to come out after sun set. There was a
time when this company was at the verge of closure due to recurring
losses. The chairman decided to shut the plant with 100%
deployment of employees in other group company located nearby.
But employees requested the management to give an opportunity to
revive and to a great surprise; the same people did wonder when a
new head of the institution was deputed who valued the power of
people and knew the skill and approach to channelize their energies
to convert into deliverables. Since last 10 years company has grown
like anything not only in terms of business profitability but has also
won lots of reward and recognition in area of CSR, Business
Excellence and Quality Standards. This experience validates the
following assumptions;
  People are important for an organization without any

stratification in terms of rank and file.
  Leadership should have strong belief on people power and

be able to create an environment wherein people own the
organization and come forward with their input without any
fear and favour.
  Creating a right system to capture these inputs and

developing the mechanism to convert into deliverables.
  A strong system to motivate the people through various

methods and channels to sustain the engagement of people
for the organization in long run.
During one of award assessment, the assessor who happens to be a

professor of strategic management in IIM was influenced so much
with people driving the organization and decided to write the case
study on it. He quoted that real challenge for performance in an
organization is warranted in an environment of various types of
constrains. Here people matter, who create an environment where
ideas are evolved and executed at its best. Ideas can be not evolved
in isolation nor can be bought for long term sustainability of an
organization.
Neil Armstrong used the Kodak Camera to capture the pictures on

moon in 1969. The company which was known to have invented
Hand-held camera, Roll-up photo film and Digital camera has filed
the case for bankruptcy. Its market value which was US $31 billion
15 years ago has touched below the US $15 million and employees
strength from 60,000 to 7,000 in their Rochester office in New York.
What is takeaway from such respected organization; it could not
utilise the potential of people to sustain the success story.
Complacency of focusing on idea in place of people at large possibly
failed the organization which once upon a time was known as the
brand as generic name for its products.
Another example is of Nokia which was controlling around 80%

market share in mobile hand set till recent past in India has lost its
presence in Indian market by less than 30%. Organizations need to
involve its people to form its vision and strategy.
Maruti Suzuki which sells about half of the number of cars sold in
India. This company also has strong support to its bottom-line
through various quality & improvement initiatives. Company had to
bear a huge loss to the tone of more than Rs 800 million due to
strike at its Manesar plant, possibly ignoring the fact that power is
owned by people.
Organizations grow with the strength of collective wisdom and

contribution of its people wherein contribution may vary in economic
sense but for the success of organization; each contribution is
important so as the people. Organizations cannot grow with
differences in long term. Every individual has a potential in one way
or the other but it is the responsibility of organization to discover,
nurture and utilize for its benefit. A small puncture in boiler leading
to the darkness does not warrant the idea but needs the people
having skill to repair it in the shortest time span. Ideas cannot be
generated in isolation or cannot be patented with a section of people
in the organization.
During recent recession of year 2008, we have seen how Lehman

Brothers, et al... had fallen flat that hired the guys from premier
management institutes like Harvard, Stanford and always banked
upon only on this group as think tank & hub of idea generating
individuals.
There are numerous examples when the power of people either

working as individual or as group has saved many organizations
from incurring heavy losses to the tune of many crores of rupees. In
one of the process plant, based on idea by top management,
company involved experts from Original Equipment Manufacturer for
periodical inspection of the gear box of a heavy machinery for which
company had no spare. Of course, the company paid a lot of money
in the process. However soon after such an inspection by experts,
one of the company’s workmen started noticing humming sound
coming from the gear box of the same machinery. The sound coming
was of very low intensity and since the workman who was
monitoring the machine everyday, he was able to notice it and
inform the department head about the possible failure in the
gearbox of the machinery. Machine was stopped, checked and found
having same abnormality which was apprehension by the workman.
The abnormality was eliminated in a week time. In this example a
person saved the organization from a possible six month stoppage
by just doing his routine duty sincerely. Similarly in a cement plant,
just after a planned stoppage when the machine was started, a
workman noticed during his normal inspection that support tyre of
the kiln was having one hairline crack. Any breakdown in the
support tyre could have resulted the possible six month stoppage
but the routine and sincere working by one of the company’s
workmen saved the company from such big impact failures.
We have also seen the shining examples of organizations like

Google, Infosys, Walmart who believes in the potential of each
individual to drive the organization forward and being proves to
their premise.
In Organizational perspectives, it is people who drive the

organization forward. Ideas are important but it cannot be created
in isolation and in exceptional case even if it happens so; will not be
an easy way to get the same converted into the product or services
that drives the organization in long term.
Ravi Mishra has career span of more than nineteen years in practicing
human resource management, public relations and liaison functions in
some of the most respected and diversified organizations like Nicholas
Piramal Group, Mardia Group and Aditya Birla Group. His Achievements are:
Certified Examiner for IMC Ramakrishna Bajaj National Quality Award,
Certified Assessor for World Class Manufacturing system, Certified trainer
for Career Assessment and development discussion, Certified facilitator for
Writing Individual Development Plan, Certified facilitator for Problem
Solving Tools.
Lighten Up Or Heavy Up...The Choice is Yours
Wayne Kehl
Have you ever noticed that a lot of people tend to take themselves
too seriously? You know who I mean:
• Those folks who huff and puff with righteous indignation
whenever they are challenged.
• Those people who glare and stare whenever someone says
something they believe is inappropriate.
• Those individuals who seem to believe that it is okay for them
to say things to others that should never be directed at them.
Do you have people like that in your life? Do you from time to time
find them becoming annoyed by words, situations, or people that
they would accept in the past but which have suddenly become
intolerable to their egocentric psyches? Are you one of those
people? When you see this happening in yourself or others, what do
you think might be happening?
Human beings are driven by ego. Every person with a beating heart
possesses some level of egoism. Egoism must not be confused with
Egotism. The subtle difference between the two is that egoism is the
natural pride and self-esteem that we all have for ourselves while
egotism is an outward display of self-esteem, which usually comes
across as arrogance or conceit. Egotism is generally undesirable in
human society but egoism is necessary for a normal, happy life.
People who lose their egoism are usually depressed, miserable, or
feeling a sense of despair. They have given up. Egoism is what made
human beings the superior beings on our planet. It is that special
ingredient that causes us to build huge buildings, fly to the moon
and constantly research cures for diseases. It creates in us, a need
to win!
Occasionally, egoism can turn to egotism. I call this heavying up.

Sometimes a person who is normally even-tempered and easy to get
along with will change their approach to specific relationships. When
that happens, we find folks saying things like this:
• "You can't talk to me like that!" or
• "That's not funny!" or
• "Whatever!" or
• "How would you know?"
Often this is because the person saying those things has allowed his
or her ego to take flight in order to elevate them to a higher position
than the person they are talking to. They have decided that the
words or actions of the other person are repugnant to them in some
way and have decided to react in an egotistical, humourless fashion,
thereby belittling the other individual. It is intended to put them
down or control them. Sometimes they will simply become
uncommunicative in an effort to freeze the other person out. Sound
familiar?
There can be many reasons for heavying up but usually the person
that has allowed his or her ego to take over is feeling demeaned,
insulted, hurt or simply afraid. Their ego is telling them to strike out
in order to take control. Rather than thinking the situation through
and treating the other person as an equal they believe that they can
win by being superior, difficult, sarcastic or uncaring. For a moment
in time they are acting like someone else. Their behaviour is neither
characteristic nor acceptable even to them. They have been taken
over by their internal self-defence mechanisms and they don't really
understand the ramifications of their actions.
When you come across people who are heavying up on you, do not
react in kind. Do not retaliate with sarcasm or nastiness. That will
only make the situation worse. Instead, take the high road and
calmly explain to them that you mean no harm and that you would
like help in resolving the issue at hand. Ask if you have offended
them somehow and let them know that their opinions matter to you.
The idea is to soften their egotistical veneer so that you can get back
on track. Usually when it is made clear to someone in the throes of
heavying up that they are being unfair or unpleasant, their ego will
force them back into a more reasonable frame of mind. You see, no
one really wants to be viewed as unfair, rude or egotistical and once
they realize that they have been caught, they will revert to a more
acceptable mode of communication.
By the way, if you ever find yourself snapping at someone for no

apparent good reason, remember this: Stop taking yourself so
seriously and LIGHTEN UP! If you can do that every time, your stress
level will reduce and you will have a much happier life.
Determination: It will pay off!
Scott Turner
As we look throughout history, we find that this great country of

America was built on the backs of those who had an unwavering
determination. It did not matter the trials or the difficulty they
faced. It was not predicated on the adverse situations that seemed
to surround them as they built families, farmed the land, established
towns and cities and created businesses. As I think about our
country’s history and how it would have been if I were a part of the
toil and labour that it took to build the infrastructure and lay the
foundation on which we, a privileged people, now stand, I have to
say that the level of determination set the standard for achievement
and overcoming adversity we admire today.
While playing in the National Football League, I was faced with

many situations that required extreme determination! Yes, playing
in the games on Sunday afternoon calls for a great deal of
toughness, grit, strength, and commitment, but you must be
determined to overcome adversity, pain, mistakes and failure in
order to be successful. Your opponent is doing everything in his
power to outmanoeuvre you, to break you and ultimately beat you
down. Well, I had the same attitude towards them! I was not willing
to give up an inch. I was determined to hold my ground and not
allow the opposing receiver or ball carrier to catch the ball or gain
one yard! Now, it didn’t always work out that way, but that was my
attitude.
There were always opportunities to give up and throw in the towel—

or, more importantly, my career!—during the course of the games.
Before I ever put on an NFL uniform, I was told that I would never
play professional football. Before I set foot in an NFL locker room, I
had faced much adversity, trial, doubt and negative criticism from
others. It would have been very easy for me to bow out and not see
my dream realized, but I thank God that He gave me a strong
determination to not give in to what “people” said and not give up
on the “vision” He gave me when I was a little boy growing up in
Plano, Texas!
What is your vision? Are you determined to see it come to pass and
live out your dreams? Along the way, you may face trials and
tribulations and have doubt. You may have those that are close to
you tell you that “it will never happen, you can’t do that.” You may
even fail a time or two, but I encourage you to never give up, never
throw in the towel and bow out. Be strong in your faith and have a
great determination that says “I will, in spite of….!”
The Seven P Formula for Marketing and Sales Success
Brian Tracy
Here is a seven P marketing strategy formula you can use to

continually evaluate and reevaluate your marketing and sales
activity. These seven are: Product, Price, Place, Packaging,
Positioning, and People. Products and services, as well as markets,
customers, and needs change rapidly, so you must continually revisit
these seven P’s to make sure you are on track and achieving the
maximum results possible in today’s market.
1. Product: To begin, develop the habit of looking at your products

and services as though you were an outside marketing consultant
having been brought in to help your company decide whether or not
it is in the right business at this time. Ask critical questions such as,
“Are my current products and services appropriate and suitable for
the market and the customers of today?”
2. Pricing: The second P in a successful marketing strategy has to do

with price. Develop the habit of continually examining and
reexamining the prices of the products and services that you sell to
make sure they are still appropriate to the realities of the current
market. Sometimes you need to lower your prices. At other times, it
maybe appropriate to raise your products. Many companies have
found that the profitability of certain products and services does not
justify the amount of effort and resources that go into producing
them. By raising their prices, they may lose a percentage of their
customers, but the remaining percentage generates a profit on every
sale. Could this be appropriate for you?
3. Promotion: The third habit in marketing and sales is for you to

develop the habit of thinking in terms of promotion all the time.
Promotion includes all the ways you tell your customers about
products and services and how you then market and sell to them.
Small changes in the way you promote and sell your products can
lead to dramatic changes in your results. Experienced copywriters
can often increase the response rate from advertising by 500
percent by simply changing the headline on the advertisement.
4. Place: The fourth P in the marketing strategy mix is the place

where your products and services is actually sold. Develop the habit
of reviewing and reflecting upon the exact location where the
customer meets the salesperson. Sometimes a change in place can
lead to a rapid improvement in marketing and sales.
5. Packaging: The fifth element in a successful marketing strategy is

packaging. Develop the habit of standing back and looking at every
visual element in the packaging of your products and services
through the eyes of a critical prospect. Remember, people form their
first impression about you within 30 seconds of seeing you or some
element of your company. Small improvements in the packaging or
external appearance of your product or service can often lead to
completely different reactions from your customers. This is a simple
solution to increasing your marketing and sales initiative.
6. Positioning: The next P in a successful marketing strategy is

positioning. You should develop the habit of thinking continually
about how you are positioned in the hearts and minds of your
customers. How do people think about you and talk about you when
you are not present? How do people think and talk about your
company? What positioning do you have in your market, in terms of
the specific words that people use when they describe your products
and services to others?
7. People are Everything: The final P to a great marketing strategy is

people. Develop the habit of thinking in terms of the people inside
and outside of your business who are responsible for every element
of your marketing and sales activities. Your ability to select, recruit,
hire, and retain the proper people, with the skills and abilities to do
the job you need to have done, is more important than everything
else put together.
Synthesising inner and outer worlds
B S Raghavan
The Business Line
One of the favourite aphorisms of speakers at seminars and

conferences, dwelling on the inter-connectivity globalisation has
brought about, is that a butterfly batting its wings in Brazil may well
cause an avalanche on the Himalayas. That, as Mark Twain wryly
remarked when his eyes fell on newspaper reports of his own death,
may be a bit of an exaggeration.
But there can be no doubt that, thanks to the knowledge,

information, communications and technology revolutions going on
simultaneously, the world has shrunk to the size of a pea.
The Internet, Web sites growing by the millions every month, email,
freely available facilities for video chats and instant conferencing —
generally the volume, velocity and variety of transactions circling
the globe eight times a single second at the speed of light — are fast
erasing borders and boundaries between countries. All these
developments have turned the expansion of www into, not world
wide web, but world without walls.
The paradox is that while geographical regions are getting closer-

knit, human mindsets are far apart. They are yet to free themselves
fully from age-old shackles. Contradictions abound. The Internet has
been pressed into service for matrimonial alliances which proceed
on the same time-honoured pattern.
Base and Beastly
Instead of brokers carrying bundles of horoscopes and peddling CVs

as part of the process of match-making, the information is gleaned
from Web sites.
That is duly followed by exchange of horoscopes, meetings of

families, appraisal of the girl by the boy, and holding of negotiations
on the quantum of dowry, the types of saris and items of jewellery
for the girl, the dress for the groom, and the exact formats of
muhurtham and reception, and expenditures on specific items. and
the like!
Of course, a concession to the www era that is sometimes made is

that the boy and the girl are permitted to get in touch with each
other before the wedding by email and explore each other’s
affinities, world-views and so on.
Human being’s base and beastly nature continues. Warring groups,

castes and communities take advantage of the same email
messages, video conferencing and transfer of funds at lightning
speed to cause disorders, foment riots, and launch terrorist attacks.
In short, the inner selves of human beings are yet to attune
themselves to the tremendous changes the external world is
undergoing. This applies to societies as well as organisations. The
latter are nowadays obsessive about “networking”, synergising and
such.
They have even made a portmanteau word “co-opetition” combining

cooperation and competition to make the point that it need not be
one or the other, as was the orthodox assumption, but there could
be cooperation even while competing!
Applying the same yardsticks, an optimally well-oiled organisation

should be free from conflicts, back-biting, one-up-manships and
other similar drawbacks detracting from its effectiveness.
The fact that these ills are perpetually bedevilling relationships is

one indication of the failure of the corpus of the literature on
networking to instil the spirit of symbiosis and synergy in collective
human endeavour.
Thus, communities, societies and organisations are lumbering along

out of sync with the imperatives of an inter-dependent world.
Cauldron of Changes
Reconciling the inner with the outer world of humankind is more

than a matter of quick fixes that are being bandied about in
countless tracts and workshops right from the time, nearly 100
years ago, when Dale Carnegie wrote his best-seller Winning
Friends and Influencing People.
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, for instance,

recently devoted its 14th Annual Women in Business Conference to a
discussion of many nostrums that the participants felt could lead to
‘sustainable networking’.
It even spent time on the question whether, in order to succeed in
networking, a woman executive should change her name, or retain
her maiden name, after marriage.
The whole proceedings, as summed up in Knowledge @ Wharton

Web site of December 5, are preoccupied with how to advance in
one’s career, whereas it should have addressed the larger issue of
finding recipes for organisations to come to terms with the cauldron
of changes the world has become.
It is obvious that it is meaningless to talk of an external borderless

world if the inner world, contrary to what Rabindranath Tagore
wished, is racked with fear and broken up into fragments by narrow
domestic walls and the clear stream of reason has lost its way into
the dreary desert sand of dead habit.
Take Time to Celebrate Your Successes
Tony Calabrese
This coming weekend is one of celebration for me. My niece will be

getting married on Friday evening. On Saturday we celebrate the
birthdays of my brother's three children. Celebrations are wonderful
occasions. Whether they are fancy and extravagant, or simply
enjoying the company of friends, they help us to commemorate
special events in our life.
One of the things I've observed, particularly about the events that
tend to occur in our day-to-day life, is that we don't always take the
time to celebrate the milestones we reach in completing them. That
can be for several reasons. Some tasks we take for granted and feel
we should be doing as part of our day-to-day life, so why celebrate
them even if we are doing them well? Other items we are looking to
accomplish have so many steps to them by the time we reach
completion we're often exhausted from the journey that got us to
the finishing point. Or if a project takes an exceptionally long time to
complete, we may even forget why it was started in the first place
and lose the sense of it being an accomplishment.
Accomplishing worthwhile goals isn't easy. Along the way to

achieving what you seek, there may be complications. One can get
easily discouraged and wonder why they decided to pursue the track
they chose to follow in the first place. However, if you take the time
to both celebrate accomplishments along the way to your ultimate
goal, and honour yourself by giving yourself a chance to enjoy other
aspects of your life, it helps to make the process not appear
insurmountable.
After I married in late 2009, I moved into the home of my wife. This
meant I still owned the condominium I had owned before I was
married. Ultimately deciding what to do with my previous residence
originally seemed like an awesome task. Both my place and that of
my wife were fully furnished. There was no way that all of our
possessions were going to be able to fit into her home. We liked the
location of where she lived, and we had no desire to buy a larger
home particularly just to fit all our possessions. The largest job in
front of us was cleaning out the basement and adjoining storage
room of my condominium. It contained twenty years worth of items
that had been accumulated over my time there.
Early on my wife helped me develop a plan. We would separate the

items in the condominium into those we would keep, those we
would offer to family and friends, those we would donate and those
we would throw away as not salvageable. Starting early in 2010, we
began boxing and sorting items. Along the way, we allowed family
and friends to view items and take what they might be able to use.
Each time an item or set of items left the house, we celebrated,
sometimes as simple as with a hug for each other. The point is,
instead of looking at what was in front of us and realizing we had so
much more to go, we stopped to enjoy what we acknowledged as
"success" along the way.
After awhile, smaller milestones became major milestones. By mid-

summer a large number of items were donated to a church rummage
sale. In the fall, those pieces of furniture from my condominium that
were destined to move to our place together arrived. Ultimately both
the basement and the storage room were completely emptied out so
that they could be refurbished with painting and repairs. We are
now entering the period of putting my condominium up for sale.
While we're just beginning the sales process, we know from our past
experiences, and acknowledging our successes along the way, that
we will reach a celebration point on this step also. It may happen
fairly quickly or it may take awhile, but we know that there will be
an event to honour at some point down the road.
So, what is that project in your life that seems insurmountable?

Have you broken it up into smaller pieces and accomplished steps
toward its ultimate completion? If you have accomplished some of
what has to be done, pick an appropriate reward for yourself,
because you deserve it. If not, then analyse what you have in front
of you, and set a smaller goal for moving forward on your project.
Try to accomplish something within the next week or two. When you
do so, recognize reaching that point. The recognition does not have
to be something major. Maybe it is seeing that movie you have been
looking to see. Or perhaps it's treating oneself, by going out to
dinner. The point is you'll provide that incentive to keep yourself
going if you honour what you have accomplished along the way, as
opposed to berating yourself for what you have not completed. The
choice is yours.
Four Tools for Transforming Depression
Karen Mehringer
If you find yourself feeling unmotivated, lacking energy for life,

grumpy or irritable, you may be depressed. Depression is typically
caused by suppressed anger, at the root of which is the feeling of
powerlessness. When we give our power away, our creative life
force energy becomes stifled and "depressed" and we are no longer
in the flow of manifesting abundance. We are unable to be receptive
to creative solutions and new possibilities. Imagine a dam, and how
it blocks the flow of water. This is what happens to our energy when
we suppress our anger. When not allowed to flow, not only do we
experience depression, but physical symptoms as well like illness or
pain.
The following is a step-by-step process to assist you in transforming

depression and reclaiming your power so you can engage more fully
in life:
1. Acknowledge your anger.
Give it a voice by writing about it. What does it have to say? Start by
writing, "What I am most angry about is..." Write non-stop for ten
minutes without lifting your pen. If you have trouble identifying
your anger, ask for a dream to reveal its source. Perhaps you were
hurt in a romantic relationship or are angry with God for the death
of a loved one. What circumstance in your life do you feel powerless
over? Other healthy ways to express your anger include screaming
into or hitting a pillow, pounding nails into a board, physical
exertion like running or working out hard, drawing or painting your
feelings. You can even visualize screaming, crying, and having a
temper tantrum. In whatever way works best for you, allow your
anger to be expressed.
2. Visualize where anger resides in your body.
Imagine it as an object with a size, shape, colour, and texture. For

example, perhaps it is like a dark heavy bowling ball in your belly.
Next, visualize taking it out of your belly and throwing it at
something like a fence. See the fence being smashed and destroyed.
Sometimes we need to destroy what isn't serving us before we can
create new possibilities for our lives.
3. Imagine bringing in the energies of forgiveness and compassion,

seeing them as the colours violet and pink.
Visualize mixing these energies above your head in a beautiful

golden bowl along with your anger. When it feels complete, imagine
pouring this transformed energy down through the crown of your
head, filling your face, neck, shoulders, arms, chest, belly, legs and
feet. As this energy flows through your entire body, envision it
saturating every cell of your being including all of your organs and
especially the area where your anger resides. See the energy
flowing out of you and encompassing where you live and the people
with whom you feel angry with. Imagine having a conversation with
them expressing your hurt and disappointment. Share how you wish
things had been different.
4. Visualize yourself in your power and light, connecting with your

higher self/soul.
If you have trouble doing this, then remember a time when you felt
happy, empowered and confident. Focus on this memory until you
experience the feeling state of empowerment. Then, with your
awareness, spread this feeling throughout your body. From this
place, imagine forgiving those in your life who have hurt you
including yourself for giving your power away in the first place.
Imagine releasing the person and freeing yourself. See them in their
essence and thank them for the valuable life lessons you have
learned from your interactions with them.
In Louis Hay's book, You Can Heal Your Life, she describes
depression as ...anger you feel you don't have a right to have. Many
of us were brought up to believe that anger was dangerous and
forbidden. Therefore, we learned to repress it. On the other hand,
when anger is expressed in a healthy manner, we feel more
empowered and have more energy for our lives.
"Feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation,

resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news,
are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we're
holding back...They're like messengers that show us, with terrifying
clarity, exactly where we're stuck." - Pema Chodron
Expand Your Mind:

Importance of Lifelong Learning and Continuous Education
Brian Tracy
As we enter into the 21st century, the information age, your ability
to expand your mind and strive for continuous education is critical to
your success. By dedicating yourself to lifelong learning, you can
leapfrog ahead of your competition.
The highest paid people in America today work an average of 59

hours per week. They read an average of 2-3 hours per day. They
belong to industry associations and organizations that encourage
the individual to dedicate themselves to lifelong learning with
current information and ideas on their fields. Continuous education
for them means that they attend annual conventions and go to every
session available that has new insights that can help them to be
more effective in getting the results for which they are responsible.
The Importance of Lifelong Learning
Lifelong learning is the minimum requirement for success in your

field. Since information and knowledge in every field is doubling
every 2-3 years, this means that your knowledge has to double
every 2-3 years as well, just for you to stay even.
Expand Your Mind
This brings us to a very important point on intelligence, information,

and lifelong learning. There are three different kinds of education
that you can acquire, either deliberately or in a random, haphazard
fashion. These three kinds of learning are maintenance learning,
growth learning and shock learning.
Maintenance Learning
Maintenance learning refers to your keeping current with your field.

But this merely keeps you even or stops you from falling behind at a
rapid rate. Many people think that reading an occasional book and
keeping current with the magazines and newsletters in their field is
the equivalent of adding to their education. But this is not the case.
It is same as checking the stock market reports each day to find out
the sales prices of various stocks and securities. This information
does not add to your knowledge of the companies, the market or the
investment potential of a particular stock.
Maintenance learning is absolutely essential. It is very similar to
light physical exercise that keeps you at a particular level of fitness
but does not increase your level of fitness or improve your
conditioning in any way.
Growth Learning
The second type of learning is growth learning. This is the kind of

learning that adds knowledge and skills to your repertoire that you
did not have before. For example, if you decide to learn to speak
Spanish so that you can expand your business opportunities into the
Hispanic market, every word, phrase and sentence that you learn is
a form of growth learning. Growth learning helps you expand your
mind and you are acquiring information that you did not have before
that enables you to do things that you could not do before.
Some of the very best thinkers in the world today are producing
some of the very best material and ideas that you can use for
continuous education and to help you expand your mind. You can
acquire this information and strive for lifelong learning by just
reaching out your hand and picking it up in the form of books,
articles, tapes and courses.
Shock Learning
The third type of learning is called shock learning. This is where

something happens that contradicts or reverses a piece of
knowledge or understanding that you already have. Shock learning
can be extremely valuable if you act upon it. Peter Drucker, in his
book Innovation and Entrepreneurship, says that the primary
sources of innovation in a company are the unexpected success or
the unexpected failure. Something happens that is completely
inconsistent with the expectations, with what should have
happened.
This “shock” can give you insights that can enable you to either take
advantage of a major change in the marketplace or guard against a
serious reversal.
Unfortunately, most people are creatures of habit. When something

happens that is completely unexpected, they choose to ignore it in
favour of the old information with which they are more comfortable.
Dedicate Yourself to Continuous Education
Knowledge is the primary source of value in our world today and

your ability to expand your mind and devote yourself to lifelong
learning is the key to breaking any success barriers that may be in
front of you.
Ten Tips for Staying Positive Around Negative People
Edward Mills
Let's face it. No matter how positive we intend to be and how

focused we are on attracting positive people into our lives, there are
times when we will come into contact with negative people. You
know the type: They love to talk about all the things that are going
wrong in their life. They live for the gossip about the latest tragedy
in Paris Hilton's life or their neighbour’s. They bask in being the first
to point out why a project won't work.
These people may be tangential to your life or they may be firmly

embedded in the fabric of your life (can you say "family
members?"). But either way, when they come into your presence,
they provide a true "test" of your ability to maintain a high, positive
vibration.
So how do you deal with these people? How do you maintain a

positive vibration when you find yourself surrounded by people with
less positive vibrations?
Here are ten tools, techniques and insights to help you maintain a
positive vibration. Try them out. Discover what works for you.
Improvise, combine them, add your own. As you work within the
Law of Attraction you will begin to discover your own tools and
techniques for maintaining your highest most positively attractive
resonance in every situation. So here they are:
1. Leave.
If possible, remove yourself from the presence of the low/slow
vibrations as quickly as you can. This is the easiest and often the
best way to deal with the situation. If you find yourself immersed in
a water-cooler conversation that takes a negative turn, excuse
yourself as soon as you realize what's happening. Admittedly, this is
not always possible (think family gatherings!) so we've got 9 more.
2. Try to keep the conversation positive.

If you recognize that the conversation is taking a turn for the worse,
see if you can turn it back around. Politicians and marketers call this
staying on message. Your "message" is positive. The topic doesn't
matter so much as the tone. So anything you can do to keep the
conversation positive is staying on message.
3. Think of something positive in your life.

If, in spite of your efforts to stay on message, the conversation
becomes negative, see if you can split your attention and allow a
part of your mind to focus on something positive. Think of it like the
"picture in a picture" feature on your TV. Insert a little positive
thought or memory into the big picture.
4. Find something positive about the person to focus on.

Everyone has redeeming qualities. They may be difficult to notice in
the heat of the negative moment. But they are there. See if you can
find one. Maybe you like her scarf. Maybe he just got a new haircut
that looks good. Maybe she smells good. Maybe he helped you move
last weekend. When you notice and focus on something positive it
neutralizes the power of the negative energy.
5. Close your eyes.

This obviously may not be possible when you are engaged in a one-
on-one conversation. In this case, deliberately slow down the
blinking of your eyes. Closed eyes, even if closed for just a second,
immediately begin to bring your brainwaves down towards the alpha
state. Try it right now. Take a few slow eye-blinks and watch what
happens to you physical and mental state. You are much less
susceptible to negative energy when you are in that relaxing,
contemplative alpha space.
6. Focus on your breath.

Again, see if you can split your attention and focus part of your
awareness on your breath. Become aware of the air moving in and
out of your body. Feel your chest and belly expanding against your
shirt. Notice the rhythm of your breath and see if you can
consciously slow your breath down.
7. Unplug your energy from the other person.

Imagine that you are literally pulling your plug out of the other
person. These negative people thrive on their ability to bring others
down to their vibrational level. Use visualization, feeling, or
intention to pull your plug and maintain your own vibrational level.
8. Remember the prayer of St. Francis.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred
let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt,
faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy. Recognize that the person's
negativity is an expression of their inner doubt, despair and
sadness. The way that you "sow" love and hope and peace and joy is
by remaining positive and allowing yourself to become an
instrument of peace in that moment.
9. Stop judging.
If you find yourself being judgmental, stop. We all have moments of
negativity. And, in fact, this person's presence in your life could be a
signal that there is some negativity in your space that you are not
acknowledging. So stop judging the person and, instead, offer your
gratitude for the opportunity to explore your own tendency to drift
into low/slow vibrations.
10. Don't be too hard on yourself if you get pulled down into the low
vibrations!
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, no matter how strong your
intention is to stay positive, you will find yourself pulled down into
that negative vibration. Be kind on yourself. As with number 9
above, judging yourself will only add to the downward spiral. If you
fall off the horse, the best response is to get right back on and try it
again!
The Three Laws of Leadership:

Inspiring Your Team to Peak Performance
Brian Tracy
A good leader has an intense desire to lead; they possess the

mentality of a role model who has a clear vision of a better future
and steadfast ambition. A good leader inspires their team to peak
performance and motivates others to achieve their goals. They have
a clear picture of the kind of future they want to create, and they
have the ability to communicate this vision to others in an exciting
and inspiring way. There are three laws of leadership you must learn
in order to become an inspiring leader and an excellent role model
for your team.
The Law of Superb Execution
The Law of Superb Execution states that a good leader must commit
to achieving peak performance. A good leader knows that excellence
is a journey, not a destination. They constantly strive to be better in
their key result areas and become a role model of excellence for
everyone who reports to them. They are ruthless about weeding out
incompetence and poor performance.
Leaders demand quality work and insist that people do their jobs
well. The leader sets the standard of excellence. No one, or no part
of the organization, can be any better than the standard that a good
leader represents and enforces. For this reason, leaders are
committed to personal excellence and achieving peak performance
in everything they do.
People are most inspired when they feel they are working for an
organization in which excellence is expected and they have a role
model to look up to. The very best way to motivate and inspire
others is for you to announce your commitment to peak performance
in your field or industry.
Then, continually benchmark your performance and the performance

of your organization against the very “best in class” in your
business.
Leaders identify their core competencies, the vital tasks they do that
are responsible for them being in business. They continually look for
ways to upgrade these core competencies to assure that they
maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace. A good leader or
role model thinks ahead and identifies the core competencies that
will be required for peak performance. They then develop plans to
acquire those core competencies well before they will be needed to
compete effectively in the marketplace of tomorrow.
The Law of Integrity
The Law of Integrity states that peak performance comes to you

when you choose to live your life consistent with your highest values
and your deepest convictions. Great business leadership is
characterized by honesty, truthfulness, and straight dealing with
every person, under all circumstances. This Law of Integrity requires
that you be impeccably honest with yourself and others. Integrity
lies at the core of leadership, at the heart of the leader.
Perhaps the most important thing you do as a good leader is to be

an excellent role model. Lead by example. Walk the talk. Always
carry yourself as though everyone is watching, even when no one is
watching. A good leader is an excellent role model because they are
completely reliable. People can take them at their word and trust
that they will do what they say. A trusted role model makes
promises carefully, and always keeps their word.
A key mark of integrity in human relations is consistency, both

internal and external. The best leaders are consistent from one day
to the next, from one situation to the next. Because of this internal
consistency, these leaders are trusted. People know what to expect.
There are no surprises.
The Law of Ambition
The Law of Ambition states that since a good leader has an intense
desire to lead; he has a clear vision of a better future, which he is
determined to realize. Vision is the one common quality that
separates leaders from non leaders. A good leader or role model has
a clear picture of the kind of future they want to create, and they
have the ability to communicate this vision to others in an exciting
and inspiring way.
Leaders have the ability to visualize, to see the big picture and then
to inspire others to work together to make it a reality. The true
leader sees leadership as a tool he or she can use to bring about a
result that is bigger and more important than any single individual.
A true leader can inspire and motivate others to peak performance.
You become a good leader when you set a goal, make a plan, and
then throw your whole heart into making it a reality. You become a
leader when you develop an inspiring vision for yourself and others.
A good leader or role model can explain clearly to other people what
it is they are trying to accomplish, why they are trying to accomplish
it, and how they are going to bring it about. They are excited about
what they are doing, and as a result, they get other people excited
as well. Leaders have goals, plans, and strategies that they are
working to implement every day. They are in a hurry. They have a lot
to do and they feel that they have too little time.
Perhaps the most important part of The Law of Ambition is clarity on

the part of the leader. A good leader or role model has a clear vision,
clear values, a clear vision, and clear, written goals, plans, and
strategies for his or her department or organization. Most of all,
leaders want to lead, to be in charge, to be responsible, to
encourage others to peak performance. They are willing to endure
the risks and the sacrifices that are required to make a real
difference in their worlds.
Qualities of the Effective Leader:

How to Improve Your Management Skills for a Leadership Role
Brian Tracy
For you to break through the success barriers in your own life, you
must aspire to maintain a successful leadership role and become an
effective leader. You must develop your management skills and
influence others to work with you to achieve your goals and
objectives.
Becoming a leader, however, requires that you understand the
leadership role and responsibility of being an effective leader.
Individuals in a leadership role must strive to make better choices
and decisions for the sake of others.
Leaders are largely self-made as the result of continuously working

on themselves and improving their management skills over the
years. No one starts off as an effective leader, but you can aspire to
improve your management skills by learning what leaders do and
then by copying them until you become one yourself. Here are some
qualities of successful leaders you can focus on to strengthen your
management skills.
Focus on Strengths
An effective leader focuses on strengths. They focus on the

strengths in themselves and on the strengths in others. The fact of
the matter is that strong people have far more weaknesses than
they have strengths. You can never achieve greatness by
compensating for your weaknesses. But you can become an
outstanding and effective leader by identifying your areas of great
potential strength and by then focusing all of your energies on
becoming outstanding in those few areas.
Lead by Example
One of the most important qualities of an effective leader is to

maintain a respected, leadership role model, to be the kind of person
that everyone else looks up to and wants to be like. An important
quality of an individual in a leadership role is that they carry
themselves at all times, even when no one is watching, as if
everyone was watching.
Leaders live in a goldfish bowl. Everyone is watching the individual

in the leadership role. They are very aware of the impact of their
words and gestures on the people around them. You must always be
sensitive to the fact that everything you say or do is magnified times
the people who report to you or look up to you for guidance.
Quality of Integrity
Perhaps the most important and respected quality of a person in a

leadership role is the quality of integrity. It is the most required and
most admired quality of all people, but especially of the effective
leader with impressive management skills.
Trust is the quality that binds all relationships together. The

willingness and ability to trust the people that you look up and
report to is absolutely essential to your ability to perform at your
very best. One of the most important things you do, if you want to
be successful at work, is to choose your boss with care. I have seen
very few occasions where a person has been successful under a
negative or dishonest boss with poor management skills. In most
cases, you are wasting your life and your career by staying in a
situation with a negative person because the situation has no future.
Clear Vision
The effective leader always begins with the “needs” of the situation.
The most common characteristic of leadership, throughout the ages,
is that leaders have “vision.” Leaders can see the big picture. The
effective leader can project forward 3-5 years and imagine clearly
where they want to take the organization and what it will look like
when they get there.
Leaders have the ability to articulate this vision in such a way that
everyone around them can see and understand where they are
going. The individual who maintains a successful leadership role has
the ability to articulate an exciting vision of a compelling future that
everyone wants to be a part of.
Eight ways money can buy you happiness

Follow these simple principles to live a happy life
The Rediff.com
Psychologists have suggested eight simple ways to lead a life of

happiness.
1) Buy experiences not things: The secret to happiness according to

the psychologists is to buy experiences instead of things, the
Independent reported. The pleasure derived from a new possession
has a short lifespan, but experiences can be enjoyable in the
moment, and leave memories that are a source of happiness for a
long time, they said.
2) Spend money on others: Another way, according to them, is to

help others instead of yourself. Pointing out that "human beings are
the most social animals on the planet", psychologists cite numerous
studies that show people who do more "pro-social spending", such
as buying gifts and donating to charity, tend to be happier.
"Spending money on a friend or romantic partner provides an
opportunity for positive self-presentation, which has been shown to
produce benefits for mood. Giving to charity may facilitate the
development of such positive self-presentation as well," the paper
quoted the psychologist as explaining. In other words, give money,
but make sure people know about it.
3) Buy small pleasures: Buy many small pleasures instead of a few

big ones, the psychologists stated. "Happiness," the psychologists
claim, "is more strongly associated with the frequency than the
intensity of people's positive affective experiences." People are
therefore advised to spend their money on series of little treats -- a
fancy meal, a weekend break, tickets to a concert -- rather than
blowing it all on a sports car and plasma screen.
4) Buy less insurance: Again, they suggest people to buy less

insurance. Spending obscene sums on extended warranties and
insurance policies can be a waste of money -- we should instead rely
on our innate, primal coping strategies when a something conks out
-- they said.
5) Pay now enjoy later: Their sixth principle is pay now and consume
later. Delayed gratification is a source of "free happiness" that not
only ensures our new purchases give us pleasure for longer, but also
stops us from buying things on the spur of the moment that will end
up making us unhappy, the psychologists said.
6) Think about your purchases: One of the psychologists' less

intuitive offerings involves thinking about the negatives in order to
be happy. Their theory is that if we think about new purchases -- be
they a television, car or holiday -- within the context of mundane
reality, we may realise that they are not the route to happiness they
may have seemed.
7) Beware of comparison shopping: The psychologists have warned

people of comparison-shopping. "Comparison shopping,"
psychologists said, "may distract consumers from attributes of a
product that will be important for their happiness, focusing their
attention instead on attributes that distinguish the available
options."
8) Check what makes others happy: The best way to know whether
we are going to derive pleasure from something is to see whether
others have done the same, the psychologists said. The
psychologists suggest that reading user ratings on websites is a
sure fire way to pick the best films, gadgets, cars and holidays.
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Please and Thank You
Zig Ziglar
Of all the things a parent can teach a child, manners rates very close
to the top of the “must teach” list. Number one, when a child is
taught, from the time he or she can talk, to say “thank you,” you are
teaching that child thankfulness. The insertion of the word “please”
in a request changes the child from a demanding person to one who
accepts the fact that when they ask a favour or make a request, the
parent has no automatic obligation to respond favourably to that
request. Response to “please” is much better than the “get this for
me” demand type of approach.
Psychiatrist Smiley Blanton says that roughly 80% of all of the

counselling he does is the direct result of parents not having taught
their children manners. He emphasizes that he is talking about more
than table manners; he’s talking about the whole spectrum of
deportment and civility. That’s significant because the record
indicates that most top executives in any field of endeavour are
courteous, thoughtful people. Example: One hundred seventy-five of
the CEOs of the Fortune 500 companies are former Marines and 26
of our presidents served in the military. The military teaches respect
and manners. I challenge you, when you encounter a former career
military person who moved up in the ranks, you will be impressed
with their old-fashioned courtesies, including, “Yes, Sir,” “Yes,
Ma’am,” “Thank you,” “Please,” and other expressions of good
civility and deportment. They are taught to serve before they earn
the right to command.
Just in case you’re thinking, “But that’s old-fashioned and people

don’t do those things any more,” of course, you’re right in both
cases—which is the reason why the people who do take that
approach stand out like beacons in the dark as they move to the top.
Think about it. Be courteous yourself. Teach your children to be
courteous and I’ll see all of you at the top!
Seven Steps to Improve Your Focus Overnight
Catherine Franz
Haven't you always thought having a disorderly mind meant
something was wrong? Well, I did. That was, until... I read tons of
information about the brain, including material produced by the
Centre for the Study of the Brain. And guess what? Having a mind
that is disorderly is a natural condition. Who would have guessed?
Hey, we're normal. Doesn't just knowing this give you a breath of
fresh air? It sure did for me.
After my fresh air experience, I was still faced with the challenge
that I needed solutions. How can be more focus when I want and
not just when it swims in at its own leisure?
So, I weeded through a stack of medical journals, talked with some

therapists and doctors, and came up with what I'm about to share.
Then I put them to a test. To my surprise, they worked. And worked
darn well.
The four most common blocks to being able to focus are:

1) 1) Being tired.
2) 2) Being bored.
3) 3) Being under stress or duress.
4) 4) Trying to do too many things at once.
(Too many balls you're juggling.)
5) 5) Are you hungry?
6) 6) Do you need more clarity?
7) 7) Do you need to make a decision you are trying to avoid?
After learning to be acutely aware of when any of these blocks were

occurring, I experienced a new euphoria in my life, especially in my
decision making process. Instead of trying to force myself to focus
when I was experiencing one or more of the blocks, I choose to
correct my time management and answers instead.
I also learned to take better care of myself physically when any of

these were occurring. I also needed to develop methods to let go of
them quickly. This could include getting more rest, like taking a nap,
going to bed early and getting up early, exercising the stress away,
and stop multi-tasking. And not feeling guilty about it but to be
proud of it. Oh heavens, the last one is a whole story by itself.
In the research process, I picked up seven simple tricks that can

help increase focus for a few seconds, a few hours, even a day if you
take it slowly. Over a 30-day trial period I put all these to a test.
Many I did sporadically and just needed gain them as a habit. I set
up printed reminders and Outlook pop ups to keep them active. Even
cards on my bathroom mirror helped.
The First:
First, I didn't begin anything without asking what my objective was

for doing it. What did I want to accomplish? It didn't matter if I was
taking a shower, making dinner, chatting with a friend or client, or
writing. Everything!
Let me tell you, it sure wasn't easy to remember to ask the question.
Many times I thought it was silly and wanted to stop. I soon realized
that in order to go big I needed to begin small. What got me through
this portion was knowing the small would pass quickly and the big
wouldn't be big any longer.
The Second:
The second is envisioning the payoff. Feeling full from the dinner
before I began to eat or seeing my writing being emailed or
published. The stress reduced itself by half at first and then
decreased completely. This transfer renewed me spiritually,
physically, and mentally. My self-talk became more and more
positive as time progressed.
The Third:
Third was setting up the environment for my success. I cleared my

desk except for the materials I needed to work on. I practiced
mantras before starting each piece of work. Again it felt silly at first.
As I progressed with the practice I was able to do it faster and
without thinking. Sometimes I played a productivity CD or meditated
for a few minutes (using a timer so I didn't get lost in time). Before
when I did this, I felt I was wasting my time. Now, I realized this
actually accomplishes the opposite.
The Fourth:
The fourth is being in the NOW -- the present moment. Not thinking
about the past or the future. Just the now. When I first started this
practice, I found my inner chatter jumping into the future often.
Instead of dismissing it, I told myself I would address the question
or answer in X minutes. It seemed to satisfy the need to let go of the
distraction. I began seeing how much time I wasted on future
possibilities... playing the if game. You will find this yourself doing
this as well. It's a neat practice to test whether you're really in the
now as well.
The Fifth:
Fifth is learning to let go of everything else except the objective. It's

similar to the NOW exercise above, just a little stronger. Here's you
letting go of what comes next and doing what needs to be done now.
When I'm in this stage I think of a horse drawn carriage. The horse
is wearing blinders so their eyes don't stray or see something that
spooks them. This includes letting go of any fears that might be
crowding in. Just put on the blinders. I use my hands sometimes to
imitate this effect.
The Sixth:
Sixth is about taking breaks. It wasn't until my third year at college,

my first degree, that I learned that if I took a short break every 30
minutes, for science every 15 minutes, I remembered more. My
brain caught up with what I just read and processed the
information. I began connecting the dots. Ask yourself, "What is
your maximum attention span?" It averages somewhere between 10
and 30 minutes.
The Seventh:
The seventh method involves writing. Writing down what it is that is

blocking your focus. Writing releases the "I don't want to forget"
factor. It places the information in a trusted place you know you can
return to. Set the timer for five minutes and free write what's going
on in your mind. I call this process, "The Dumping Game." I
recommend using a positive tone.
Focus doesn't need to be fleeting elements in our life. Nor do you

need to tolerate the natural disarray condition. With alert awareness
and conscious choice and solutions on how to focus it can be there
whenever we want or need it. Just knowing that it's part of your
arsenal is powerful in itself. As you test these solutions, you will find
what works best for you. It's guaranteed to work somewhere in the
process.
Top 10 Skills of Successful Leaders
Jim Allen
Struggling to achieve success? Maybe you need to hone some skills.

What skills exactly? Well, after some intensive reading and study of
successful leaders in business, industry, government, and personal
development, I've found that there are 10 core skills that the most
successful leaders all share. While these leaders may not be masters
of every particular skill, they have, at least, a basic knowledge of
them. Anyone looking to achieve higher levels of as a leader, in
business, volunteering, or even just at home, would be well served
by strengthening their abilities in each of these skill sets.
1. Critical Thinking
Successful leaders all have powerful critical thinking skills. The
ability to quickly survey and analyse a situation then identify the
core issues that need to be dealt with is key to business success. As
is, the ability to understand new issues and factors that impact one's
goals and designs.
2. Creative Thinking
These leaders also have varying abilities to think, well, differently.
They have the ability to step out of rigid mindsets so that they can
explore potential new ideas that others may consider risky, crazy, or
silly.
3. Listening
Great leaders are great listeners. Experienced at focusing their
energy to the task, this includes listening, so that when they listen,
they are very focused on hearing everything that's being said so that
they can make well-informed decisions.
4. Reading
The ability to read is vital to lifelong personal and professional
success. Leaders in any industry or area all tend to be good readers
who are exposed to large amounts of information through reports,
newspapers, white papers, books, etc. While they may not be speed
readers, they are excellent at grasping the main ideas and context of
the material they do read.
5. Writing
They may not write often. And they may not write a lot. But when
they do, successful leaders are clear, concise, and to the point.
6. Speaking
Perhaps the most important language skill, the best leaders are also
good speakers. They are able to present their ideas verbally to
audiences of all types and sizes, as well as easily change their
presentation style so that they meet an audience's needs. While it
may not be a skill that a leader is ever completely comfortable with,
she understands that if she can't speak about the issues her
business faces, nobody can.
7. Motivating
Skilled leaders are superb motivators. They understand that each of
us is propelled by our own, personal, motivations. These leaders are
able to apply all of their language skills (listening, reading, writing,
and speaking) to create powerful group goals and visions that spur
people to give 110%.
8. Networking
Successful people have successful networks. They have contacts,
associates, and friends in a wide array of fields who they can call on
for ideas, input, and assistance. These leaders actively cultivate and
grow their networks all the time.
9. Delegating
To some, this may not seem like a leadership skill, but it is. Leaders
who excel are leaders who don't try to take everything on
themselves. Indeed, they understand that they can't do everything.
They easily delegate all but the most important of tasks to their
employees, assistants, and networks. They create systems so that
they are available to focus on the most important issues at any
moment.
10. Evolving
In evaluating successful leaders, I think this is the most powerful,
yet most difficult skill to master. Evolving is the ability to adapt,
quickly, to the newest technologies, styles, and modes of thinking
that create success. It is a skill requiring a supreme sense of self-
confidence coupled with extreme humility. For leaders, it is a skill
applied not just for personal success, but also for the success of
their business, their workers, and their families. It provides those
who can master it, the opportunity to achieve life-long success in all
areas of life.
Which of these skills do you already excel at and which do you need
to work on? Evaluate yourself and hone your abilities in order to be
a truly great leader.
Critical Success Factor:

Developing a Moral Character to Achieve Greatness
Brian Tracy
No matter what you do, your ultimate goal, beyond what you are
trying to accomplish at the moment, is to achieve your own
happiness and become a good person. An individual can exercise a
key success factor for developing a moral character to achieve the
kind of happiness everyone longs for.
People are successful in life to the degree to which they can

organize their world in such a way that they are genuinely happy.
The only difference between people in this area is that some people
are better at achieving their own happiness and others are not
particularly successful. Some people make choices and decisions
that make them unhappy and worse off than they ever would have
been if they had done nothing at all. But always, happiness is your
goal.
Strive to Become a Good Person
In his time, Aristotle examined the human condition and came to a

remarkable conclusion. He said that, “Only the good can be happy,
and only the virtuous can be good.” This is one of the major
breakthroughs in philosophy. Imagine! You can only be happy if you
are a good person, and you can only be a good person, and you can
only be a good person if you practice the virtues that are associated
with goodness.
What this means simply is that, if you want to have a wonderful life,
you must continually strive to become a good person. Any deviation
from this course will lead you to lower levels of happiness and
dissatisfaction. Every single time you act consistently with the
highest virtues that you know, you feel happy and strong inside,
your self-confidence and self-esteem go up and you become more
effective in your relationships and in your work. Virtue is its own
reward. It pays for itself in the inner feeling of pleasure and
contentment you have when you live consistent with the best you
know.
Develop a Moral Character
In order to achieve happiness and become a good person, you must

know that character is the greatest success factor of all. If you want
to change your outer world, you must go to work, like a computer
programmer at a keyboard, to reprogram your subconscious mind,
your world of values, beliefs, and inner convictions so that the
person you are inside is exactly the mental equivalent of the life you
want to enjoy on the outside.
Your reputation is your greatest asset. Your reputation can be

defined as how people think about you and talk about you when
you’re not there. As you know from your own experience, when
people talk about you in either positive or negative terms, and you
find out about it, it has a major impact on your thinking and your
emotions, either positive or negative.
Because of the Law of Attraction, as you develop a moral character,

and live more and more by the highest and best virtues that you
know, you will become a happy and good person. You must always
strive to exercise this success factor and develop a moral character.
Success Factor for Greatness
If character is the greatest success factor to your life, the

fundamental component of one’s character is trust. In relationships,
trust is the glue that holds it all together. It is impossible for us to
proceed in any kind of a relationship unless we trust and feel
confident with the other person. All good friendships are based on
trust. All strong families are based on trust. And in companies,
which are larger business families, trust is the fundamental
ingredient that determines the success and prosperity of the
enterprise.
The very best companies to work for have high-trust environments.

Everyone in the company, at every level, absolutely trusts and
believes that what people say is true. In almost every company of
value, telling a lie can be a sufficient reason for losing your job.
The ultimate expression of trust is truthfulness. Your very best

friends and closest associates in life will always be those who tell
you the truth. The willingness to be absolutely truthful with yourself
and others is the critical mark of a person of outstanding moral
character. If integrity is the core quality then truthfulness is the
most obvious expression of integrity.
Shakespeare said, “And this above all, to thine own self be true.
Then, it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be
false to any man.” You must always be absolutely be true to
yourself. This means being true to the very best that is in you. This
also means that you always do your very best in every situation,
especially at work where people are counting on you. If the inner
expression of integrity is truth, then the outer expression of
integrity is quality work and quality behaviour under all
circumstances.
In Abraham Maslow’s studies of self-actualising people, he found

that one of the characteristics of the most advanced people he found
was that they were extremely objective and truthful about
themselves, about their strengths and weaknesses, and about their
situations in life. They never tried to convince themselves of things
that weren’t true. They exercised the success factor of character and
“lived in truth” with themselves. As a result, they were able to live
in truth with others.
Refuse to compromise your moral character. Refuse to pretend or

wish or hope that something is not true, when in your heart, you
know it is.
This means that you live in truth with everyone around you. You
state your truth simply and honestly. You do not stay in
relationships that are wrong for you, or do things that you do not
agree with or believe in. You do not say things to people that are not
honest and sincere expressions of your true beliefs. You adamantly
insist on living in truth in every aspect of your life and strive to
become a good person.
Finding Good People is a Top Priority for Great Leaders
Mark Bowser
Successful teams are made up of successful people. Because of this

fact, great leaders make finding good people one of their top
priorities. The late Jim Rohn, who was known as one of the foremost
business philosopher once said, “Good people are found, not
changed.” Recently I read a headline that said, ‘We don’t teach our
people to be nice. We simply hire nice people. “Wow! What a clever
shortcut.”
Mr. Rohn is right. It is a clever shortcut to hire quality people. The

truth of the matter is that we can’t make people change. A number
of years ago, I was at a banquet where Dr. Mike Murdock was the
speaker. Dr. Murdock, knowing what I do for a living as a corporate
trainer and professional speaker, singled me out during his
presentation. He called me by name in front of the entire audience
and said, “You can’t change anyone unless they want to be
changed.” That wasn’t something I wanted to hear but Dr. Murdock,
being older and wiser, knew I needed to hear it.
I wanted to change the world. I wanted everyone to listen to me. I

wanted everyone to move when I spoke, to sit in awe of my great
vision and words. I was young and naïve. We can’t change,
motivate, turn around anyone unless they want to be changed,
motivated or turned around. So, the moral of the story is to be
extremely picky about whom you allow on your team. Finding great
people is a great, clever shortcut to success. And in this economy,
you have lots of choices. Choose well.
What to Do When Your Core Values Conflict
Lori Anne Chance

Conflict is never a welcome thing when it involves other people in
our lives, but it can be insightful and constructive too. It can help us
see what are deepest, most core values really are. Like not realizing
how much the truth matters to you until you've been lied to, conflict
wakes us up to parts of ourselves we may not see otherwise. It's a
learning opportunity to honour - not something to be shamefully
avoided.
Each of us has multiple core values that shape our overall

contentment and sense of fulfilment. In fact most of us can easily
name ten or fifteen values we feel are very important. Chances are
good that at least a couple of those core values will be at odds with
each other - even within ourselves.
You will probably notice this clash when it comes time to make an
important life decision. Part of you may want one thing while the
other wants the opposite. What can you do? There's a few ways you
can resolve this conflict.
The Balancing Act
Everything in life is a balancing act. You have to make time for both
rest and work, to care for other people as well as your Self. Your
core values all contribute to your well-being in their own special
way; without any one, your life would no longer be balanced.
Although each core value has its place, not all are equal. Try to
narrow down your list to just a handful of those you consider the
most essential. Then reflect on the ways you are acting and
speaking right now in order to uphold those values. You just may
find that one value is receiving more time and attention than others
and that you need to strike a better balance.
Do Our Values Change?
The only thing constant is change. Obviously your life changes as

you grow and mature so shouldn't your core values change, too?
One way that most of us change is that we move out of our parents'
home to start our own family. All of a sudden core values you once
held dear, such as Independence or Serenity or Adventure, might
need to take a back seat to other, more necessary types of traits.
That doesn't mean your values themselves will change, only that
your definition of those values needs to be modified.
For instance, when you have children, you will need to do a lot more
planning in order to take that adventurous scuba trip -- but there's
nothing wrong with that. You still have the ability to make a choice
that honours all your core values without giving up something you
truly want to do.
Ranking Order
It can be difficult to determine which of our core values are more

vital to our well-being than others but it's a task you must
undertake in order to achieve proper balance.
Try this exercise: write down all your personal core values and
assign each one of them a number that corresponds to its
importance. For instance, if you have Nature and Excitement listed
as two of your values, think about which one has more of an impact
on your life. If you simply can't stand the thought of living in a big
city, than Nature is the core value that should rank higher.
Once you know how each of your core values rates, it becomes
easier to make major decisions. Maybe you've received an
employment offer in New York City that sounds like an exciting job
with an excellent salary -- but knowing how important Nature is to
you, it might become obvious that this is not the best choice. Sure
this means that not all of your core values agree with this decision
but that's okay. The higher-ranking value wins this time but
Excitement will get its day, too.
We will all experience core value conflict at some point in our

lifetimes but that doesn't mean it must be a negative experience.
Deal with the conflict by thoroughly reviewing the status of your
values and you will find it easier to make decisions that are good for
you.
Seven habits of very happy managers
Harish Bhat
Short presentations, healthy gossip and weekend plans

—here’s to finding ways to keep a smile on your face
Stephen Covey, one of the most admired management gurus, died a

few months ago. Many of us have read his best-seller, The 7 Habits
of Highly Effective People. Thousands of people claim the book has
changed their lives and careers forever.
Here, we pay a simple but irreverent tribute to this influential

thinker, on behalf of all office-goers. We believe it is very important
for managers to be both happy and effective. Since Covey has
already shown how we can be highly effective, we tell you what it
takes to be very happy at work. Just follow the seven simple habits
described here, and you will smile every day.
1. First things first, eat a good lunch
As Covey says, we have to put first things first. Therefore, a good

and relaxed lunch in office takes the highest priority. Without it, you
can never really be happy. If you hurry through this essential meal
or skip it, you are likely to find yourself in a grumpy mood
throughout the afternoon and evening. Your stomach may begin
grumbling, and you may end up eating too many fat-laden cookies
the rest of the day, which is not good for your waistline or heartline.
On the other hand, a delicious and healthy lunch, shared among
colleagues, is a recipe for good cheer. This may lead to post-meal
drowsiness, which is also quite a nice thing because it gives you
some spontaneous quickie breaks from work.
2. Begin with the weekend in mind
Covey’s book advises us to always begin with the end in mind. We

modify this advice slightly, and urge you to begin with the weekend
in mind. The weekend is an enduring source of happiness, and
therefore deserves a lot of attention and planning. Have you made a
booking at that Thai spa? Have you decided where to party hard, and
with whom? What about dinner with your glamorous ex, who has
hinted that he or she actually wants to get back in touch with you?
If your boss is in a generous mood, could you actually request him
for an off-day either on Friday or Monday, thereby creating an extra
happy and long weekend? These are just a few of the many complex
weekend choices we are faced with, so clearly we have to begin
preparations in earnest by Monday morning.
3. Keep your presentations very short
We must recognize that no one, not even the chairman, wants to

listen to a long and serious PowerPoint presentation these days,
when there are many other interesting office pastimes to pursue. So,
if you have to think win-win, your presentations must never exceed
five slides, and must conclude in 10 minutes flat. You will find that
most things can be summarized within that length and time. Also,
your boss will be so happy with the quick ending that he is likely to
approve your budgets immediately. If you want to deliver true
happiness, begin your presentation with a ‘Dilbert’ quote, and end
with one from ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’. That will leave just three slides
for the serious stuff, which is just about perfect.
4. Engage in healthy gossip
Scientific studies have consistently revealed that cubicle gossip is a

great source of happiness. If you are a creative individual, you can
actually be the source of some gossip. Otherwise, you can choose to
merely be a conduit for the grapevine. Either way, you are adding to
the HQ (happiness quotient) of your office, which is so important in
these stressful times. The conference room, email, water cooler, lift,
office loo…they are all perfect locations for such talk. The more juicy
the gossip, the more hushed the tone you should use, because this
adds greatly to the listening experience.
5. Silence is really golden
Managers love talking at meetings, and this is what gets them into
deep trouble in the first place. So, you are likely to be happiest if you
keep as silent as possible, unless you have dramatic views that can
potentially change the course of your company’s history. Let others
in the room argue and fight with each other, while you remain, like
the Buddha, calm and composed in the midst of the gathering storm.
Take copious notes, but don’t speak. Once in a while, look up, smile
and nod enigmatically at the people who are doing the talking. They
will regard these gestures as signs of deep wisdom and
understanding.
6. Do not multitask
Many managers think they must display their professional manhood

by engaging in several activities at the same time. They believe
multitasking is essential, given the multiple demands at the modern
workplace. They also feel good that they are intellectually
competent enough to do many things at once. Don’t believe in such
rubbish. Multitasking is a recipe for being short of breath throughout
the day, which, as we know, leads to hypertension and all its
attendant ailments. In addition, it ensures that none of the jobs you
are doing ever receive your full attention, leading to a state of
niggling unhappiness at all times. To be really happy at the
workplace, address one job at a time, and do it really well. By doing
this, you may complete fewer tasks during the day, but you will
leave the office with a spring in your step.
7. Refresh and renew yourself
Covey speaks about the need for reflection and for renewing
yourself, this is the last of the seven habits he prescribes. We feel
this habit is as important for happiness as it is for effectiveness.
Unless you give yourself time every day to think and relax, you will
never really be happy about yourself. There are many practical
methods of achieving this. Define daily digital blackout periods,
when you will not go anywhere near a computer or a mobile phone.
Pursue a creative passion outside the workplace—this could range
from painting (which is generally safe) to music (which may be
dangerous if you sing in public). Take time out to run or play tennis
or work out in the gym, and use this time to blank out your busy
mind. Finally, don’t meet or speak to your boss for at least two days
each week, and see for yourself how completely this relaxes your
entire being.
Harish Bhat is managing director and CEO of Tata Global Beverages

Ltd. He thinks the eighth and most important habit of very happy
managers is our ability to laugh at ourselves, which is the
first step to having great fun at work.
5 Ways to Calm Yourself Down Quickly and Effectively
Lee Ridenour
We all have felt stress before, or have times when we wish we knew
how to calm down! No matter how confident and relaxed you are,
you know what it's like to be nervous before an interview, trembling
before you are about to give speech, or cold and clammy when
you're about to pick up your date. Nearly everyone feels nervous
over some issues, yet many never seek knowledge to learn how to
calm down properly. Life is too short to go through it drowning in
your anxiety.
Learn how to calm yourself down!
The point of this article is to provide you with five different ways to
release your tension and calm yourself. Hardly anyone will actually
notice that you are using them. My ways will not have you sitting in
a meditation position on the floor, or chanting mantras to yourself to
relax, so no worries. When you calm yourself these ways, your will
not detach yourself from your environment, but instead integrate
yourself in unison to it while you mentally move inward to obtain
steadiness. You should not feel tired or detached. You should simply
become "in the zone" as you calm down - Alert, focused and relaxed;
your nerves at ease.
1. Reframe
So, something has you stressed out. First, ask yourself: Does it
really matter? Are you feeling nervous over trivial issues? Most of
the time, probably. It is incredible to watch the ways in which the
general populace react and lose composure over the smallest
sources of stress. Go to the supermarket -- watch a couple argue
over which bread to buy. Watch a mother scream at her child for
pulling a box of cereal off the rack. You may think "Jeez... calm
down!" In her mind though, such an issue is apparently losing her
calm over. Watch someone throw a tantrum in the checkout line
because an item is 10 cents more than it was labelled as. Are any of
those things worth losing your calm and freaking out about? I would
say no. Everyone can work toward remaining calm during such
trivial events. Some things are no-brainers (such as the supermarket
examples). However, when you find or define yourself and purpose
in Life, you will find that literally nothing except those things which
pertain to your missions are worth becoming stressed about. I speak
from experience: the only times in the last year which I have felt
stress are when things which pertain directly to my purposes in life
have been threatened.
Aside from those ways, nearly anything can go wrong and yet I
remain 100% calm. Why? Because unless it affects my ability to live
out my purpose in life, it does not affect my reality! In addition to
asking yourself "does it really matter", another solid reframing
technique to calm yourself down is to take step back. See yourself in
the third person. Move further away and see your World and your
place among humanity. Step back, further and further. See your life.
Move further away and see the universe and all of creation. Realize
your trivial daily stress is absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of
existence (or your life, for that matter)!
2. Write it Out
Many are able to calm down and find relief from stress by telling
someone close about their worries. If someone is not available to
listen and help them calm down, a journal works great. Keeping a
journal has been proven to help reduce stress. Make a commitment
to yourself that you will keep one for a month -- you may begin to
find yourself needing to calm yourself down during your day less
and less! When keeping your journal, make your accounts as vivid as
possible. The more descriptive your writing is, the less your mind
will need to hang onto the recorded events. Another way to calm
yourself is slightly shorter and sweeter. Carry a notepad and pen. If
something in your day is causing you to lose your calm, write it out
clearly on the paper, describing it in detail. Writing it out will help
put it into perspective and force you to think about the root cause.
Next, rip it into little, itty-bitty pieces and throw in the trash or
toilet. Disposing of it is symbolic of ridding yourself of the stress and
beginning to calm yourself. Remind yourself where you sent it in the
event that you lose your calm over it in the future.
3. Identify
Identify the true cause of the stress. Ask yourself: what is that is
really preventing you from being calm? Is it the current situation, or
something else in the back of your mind? Is the guy in traffic really
pissing you off? Or, is the fact that you fought with your spouse
before you left for work? In order to remove stress from your Life,
you must be able to properly identify its cause. Problems may only
be solved by addressing the root cause, not containing the effects.
As a statistical problem solver for General Motors, I came to realize
this: containments and fixes for a problem are inferior in
effectiveness compared to addressing the root cause. You can
contain a stress problem for years via using different ways to calm
yourself down, but until you address the root cause, the stress will
continue indefinitely. If you are having trouble remaining calm, work
down the ladder to identify the root cause. Address that, and you
will find much of your stress is merely effects of the root cause.
4. "Mow"
I was blessed to have been raised by a father with an incredible

work ethic. I have prided myself in my die-hard ability to work a 100
hour week once or twice a year during a product launch. My father,
however, works 80-90 hours every single week. How does he calm
himself down after work and remain stress-free? He "mows."
Literally, he mows the lawn. He often stated how everyone must
have their own "mowing" to engage in; lest they work themselves to
death. After a long day, he would often mow the lawn and unwind in
the process before going to bed; at which time he would be
completely calm. It still provided him a sense of accomplishment
and took care of something which needed to be done, yet at the
same time provided a way to calm down. Everyone must find a
"mowing" activity which they enjoy and commit themselves to
engage in it when they are going through periods of stress. Be it
dancing, drawing, playing the violin, punching a heavy bag or
gardening; any form of "mowing" is essential to reducing stress and
serving as a real way to calm down.
5. Plan
Did you just find out you're going to be expelled from your school?
Did you just receive your two-week notice at work? Did you just find
out your daughter totalled her car yesterday? You're probably
freaking out. Freak out no more. Now is the time to remain calm.
Making a plan in stressful circumstances is key to getting your ass
out in one piece. If you are driving down the road when something
bad happens and you throw your arms up in the air, screaming, what
happens to your car? If you are driving through Life and something
bad happens, do not throw your arms up in the air and scream! Your
Life will go in the ditch! Hold onto the wheel. Figure out how you will
escape!
I am extremely emotionally intelligent person. Thus, at any time I

am usually experiencing some sort of complicated (yet positive)
emotion. However, when something uncertain or threatening
presents itself in my life, I usually become much less emotional than
I am typically. It is due to my realization that in order to escape any
circumstance, I must remain cool-headed. I must see the situation
in its proper lighting, devise an escape or damage control plan and
execute it ASAP. Emotions may be used to fuel the execution of the
plan, but not the conception of it. When you need to calm down after
receiving shocking news, force yourself to go into objective, cool-
headed, scientific planning mode and you increase your odds of
succeeding one hundred fold.
The Five Part Happiness Formula
Kimberly Englot
I am a fan of happiness. I like to read about it, write about it, teach
it and live it! Happiness comes easily to me but I understand that
that isn't the case for everyone. I've come up with what I think is
the exact formula needed.
Excitement + Freedom + Joy + Inspiration + Love = Happiness
It might look a little complicated, but it really isn't. You can start
small and look for small ways to incorporate more of those states
into your life.
1. Excitement
By excitement, I don't necessarily mean jumping up and down, or
heart-pounding situations. It could be what comes with thinking
about something you are really passionate about, or planning a
party, or a trip. It could be a ride at an amusement park, or just
rolling down the windows in your car. Anything that adds that shiver
of fun to your life will instantly lift your mood.
2. Freedom
The ability to make your own decisions goes a long way in
happiness. When you base your decisions on what other people
might think or say, or when you feel obligated to do things that
independence disappears, and your happiness goes right along with
it. Start small, or start to appreciate the things in your life that you
do have complete control over, like what kind of socks you can wear
or the route you take to get to work.
3. Joy
This is just another word for happiness, but it implies peace. Joy is
an internal feeling; it comes from loving people and your
environment. Joy does not depend on the things you have, but
rather the way you feel about them. Add more joy to your life by
creating a Gratitude Guide and writing 10 things in it every night.
4. Inspiration
Nothing like feeling inspired to act. You can't help but succeed when
you follow divine inspiration! It could be trying a new recipe, or
dancing to your favourite song. It could be taking a leap to change
careers or move to a new city. Big or small, inspiration instantly
increases your happiness when you follow it.
5. Love
The original happiness formula did not have love in it. I assumed
that most people are surrounded by love, and this is true, but many
do not recognize it. Love comes from within. You must love yourself
fully because others can only love you to the extent that you love
yourself. When you fully love yourself, you also realize that
everything is love. When you're angry, it's actually love misdirected.
For example, when I was working a job I hated, I used to get very
upset and aggravated. I started to listen to the story I was telling
myself and it went something like this, "Why should I have to work
at this job? I hate this job. No one appreciates me. I'm meant to do
something bigger..." I dug a little deeper and realized that instead of
frustration, what I was actually feeling love. So I changed my
perspective, "I love the fact that I'm angry about being stuck at this
job because it means I know I deserve better." Then I made the
choice to act like I loved myself, left the job and started something
I'm truly passionate about.
Find ways to bring more love into your life. Smile at a stranger,
practice more empathy, or cuddle your cat. Anything you can do to
release love, will automatically add happiness.
Now that you have my formula and a few ideas that you can use to
get started I suggest that you apply changes immediately. Start
living in the moment, appreciating what you do have and loving the
life that is right in front of you. Your perspective will change and so
will your happiness.

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From E-Group, Banking-News

Think about it for a moment

Just think and try to answer these questions:

1. Name the 5 richest people in the world.

2. Name the last 5 Miss Universe winners.

3. Name the last 5 Nobel Prize winners.

4. Name the last 5 winners of the Best Actor Oscar.

Can’t do it? Rather difficult, isn’t it?

Don’t worry; nobody remembers that.

Applause dies away!

Trophies gather dust!

Winners are soon forgotten!

Now answer these questions:

2. Name 5 friends who helped you in your hour of need.

3. Think of a few people who made you feel special.

4. Name 5 people that you like to spend time with.

More manageable? It’s easier, isn’t it?

Think about it for a moment.

Life is very short!

From E-Group, Banking-News

Live and enjoy the moment

Then we are frustrated because they reach adolescence and we

If not, then when?

Your life will always be full of challenges. It is better to admit as

I finally came to understand that those obstacles were life.

Happiness IS the road.

So, enjoy every moment.

Happiness is a voyage, not a destination.

There is no better time to be happy than… NOW!

From E-Group, Banking-News

Shaping the World Around You: A Service Attitude

Not everyone is cut out to start a non-profit, install water

In business, whether you are an owner, executive, or employee, this

Allow me to paint a picture for you. Imagine an accountant,

This definition carries forward to other areas, as well. In any

Put this in the context of a marriage, or any romantic relationship.

Having a service attitude includes manners and etiquette, as well. I

Another aspect of the service attitude is simple kindness. One of the

These random acts of kindness are a kind of service all of us can

Now, imagine for a moment a society where everyone is trying to

Having a focus on service- on delivering value and helping others

From E-Group, Banking-News

So, great strategists have two sets of personal capabilities.

One set, of course, is the capacity to intelligently manipulate

From “Strategize First, Analyze Later“

From E-Group, Banking-News

Different people use different means of relaxing and enjoying life. A

Dirty Dog is fun and important to us. We live in a high-tension,

According to legend the famed mathematician Archimedes (287 BC

A recent Wall Street Journal article entitled, "A Wandering Mind

Of course, there is another essential element involved. Insights, or

From E-Group, Banking-News

How to effectively communicate with your teen

Many parents struggle with conversing with their

1. Praise Positive Behaviour

Usually when a parent approaches their teen it is to complain or

2. Listen and Don’t Monopolize the Conversation

3. Limit Preaching and Attempting to Persuade

4. Don’t Match Your Teen’s Emotion

5. Avoid Judging and Dismissing Feelings

Nobody appreciates it when someone judges them or dismisses their

Telling your teen they are forbidden to associate with a peer

Recently I had a case in which a father and a teen had a blowout