you’re already perfect.....Wish you a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year!!!!

We are at the End of this Eventful Year and as always we started working on our Resolutions, there are so many new applications to help with our Computer addiction. One application on your Computer helps you to take a break from your Current Task, by automatically disconnecting your Internet connection after every 2 Hours.

I Want to Share this Wonderful Post from Zen Habits and Reflect on things with Gratitude and to Live in the “Now” rather than Focusing on the Elusive Maya all the time…and I Wish you a Wonderful and Happy New Year!!!

breathe.

•  

you’re already perfect

‘Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.’ ~Lao Tzu

Post written by Leo Babauta. 

A lot of people come to Zen Habits (and read other personal development blogs and books) because they want to improve something about themselves. They’re not satisfied with their lives, they’re unhappy with their bodies, they want to be better people.

I know, because I was one of those people.

This desire to improve myself and my life was one of the things that led to Zen Habits. I’ve been there, and I can say that it leads to a lot of striving, and a lot of dissatisfaction with who you are and what your life is.

A powerful realization that has helped me is simply this: You’re already good enough, you already have more than enough, and you’re already perfect.

Try saying that to yourself, as corny as that might sound, just to see if it sounds true. Does it resonate as something you already believe (in which case, you can probably stop reading now), or does it not feel right? Do you feel like there are things you still need to improve?

The thing I’ve learned, and it’s not some new truth but an old one that took me much too long to learn, is that if you learn to be content with who you are and where you are in life, it changes everything.

Consider what changes:

• You no longer feel dissatisfied with yourself or your life.
• You no longer spend so much time and energy wanting to change and trying to change.
• You no longer compare yourself to other people, and wish you were better.
• You can be happy, all the time, no matter what happens in the world around you.
• Instead of trying to improve yourself, you can spend your time helping others.
• You stop spending so much money on things that will supposedly improve your life.
• You can be smug about it, like me.

OK, the last bit was a joke, but the rest is true, in my experience.

And here’s another realization that I’ve written about before: You already have everything you need to be happy, right here and right now.

Do you have eyes that see? You have the ability to appreciate the beauty of the sky, of greenery, of people’s faces, of water. Do you have ears that hear? You have the ability to appreciate music, the sound of rainfall, the laughter of friends. You have the ability to feel rough denim, cool breezes, grass on bare feet … to smell fresh-cut grass, flowers, coffee … to taste a plum, a chili pepper, chocolate.

This is a miracle, and we take it for granted. Instead, we strive for more, when we already have everything. We want nicer clothes, cooler gadgets, bigger muscles, bigger boobies, flatter stomachs, bigger houses, cars with leather seats that talk to you and massage your butt. We’ve kinda gone insane that way.

The sane thing is to realize we don’t need any of that. We don’t need to improve our lives. We don’t need to improve ourselves, because we’re already perfect.

Once you accept this, it frees you.

You’re now free to do things, not because you want to be better, but because you love it. Because you’re passionate about it, and it gives you joy. Because it’s a miracle that you even can do it.

You’re already perfect. Being content with yourself means realizing that striving for perfection is based on someone else’s idea of what “perfect” is … and that that’s all bullshit. Perfect is who you are, not who someone else says you should be.

Also, as corny as it may sound, I love you, completely and unconditionally, and if everyone else in your world betrays and abandons you, you always have me. :)

Now stop reading this blog, and go be happy.

Top 8 Hiring Mistakes Employers Make

In this Post  I have Covered the Most Common Top 8 Mistakes Hiring Managers Make, while trying to Find a Hire to Solve all their Problems. Reality is, most of the times it ends up in a Bad Hire Costing Lot of Money, Time, Frustration, Missing deadlines and Lots and Lots of Stress, rather If we spend some time in Planning and Preparing for the Interview aligned towards the need you have, It can Prove to be Invaluable. Here are the Top 8 Mistakes:

1.   Being overly influenced by advanced degrees. Candidates with plenty of letters after their names have certainly worked hard to earn their degrees. But there is no substitute for real-world business experience, and people often make the mistake of overlooking candidates with track records but not degrees. Note: this does not apply, however, to specialized fields that require advanced degrees.

2.   Not having a long-range plan. Hiring someone to fill a current need can help you through a busy time. However, unless you're hiring someone on a temporary basis, you need a long-range plan for that employee beyond your immediate need, including how you plan to develop him or her, and how he or she fits in with your company's long-range plans.

3.   Making promises you cannot keep. It can be a very costly mistake to make promises that are not well thought out. Know ahead of time what you can and cannot offer a prospective employee.

4.   Hiring someone for all the wrong reasons. Unfortunately, this is a common mistake. Whether you're doing your cousin a favor or are impressed by the way someone looks or talks, hiring should not be done for the wrong reasons. Your focus should always be on the best candidate for the job.

5.   Not conducting a good interview. Conducting a good hiring interview is a skill that many people do not possess. It's important to ask the right questions to determine whether a candidate is right for the position and fits into your company. For more information.

6.   Not looking for a good fit. In most businesses there needs to be a rapport among employees. If you hire someone who does not fit in with the team's chemistry, you may find yourself with unnecessary problems.

7.   Not being prepared. You can easily make a hiring mistake when you're not prepared for the interview and hiring process. Know the questions you want to ask and the type of employee you're looking for. Also be ready to explain the position and answer questions about the company.

8.   Expecting way too much. A common problem these days is looking for one person to save a sinking ship. An unrealistic, lengthy list of qualifications and background requirements — as frequently seen in employment ads — creates a situation where you settle for someone whom you think can do a little of everything, but does not excel in the key areas. Narrow your focus to the most important aspects of the position.

 References from :Human Resources

Who is a Hero ?

We Hear about the Word Hero Quite a bit?

Some Key Facts to Remember and Reflect on Veteran’s Day

Ø      November 11 is Veterans Day. A veteran is a soldier who has served his/her country.

Ø      Thirty-five countries fought in World War I. They fought for five years, from 1914 to 1918. The United States fought in the war from 1917 to 1918.

Ø      Finally the countries stopped fighting. The leaders signed an armistice. They signed the armistice on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The armistice meant that the war was over.

Ø      Americans were very happy to hear about the armistice. No more soldiers would die in the war. The soldiers could come home.

Ø      People went out into the streets and laughed and danced. They blew horns and whistles and rang bells. They sang songs. They thought that there would never be another war.

Ø      President Wilson made November 11 a holiday to remember the end of the war. The holiday was called Armistice Day.

Ø      At eleven o'clock in the morning, everyone stopped doing whatever they were doing. People were completely silent for one minute. This minute was to remember all the soldiers who have died in wars.

Ø      The body of an unknown soldier was brought to America from the cemetery in France. His body was buried in a tomb at Arlington National Cemetery. It was called the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Ø      The US was in three more wars: World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The name of the holiday was changed to Veterans Day.

Ø      The bodies of three more unknown soldiers were brought to the cemetery. On Veterans Day, there are special services at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

I Salute and I am humbled by the Services of Men and Women who Chose to Protect the Country and Fellow Citizens putting their Life in the Line.

Excerpted from ESL Teacher's Holiday Activities Kit, by Elizabeth Claire.

What is a hero? What action does one take to become a hero? Who are these heroes that you hear everyone talk about, but never see? The word hero is passed around too much these days. A hero is not a football player that scores the game-winning touchdown or the goaltender who saves his team from a loss. A hero is usually an ordinary person that did extraordinary things. A true hero is really never a hero at all; at least not in their own mind.

When one reads Senator John McCain’s novel Why Courage Matters, McCain tells the story of Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez. Sergeant Benavidez went on a rescue mission to save wounded brothers; he was the only man to go. Carrying only a knife and a medic bag, he ran to his wounded buddies, sustaining gunshot wounds to his leg, face and head. A helicopter landed to rescue all of the men that were stranded. Benavidez got them all on board the helicopter only for the pilot to be fatally wounded, causing the chopper to crash.

He rescued all of the men from the crash and fought off the Vietnamese Army for six hours with the help of air strikes, circling gun ships, and his own fortitude. A second chopper landed and he boarded his wounded comrades, then he got on and then collapsed. Everyone thought he was dead, placing him in a body bag. While the doctor was zipping up the bag, Benavidez spat in his face to signal he was alive. They flew him to Saigon for surgery, treating him for seven severe gunshot wounds, twenty-eight shrapnel wounds, and bayonet wounds in both arms.

When he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Ronald Reagan, Benavidez said “I don’t like to be called a hero. The real heroes are the ones who gave their lives for their country.” Such humility and modesty from Sergeant Benavidez is really representative of heroes because they never want the credit.


Read more: http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/what-is-a-hero/#ixzz150MEPlXg

 

Have a Great Day and We all Should be Proud to be Living in One of the Greatest Nations on Earth!!!

References from Excerpted from ESL Teacher's Holiday Activities Kit, by Elizabeth Claire http://www.teachervision.fen.com/veterans-day/history/3204.html?detoured=1 and 

http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/what-is-a-hero/

What does Fun Mean to you?

What does Fun mean to you? Can Money Buy you Happiness? Yes it Can and If you are buying the experience rather than a tangible Product.

Tangible things might give you happiness for the Moment but will be Forgotten in a Pretty short time.

For e.x. in Get Rich Slowly this passage by Sierra Black explains it better:

More and more people are moving away from conspicuous consumption towards a life of conscious consumption and saving. A recent spate of research is looking at how to squeeze the most happiness from your dollar. What they’re finding won’t surprise many Get Rich Slowly readers:

• Spending money on experiences brings you more lasting happiness than spending money on Stuff. For example, a vacation will make your life better, over time, than a new couch.
• It’s okay to think small. Spending on several small treats — like a massage, a good book, or dinner at your favorite restaurant — will bring you more happiness than one big-ticket item like a sports car.
• Leisure activities like games, sports, hobbies, and entertainment have more happiness value than material goods.

How to Make $1000.00 in 30 days?

Recently, I ran into to this excellent article by Ramit Sethi, author of I will teach you to be reach. NY's best seller. Almost 8 out of 10 Americans are Stressed because of the Economy and their Personal Finances. This is an Excellent article about Making(Saving) $1000.00 in 30 days.

You’ll notice that I haven’t written a lot about frugality on this site.
That’s because Americans suck at frugality. We spend more than we make. We’re terrible at deferring our immediate wants and investing for the long term. We go into debt. And we blame everyone but ourselves.
Remember, fundamentally, there are two ways to have more money. You can earn more money or cut costs. If you’ve been reading this site for a long time, you’ll notice that I’d much rather focus on increasing your earning potential, whether through investments or entrepreneurship. I hate talking about frugality because, for most people in America, frugality is hopeless.
That all changed a couple weeks ago.
I read this article, which explained that “As many as 80 percent of Americans are stressed about their personal finances and the economy.” I found that astonishing. Although people’s behaviors don’t change overnight, nearly everyone I’ve been talking to has been worrying about their money.
Right now, people don’t care about proper asset allocation or understanding average stock market returns. The people I’ve talked to want to know how to save money right now.
That’s why tomorrow, I’m launching the Save $1,000 in 30 Days Challenge.
How to save $1,000 using the CEO Model
Here’s how it works: Each day in November, I’ll post one suggestion to cut your spending. If you spend time each day working on the day’s post, the vast majority of you will save over $1,000 each month. Even if you don’t, saving $700 is sure better than nothing. I’ll post tips for the first 15 days. For the last 15 days, I’ll turn to I Will Teach You To Be Rich readers to submit your best frugality tips.

We’ll work through some of the tips from this woman, who paid off $14,330 in 20 months. Like I wrote earlier, there are no secrets to getting rich. You can sit here and read every tip and feel good about yourself. But only the people who spend time implementing will save any money.
I promise: No stupid frugality tips
As I mentioned, I hate frugality and all the frugality sites that waste my time focusing on saving money on frozen orange juice and rice cakes so I can save $1 per week. $1? I find that much money in my shoe every day.
I’m not trying to save $1 or even $10 per week, because it’s not worth changing your behavior for that kind of money. Guys, we’re aiming to save $1,000 in 30 days. That’s why this series will not include retarded suggestions like “Start a garden” or “Buy day-old food from bakeries.” I certainly won’t tell you to cut your rent or move to a cheaper place, because NOBODY WILL DO IT! Does anyone ever follow those stupid tips? No, but it sure makes other personal-finance authors feel good about themselves for coming up with a suggestion that theoretically, maybe, somehow could save money for the moron who would do it. Not here.
Only join if you’re serious
But I will ask you to cut back on some things – sometimes radically. For example, if you get your nails done or eat out every day, that’s gone this month. If you were planning to buy a big-screen TV, you can forget about it in November. You can pick it up next month, but I bet you’ll think twice once you save $1,000.
While it’s fun to read stuff like The Money Diaries because you get to laugh at other people’s spending, the 30 Day Challenge is different because it’s intimately personal. It means you have to look at your spending.
This is a 30-Day Challenge. Everything should be able to be accomplished within 30 days, but you have to commit to doing it. In other words, I’ll make most of my advice completely practical and sustainable. Because Americans suck at stopping consumption, we’re all going to have just sack up and stop certain things – which will feel incredibly painful – this month. Some of my tips will simply involve you physically going to a place where you cannot spend money to save yourself from your own spending behavior. It won’t feel good. Have you sat in a library on a Saturday afternoon and read books? Probably not (unless you’re Asian). You will this month.
Would you be willing to cancel your cable? Or pick one habit and drop it cold-turkey? Would you be willing to see how far you can push yourself to save money for 30 days?
Earlier this month, I asked iwillteachyoutoberich readers how much time they’d be willing to spend saving $1,000 in a month.

Good news: If you spend 1 hour per day on the Save $1,000 in 30 Days Challenge, you’ll easily save hundreds, if not the entire $1,000.
Hopefully I will, too. That’s because I will be participating in the Challenge, and I’ll chronicle my savings along with everyone else.

The Introvert’s Guide to Building Relationships

by Tammy on August 30, 2010

I have a secret to share with you. I’m a natural introvert. I love curling up with a good book, writing, going for long hikes, and doing yoga. I can do a lot of these things by myself. And while I love alone time, I also love connecting with people and believe building relationships is a key component to happiness.
But I’m crazy shy and get really nervous when I meet new folks. I tend to stumble over my words, forget things that should be easy to remember, and laugh in very high pitches.
Now just because I’m a natural introvert, doesn’t mean I hide out in my apartment all the time. I’m constantly looking for ways to challenge myself. For instance, last week I had the pleasure of meeting Chris Guillebeau for coffee. Chris is one of my favorite writers and also inspired me to start living an unconventional life. So to actually meet Chris in-person was a big deal.
As I biked across town to meet-up with Chris, I thought my heart was going to jump out of my body and land on the sidewalk. I kept telling myself:

“Seriously, chill out. Chris is a fellow human. And I don’t think he has any magical superpowers that he is going to smite me with, just because I’m nervous.”

It was awesome talking with Chris about entrepreneurship, his epic book tour, The World Domination Summit, and the launch of Smalltopia. I love working at home and connecting with my online community. However, it’s always fun to connect with people face-to-face. All the positive self talk seemed to help stem my anxiety and I think my chat with Chris went really well.
If you have trouble breaking out of your shell, try some of these strategies:

1. Do what you’re afraid of.

I constantly look for ways to challenge myself by meeting new people and taking on new projects that I’m afraid of. I’ve noticed an interesting pattern when I’m scared of starting say, Project X, that project usually turns out to be crazy successful. I’m not sure why this is the case, but it’s been true for me. I’ve also found that when I’m scared of meeting new people, I end up walking away with a new friend.

2. Met new friends by volunteering.

Volunteering is an amazing way to connect with like minded individuals, break out of your shell, and build community at the same time.

3. Connect with friends for coffee, a bike ride, or a picnic in the park.

For my fellow introverts out there, I think it’s essential to connect and keep reconnecting with acquaintances, friends, and even family. Don’t let yourself get wrapped up in a bubble. Connect with your friends and actively practice using your social skills.

4. Leave your smart phone at home.

Smart phones are handy tools. However, if you’re meeting a new person, volunteering, or meeting up with an old friend, leave your phone at home. If you can’t leave the your phone at home, put it on “silent.”
Phones can be used as a crutch to avoid intense conversations. Checking your smart phone every two minutes is not only rude, but you’ll miss out on good conversations and the chance to make a meaningful connection with a fellow human. Be present 100% or not at all.

5. Ask lots of questions about a person’s history, opinion, and future goals.

Asking a lot of questions is a great way to get to know other people. And it’s an excellent strategy to harness nervous energy. I’ve found that by asking a lot of questions, I get to know people better and the focus is taken off of me.
What if you run out of questions to ask? Relax. The world isn’t going to end. It’s natural for conversations to end at some point. And if you’ve just met a new friend for coffee, you don’t have to talk to each other the whole time. You can just hang out, drink coffee, and do some work.

How Hitting the Gym can boost your Career?

Image source : Jillian Michaels

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW:

How Hitting the Gym can help your Career?
We have heard about the popular saying, "Health is Wealth" , Well, now a recent statistics show that People who are conscious about their physical health, tend to excel in their professional career. Take a look at this Video where Jill Schlesinger explains what companies are doing to encourage healthy behavior

How Hitting the Gym can help your Career?

10 Troublemakers to Avoid at Your Company

Every company in every industry has its stars, its losers, and everything in between. Employees in big companies follow a bell shaped distribution curve, so the mediocre middle dominates. But in startups and relatively small companies, employees at either extreme can really stand out.    
Just as one or two geniuses can turn a startup into a successful enterprise, a few problem employees can take it down. To avoid that, you all need to learn to recognize troublemakers to avoid at your company. So here’s the top 10, based in part on a post by venture capitalist Don Rainey.
And while their impact is indeed greatest in a small company, these 10 Troublemakers will plague any company of any size:

1. Strategy Guy. Capable, driven, and articulate, will meet any need for execution by engaging you in a longwinded discussion on strategy. Actions may speak louder than words; but talking is way easier than doing, right? 
2. Goldilocks. Most people join startups because they love to reach for the stars, take on broad responsibility, and grow. Not Goldilocks. Getting stuff done is “beneath her” and serious responsibility is “beyond her pay grade.” Nothing’s “just right.”
3. Organization Builder. Regardless of the company’s situation and needs, the measure of success is how big and fast you can grow the organization. It’s all about scale. How about slow, steady growth? Nah, real men build fast.
4. Perpetual Designer. No matter what the market requirements document says or customers want, this guy just can’t stop designing. Hell, that’s his goal. As for budget and schedule, well, if your goal is to perpetually design, then sky’s the limit, right?
5. Passive Aggressive Guy. He’ll sit in a meeting, nod his head in agreement at the appropriate times, concur on a plan, then go out and do whatever the hell he wants, even if it contradicts what he just agreed to. And if he has authority over resources, look out.
6. Overly-Optimistic Forecaster. Every potential deal is huge, 100%, for sure. You see, when he was at Cisco, he made a fortune selling to all the big-name customers. Good luck telling him this isn’t Cisco, or nailing him down on probability or next steps to close.
7. Peter Pan Founder. Of course, VCs would never admit to this, since founders are their lifeblood. But there comes a time when a company needs to grow up and, sometimes, the founders just can’t pull it off. Still, they hang on, and way longer than they should.
8. Champion of the People. There’s always a self-proclaimed voice of the people with an inside scoop that the troops are upset because “Paul got that big raise” or “we’re not getting off for President’s Day.” If he only knew, the troops think he’s a self-important jerk. 
9. Angry Support Person. Let’s face it; some people just shouldn’t be in customer service or internal support functions. They’re mean, they’re angry, and it takes tremendous effort to undo the damage they do. So tell me, why are these people always taking support jobs?

Wait a minute, that’s only nine. Hmm … can you come up with number 10?
Trouble Makers

Everyone should READ this, If you are a Lady, You have all the More REASON TO READ this.

I received an Email forwared from a friend Suga Dev, read the whole email and couldn't resist but Share it on my Blog. Enjoy....

Have Passion!

It was probably the April of 1974. Bangalore was getting warm and gulmohars were blooming at the IISc campus. I was the only girl in my postgraduate department and was staying at the ladies' hostel. Other girls were pursuing research in different departments of Science.

I was looking forward to going abroad to complete a doctorate in computer science. I had been offered scholarships from Universities in the US ... I had not thought of taking up a job in India .

One day, while on the way to my hostel from our lecture-hall complex, I saw an advertisement on the notice board. It was a standard job-requirement notice from the famous automobile company Telco (now Tata Motors)... It stated that the company required young, bright engineers, hardworking and with an excellent academic background, etc.

At the bottom was a small line: 'Lady Candidates need not apply.'

I read it and was very upset. For the first time in my life I was up against gender discrimination.

Though I was not keen on taking up the job, I saw it as a challenge. I had done extremely well in academics, better than most of my male peers...
Little did I know then that in real life academic excellence is not enough to be successful?

After reading the notice I went fuming to my room. I decided to inform the topmost person in Telco's management about the injustice the company was perpetrating. I got a postcard and started to write, but there was a problem: I did not know who headed Telco

I thought it must be one of the Tatas. I knew JRD Tata was the head of the Tata Group; I had seen his pictures in newspapers (actually, Sumant Moolgaokar was the company's chairman then) I took the card, addressed it to JRD and started writing. To this day I remember clearly what I wrote.

'The great Tatas have always been pioneers. They are the people who started the basic infrastructure industries in India , such as iron and steel, chemicals, textiles and locomotives they have cared for higher education in India since 1900 and they were responsible for the establishment of the Indian Institute of Science. Fortunately, I study there. But I am surprised how a company such as Telco is discriminating on the basis of gender.'

I posted the letter and forgot about it. Less than 10 days later, I received a telegram stating that I had to appear for an interview at Telco's Pune facility at the company's expense. I was taken aback by the telegram. My hostel mate told me I should use the opportunity to go to Pune free of cost and buy them the famous Pune saris for cheap! I collected Rs30 each from everyone who wanted a sari when I look back, I feel like laughing at the reasons for my going, but back then they seemed good enough to make the trip.

It was my first visit to Pune and I immediately fell in love with the city.

To this day it remains dear to me. I feel as much at home in Pune as I do in Hubli, my hometown. The place changed my life in so many ways. As directed, I went to Telco's Pimpri office for the interview.

There were six people on the panel and I realized then that this was serious business.

'This is the girl who wrote to JRD,' I heard somebody whisper as soon as I entered the room. By then I knew for sure that I would not get the job. The realization abolished all fear from my mind, so I was rather cool while the interview was being conducted.

Even before the interview started, I reckoned the panel was biased, so I told them, rather impolitely, 'I hope this is only a technical interview.'

They were taken aback by my rudeness, and even today I am ashamed about my attitude.
The panel asked me technical questions and I answered all of them.

Then an elderly gentleman with an affectionate voice told me, 'Do you know why we said lady candidates need not apply? The reason is that we have never employed any ladies on the shop floor. This is not a co-ed college; this is a factory. When it comes to academics, you are a first ranker throughout. We appreciate that, but people like you should work in research laboratories.

I was a young girl from small-town Hubli. My world had been a limited place.

I did not know the ways of large corporate houses and their difficulties, so I answered, 'But you must start somewhere, otherwise no woman will ever be able to work in your factories.'

Finally, after a long interview, I was told I had been successful. So this was what the future had in store for me. Never had I thought I would take up a job in Pune. I met a shy young man from Karnataka there, we became good friends and we got married.

It was only after joining Telco that I realized who JRD was: the uncrowned king of Indian industry. Now I was scared, but I did not get to meet him till I was transferred to Bombay. One day I had to show some reports to Mr Moolgaokar, our chairman, who we all knew as SM.. I was in his office on the first floor of Bombay House (the Tata headquarters) when, suddenly JRD walked in. That was the first time I saw 'appro JRD'. Appro means 'our' in Gujarati. This was the affectionate term by which people at Bombay House called him.

I was feeling very nervous, remembering my postcard episode. SM introduced me nicely, 'Jeh (that's what his close associates called him), this young woman is an engineer and that too a postgraduate.

She is the first woman to work on the Telco shop floor.' JRD looked at me. I was praying he would not ask me any questions about my interview (or the postcard that preceded it).

Thankfully, he didn't. Instead, he remarked. 'It is nice that girls are getting into engineering in our country. By the way, what is your name?'

'When I joined Telco I was Sudha Kulkarni, Sir,' I replied. 'Now I am Sudha Murthy.' He smiled and kindly smile and started a discussion with SM. As for me, I almost ran out of the room.

After that I used to see JRD on and off. He was the Tata Group chairman and I was merely an engineer. There was nothing that we had in common. I was in awe of him.

One day I was waiting for Murthy, my husband, to pick me up after office hours. To my surprise I saw JRD standing next to me. I did not know how to react. Yet again I started worrying about that postcard. Looking back, I realize JRD had forgotten about it. It must have been a small incident for him, but not so for me.


'Young lady, why are you here?' he asked. 'Office time is over.' I said, 'Sir, I'm waiting for my husband to come and pick me up.' JRD said, 'It is getting dark and there's no one in the corridor.

I'll wait with you till your husband comes.'

I was quite used to waiting for Murthy, but having JRD waiting alongside made me extremely uncomfortable.

I was nervous. Out of the corner of my eye I looked at him. He wore a simple white pant and shirt. He was old, yet his face was glowing. There wasn't any air of superiority about him. I was thinking, 'Look at this person. He is a chairman, a well-respected man in our country and he is waiting for the sake of an ordinary employee.'

Then I saw Murthy and I rushed out. JRD called and said, 'Young lady, tell your husband never to make his wife wait again.' In 1982 I had to resign from my job at Telco. I was reluctant to go, but I really did not have a choice. I was coming down the steps of Bombay House after wrapping up my final settlement when I saw JRD coming up. He was absorbed in thought. I wanted to say goodbye to him, so I stopped. He saw me and paused.

Gently, he said, 'So what are you doing, Mrs. Kulkarni?' (That was the way he always addressed me..) 'Sir, I am leaving Telco.'

'Where are you going?' he asked. 'Pune, Sir. My husband is starting a company called Infosys and I'm shifting to Pune.'

'Oh! And what will you do when you are successful.'

'Sir, I don't know whether we will be successful.' 'Never start with diffidence,' he advised me 'Always start with confidence. When you are successful you must give back to society. Society gives us so much; we must reciprocate. Wish you all the best.'

Then JRD continued walking up the stairs. I stood there for what seemed like a millennium. That was the last time I saw him alive.

Many years later I met Ratan Tata in the same Bombay House, occupying the chair JRD once did. I told him of my many sweet memories of working with Telco. Later, he wrote to me, 'It was nice hearing about Jeh from you.
The sad part is that he's not alive to see you today.'

I consider JRD a great man because, despite being an extremely busy person, he valued one postcard written by a young girl seeking justice. He must have received thousands of letters everyday. He could have thrown mine away, but he didn't do that. He respected the intentions of that unknown girl, who had neither influence nor money, and gave her an opportunity in his company. He did not merely give her a job; he changed her life and mindset forever.

Close to 50 per cent of the students in today's engineering colleges are girls. And there are women on the shop floor in many industry segments. I see these changes and I think of JRD. If at all time stops and asks me what I want from life, I would say I wish JRD were alive today to see how the company we started has grown. He would have enjoyed it wholeheartedly.

My love and respect for the House of Tata remains undiminished by the passage of time. I always looked up to JRD. I saw him as a role model for his simplicity, his generosity, his kindness and the care he took of his employees. Those blue eyes always reminded me of the sky; they had the same vastness and magnificence.


(Sudha Murthy is a widely published writer and chairperson of the Infosys Foundation involved in a number of social development initiatives. Infosys chairman Narayana Murthy is her husband.)

Article sourced from: Lasting Legacies (Tata Review- Special Commemorative Issue 2004), brought out by the house of Tatas to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of JRD Tata on July 29, 2004.

How this Girl is Insanely Productive but Still Keeps Smiling?

This is a Post from Mary Jaksch of Goodlife ZEN. - http://zenhabits.net/


Get things done, calmly.

Do you want to be more productive? Maybe you do, but I’m sure you don’t want to feel stressed, overwhelmed, or unhappy – which happens to many super-productive people. But there is good news:
You can be insanely productive – and still smell the freesias, savor a Pinot Noir, or enjoy a languid hug.
A few weeks ago Leo Babauta said to me, “Mary – you’re one of the most productive people I know. And you still keep smiling and seem so relaxed. How do you do it?”
Most stuff I’ve read about productivity is about doing things differently. Like getting up at 4 a.m. each morning, or drinking eight liters of water a day, or keeping a notebook under the pillow. Sorry, folks – I don’t do any of those things.
High productivity isn’t about doing, it’s about being.
If you want to be highly productive – and still enjoy life – you need to look at how you live, and how you use your mind. Check out the following five suggestions:

1. Make peace within.
   Most people live in a constant state of inner conflict and suffer from a barrage of negative thoughts that sabotage productivity. Here’s a scenario: Imagine that your car has landed in a ditch. A group of helpers gather, attach ropes and start to pull the car out. Unfortunately, they’re not all pulling in the same direction. Some try to pull the car toward the road, whereas others try to pull it deeper into the ditch. It’s absurd.
   That’s exactly what happens when we’re divided within: everything is a struggle, nothing much happens, and it’s frustrating. But what if your mind, body, and soul are all aligned?
   When our energy is aligned, we are in a state of flow.
   When we’re at peace within, and immersed in the task at hand – without negative thoughts sabotaging our productivity – action becomes effortless. We’re able to achieve much more in less time. And with more enjoyment.
   Tip: Wear an elastic wristband. Whenever you notice negative thoughts, change your wristband to the other arm. This will help you to create and maintain peace within.
2. Go to your edge. Regularly.
   Most people use only a fraction of their capacity and try to save personal energy. For example, we’re tempted to rest when we feel tired in order to recover our zest for life. Wrong move! The more energy you spend, the more you have. Tiredness can signal many things. If you’re healthy, it may mean that you are bored, frustrated, lack movement, or need more oxygen. Or maybe conflict within has sapped your energy. It’s important to go to your limits regularly. Take up running, martial arts, swimming, or other activities – there are many way to exercise vigorously.
   Tip: If you feel exhausted or lethargic, go for a brisk walk in order to rev up your energy and restore your spirit.
3. Take action.
   Most people aren’t productive because they don’t take action. They have dreams and even plans – but they don’t follow through. Negative thoughts can derail action. It may be that you have doubts about your ability, or that you listen to others who doubt you. Tip: Look at what you would like to achieve and ask yourself, “What is the smallest step in the direction of my dreams that I can take right now?” Then take that baby step. Now.
4. Do what you love.
   Think about how you spend your time. Do you enjoy your work, or is it a grind? I’ve changed my life, and what I’m passionate about has now become my work: I teach my Zen students, and also work together with Leo to mentor bloggers in the A-list Blogger Club . A few days ago my partner David knocked at the door of the little cabin in the garden where I work:
   “Mary,” he said, “ do you realize it’s 10 o’clock at night – and you’re still working?”
   “I’m not working!” I shot back. “I’m enjoying myself!”
   Yes, when the boundary between work and play gets blurred, you may actually work more – but it feels like you’re just having fun.
   Tip: Follow your dreams – even if it’s only for ten minutes a day.
5. Love what you do.
   We can’t always do what we love. But we are free to love what we do. From a Zen perspective, there is a way to turn even the dullest chore into pleasurable activity through mindfulness.When we pay tender regard to our present experience – letting go of all thoughts and judgments – even the most mundane action can become pleasurable. Mindfulness doesn’t mean watching yourself, it means being fully present, moment by moment. Tip: In order to become mindful, notice sensations of the moment. What sounds can you hear? How are your feet connected with the ground? What does your skin feel like?

Finally, a key question you need to ask …
If you want to be productive and still enjoy life, there is a key question you need to answer: why be productive?
I mean, why not just chill out on the couch, eat potato crisps, and watch TV reruns? That might be fine. But what about the oblong box we’re all going to end up in?
I remind myself every morning that life is short and mine may be over by nightfall. That gives me the the desire to taste and enjoy each moment. It also adds a measure of calm urgency because I want to leave a mark upon the world. Do you?
If so, mindful productivity will help you create a life that offers both pleasure and productivity. You’ll achieve more, and you’ll still keep smiling. That smile will light up not only your own life, but also the lives of those around you.
You don’t have to be a super-hero. Simply make peace within and live each moment fully. That’s all.
Mary Jaksch is a Zen Master and blogger. Head over to Goodlife Zen for more of her articles. And visit the A-List Blogger Club.

Want to Know the Secret to Happiness?

Happiness 101: Q and A with Tony Hsieh

 

Tony Hsieh is the CEO of Zappos. He recently published a book called Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose. In this interview, I probe, and he responds, to subjects as diverse as raising kids, business plans, and what Asian moms want their sons to be.

Q: Based on your experience with earthworms, The Gobbler, and buttons, do you think that entrepreneurs are made or born?

A: For the vast majority of people, by the time you’re 12, you either have the entrepreneurial spirit or you don’t.

Q: When you raise kids, will you force them to prepare for SATs, take violin and piano, and aspire to be a doctor?

A: No, I think my approach would be to have them try a ton of different things and then figure out which ones they’re passionate about.

Q: What is the math behind the policy of two-way free and overnight shipping?

A: Our philosophy is to take most of the money we would have spent on paid marketing or paid advertising and instead invest it into the customer experience, and let our customers do the marketing for us through word of mouth. We view the free shipping both ways and surprise upgrades to overnight shipping as our marketing costs.

Q: How should entrepreneurs decide which business they should play at?

A: I would say try a lot of different things in different industries and with different people over your life, and eventually the business that you were meant for will find you.

Q: What’s worse for a startup: too much or too little money?

A: Too much money.

Q: What kind of business planning should entrepreneurs do?

A: Think about where you want to be 10 years from now and think about where you want to be up to one year from now. Anything in between doesn’t really matter because nothing ever turns out the way you planned it.

Q: Is customer service the new marketing?

A: What’s new is that we are all hyperconnected and information travels much, much faster than before (through Twitter, blogs, etc.) So customer service stories, good or bad, tend to spread more quickly and therefore can have a much bigger effect on a company’s brand.

Q: What role does the plain old telephone play in Zappos?

A: We believe the telephone is one of the best branding devices out there. We have the customer’s undivided attention for 5-10 minutes—compare that with a 30-second Super Bowl ad when the viewers are probably not paying full attention. If we get the interaction right, what we’ve found is that customers remember that for a very long time and tell their friends and family about us.

Q: What are the core values of Zappos? 

A: 

1. Deliver WOW Through Service
2. Embrace and Drive Change
3. Create Fun and a Little Weirdness
4. Be Adventurous, Creative and Open-Minded
5. Pursue Growth and Learning
6. Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
7. Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
8. Do More with Less
9. Be Passionate and Determined
10. Be Humble

Q: Is a near-death experience good for a company?

A: It can be, if the company learns from it and becomes that much stronger because of it.

Q: Is Amazon changing Zappos or is Zappos changing Amazon?

A: We’re both learning from each other, but true to their word, Amazon has allowed Zappos to remain independent. We continue to make our own decisions and grow our brand and our culture the Zappos way.

Q: What is “happiness” for a person who’s sold companies for $265 million and $1.2 billion?

A:

• Perceived control
• Perceived progress
• Connectedness (number and depth of relationships)
• Higher purpose

Q: From your book, it sure sounds like you’re in bars all the time—do your parents know about this?

A: My dad is actually translating the Chinese version of the book.

Q: Are your parents proud of you now or do they still wish you were a doctor?

A: I think my mom still wants me to be a doctor.

For more from Tony, be sure to read his book. I have to admit that I laughed out loud at many places in it. If anyone knows how to deliver happiness, it’s Tony. Click here to buy the book.   

How to Create that Work-Life Balance?

How to Create that WorkLife Balance?


Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Tammy Strobel of Rowdy Kittens.

Our culture celebrates workaholism. We hear stories of people who “burn the mid-night oil” at the office, or about individuals who never take vacations. Working a lot doesn’t mean you deserve a gold star or a raise.



Working too much is likely to decrease your productivity, leave you creatively drained, and negatively effect relationships with friends and family. Don’t get me wrong, pursuing your passion is a beautiful gift and there is nothing wrong with working hard on projects you love. However, it’s essential to take breaks. Whether you’re working from home or in an office environment it’s essential to nourish your creative spirit.



Below are a few creative ways to avoid becoming a workaholic.



1. Set clear boundaries. Make sure your working hours are consistent. For instance, if you work from 8am to 5pm make sure you leave the office by 5. Don’t stay late.



2. Get enough sleep!



“If you encounter someone who’s acting like a fool, there’s a good chance that person is suffering from sleep deprivation.” ~Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, Rework



Staying up late to work on a project and then getting up at 5am to go into the office is not a good strategy. Lack of creativity, diminished morale and irritability are a few traits of people who go without sleep. Work smarter, not harder.



3. Unplug from the internet. Getting work done doesn’t require an internet connection. It’s amazing what can happen when you step out from behind the computer screen or your mobile device. Most of my killer ideas come to me when I’m taking a shower, on a walk, cooking a meal, and “not working.”



Everyone is creative and ideas can come to you at odd moments. Just because you have an idea doesn’t mean you have to implement it right away. Keep a journal with you at all times so that you can capture your idea and enjoy your down time.



4. Spend time in nature. Spending time in nature is a great way reduce stress, disconnect from everyday worries and incoming work messages. Set aside time in your daily life to go outside. For instance, take a half hour walk everyday and be mindful of your surroundings. There is no need to rush. Take your time, try to understand your instinctual feelings and observe the natural beauty in your neighborhood.



5. Make time for friends, family and your partner. If you’re working too much, you’re probably sacrificing time with friends, family and your life partner. Doing work you love is extremely important, but so are the people who love you. Consider how you spend your time and what is truly important in life. When you are with your family, friends and life partner, really be there. Make an effort to be present. For instance, if you’re having a conversation with a friend listen to what they are saying. Be engaged and ask questions.



6. Eat real food. A side effect of working too much is eating out more and not eating real food. Real food includes, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Before you head out to the office, take time the night before or early in the morning to prepare a healthy breakfast and lunch.



Most importantly, don’t eat while you’re working. Savor your food and enjoy every bite. Studies have show that if you eat food quickly, you’re more likely to over eat and gain weight.



7. Find a hobby. Cultivate a hobby; preferably something that doesn’t relate to your day job. Start by brainstorming your interests. For example, you can start running, walking, knitting, reading novels, or writing. A hobby should be something that brings you joy; something you can lose yourself in and find your flow.



8. Listen to your body. If you are working too much you will start feeling tired, cranky and apathetic. All of these symptoms are a sign that you need to slow down. It’s essential to listen to your body. When you listen to your body, you’ll know when your sick or just need some extra rest.



9. Constantly question your goals and life purpose. It’s important to continually reevaluate your goals, life purpose and behaviors. For example if you constantly stay late at the office, sacrifice personal relationships because of work, or check your email obsessively, ask yourself:



Why am I doing this?

What is the end goal?

Are my behaviors healthy?

10. Continue to cultivate healthy habits. Developing healthy habits is not something that happens overnight. By working on one small behavior change everyday, you can make huge changes over the long-term. For example, rather than checking your email every five minutes, start checking it 3 times a day.



Also, consider incorporating small changes to your daily routine, like getting a half hour of exercise everyday, preparing your own food and being present when you spend time with friends and family.



11. Reach out to others with a good work-life balance. If you think you’re a workaholic, reach out to others. Connect with friends, family, and consider therapy as an option. If you think this is negatively impacting your life, do something about the problem. We only get one life. So live it well and take care of yourself.



Tammy Strobel is the author of Simply Car-free: How to Pedal Toward Financial Freedom and a Healthier Life and writes about social change through simple living at RowdyKittens.

Stupid Girl Loses Job Because of Facebook Status (how would you handle situation as the employer?)

http://www.recruitingblogs.com/profiles/blogs/stupid-girl-loses-job-because

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