Lion And Gazelle


Courtesy: Anu, my IIM-B Classmate

Lions love to eat gazelle meat; however, it is very difficult for them to catch gazelles because they run so fast. Instead, a group of young lions herd the gazelles away from them. The gazelles easily outrun the lions and head off in the direction the lions have chosen, which is unknowingly towards a deep grassy area where a group of older lions are hiding.

The older lions are too old and tired to be part of the chase; many are missing teeth, and would never be able to catch their own meat. When the gazelles are driven within close range of the older lions, they jump up and ROAR loudly.

Immediately, the gazelles, responding to their perceived fear of imminent death, turn and run in the opposite direction, right into the mouths of the young lions.

“The moral is that running from your fears and not facing them can often lead you into real danger and worse outcomes. In day-to-day life, the lions lying in wait may not be life threatening, but they are often false fears.

Running away may mean we remain stuck and unhappy for a long time or until we face and move through our fear. Remember Jack Canfield’s words in “The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be”. “If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got.” Instead of acting instinctively, or from habit, think about your fears. Analyse them. Take steps to defeat them. Then go to the roar. Think of your fears as a challenge to be overcome, or a problem to be solved.

Courtesy: Anu, my IIM-B Classmate

Cheers,

Vijay Srinivasan
12th May 2013

Loneliness


Sometimes, I used to feel very lonely.

Not because I was alone.

More because of the fact that the mind feels loneliness when thinking about certain things – developments which are not pleasant for example.

One should not ignore such feelings of loneliness and dismiss the same outright.

May be it is that my mind thinks about a certain development in not so positive a manner – it could even be thoughts about the environment in which we live, one’s health, the decrepit morality in society, the lack of governance by the government, et al.

May be the mind imagines that the ideal world is not going to happen – which incidentally is true, right ? One has to adjust and live by the rules and make do with what one does not like if one does not have the power to change the world, right ?

But, sometimes in the midst of all these thinking stuff, it is not unusual to feel lonely.

In such situations, one needs courage to face the loneliness. One needs tools to manage the situation without negative impact to oneself.

How can that be achieved ?

One good way that I have used over time is to indulge in some research and reading, followed by some serious writing (like this blog post !). Another way is to hit the gym and do some serious running or weightlifting, lifting the weight off one’s mind !

Concentrating on a new aspect of life is yet another way to engage the mind and get it out of its loneliness.

At the end of the day, loneliness is the antithesis of society living – one needs to connect with a host of friends and family and try to get the maximum out of one’s life while contributing to others’ lives.

Difficult to achieve, no doubt, but can surely be done if attempted in a positive and concerted manner.

There are ways to beat the loneliness, so don’t lose heart !

Cheers,

Vijay Srinivasan
2nd March 2013
Mumbai

Yearning to Achieve


People wish to accomplish something that is personally relevant to their lives.

And, in case it turns out to be something which benefits others, so much good going for it.

The inherent yearning to achieve is what distinguishes winners from losers.

May be it is not the right way to differentiate winners and losers. May be the right way to qualify the folks who have a constant internal urge to excel and achieve something is different – it could be that such folks have focus on doing something in life which is meaningful and fulfilling – not only to them and their immediate family, but to others impacted by them as well.

One clear example is a business leader who builds and grows businesses, constantly focused on generating value to his/her own company and to the clients of his/her business. And, more than that, offer a business livelihood of meaningful value to the employees of the business.

Only such leaders are recognized almost forever, endorsed, and valued highly in business life. Employees and customers remember a leader who has taken a very personal interest in developing everyone around, in the interest of the business and at the same time, with a personal dedication in developing people and relationships which go with people.

It is rare these days to find such leaders. They come and go with such regularity, especially at the top levels, that employees and clients start to consider such folks as “distant” and “not necessarily impactful”, and as a “necessity of corporate life”. This is a pity, as only leaders who could maintain a constant presence can build businesses and impact people positively. They are not approached by clients just for some extra help or intervention when needed. They are involved in co-creation of business value to both sides.

Same thing with employees – if a leader is unable to devote time to his/her employees, that is the single biggest mistake he or she can commit. Notwithstanding the paucity of time, a business leader always ensures more than adequate time to address employee problems and office issues, develop people, implement critical training programs, and mentor high potential employees. As one goes up in the company hierarchy, it becomes all the more crucial to spend at least one-third of available time on employee development issues and succession planning for critical roles in the organization.

This aspect is taken so lightly in most organizations – only lip service is provided, while the issues burn at the back. For an organization focused on sustainability for the very long run, there is a need to balance growth with human resource development, as business cannot be automated to run with robots unfortunately. There are many examples of such great organizations which have achieved a finely crafted balance between financial metrics and human issues, and still achieved superior business results.

The urge to achieve that is present in an individual is therefore to be celebrated. Without that, there is no progress and no achievement. The need to develop and nurture an inner drive focused on a meaningful achievement in life is not taught in business schools – it erupts from within.

Think about it !

Cheers,

Vijay Srinivasan
2nd December 2012
Mumbai

Wisdom of Silence


Courtesy: Anu, my IIM-B Classmate

There once was a farmer who discovered that he had lost his watch in the barn. It was no ordinary watch because it had sentimental value for him. After searching high and low among the hay for a long while; he gave up and enlisted the help of a group of children playing outside the barn.

He promised them that the person who found it would be rewarded.

Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn, went through and around the entire stack of hay but still could not find the watch. Just when the farmer was about to give up looking for his watch, a little boy went up to him and asked to be given another chance.

The farmer looked at him and thought, “Why not? After all, this kid looks sincere enough.”

So the farmer sent the little boy back in the barn. After a while the little boy came out with the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised and so he asked the boy how he succeeded where the rest had failed.

The boy replied, “I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. In the silence, I heard the ticking of the watch and just looked for it in that direction.”

Moral:
A peaceful mind can think better than a worked up mind. Allow a few minutes of silence to your mind every day, and see, how sharply it helps you to set your life the way you expect it to be…!

Courtesy: Anu, my IIM-B Classmate

Cheers,

Vijay Srinivasan
11th November 2012
Mumbai

Ten Ways to be HAPPY


Courtesy: Ashraf, my secondary school classmate

1. ACCEPT the things that you can’t change. If you can and want to change them, DO IT.

2. LET GO of the people who are holding you down. If you considered them, you already know who these people are.

3. BLAST your favourite upbeat song and sing at the top of your lungs, dancing as you go.

4. GO for a run. A nice, long run. Run until you feel GOOD ; at the very least, you’ll be tired enough that the feelings will seem less major.

5. CALL someone you LOVE. Just hearing their voice can make your day better.

6. SMILE at a stranger. It will make both of you smile.

7. SEND an anonymous compliment.

8. WRITE down everything you don’t like about yourself. Rip it up.

9. WATCH your favourite movie.

10.TRUST yourself.

Courtesy: Ashraf, my secondary school classmate

Cheers,

Vijay Srinivasan
21st October 2012
Mumbai

Enjoy Life Now – It has an Expiry Date!


Courtesy: Ashraf, my secondary school classmate

Love the people who treat you right and have compassion for the ones who don’t………

When I was a kid, my Mom liked to cook food and every now & then I remember she used to cook for us.

One night in particular when she had made dinner after a long hard day at work, Mom placed a plate of
bread jam and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I was waiting to see if anyone noticed the burnt toast.

But Dad just ate his toast and asked me how was my day at school.

I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember I heard Mom apologizing to dad for burning the toast. And I’ll never forget what he said: “Honey, I love burned toast.”

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned.

He wrapped me in his arms and said, “Your momma put in a long hard day at work today and she was really tired. And besides……..a burnt toast never hurts anyone but harsh words do!”

You know, life is full of imperfect things… and imperfect people…. I’m not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else.

What I’ve learned over the years, is that learning to accept each others’ faults and choosing to celebrate relationships is critical for a happy life – on both sides, the giver and the recipient.

Life is too short to wake up with regrets……….

Love the people who treat you right and have compassion for the ones who don’t………

ENJOY LIFE NOW.
It has an expiry date!!!

Courtesy: Ashraf, my secondary school classmate

Cheers,

Vijay Srinivasan
7th October 2012
Mumbai

Great Truths


Courtesy: Anu, my IIM-B Classmate

1. In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress. 


– John Adams

2. If you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.

– Mark Twain 

3. Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself.

– Mark Twain

4. I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.

– Winston Churchill

5. A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.

– George Bernard Shaw
6. A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to payoff with your money.

– G. Gordon Liddy 

7. Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.

– James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)

8. Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.

– Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University 

9. Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.

– P.J. O’Rourke, Civil Libertarian

10. Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. 

– Frederic Bastiat, French economist(1801-1850)

11. Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

– Ronald Reagan(1986) 

12. I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.

– Will Rogers

13. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it’s free!

– P.J. O’Rourke 

14. In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.

– Voltaire(1764)

15. Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you!

– Pericles (430B.C.) 

16. No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.

– Mark Twain(1866)

17. Talk is cheap…except when Congress does it.

–Anonymous 

18. The government is like a baby’s alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.

– Ronald Reagan

19. The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.

– Winston Churchill 

20. The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.

– Mark Twain

21. The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.

– Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903) 

22. There is no distinctly Native American criminal class…save Congress.

– Mark Twain

23. What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.

– Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995) 

24. A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.

– Thomas Jefferson

25. We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.

–Aesop 

FIVE BEST SENTENCES

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealth out of prosperity.

2.What one person receives without working for…another person must work for without receiving.

3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. 

4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.

5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work, because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation!

Courtesy: Anu, my IIM-B Classmate

Cheers,
Vijay Srinivasan
19th May 2012
Mumbai

Life Lesson – A Beautiful African Story


Courtesy: Anu, my IIM-B Classmate

This is a very nice and important story of human evolution and a beautiful lesson for all of us.

Take a look at this picture first:

<a href=”https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s320x320/535092_411313612215686_179547575392292_1736416_1004305014_n.jpg” rel=”nofollow”>”African Children” </a>

An anthropologist studying the habits and customs of an African tribe found himself surrounded by children most days. So he decided to play a little game with them. He managed to get candy from the nearest town and put it all in a decorated basket, at the foot of a tree. Then  he called the children and suggested they play the game. When the anthropologist said “now”, the children had to run to the tree and the first one to get there could have all the candy to him/herself.

So the children all lined up waiting for the signal. When the anthropologist said “now”, all of the children took each other by the hand ran together towards the tree. They all arrived at the same time divided up the candy, sat down and began to happily munch away.

The anthropologist went over to them and asked why they had all run together when any one of them could have had the candy all to themselves.

The children responded: ”Ubuntu. How could any one of us be happy if all the others were sad?”

Ubuntu is a philosophy of African tribes that can be summed up as “I am what I am because of who we all are.”

Bishop Desmond Tutu gave this explanation in 2008 :

“One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu – the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can’t exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can’t be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality – Ubuntu – you are known for your generosity. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole World. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.”

Courtesy: Anu, my IIM-B Classmate

Cheers,

Vijay Srinivasan

12th May 2012

Mumbai

The Charles Schultz Philosophy


Courtesy: Srinivas Rao, my IIM-B Classmate

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip. You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just read the following straight through, and you’ll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America Contest.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. They are not second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are NOT the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care.

Courtesy: Srinivas Rao, my IIM-B Classmate

Cheers,

Vijay Srinivasan
24th March 2012
Mumbai

Just Look Up !


Courtesy: Anu, my IIM-B Classmate

THE BUZZARD:

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is That a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a Run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, It will not even
attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

THE BAT:

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

THE BUMBLEBEE:

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom.. It
will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself..

PEOPLE:

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! That’s the answer, the escape route and the solution to any
problem! Just look up.

Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, But faith looks up!

Courtesy: Anu, my IIM-B Classmate

Have Confidence in Yourself and believe in the Solution !!

Cheers,

Vijay Srinivasan
5th February 2012
Mumbai