blog-bites

Pissed on and passed over

2010-08-09T17:38:00.001+05:30

The term is used for people who despite hard work , integrity and dedication do not fare well in an organization. They are always left out when it comes to performance reward, promotion, recognition and other form of appraisals. They are silent onlookers when their craftier colleagues grab their share of credit. They feel trampled, self esteem at nadir and unwillingness to contribute.
What exactly are such people’s problems? It’s simple: they are not smart enough and don’t know how to play the game. They are too soft and allow themselves to be other’s doormat. We live in a world corporate which has become more style rather than substance oriented. Therefore, proper packaging and presentation are indispensable to take you places. You need to be gregarious, communicative and approachable.
I would like to share an incident. There was a person who was part of the launch of a retail store . He was a part of the team and had worked day and night to get it started. Hence, he was quite passionate and emotionally attached to the store. He was quite a principled and diligent fellow. Then a relative of the owner of the store was appointed from the head office to supply material to the store. He started supplying sub standard materials which was not taken well by that person. He opposed to it tooth and nail and ultimately was thrown out of the organization on a slight pretext. What did he gain for all his efforts, hard work, emotions. Nothing…….
Politics is part and parcel of an organization and there’s no escape from it. You need not be a part of it but you should know how to manage it.
Another important aspect is communication and grooming. Communication is something that one needs to pay heed to. You need to talk continually about your efforts , what you are trying to do and what you are trying to achieve. Keep your boss updated about your work from time to time. Communication should keep flowing and people should be aware that if you are working on it then others either positively contribute or need to perturb unnecessarily. Talking to your colleagues, boss and peers is one way to save yourself from popo.
If I work then I should ideally get the credit and not allow anyone to steal it from m else will end up as a spectacular underachiever.

Why workplace sucks……

2010-08-03T23:56:00.001+05:30

O God its already 8:00 o’clock and I’ll be late for work. Don’t feel like going to office . Everyday is same: the same schedule, the same people, the same boss and the same 9:00 to 6:00 mundane work routine . When will I get rid of all this? When will I be able to do what I want to do....Maximum of us face similar kind of work trauma every day. Work is mandatory and workplace is where we have to go necessarily unless one makes a windfall or receives a fortune from someone. Though both are improbable situations hence, lets accept the bland truth that we have to necessarily work to survive, feed the family and maintain a lifestyle. How many of us enjoy going to office.? From philosophical perspective we live on this earh to perform some karma. Therefore ,work is essence of life and it gives a motive and reason to live. Apart from money we work to fulfill our other aspirations like recognition, boost self esteem, prove oneself etc. At the same time depression, anxiety, stress are also the gifts of workplace.

We spend almost 60-70% of our time at workplace. But if the same workplace becomes a centre of dirty politics, stress, mental and physical illness then we face a constant threat of breakdown.

Let’s examine the factors that make a workplace traumatic.

Office politics: office gossips, office politics, badmouthing take a toll on someone’s life. Politics of any kind is detestable and if the politics is to overload someone, make him a scapegoat or deprive him of some benefit it demotivates a person immensely. Politics to stunt someone’s growth or career affects the organization’s overall productivity because it has a cascading effect.

Nagging bosses: we often have bosses badgering us incessantly for everything right from the time you walk into the office, time taken for coffee break , lunch break , smoke break apart from sales and target. Then we feel like a robot with the remote control in our bosses’ hand.

Workplace competition: when competition no more remains a competition but a mad rush with everyone slugging out for incentives, promotions, bonus, hikes all the time, one’s life becomes deplorable. Work should not become an obsession.

Work culture: If the work culture is such that you feel like an alien then its better to quit else the mire of odd situation will take a toll on your self esteem and confidence . In many organizations both the employees and company have a negative attitude At such a place working even for one more day sucks.

No clarity in roles: If the job is defined one is at peace. You know what you are required to do and what’s expected from you. Else you are constantly bombarded with clichéd statements “ why you did this , it’s not your job” or “ why didn’t you finish the task , don’t you know you are supposed to do that”. If the person’s job is defined he can plan his day accordingly and can balance his life effectively. When I started working in an export house my key job was to do marketing but gradually I was doing everything designing, sampling, pricing etc. Result at the end of the day none of the jobs were 100% accomplished. At such a place you can’t stay for long.

Too many approvals: There are organizations where one has no liberty to execute an idea. For everything one needs to inform the boss and take his approval. In such an atmosphere monotony sets in fast and there are no challenges left after sometime.

Workplace should be soothing instead of sucking. Both the employees and organizations should understand this and make a concerted effort to make workplace as comfortable as home and treat each other as a part of family. When you are happy you feel like contributing else keep thinking of excuses for non performance and frequent leaves.

Rules or no rules

2010-07-29T17:05:00.003+05:30

A man was addicted to smoking cigarettes.He asked someone for help. He was asked about how he started smoking. He replied," I never wanted to smoke .Infact, i hated the smell.One day i was talking to my friend on the street. My friend was smoking a cigarette. My father saw us from a distance and he thought that i too was smoking.When i went home he shouted and yelled at me. He didn't listen to me. Then i decided how does it matter if i smoke now. I have already been punished for it.So, i started to smoke."

Why rules are created and expected to be abided.It's primarily to inculcate discipline, to organise and manage, to create uniformity . Parents impose rules on kids, teachers on students and managers on employees.Rules are assumed to generate some good results.But are the rule makers actually the followers? Managers command their employees to honour time but they are the ones who are mostly late to the office.Parents restrict child from eating junk stuffs but they hardly circumscribe themselves from eating what they like

Now , lets understand why do we break rules.It's for the thrill , adventure , fun in doing something unconventional or feeling of unfetterd freedom. How many of us are thrilled by breaking traffic rules and saying no to our parents to prove that we are grown ups. At times " No " we feel is an expression of self esteem, it satisfies our ego and we feel like a winner. Beware, saying no could also become an addiction. Its in the form of rebellion without any reason.Like in 70's counter culture-hippie movement in western US- a rebellion against society.

It brings up the fact to what extent should the rules be broken. Our this feeling of thrill and adventure can ruin someone's life.There had been numerous car accidents for the sake of thrill.

I feel boasting indiscipline is more easy than following the tough path of rule. First we need to understand why the rule was created. Work towards that understanding . Then can either follow the rule or bend the rule or break the rule.

Mall Eye

2010-07-28T10:54:00.003+05:30

It's to caution the people who frequently visit malls. A number of mall shoppers are complaining about red and itchy eyes due to prolonged exposure to strong lighting inside the mall. It especially shoots up during the weekend.

ARE MANAGEMENT GURUS GOOD MANAGERS TOO…..

2010-07-13T16:58:00.002+05:30

We are often told that there’s a difference between preaching and practicing. Does the same apply to B schools professors. Business school professors make a living by teaching management. Should we presume that they know to manage things well ? Many people think so.

Professor who specializes in conflict management should never get divorced. A professor of behavioral science may not get along with his colleagues. One who teaches investment management ideally should be a billionaire by playing in the market. Faculty who teaches leadership should be an automatic choice for director’s post. Marketing faculties should be able to market themselves very well and some of them should become famous brands themselves. Soft skills trainers family and kids should be quintessence of good manners and discipline. One who teaches entrepreneurship should have one's own business.

This is not usually the case. Knowing is something else and applying is different. We all know honesty is the best policy but only few follow.

Peter Drucker , the greatest management guru, once confessed that he would make a poor executive. He simply can’t delegate though preaching delegation comes easy to him.

Stars association with brands

2010-07-09T17:39:00.003+05:30

Stars and celebrities endorsing products is a common sight. Stars brand association enhances the value and faith of customers in that product. This is especially true in case of children and teenagers who are often overwhelmed by the stars they like. Especially if a new product is launched, and a famous star endorses it , it immediately bonds with the customer. There are numerous examples when this association has resulted in increased sales and profit for the company and therefore , special budget allocated for advertising and promotions by celebrities.

Now - a - days the product endorsement is done not only by the stars but the entire movie. Example: Shahrukh khan endorsed dish tv in my name is khan , santro in rab ne bana di jodi, Hrithik endorsed Acer and Provogue in Kites. It provides brand an apportuinity to go beyond 30 sec commercials and break ad clutter.

Though promoting brand within movie is a tough task for script writers and film directors. It may not go with the script of the movie. In that case a particular brand ambassador cannot replace it with another brand of the same category due to strict contractual obligations.

Is the language Hindi dying?

2010-05-07T12:59:00.003+05:30

English is fast pervading into every aspect of our life right from education to entertainment and office to home. English has become a status symbol .Modernity is reflected by how embellished and enriched is our English language. Speaking Hindi in public places , parties is considered low class . I remember someone complaining that her son used the word “ kura “ instead of garbage and she was abashed.

None of the countries abandon their mother tongue so apathetically as we have . English has its own role which is substantial. But taking the support system of our mother tongue will make it crippled and vanished in sometime.

Hindi is fast losing its sheen and soon, it will be diminished into a regional or rural language spoken by a handful people in some part of the country. Time has come that we take some steps to save the language from becoming extinct.

Pass mark in Hindi language should be made compulsory in all schools. Hindi should be fostered by our politicians and bollywood actors who have maximum impact on society. Steps like making Hindi an official language of United Nations would take the cause further.

It’s a part of our culture and tradition. Bountiful books and sahityas written in Hindi are gathering dust in libraries and book shelves. Our kids should also read and understand the epics and mythologies reading and hearing which we have grown up.

Hindi should not be subjected to be a functional language used solely for conversation but should look forward to enrich the language as we learn enthusiastically new vocabulary in English.

It requires lot of support and sustainment from the present generation. Hindi has numerous experiences to share. Please do justice to the language and give it its due share.

With love,
An English teacher.

THE 3 MISTAKES OF MY LIFE

2009-05-12T19:00:00.012+05:30

It is the story of Govind Patel and his two friends Ish and Omi . All of them were of different temperament , skills , passion and demeanour in life.

The book resembles a Bollywood flick as it portrays everything friendship, breach of trust, shattering of dreams, political and naturalcalamities , love, passion , hatred et al . Govind, a young boy in Ahmedabad , with an aptitude in maths opens a cricket shop along with his two friends Ish and Omi in a temple premise. They face varied hiccups in realising their goals in life.

As the name suggests , the book revolves around the three prime mistakes committed by Govind owing to most mundane reasons .
First, out of greed he lays all his eggs in one basket and puts all his savings and his friends to own a shop in a mall. Unfortunately, due to earthquake the shop gets destroyed and he loses all the savings of his life.

Second mistake committed out of lust and overwhelming impulse when he screws up his friend Ish sister . Ish had asked him to teach his sister Vidya maths.He gradually falls in love with her and crosses all limits of trust and faith. Almost at the end of the plot Ish comes to know about their coition and break all ties with Govind for three years. Ish’s apathy and his own culpableness coerces Govind to pop up sleeping pills and write an Email to Chetan Bhagat.

Third mistake committed was out of fear while saving a muslim boy Ali from the mob. The boy was gifted in cricket. Ish pledges to give him a national presence . But while a mob attack , Govind gets delayed by a second in taking decision and the boy’s wrist gets injured which damages his flair of batting

The book depicts multiple emotions like all three of them betting their lives for a stranger and counter religion boy Ali, Ish’s passion for cricket and how he tries to fulfill his unrealised dream through Ali,the ugly face of politics and much more

The language is quite simple and lucid ,hence, can be enjoyed by all age groups.

GO KISS THE WORLD

2009-05-11T17:53:00.006+05:30

My profuse thanks to Subrato Bagachi for providing us such a wonderful book to read. It is a magnificient collection of his real life experinces, learnings and answering most pertinent questions we face in our day to day life.

He had a humble beginning of his career as a clerk in a government office and went up to co-founding MINDTREE – India’s first venture funded IT Services Company and get publicly listed. All this was possible by sheer hard and smart work , picking up from his own mistakes , listening to his senior’s suggestions and adhering to his mentor’s advice.

I have quoted a few excerpts from the book which I found quite relevant and practical.

Blessed are the one’s who get a genuine adviser at some point in their life. They will not only caution and prevent you from falling into a trap but also bolster and guide you through as you tread different walks of life. In his words:

“ Most people covet good jobs , great postings , higher salaries etc. what they call as job satisfaction. I would , however , trade all of that for opportunity to work for a great boss. “His mentor was Dr. Sridhar Mitta who has set up Wipro’s R&D from scratch. From him he learnt his first rule for managing is to listen. “This most bosses find difficult to do because in order to listen, you must first suspend all judgement”. This is a clear stark portrait of today’s managers who barely have any time to listen to their subordinates or advice him.

One of subrato’s challenge when he returned to India was to give Wipro’s R&D office a contemporary look.On the contrary, his this endeavor was negatively reflected in his 360 degree feedback as not being cost conscious. Being upset he went to Dr. Mitra wherein he was advised “ we live in a world in which perception is reality . And that it takes time for perception to build up “. Understanding the implication he went back and worked with same fervour but this time conscious of his actions and words.Again, next year he got same feedback from his peers . Devastated he once more went to Dr. Mitra . Dr. Mitra said, “ while it takes time to build perceptions , it takes even longer for perceptions to change .” He understood the significance of the fact and says that “ in our work , we need to be sensitive to feedbacks and work to correct ourselves but shouldn’t expect people to change what they think of us overnight . Negative public opinion most often has some basis and we must have the grace to accept it. “. Over a period of five years he was finally able to transform the R&D division.

He has discussed in the book the importance of a salesperson and the essence of selling. He exhibits a brilliant insight on sales. As per him:
“ No other profession teaches you the true worth of your own abilities than a sales job. Reason , the outcome is completely binary. Either you have made sale or not. It requires one to listen so much . Learn to read body language and emotions. Learn to isolate the stated needs from unstated concerns of customer. Like an iceberg nine-tenths of a customer’s needs and requirements are hidden below the surface of what he’s telling you as you are pitching your products. A good salesperson learns to understand and address these.
Selling and negotiations are intertwined . You negotiate with your colleague, boss, peer, children and complete strangers. Only selling teaches you nuances of negotiation. “

I found his tip on frustration quite germane . He says:
“Frustration without capability to change things is like a radioactive material burning inside you. It is the difference between your ambition and your capability. Either improve your capability or lower your expectation. Don’t sit there with the radioactive turned inward. Not everything around you can be changed by you. Focus on issue that fall in overlap of your zone of concern and zone of influence. Concern without influence is of no use. “

His book is full of such interesting anecdotes, tips and quotes. A must read for all.

DAYCARE : A boon or a bane

2008-05-26T12:10:00.003+05:30

A child is born. He’s welcome with loads of greetings, love, gifts and celebration. As he grows up there’s another thing waiting for him. It’s DAYCARE. Today’s parents are quite mature and are quite planned. Planning starts right from when to conceive, delivery dates and sharing of responsibility post birth.

Initially there used to be joint families and the child used to grow up amongst grandpa, grandma, chacha, chachi etc. There was no room for loneliness. Childhood was all about love, care and lots of pampering.

Now as more and more working class are moving to metro cities and quite many women are taking up job , the concept of joint family is fast fading and is ushering an era of nuclear family. To keep up to a certain lifestyle and to obtain acceptance amongst peer and social class it’s becoming mandatory for both the parents to earn.

All the above factors have resulted in mushrooming of daycares in all cities whether big or small. Daycare as the name suggests means the enterprise will take full care of your child , give him healthy food , friendly and loving environment, pollution free atmosphere with A/Cs in all rooms, fantastic study material, lots of activities like karate, gym, dance, paintings etc. What else the parents need??????? All is being taken care of without an iota of hurdle in their daily schedule. Thus carefree from child’s side, parents can concentrate more on their career and bring home more money.

Now lets look from the child’s perspective. Even he or she is happy amongst friends. They all eat together, sleep together, dance together and everything together. Discipline is maintained. There’s time for eating, sleeping, playing, studying. They gradually learn to adjust, become extrovert, sharing, friendly, independent, and everything good seems to be happening.

But on the flip side, we see the parents leaving their three to six month baby in a daycare because of the above facilities. For such parents, kids are no more the gifts of God but more of an unavoidable responsibility. I don’t deny that love and care is required at all age but at such a small age more tender care and love is necessary. The child is small and immunity is non existent. In such a case falls an easy prey to loads of diseases.

Daycare seems to be a paradise for parents to live their angels behind. The facilities are world-class like cctv’s , a/c, splash pool. Better the facility, higher the fees.
Beautifully decorated rooms, lots of toys, amazing hygiene….what else the child needs???
We should ask this question to ourselves. How long can we stay in a mansion, with good food, lots of people, modern facilities but no one amongst our loved ones. At the end of the day you would like to run away to be free and to be with people whom you love.

But what can even the parents do????. In such a competitive world it takes much time and effort to build career. It’s not possible for everyone to sacrifice everything, sit ideal for 2-3 years and restart from zero.

To wrap up of what I think, overall, daycare has become a very lucrative profession. It provides a win win situation to all. Parents are assured of child’s supervision and care and they can follow their career and growth path without hesitation. But at the same time parents should make sure that in their rat race “ kho na jayen kahin ye, Taare zameen pe “

Traditional Formats united to challenge Retail biggies.

2008-05-18T17:55:00.003+05:30

Take a look at this:
Reliance Fresh has a strategy of targeting 3000 households in 2 km area. Catchments and store will offer more than 150 varieties of fruits and vegetables, and along with this lower price and great ambience.

No wonder, independent family run Kiranas, General store and chemists which make up India’s traditional retail universe are reeling under pressure of these retail biggies. They are finding it hard to cope up with the huge margin pressure and betraying customers.

Recent retail forays like Future Retail, Reliance Fresh, More; Chou pal with the best retail practices and technology advantage are posing a threat to the very existence of the mom and pop stores. To complicate further, the MNCs like Carrefour, Wal-Mart and Tesco having saturated their respective countries are now eyeing on India. This breakneck retailing revolution has put everyone in a state of panic. Local provisional stores are dying with apprehension as how to combat big retailers discount, freebies and other attractive customer policies; Retailers are facing hurdle in opening stores across all the state ;and government on the other hand is facing the nationwide protest against big retailers and MNC’s. Customers though winner almost in every case, still have to put all their purchases on hold for weekend or leisure time to visit the supermarkets to avail the discounts and freebies.

In such a scenario, Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal( BUVM ) has come as a win win situation for all. It’s the biggest national level association of kirana/mom and pop stores. It comprises 17000 state and district level association covering 27 states. The co-operative throughout India is aimed at helping its members to benefit from a common sourcing and shared infrastructure (logistics, storage and billing) platform.
The societies will be jointly owned by some 2000 small retailers in each state. The members would be the ones who own small provisional stores. These shopkeepers would calculate their monthly goods requirement and then approach and negotiate directly with the manufacturers like HUL, P&G, ITC etc.

Such collective buying on one hand will put the society at par with the mall requirement and on the other hand would save the margins that would have been eaten away by the middlemen. Together they will pose a challenge to the big retailers of the country.

I hope it’s going to put an end to all the disputes by putting the local retailers at par with Retail bigwigs and MNC’s.

Growing luxury market in India

2008-05-12T17:00:00.000+05:30

Indians have finally learnt to spend. The traditional concept of earn and save is giving way to earn and enjoy. No wonder luxury and extravaganza is flowing and flooding. Everything seems to be working and hence, entrepreneurs and corporates are daring to launch innovative and exclusive products without much apprehensions. Yesterday’s comfort has become today’s necessity. Designerwear , expensive jewellery , exclusive dining etc is no more the prerogative of rich and famous. Even an average upper middle class has atleast one designer wear in their wardrobe, affords diamond and loves to celebrate special occasion in a five star hotel.

Today’s generation can be said to be achievers. Thay earn with a specific goal in mind. Now-a-days a youngster in his 20’s affords mobile phone, apartment, car etc.
EMI’s have made the things even more simpler. There’s an extraordinary confidence to be seen around.

This newly acquired spending power has given a special place to India in global economy. Almost all the International retail chains in any sector whether food & FMCG , designer clothes , shoes , toys , cars can’t even think of ignoring India. Fiat to roll out Alfa Romeo and Ferrari; Omega launching its jewellery collection; Swarovski to create new crystal design with Asian touch are few evidences that corroborates the lately developed exquisite taste of Indians.

Though we still cannot ignore the fact that all this is dominant in metropolitan cities. India is still essentially a rural and agricultural country where farmers commit suicide when crops are destroyed or monsoons fail.

But then luxury is meant for niche and crème da la crème . I’m sure the scenario will gradually shift to Class B towns and trickle to almost all strata of society. Till then lets appreciate this start and lets live in style.

QUIT MAHARASHTRA

2008-03-18T15:16:00.001+05:30

By asking the non- Maharashtrians to vacate Mumbai, the politicians have made a complete farce of democracy. What I have read in history is that the people all over the country had united to fight for freedom for the entire nation. They would have hardly imagined that the country for which they had sacrificed their life, one day would be fighting amongst themselves for their states. Credit goes to some handful of politicians who have been successful in sowing the seeds of hatred for their selfish motives.

Recently, the whole nation had stood up for Harbhajan Singh for the remarks made by Aussie’s and we are repeating the same back in our own country.

It has always been known that people go where the jobs are and jobs go where the people are. Since time immemorial the people had been traveling from Village to City in search of work ( as depicted in books , movies etc.). Most of the parents take pride in saying that their children is working in U.S and U.K , then why criticize when one goes to another state in search of work. Isn’t it a double standard? Today people working abroad are not so insecure as those who have settled in other state within India. Is it the fault of people if their state is not so developed and cannot provide them job, work, food, security etc. They should either die of starvation or indulge into crime rather than work in different state and provide decent living to their family. In that case other countries are absolutely justified if they harass our people working there.

We stand for the biggest democracy in the world and are proud of freedom we enjoy in every aspect. Then why curb the freedom on mobility???? Why people fail to understand that it’s the people from all over the country who make the cities like Delhi and Mumbai a Metro. We Indians had always been very accommodating and have provided shelter to foreigners like Dalai Lama and Taslima Nasreen but today are showing dual behaviour towards our own people.

The foreigners had been taking advantage of our separatist and individualistic thinking and have ruled for long following the Divide and Rule policy. They understood we Indians could be divided on any petty issue and we have manifested the same time and again. Why we fail to realize that we are India and not Punjab, Maharashtra or Bihar. If one part of body is injured then pain is for entire body and to regain health it needs to be treated compulsorily.

Its very important to understand that if a person migrates to a particular state there’s always a give and take relationship. The person provides his service to the state , through consumption adds to the state’s revenue , pays rent, taxes etc. In return the state provides him employment, money, security, Peace etc. Then where’s the dispute???? There’s absolutely no ground of fight only if these politicians let us live in peace. How can one ignore that it’s the people from all over the country who have contributed to make Bangalore the Silicon Valley of India or bring IT boom in Hyderabad and Pune.

Its very surprising why everyone is so tight lipped on this issue ????? Why there’s no uproar in Parliament when hordes of ministers are from such states like U.P and Bihar. There is an urgent need of intervention before the issue gains ground and some myopic politicians of other state too start following the suit.

PARENTING AND MANAGERIAL SKILLS

2008-02-28T11:01:00.002+05:30

Parenthood always comes with a mixed response of extreme happiness on one hand and lots of responsibilities, energy , patience etc on the other .But parenting has an interesting aspect which is hardly noticed. Believe or not parenting can make you an excellent manager.We all know that after becoming parents one is transformed into an entirely different person as in becomes more mature, responsible, prudent et al . To elaborate: What are the essential qualities that we look for in a good manager? To start with:

Team work: Kids have some hundreds of demands of which 90% we try to fulfill without applying our logic or rationale. Moreover, everything needs to be dealt with much patience. In an organization there are people of different temperament , attitude . Hence, to keep them glued together in a team again is a tough task . But after dealing with a child , I guess it becomes easier to handle people of all accord.

Hardworking , sharp and energetic:
Rearing a child means lots of stamina and high energy level . One always has to be on their toes either taking care of their child’s tantrums or keeping an eye on them . Gradually such alacrity and adrenalin flows starts reflecting in day to day behaviour.

Good time management: Time management is considered good if within the stipulated time one is able to generate maximum output. As for a parents its always a race against time . Even 24 hours seems to be less . One tries to complete the major chunk of work when the child is asleep or rather tries to manage even five minutes of spare time. Work gets prioritized and the most important ones get attended first. Thus , one learns to prioritize and do efficient time management.

Good Motivator: A mother heartily motivates her kid even for his smallest achievements like scribbling, identifying an object or when puts his first step forward. That gradually becomes a habit because she understands that the child needs lots of encouragement and motivation for everything he does and most importantly even if he commits mistakes he does it fearlessly. That’s one aspect we always want to see in a good manager.

More than a boss , acts as a friend:
This is one quality which all of us adore . We all know to entertain a child we too need to become a child , think and act as he does. Hence, when in office you can easily mould yourself and can think on lines of your employees . All this will help in goal setting, harmonious relationship and friendly environment.

Carrot and stick approach:
As a parent one knows when to motivate , reward and when to punish the child. There’s something called “ Time Out “ when after giving few chances , its time to be harsh on child. Similar things happen in an organization. A good manager too follows the carrot and stick approach and very well knows when to shower kindness and when to be ruthless as far as discipline and efficiency is concerned.

To wrap up of what I think , a good parent can become an amazing manager. So, all those mothers who have quit their jobs for upbringing their child have something to cheer about . During the entire period of parenthood they undergo a complete metamorphosis and finally evolve as a person who is much mature , hardworking, patient and above all honed with good managerial skills.

Corporate better take a look!!!!!

Tips for problem Free Shopping

2007-11-21T23:16:00.000+05:30

The sale of Goods Act ,1930 provides consumers with rights as a buyer.

Redressal

Decide what redress you want. You can ask for:
A refund of the total amount;
A cash refund for the difference what has been paid by you and the reduced value of the faulty item;
If you and seller agree can go in for a replacement or free repair.

What you will be entitiled to will depend on how serious the fault is , how soon you bring it to the seller’s notice and the terms of sale written on the seller’s letterhead or as stated on the cash memo issued.

In case the salesman is adamant then approach the store manager or the store owner. Don’t accept the credit note . In case you do you cannot buy anything else, it will be difficult for you to get your money back later.

Always be fair in all your dealings. You are not entitled to nothing if you have examined the item when you bought but have overlooked the defects.

If your complaint to shopkeeper is unsatisfactorily attended to, your second line of defence is the manufacturer. He should be sent the complaint through registered AD post. In case the complaint is still unattended take the matter through the consumer redressal agencies such as the National Commission , the State commission and the District Forums set up under the Consumer Protection Act., 1986.

Claims:

If you order goods which are not in stock , you can give a date by which they should be delivered to you. If it does not arrive on time can refuse to accept it.

Sometimes consumers are victims of untrue claims – for example: your drycleaners promised you same day service but took a week. If you have been seriously misled, approach the district Forum . The shop owner may be convicted and you maybe awarded a compensation.

Sometimes one pays a deposit for a thing to be delivered subsequently. If while paying the deposit , the seller agrees to return it, ask him to write it on your receipt. Also ask him to write “ Deposit will be returned if the goods are unsatisfactory “, and get signed along with the date. Follow this rule for any offer of after sales service too.

When you order something , both you and seller agree to a fixed price – but you will have to pay any increase in sales tax. If you have agreed not to pay a higher price at the time of delivery due to inflation , put it in writing.

PRANAYAM

2007-10-31T13:54:00.000+05:30

Pranayam or breath control is link between mind and body. Prana means life force and anayama means control .By focusing on the breath , the mind becomes calm and balanced. Pranayama implies mastering the life force within. By controlling the motion of the lungs or respiratory organs, we can control the Prana that is vibrating inside. Everything we do uses life forces or Prana. For most of us this vital energy is constantly depleted and never recharged. Pranayama also helps to connect the body to its battery, the solar plexus where tremendous potential energy is stored. When tapped this vital energy or prana is released for physical , mental , spiritual rejuvenation.

Inhalation supplies abundant oxygen to the body. Exhalation expels waste products and toxins from the body. Retention is holding of breath to gain control and prevent dissipation of energy.

Pollution , bad posture like hunching and slouching , stress and faulty living habits allows us to use only a fraction of our potential respiratory capacity.In shallow breathing or incomplete exhalation not all the toxic and waste carbon dioxide is emitted , hence , it continues to recycle in the respiratory system thereby reducing the amount of new oxygen available for avioli. All this results in fatigue caused by improper blood circulation and insufficient supply of oxygen to blood cells.

The longevity of the body increases as the rate of breathing reduces. In the animal world , there’s a strong correlation between the number of breaths and life span. For eg. The tortoise takes 3 breaths a minute lives about 180 years while monkey which takes 30 breath a minute, may live about 20-30years.

One should not practice pranayam after a heavy meal because it reduces concentration as food causes some blood and oxygen supply to be diverted into the stomach for digestion.

MARRIAGE QUOTES

2007-10-29T10:47:00.000+05:30

I first learned the concepts of non-violence in my marriage.

Mohandas K. Gandhi

It is not a lack of love , but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriage

Friedrich Nietzche

Love is blind, but marriage restores its sight.

George C. Lichtenberg

All weddings are similar , but every marriage is different.

John Berger

If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married.

Katherine Hepburn.

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times , always with the same person.

Mignan Mclaughlin

A good marriage is at least 80% good luck in finding the right person at the right time. The rest is trust.

Nanette Newman

Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.

Oscar Wilde

A good marriage is that in which each appoints the other guardian of his solitude.

Rainer Maria Rilke

I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They have experienced pain and bought jewellery

Rita Rudner

The goal in marriage is not to think alike , but to think together.

Robert C. Dodds

My advice to you is to get married . If you find a good wife , you will be happy , if not you will become a philosopher.

Socrates

Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love , and they blossom when we love the ones we marry.

Tom Mullen

MARRIAGE FACTS

2007-10-27T23:07:00.000+05:30

India is a country known for its diverse culture and religion. Hence, each region follows its own rituals and customs of celebrating marriage. All of these rituals have some significance. The most common ones have been discussed below:

Mehndi :
During an Indian wedding both the bride and bridegroom put mehndi which symbolizes love. It is also a symbol of love between husband and wife. The bride has the name of the groom carved into the mehndi pattern.The groom is expected to find his name in the pattern. If he cannot do so, it is said that, the bride will control the marriage.

Jaimaal :
In Jaimal both the bride and groom exchange garland of fresh flowers in presence of everyone. It symbolizes that by mutual consent of parents, both boy and girl accept each other as husband and wife.

Tie Kangan :
In hands of both boy and girl kangan is tied because both are considered as Vishnu and Laxmi. Kangan consists of kaudi, moti, panna, loha ka chakra and pila sarson.

Saat Fere :
Agni is considered most pious in shastra, hence, the couples take seven circle around it. First the right foot is taken forward and then the left foot amidst chanting of pious Vedic mantras.
Four is Vishnu fere and three is shiva fere. Every phera or circle around the fire has got a specific meaning attached to it and denotes a solemn vow taken which needs to be followed through out the life.It means Dharma, Arth and Kaam achieved by female and Moksha by male. After this they become husband and wife for seven birth. .

Throw filled lota:
After marriage when the girl arrives at her new home she is welcomed by her mother-in-law with Aarti. On the main door she hits with her right leg a lota filled with rice. It conveys that she brings wealth and fertility along with her and that now she is the head of the house , food and wealth and therefore, the family responsibility is on her.

BREATHE RIGHT

2007-10-24T13:23:00.000+05:30

We generally breathe only 1/5 th of our natural breathing capacities.Breathing wrong makes us vulnerable to illness both mental and physical such as allergies, coughing, shortness of breath etc. Breathing diet is as important for health as nutritious diet and exercise.

"The right way of breathing is to inhale gently and exhale a little longer than we inhale.Only when exhalation is deep that you throw out dirty air , increase the lung volume and create the right suction effect to draw in clean , oxygenerated air",says yoga acharya Shameem Akhtar.

Right Way: Breathe in deeply so that abdomen bulges when inhale and sucked in when you exhale. Use your abdomen rather than your chest. Regular practice of Pranayam enables body to get back into natural form when panicky. It also enhances will power and concentration.

Benefits of breathing right:

Overall good health as it removes pressure from heart and let the maximum amount of oxygen into the body.
Better metabolism hence effective in weight loss.
Better mental focus because brain needs constant oxygen supply to remain fresh.
Increases life span due to enhanced lung volume and less pressure on heart.
More both mental and physical stamina.

Gym do's and don'ts:

One should do cardio exercises like treadmill and swimming which maintains normal breathing.
While doing weights never hold breath for long as it may increase blood pressure suddently.
While doing bending exercise never hold breath.

Ideal Diet:

Protein
Iron: very good for lungs as it helps them to expand.
Vit.C,Calcium,Magnesium and Phosphorus: good for respiratory system.
Omega 3: lot of colour on the plate ( a rainbow diet ) is good.

Big Indian Fat Wedding

2007-10-20T19:42:00.000+05:30

Welcome to the world of exotic and exclusive Indian glitterati Weddings.Today , weddings are becoming more fashionable and exotic . Rich Indians are splurging big on such special events .Special cities as venue are selected , palaces are booked , theme parties are organized and expensive gifts are given. Not only this such marriages are breaking all the physical boundaries to present the very best of global experiences to their guests. For example A Gujrati Merchant imported five tonnes of Tulips costing 2.5 euro each for the venue from Holland . Likewise for another wedding 50 kgs of special handmade Lebanese chocolates were imported. For another held at J W Marriot a special handmade wicker basket costing Rs. 3,000/- per piece were flown from south Korea to be used as welcome kit. For the same wedding cashews and pistachios were imported from Afganistan . Even as per kg costed $ 85 some 125 kg were imported .
To give a typical regional touch to the wedding lassi from Mathura , sweets from Calcutta or Paan from Benaras are not just ordered , but tailor made to give authentic touch .

Classic Definitions & Cool Meanings

2007-10-18T13:25:00.000+05:30

1. Cigarette : A pinch of tobacco rolled in paper with fire at one end & a fool at the other.

2. Love affairs : Something like cricket where one-day internationals are more popular than a five day test.

3. Marriage : It's an agreement in which a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman gains her master

4. Divorce : Future tense of marriage

5. Lecture : An art of transferring information from the notes of the lecturer to the notes of the students without passing through "the mindsof either".

6. Conference : The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present.

7. Compromise : The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got the biggest piece.

8. Tears : The hydraulic force by which masculine will-power is defeatedby feminine water-power ..

9. Dictionary : A place where divorce comes before marriage.

10. Conference Room : A place where everybody talks, nobody listens & everybody disagrees later on.

11. Ecstasy : A feeling when you feel you are going to feel a feeling you have never felt before.

12. Classic : A book which people praise, but do not read.

13. Smile : A curve that can set a lot of things straight.

14. Office : A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life.

15. Yawn : The only time some married men ever get to open their mouth.

16. Etc. : A sign to make others believe that you know more than youactually do.

17. Committee: Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit todecide that nothing can be done together.

18. Experience : The name men give to their mistakes.

19. Atom Bomb: An invention to end all inventions.

20. Philosopher : A fool who torments himself during life, to be spokenof when dead.

21. Diplomat : A person who tells you to go to hell in such a way thatyou actually look forward to the trip.

22. Opportunist : A person who starts taking bath if he accidentallyfalls into a river.

23. Optimist : A person who while falling from Eiffel Tower says inmidway "See I am not injured yet."

24. Pessimist :- A person who says that O is the last letter in ZERO,Instead of the first letter in word OPPORTUNITY.

25. Miser : A person who lives poor so that he can die rich.

26. Father : A banker provided by nature.

27. Criminal : A guy no different from the rest... except that he got caught.

28. Boss : Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early.

29. Politician : One who shakes your hand before elections and yourConfidence after.

30. Doctor : A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you with his bills.

31. Computer Engineer : One who gets paid for reading such mails

DEADLY E-MAIL

2007-10-18T13:08:00.000+05:30

A man checked into a hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an e-mail to his wife. However, he accidentally typed wrong e-mail address, and without realizing his error, he sent the e-mail.

Meanwhile.....somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. The widow decided to check her e-mail, expecting messages from relatives and friends.

After reading the first message, she fainted. The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computerscreen which read:

To: My Loving Wife

Subject: I've Reached

Date: 16 Oct 2006

I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers herenow, and you are allowed to send e-mails to your loved ones.

I've just reached and have checked in.

I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow.

Looking forward to seeing you then!

Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.

BRAINY STUFF

2007-09-19T22:58:00.000+05:30

A television advertisement rightly comments on today's lifestyle " Thakna ManaHai ".We need almost supernatural power to handle effectively all professional,social and personal life .We make lots of efforts to keep ourselves physically active though we achieve most through mental application.Hence, few mental tips to live life full(king) size.
1.BrainVita,Do mental exercise: similar to physical exercises even our brain needs some fitness regime. Solving crosswords, puzzles or sudoku are some mental strengtheners.
2.Move your Body: Physical exercise enhances the blood flow and hence a good oxygen supply to brain tissues. A person gains mental alacrity.
3.Creating association: good memory reflects sharp brain.Try to associate things to remember names, events or figures.
4.Eat right: Indeed,food has a direct impact on brain .Fish, nuts, olive oil contains omega3 fatty acid which slows down brain ageing.Antioxidants found in brightly coloured fruits & vegetables and green tea also protects the brain cells.

Bringing F1 To India

2007-09-05T22:09:00.000+05:30

The king of good times Vijay Mallya and Indian Olympic Association ( IOA) chief Suresh Kalmadi are gungho about bringing the motor sport F1 to India as soon as 2009-2010. Announcement by the IOA about Delhi being allotted an F1 Grand Prix schedule for 2009 have been made.

India needs to develop the infrastructure with the combined effort of the government and the private sector.The work has to start from the basic need to identify a site in the capital where the racing tracks could be laid. There's a huge shipping involved .9-10 jumbo jets for the cargo part have to be shipped. The roads , airports needs much improvement. Delhi will need to make provision of some 7000 hotel rooms.

Once successful , India will be able to make a place on the tourism map for one of the priveledged countries to host the Grand Prix. The sport has huge viewership next only to football world cup and Olympics. Moreover, its hold on an annual basis rather than every four years.

But there are quite many who are skeptical about this ambitious plan given the investments and logistics involved. The Motor Sports Association Of India ( MAI ) feels that the announcement is too premature . Nazir Hoosein , President, MAI , is of the view that F1 circuits don't make money until they are established. They will have to conduct bike racing etc. to keep utilising the track. Apart from the infrastruture there is expense on training. Moreover, its more of a five star event with elite people involved in it. Hence, similar facilities needs to be made available.

Will Kalmadi and Mallya be able to get India on the F1 track? It remains to be seen , but the announcement has certainly brought lots of cheers to the F1 enthusiasts.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

2007-08-28T22:40:00.000+05:30

We often think that it’s the ‘meek ‘ or ‘subservient’ females who cannot stand for themselves are usually the victims of domestic abuse. Contrarily it can happen to one of the most bold ,smart and fun loving person maybe to you and me. Statistics show that one-third of women experience domestic violence at sometime in their life. It can happen to our relatives, neighbours, friends or someone we see in the theatre, malls, offices etc. Its difficult to identify such situation because usually females are quite uncomfortable to confide in their family or friends or are scared that their partner would come to know.
Domestic violence can involve threats, pushing, beating, choking, sexual assault or hit with a weapon. It doesn’t happen once a while but becomes a common affair. It shows as bruises or injuries or sometimes might result in serious accidents. The abuser on the other hand might appear to be quite well behaved and lovable publicly, but can display extreme violence in the privacy at home.
In India it’s even more prominent because of religion, culture, and family pressures which teach women to keep the relationship going at all cost. Besides, most of the women are financially dependent on their husband.
Domestic violence needs to be treated as crime .The females should stand up against it fearlessly and all the citizens should consider it their moral responsibility to inform the concerned authority if they witness any.

SPECIAL HUB FOR DESIGNERS

2007-08-26T22:38:00.000+05:30

Indian fashion industry is witnessing a paradigm shift. Top Hollywood actors are flaunting our designer’s clothes at events like Oscars and Cannes .Our designers are getting an opportunity to participate in international fashion shows and compete with the likes of Armani and Versace. Giving it further boost, the urban development minister of Delhi Ajay Maken has made the announcement of special designer hub to come up in Dwarka , West Delhi. The proposed 7 acre hub is to have state of the art convention centre to hold fashion weeks, seminars and conferences, a five star boutique hotel, a textile related craft village, and a boutique of member designers. Besides FDCI's corporate office there would be a textile museum, a resource centre for fashion and textiles and a fashion library.

The annoncement has come as a relief to the designers when just few months back some of the prominent designers had their showrooms demolished on account of encroachment. A special hub for them will make them more secure and closely knit. Moreover, the international buyers would have an easy access to them.

Though the project has one small constraint:
As part of the plan a five star hotel have to be constructed as an integral component of the fashion hub to accomodate the increasing number of foreign buyers , fashionistas and journalists attending the fashion week held in the capital. Though the hotel would be assured of fairly decent occupancy rates for about 20 days a year ( 5 days of fashion week plus a few days before and after the event ) the question is whether they can stay out of the red for the rest of the year.

But despite the constraint Indian fashion industry would get a major boost and it would be interesting to watch it grow in the years ahead.

ANGER MANAGEMENT

2007-08-24T23:08:00.000+05:30

Anger is a human emotion faced when he comes across an unwanted event , behaviour or when things doesn't happen as per his wishes. An angry person may become quite aggressive and may vent it out on other person/things or might become depressed and take it out on himself. Anger in whatever form is devastating. The frequent outbursts results in high blood pressure, disrupts digestive system , causes migraine apart from varied psychological problems.

Following are few tips to control anger gradually:
1. Introspection: Its best to identify what triggers anger. Avoid such person or circumstances. If avoidance is not possible then handle in a firm and assertive manner.

2. Relaxation : Breathe deeply from diaphragm repeating the phrase which is effective on you like " cool down" , " i'm calm ", " don't get angry " , " take it easy " etc.
Imagine a happy moment or a beautiful place you last visited.

3. Meditate : even for 10 min. everyday as it helps in attaining inner peace.

4. Plan : The thing that irritates us most is when things don't happen as per our wishes.Hence, its better to be planned. It will give better control on situation.

5. Organise : Keep yourself as much organised as possible.

However, show your anger and frustration at times. Mild flare ups sometimes helps in getting things done or expressing things that remains submerged in you since long. But this shouldn't become a common affair.

INTERESTING OXYMORONS

2007-08-23T20:21:00.000+05:30

Oxymoron is a combination of words which are completely opposite in meaning:

Act Naturally
Advanced Basic
Awfully Good
Almost Exactly
Alone Together
Bad Luck
Bitter Sweet
Business Ethics
Butt Head
Clearly Misunderstood
Climb Down
Constant Change
Current History
Deliberate Mistake
Doing Nothing
Found Missing
Front End
Genuine Imitation
Good Grief
Government Organisation
Inside Out
Limited Freedom
Living Dead
Mercy Killing
Natural Makeup
Negative Growth
Once Again
Original Copy
Passive Aggression
Plastic Glasses
Pretty Ugly
Random Order
Real Fantasy
Same Difference
Small Crowd
Sit Up
Soft Rock
Software Documentation
True Story
Virtual Reality

SHORT SELLING

2007-08-20T17:21:00.000+05:30

Short selling is a process where investor sells shares without owning it at the time of selling. Normally , an investor buys shares at a certain price to sell it later at a higher price. Coversely, in short sell its assumed by the investor that prices will decline in future. After shortselling , investor waits for the prices to correct and covers the short position by buying back the shares already sold. If the buyback price of the shares is lower then its profit else loss.

Short seller has the option to square off ( by buying the same number of shares as sold) on the same day or carry forward his short position in case the share price rises immediately after the short sell but the investor is convinced that the price will decline over the next few days. In such a situation he'll have to borrow the share from an entity or investor who's willing to lend for a charge. Later on he'll have to buyback shares from the market and return it to lender.

In India the intra day short sell had been the prerogative of individuals only. Institutions were not allowed to short sell because they have huge stakes in companies and hence can influence its share price to their advantage.

Short sell creates more liquidity in the market. Illiquid stocks which would otherwise would have been lying idle finds its way to the market and contibutes to liquidity.

BODY LANGUAGE

2007-08-01T22:25:00.000+05:30

Arms crossed on chest : Defensiveness
Open palm : Sincerity
Closed palms, clenched fist : negative vibes
Rubbing hands : Anticipation
Resting your cheek on your palm: Thoughtfulness and Evaluation
Tapping your fingers : Impatience
Shaking legs or body: Nervous and Uncomfortable.
Crossed arms and legs : Reserved and Suspicious
Tilted head : Interest
Sitting with body and feet pointing towards door : Want to end the conversation and leave the room.

ARAB PROVERB

2007-08-01T22:10:00.000+05:30

He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool. Shun him.

He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is simple. Teach him.

He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep. Wake him.

He who knows, and knows that he knows, is wise. Follow him.

INCREASE IN CRR

2007-07-31T22:02:00.000+05:30

CRR stands for cash reserve ratio. Its a specific amount of deposit that banks have to maintain with Reserve Bank of India. An increase in CRR means banks will have to keep more proportion of lending in the form of deposit which is an opportunity loss for them and thereby decrease in earnings.Banks on their part will have to pay more to depositors to attract them to keep their funds with banks.It will push up the cost of funds for banks and to meet this increased cost and margin pressure ,the banks will have to raise the lending rate.

An increased lending rate will mean an increased cost of capital for the corporate sector.This will lead to contraction in activities and a lower demand in various sectors. For instance: the main reason for skyrocketing real estate prices is availability of easy and cheap funds from banks.But if the bank faces fund crunch , they will first cut back on loans to risky sector like real estate.It will dampen demand to a certain extent.

Some banks on the other hand might face the risk of defaulting in compliance to higher CRR rate. An increased lending rate will hurt the borrowers and hence an accumulation of non permorming loans.

To combat the situation the banks might enter into bilateral deals and ask corporate borrowers to seek refinance from other banks. Another option is to raise funds through External Commercial Borrowings (ECB).

RISING RUPEE

2007-07-30T21:56:00.000+05:30

Rupee has been touching its peak against dollar since the last few months. Boosted by high interest rate and caused by the tightening of the money market, its posing a threat to the very existence of small exporters. Some of the exporters have started postponing their receivables and are choosing to park funds in the Exchange Earners Foreign Currency(EEFC) accounts. They will convert those funds into rupee once the rupee will stabilise.

Banks too have become cautious while lending to small and mid sized enterprises (SMEs) in export oriented sectors because the result could be an accumulation of non performing assets as they don't use much of hedging instruments.

Exporters on the other hand are seeking concessions in the form of subsidies from the central govt. Few SMEs are trying to renegotiate contracts with buyers in the overseas market.Some large corporates have cut down their export operations and instead are diverting their focus on the domestic market or cutting the production itself.

Stronger rupee has only benefitted the foreign institutional investor.

ACE ACID

2007-07-23T22:02:00.000+05:30

Folic Acid is vital in the metabolism of fatty acids in the brain.It helps control genetic disorder.Pregnant women should take a note that deficiency of Folic Acid can increase the risk of neutral defects in newborns. Fruits like bananas,oranges,lemons,strawberries and cantaloupes are a good source.

HEALTH

2007-07-05T21:24:00.000+05:30

Don't overcook the Food

If the food is cooked on low flame for long time, most of it's vital nutrients ( including phytonutrients) are lost. Its advisable to steam, boil or microwave the food to retain its nutrients. Remember, more the cooked food resembles its ingredients , most nutritious it is.

Quotable Quotes

2007-07-04T19:49:00.000+05:30

Everything is funny as long as it is happening to somebody else.

Only a life lived for others is worth living.

Lack of willpower has caused more failure than lack of intelligence or ability.

Whoever does not try does not learn.

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you don't know you left open.

One today is worth two tommorrows.

That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest.

The shell must break before the bird can fly.

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.

Our greatest glory consists not in never falling , but in rising everytime we fall.

Weakness of Attitude becomes weakness of Character.

Three things in life are most valuable: Love , Selfconfidence and Friend.

He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals.

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

Recognition is the greatest motivator.

Three things in life once gone can never come back are: Words, Opportunity and Time.

Enjoy Life. There's plenty of time to be dead.