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To the world the bankers Uday Kotak (Chairman Kotak Mahindra Bank) with a spot on the richest Indian list and Aditya puri (CEO HDFC Bank) on the highest earning banker's list are the very definition of success. But when asked the secret of their success, both delivered a similar response. Purl told The Economic Times ET Panache on the side-lines of an event. I enjoy myself every day, While Kodak said self-deprecating. I don't think I am successful. I simply enjoy, I enjoy myself every day, enjoy the journey, it is not about the destination. The underlining message from both is "Enjoy your work" . This brings to mind the age old wisdom about loving what you do, if you can't, do what you love.
As Billy Joel (Singer ,Songwriter) rightly put it "if you are not doing what you love, you are wasting your time". Similarly it can be said if you don't love what you are doing; it will be a ritual followed without interest and will be insipid and unproductive. So love what you do.
Look at your various tasks and responsibilities. Find out what gets you the most compliments and praise from other people. What do you do that positively affects the work and performance of other people more than anyone else.
Successful people are invariably those who have taken time to identify what they do well and enjoy the most. They know what they do.
Fall in love with your work if you wish to be successful. If you love what you're doing and if you're doing it with great passion, you can overcome every obstacle. In fact, passion for what you do is one of the key elements to success. Passion is the strong form of love. Convert your desire to Passion.
Go after what you want to have but don't give up if you don't get it at first try. Go after it with passion, there should be intensity in your passion. Woo it so passionately that it has no option but to crawl to you to kiss your feet.
"To do big stuff, you have to set really big goals that are exciting to you."
Passion is energy. Do what you love. Do what is right, not what is easy. In short decide what you want, believe you deserve it. Be passionate about it and then work on the success mantras mentioned in this book.
Learning points
- Fall in love with your work and Enjoy doing it.
- Find out what you do best and do the best with it.
- Passion energises, Be passionate about the work you are doing.
- Success is a state of mind, do things with full heart, it will lead you to success.
- Your passion for work will overcome any obstacles blocking the way.
(Please note Mr Puri has now retired)
{This is an extract from my book "Failure is a knock on the door of success:" Those who find this write- up engaging and interesting may have the book ,they will find many gems there in}
Post updated on: Aug 24, 2021 1:02:24 PM
This caption seems a bit contradictory to what generally is believed to be and taught by motivational speakers- but I feel it is not always true. Read on
"The world cannot defeat you until you accept the defeat" Imam Ali (as)
Don't accept defeat. Don't quit. Remove "nt" from Don't and "qu" from Quit, it becomes "DO IT" Repeat Do it, Do it. So don't accept defeat. Don't give up. Don't quit.
Continue with your efforts. Fatigue, discomfort, discouragement are merely symptoms of the effort you are putting in. There is no success without genuine efforts. Efforts release their rewards fully, only after a person refuses to quit. Anxiety is a glimpse of your daring. It is a part of your agitation; Anxiety is just excitement about what you are getting ready to accomplish /achieve. There is no success without serious attempts.
Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, failing, falling, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.
"If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun" exhorted our Late Ex Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam.
Remember winners are not those who never fail but are those who don't give up, and continue with their efforts. They don't accept defeat. For them Giving up is self-defeat .It actually means you are stuck, you are allowing the fear of uncertainty to limit your opportunities. Not giving up means that you are free from the fetters of fear, you have unshackled it and fear no longer will pull you back and your efforts will not be restricted and you will not quit.
If you give up or quit it means you are accepting defeat, and as Babe Ruth the American professional baseball player put it you just can't beat the person who never gives up
So don't quit---if you don't succeed in one attempt in getting what you desire to achieve, don't take it as a failure, take it as a learning opportunity and continue- Don't Quit---because you don't know if the next try is going to be one that works.
However, let us look at it in different perspective. A quitter never wins and a winner never quits "Napoleon Hills" this quote finds a place in almost all the self-help books; however, this is not a Gospel Truth
Shri Urjit Patel Governor of Reserve Bank of India resigned on 10th December 2018. He quit. Is he a winner or a loser? Of course, he is a winner, not a loser. He did not compromise on his principles.
When we say do not quit, it is to inspire you not to quit in the face of fear or adversity. It exhorts you to confront the fear. Don't get frozen and paralyzed by fear, uncertainty and adversity or difficult situations. Continue your efforts and you will win. Not giving up or not to quit defines your grit. It is "Your grit that tells you not to take every failure as an anomaly or as a reflection of your competence. It encourages you not to run away from the challenges you are confronted with. Face and fight; not flight. This is actually optimism that inspires you not to quit or run away. As against this, there is pessimism that kills your Grit and tells you give up and go home" it never tells, "make one more try, you can do it"
However, in certain circumstances quitting may be the smartest and the right thing to do. And quitting in such a situation can bring success beyond expectations. When quitting is done correctly, it is not giving up; it is making room for something better. When things seem high risk and low reward, there is no point continuing - Quit
If you are not quitting you are not evolving. Don't be afraid to do some experiments and quit the ones that don't work. Never give up on your dream but learn to quit the plan.
You have the self-respect and confidence to live life on your terms. When something is not right in your life change it immediately .Be true to yourself.
Just to put in my own words what Spiritual Guru of Tibetan Buddhism Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche said about leaving the place, organization where you are not able to maintain your integrity . Quit if to maintain your position in the organization or for financial support that you need you have to sacrifice your integrity and morality, In such situation I will not advise not to give up. Quit to be at the place where you can function without losing your character and integrity.
Similarly, if you are stuck up at an organization where your growth is stalled or stunted, you have shown patience, have been working hard but results are not emerging; quit to go to a place where your due diligence tells that at that place your growth will be performance oriented but growth will certainly be there, it will not be stunted.
Learning points
- Don't quit as you don't know the next try may be the one that works but quit if stakes are high and rewards Low.
- Pride or prestige should not be the reason to quit but quit if your integrity is being compromised
- Quit what is not working .
- Don't give up on your dream or goals but quit the plan if not working.
Post updated on: Aug 23, 2021 10:58:54 PM
Faith and Fear are at the opposite side of the same coin. Fear is resistance, Faith is acceptance. Fear tells you if you want a job and look for it you won't get it. Faith tells you don't be silly, if you look for a job, you may finally find it.
Your ability to achieve what you desire will either be thwarted or fulfilled depending upon your level of Faith in yourself. The more faith you have when deciding on a new version of yourself, the easier it will be for you to demonstrate it through your actions.
Where there is Faith, there is no Fear. As Martin Luther put it "faith is taking the first step even when you do not see the whole staircase"
Don't undersell yourself short by being so fearful of failure that you don't dare to make any mistakes. Make your mistakes and learn from them. And remember how many mistakes you make yet your mother always loves you.
If you have Self confidence you will never allow the fear to overwhelm you. Self confidence is the most important characteristics of successful people. A quiet self confidence that's not cockiness, not conceit, not arrogance is the key to succeeding. Don't ever be afraid to dream, imagine yourself doing exactly what you want to do. Only those who dare to fail can ever achieve greatly.
Faith is vitamin that enlightens soul and energizes mind and body. Destroy Fear of failure by converting it into stepping stones for your success. Have faith and fear will disappear.
Points to Remember
- If you want to be successful you cannot live life out of fear
- Don't fear the prospects of failure
- Feel the fear but do it anyway
Post updated on: Aug 23, 2021 10:51:48 PM
When we look around our work force, we see people from different cultures and nationalities? In order to work together we need to have respect for diversity. Being culture sensitive does not mean that we have to give up our principle s and beliefs .On the contrary it is to recognize the cultural differences ,to adapt to them and use them for achieving organizational goals and objectives s successfully.
Behavioral Tips
- Build teams that include employees from various cultures and nationalities .Build on the strengths and work styles of each team member.
- Establish a climate where employees feel comfortable being themselves .This includes speaking one's own language
- In cultures where status is related to age, seniority or gender, try to appoint supervisors/managers that would fit local local expectations
- In large groups ,where all speak Arabic comfortably ,suggest Arabic as the language of use.However individuals should be free to use their own language when helpful for clear communications This information should be translated back into Arabic for the larger group
- When Arabic speaking customers are present ,foreign language conversation s between employees are best avoided .This is also true of Arabic language conversations going on when foreign language speaking customers are present
- Men and women ,white and blacks Arabs and non-Arabs,. ,middle class and working-class people are different but they are not as much different as they are alike .An appreciation and acceptance of commonalities and differences are essential to an effective working relationship
- Remember Different does not mean "wrong"
(Written in the Backdrop of Arabic speaking places like Dubai where I worked. would be relevant to any multicultural/multinational places)
Post updated on: Aug 23, 2021 10:30:16 PM
The Ladder of Honour Is Humility-Imam Ali."(as)
True humility is not thinking less of you, it is thinking of yourself less. Humility is not timidity. Always think you may be up there but you fall. So don't brag, be humble and be dignified.
My humility comes from my upbringing of parents and struggles I faced during my student days.
My mother always used to tell me "Beta kabhi bhi apnee kamyabi par ghamand mat karna, phal daar darakht hamesha jhuka rehta hai"
i.e. My son, Never ever let your achievements go to your head, always be like a fruits laden tree that always bends low.
Amma yeh bhi kaha kertee theen ki "Sookha ped Akda rehta hai aur usmein Darar jaldi par jaati hai isliye beta kabhi akad kay mat chalna aur na akad kar baat karna "
My mother used to say this also Dried or stiffest Tree develops cracks soon and doesn't present a pleasant look, so you never walk puffed up with pride and talk in rough and haughty tone.
Be Humble-A tree laden with fruits always bends low was my Mother's mantra. My parents were paragon of virtues like humility, love, compassion (God bless them) and I have imbibed these virtues from them I claim in all humility
Often We behave like we are leading this world. We forget that we are in this world just like a puppet and God nurtures us with His bounties . However it could be reversed anytime without any prior notice, hence we should always stay humble. No matter who we are and who we are dealing with (Poor, Illiterate, Old,) we should not forget our humanity .We should be flexible not stiffed.
Do not treat any one with contempt. Everybody needs somebody at one point or the other in the course of his life journey. Just like oil is required to make soap and then soap is required to clean oil. This is the irony of life. So be humble. Do not be disdainful towards anyone. Don't be boastful of your achievements.
Great achievers don't publicly gloat over their achievements. They keep a low profile during the times of their great success. They don't agonies in their defeats (Failure). These achievers are humble. Humility is their hall mark. When they win, they love to share the credit, when they lose they take 100% responsibility. Paul Bear Bryant legendary foot ball coach said - if anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi good, we did it, if anything goes really good, then you did it . That's all it takes to get people to win football games for you.
A professional knows that humility is one of the most effective approaches to influence people. So always adopt this approach in your interactions and dealings.
Pride tells, you are better than others, humility tells you, there is nothing better or worse. Great achievers are HUMBLE. "Pride is P + Ride. P stands for perilous "
so pride is a perilous ride "Don't take this ride". It will take you downhill.
Humility allows you to accept challenges without the fear of failure and when failure occurs the humble person says - use what you have learned to do it better next time. Humility is a perfect antidote to extreme pride and Hubris.
Bhagwad Geeta Says "Humility opens the door to wisdom" . So don't let humility forsake you. .
Learning points
- Eliminate the Know it all attitude
- Think of yourself as an eternal student to stay "humble"
- Humility is not timidity. Pride is a perilous ride. Don't take this ride .It will take you downhill.
- Humility keeps you away from negatives of being proud.
- Humility is a virtue , not Inferiority.
Post updated on: Aug 23, 2021 8:03:18 PM
Work hard and follow your dreams but never forget where you came from - Vanessa Hudgens American Actress
So many people go through life standing tall in terms of their huge achievements and yet remain large trees with their roots in the ground. Two of the many such iconic personalities are the world-renowned entrepreneur Bill gates the father of Microsoft and Amitabh Bachchan the great Bollywood actor and mahanayak of the century. They have gone through life standing tall but never allowed their name, fame and adulation to get detached from their roots. They remain committed to their culture and traditions. They are conscious of where they come from.
There is a tipping story about Bill Gates, perhaps apocryphal, but widely told that when he tipped the waiter who served him in a restaurant with a 5$, he noticed strange expressions on the waiter's face. It baffled Bill Gates. He asked the waiter what happened. The Waiter said, Sir "I'm just amazed because on the same table the other day your son gave a tip of 500$, and you his father, the richest man in the world gave only 5$." Gate's reply to this, was , "He is the son of the world's richest man, but I am the son of a wood cutter. Gates Reply flags a message, always remember where you come from and Never forget your past!" and it forms the essence of root. It is display of humility at its best.
( Bill Gates Bio mentions his father was an attorney and at some other place it is mentioned it was his daughter not son who tipped $500)
In any case desired message of being grounded to your roots is conveyed.
And here is another icon Amitabh Bachchan who says work does not tire him, his audience give courage, command and direction to him. In the present era the pedestal on which parents were placed with awe and respect reserved exclusively for God is weakening day by day. Respecting parents is now considered old fashioned. The trend is I will do my way. But it is not Amitabh Bachchan way. He always respected his parents and their views. His parent's views for him were like divine edict.
It is said that he wanted to go to England with Jaya before marriage but his father advised him to get married and then go and Amitabh did obey him. In one of his blogs - he mentioned that he always sought strength from his mother and wisdom from his father. This is in fact being true to one's tradition and culture. That's being grounded to one's roots and Sanskars.
I am staunch advocate of never being detached from one's roots I always remember my roots and where I come from as I believe my roots are the foundation of my present life. They gave strength to my wings to fly to the present I am in. They are my inspiration and strength.
These roots taught me the values of humility, honesty, gratitude, compassion, togetherness, and simplicity et al. They taught me how to remain focused on continuing my journey even if there is darkness or there is dim light on the road .Throughout my student days I studied under the dim light of kerosene fueled lantern. It has helped me to keep my feet on grounds.
In this regard the remark of John J Mark, Co- CEO Credit Suisse is so apt. He says - we usually think of advice as something that someone tells us. But I learned my most valuable lessons in life by example, by watching people around me both when I was growing up and when I was trying to stay true, in my business career, to values they taught me, yes if there is one piece of advice that has been important to me, it is "Always remember where you come from"
Successful people never forget their roots. They are proud of where they came from. They are willing to share their wisdom and their wealth.
Live like you are at the bottom even if you are at the top. Don't forget your roots For me it has been a nudge to always remember where I come from and to live with humility and gratitude in my actions no matter where life takes me .
Remembering roots reminds us of not only where we came from but also what it took us to get where we are now. Revisiting our journey to where we are reinforces our belief in ourselves and gives us more confidence to move ahead in the present and future.
This is one of the most important ways to build up momentum necessary to propel us from success to success .It is my personal experience. I always remember my roots and advise my children also to remain grounded to their roots .I do speak about the gratitude I feel for my parents and for all of the people who contributed to my success and fulfillment
Keep yourself grounded and never forget the struggle that has taken you to the privileged position you are in. Remain cognizant of your roots this will help you remain grounded and humble.
The one enemy that all of you need to watch out for is getting too comfortable with your own self. Don?t ever be so. It will impede your growth.
Another obstruction in your smooth growth would be your EGO a very troublesome monster that it is. Don't ever allow it to dig its insidious claws deep into you. Curb it else It will bring doom not boon.. It will keep you away from realities and from your roots.
Remaining cognizant of your roots, your struggle upward and of your core values will help you to be grounded and humble. It will keep you away from ego. It has helped me indeed.
Marcus Garvey an orator for the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements so nicely puts it "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. "
- Be aware of your roots---it will keep you reminded of the struggle you had to reach the position you have attained
- It keeps you grounded and teaches you what humility is all about
- Be proud of your roots, they are the foundation of your life
- Work hard to achieve your dreams but never forget where you came from
- Forgetting your roots will only lead you further from sweet home .
- Never forget you may have to go back someday.
Post updated on: Aug 23, 2021 7:53:48 PM
Man's greatest evil is greed. Greed is the excessive desire for more than a person needs or deserves. What he desires is not for the greater good of society but it is for his own selfish interests.
Powerful propellers for greed are flashy life style and materialism. Greed forces a person to crave for more and more, and that drives him towards material pleasures. A greedy man is always poor. For him, enough is never enough. A person driven and dominated by greed ignores the harm his actions can cause others.
Greed, in the end, fails everybody, even the greedy. Greed is a catalyst for failure, an agent for doom. History is replete with instances of people losing their reputation and all that they had acquired due to greed. The recent case of how greed can drive an institution like Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank to near death is an eyeopener. In the past, institutions like Kingfisher and people associated with diamond industry have gone bust just because of the avaricious conduct of their owners and directors.
Greed is a curse. Greed is permanent slavery, says Imam Ali (as). Once someone is caught in the web of corruption, it is difficult to disentangle and come out.
So, let's not run unnecessarily after what others have. Let?s try to earn our living by rightful means. We should not get tempted and fall prey to greed.
"The world is burning in the fire of desire, in greed, arrogance and excessive ego." ~ Sri Guru Granth Sahib
Greed, arrogance and excessive ego are three destructive forces that create huge blocks and ruin one?s smooth passage to success. The Bhagavad Geeta (Chapter 16, Verse 21) says there are three gates leading to one's self-destruction. These are Lust, Anger, and Greed. Therefore, all should abandon these three negative traits which are destructive and degenerative.
Greed is a curse. Greediness can cause untold harm. Greed can be for anything. Predominantly, it is for money, power and fame. It seems to be the driving force behind all apparently successful societies.
Any decision to take from others or to enrich yourself at the expense of others is an example of greed and is something that should be avoided at all costs, else it will
- destroy your reputation. ...
- never help you to reach the satisfaction.
- lead to destruction but never to success.
The lesson drawn is: Don?t get seduced by fame and adulation so intensely that you have to resort to unscrupulous means to satisfy your urges.
Lalach buri bala hai? stay away from it
Post updated on: Aug 20, 2021 3:05:03 PM
Life is about creating yourself so advised George Bernard Shaw. . This quote from George Bernard Shaw had an impact on me. It acted as an inspiration. It spurred me to ponder, to reflect on my successes and failures, to assess what factors contributed to my successes and what led to failures and these reflections cumulatively represent creation of my present life. Successful people attract, cultivate and create their own good luck. I say with a lot of satisfaction, humility and elated feeling that I did create my own luck. I kept my eyes on the stars and my feet on the ground, and kept going. Humility and simplicity never forsook me. ??Life is the most difficult exam. Which many fail because they try to copy others not realizing that everyone has a different question paper?
Life tends to become difficult and miserable if you go on comparing yourself with others. Don't whip yourselves with comparisons. You are harming yourself if you do that. As Imam Ali (as) has said ?your greatest enemy is yourself. ?. In support of this Bhagwad Geeta sermonizes so beautifully as under
"Let a man lift himself by himself; let him not drag himself down; for he alone is both the friend and enemy of himself".
Lesson:
Never follow any one else's path, forge your own path.
Post updated on: Aug 20, 2021 3:04:16 PM
S.S.A ZAIDI
saiyidzaidi@gmail.com
09987644300
Is Jugaad our most precious resource or is it bleeding us is a topic of debate?
One school of thought looks at Jugaad as a management technique that promotes out of box thinking therefore it is a precious resource and advocates its development as an innovation tool that the managers to be encouraged to use.
The other school rubbishes it as irregular and slapdash, therefore , an unethical and manipulative practice that must be discouraged.
Let us examine these viewpoints criticallyJugaad is an Indian management technique. In common parlance it means finding alternative ways of doing things despite lack of resources. It signifies an individual?s ability to use the available resources in the best possible way without asking for additional resources it is inventiveness, it is ingenuity, and it is cleverness. It is an unconventional but innovative method. It is creative improvisation. A Manger's efficiency lies in how best he can manage within the constraints of resources to realize the set objectives.
However the term Jugaad is also pejoratively/negatively referred to as a practice that bends the rules or cuts corners to arrive at solutions. 'Somehow, get it done,' even if it involves breaking the rules/regulation is considered the norm of this technique. . This negative connotation associated with Jugaad admittedly makes it seem immoral and unethical.
The ability to improvise and find ways around prohibitive rules and institutions, is important to business success?
The question is, should a technique manipulated by some to circumvent the legal /regulatory requirements be labeled as unethical. Traffic rules are violated, that's a punishable act. Violation is illegal but not the rules. Prescribed rules /regulations/legal provisions are subverted, subversion is unlawful but not the subverted laws/regulations. Similarly Jugaad, a management technique that encourages out of box thinking and creative improvisation does not become unethical only because it has been used for some unlawful purpose.
The operation of Hawala and Mumbai dabbawalas stand out as unique Jugaad products Hawala has been found a very efficient and cost effective method of funds transfer but only because the system has been manipulated to be used for money laundering does not make the system unethical. Breakers of law always find ways to circumvent the legal /regulatory boundaries .To make the system more transparent central banks in some countries have given legal sanction to Hawala practice. . Hawala operators are licensed to operate subject to compliance of certain conditions.
The operation of the Mumbai Dabbawallas (carriers of lunch boxes) is an old logistical system. It has been in effective operation for about more than hundred years It involves collection and delivery of a large number of Tiffin Boxes. Tiffin boxes are collected from every nook and corner of the metropolis and delivered to the right persons before their lunch time and then again collected and returned to the respective individual homes,. There is no documentation .Simple color code determines the Tiffin routing, sorting and prioritizing to central points as Tiffin's transfer from train to bicycle to foot.
The system involves routing and sorting how do they achieve with zero documentation is amazing indeed.
Can Do Attitude, with no ifs and buts, the best use of the available resources and be Frugal, but spend wisely are the hall marks of this technique.
I understand the courses taught at Hyderabad's Indian School of Business includes jugaad.
The Indian philosophy of Jugaad is a tribute to native genius, Companies in all parts of the world can learn from it and make it work for them, too. This technique needs to be developed and polished ensuring that the virus of corruption does not enter its precincts.
Post updated on: Aug 18, 2021 2:09:19 PM
Krishna is the consciousness. He is the breath of the universe. The blue skinned god drives away blues. When you chant his name, you reach the pinnacle of awareness. O Krishna - the divine name - cast a glance on us, we are the needy ones, the misdirected ones. Show us the way, the path to resurrection.
Reflect on his name to open secret doors. He is the center; everyone and everything goes around him. He is the salvation, he delivers you from destruction. Krishna is, he was always is. He is a world within a world, he commands the cosmos. He is the mind and the mind is he.
O Krishna, O Krishna, O Krishna. Kill the Kansa of our souls. Liberate us, set us free from the Kauravas in our minds. You are the daata, you are the deity, you are the swayam bhagwan. Take us to the land of Utopia, O Hari, hurry, hasten to release us from our sins. Make us clean and chaste, O Pandurang. You are the energy, you are the power, you are the divine spirit. Elevate our status O Parabrahman.
You make our souls dance; you make our spirits cavort. Without you O Nandlal, what are we? O magician, create magic in our lives. The same way you created magic for the gopis. The world is agog O Murli Murari, play the flute of enlightenment. Turn the world into Vrindavan.
Jai Krishna, Jai Krishna, Jai Krishna.
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, bless us, bless us!)
June 19, 2019
S.S.A.Zaidi
Retd Banker ;Author &;Motivational speaker
Training and Development Consultant
9987644300
Reflect on his name to open secret doors. He is the center; everyone and everything goes around him. He is the salvation, he delivers you from destruction. Krishna is, he was always is. He is a world within a world, he commands the cosmos. He is the mind and the mind is he.
O Krishna, O Krishna, O Krishna. Kill the Kansa of our souls. Liberate us, set us free from the Kauravas in our minds. You are the daata, you are the deity, you are the swayam bhagwan. Take us to the land of Utopia, O Hari, hurry, hasten to release us from our sins. Make us clean and chaste, O Pandurang. You are the energy, you are the power, you are the divine spirit. Elevate our status O Parabrahman.
You make our souls dance; you make our spirits cavort. Without you O Nandlal, what are we? O magician, create magic in our lives. The same way you created magic for the gopis. The world is agog O Murli Murari, play the flute of enlightenment. Turn the world into Vrindavan.
Jai Krishna, Jai Krishna, Jai Krishna.
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, bless us, bless us!)
June 19, 2019
S.S.A.Zaidi
Retd Banker ;Author &;Motivational speaker
Training and Development Consultant
9987644300
Post updated on: Aug 18, 2021 2:09:12 AM
Jealousy and envy are normal human emotions. While jealousy is highly negative emotion with no trace of any positivity in it , Envy up to a level is positive ,thereafter it also becomes highly negative. This distinction is explained hereunder
There are views that jealousy in normal doses what they call fleeting and occasional is a normal behavior while envy is not. In my view it is not true. I very strongly hold the view that jealousy whether in low dose or high dose causes resentment. Jealousy is all negativity. No streak of positivity is there.
1. Curb your jealousy
2. Be envious rather than be jealous
( If this topic arouses interest -I may come out with another write up on this .Readers may find envy being described as a very negative emotion in almost all the self Help /Motivational book-even Brian Tracy terms it as highly negative-I wrote to him about my view that is contrary to his -but he has not replied back-I have devoted full one chapter in my book Failure is a knock on the door of success--Those interested my read my book )
Training and Development Consultant
9987644300
There are views that jealousy in normal doses what they call fleeting and occasional is a normal behavior while envy is not. In my view it is not true. I very strongly hold the view that jealousy whether in low dose or high dose causes resentment. Jealousy is all negativity. No streak of positivity is there.
Envy on the other hand has shades of positivity. Envy in normal doses in my view is a normal behavior. I may term it benign .In this benign form It may serve as a spur to excel through one's own work. However, once it goes into high doses ,it becomes highly negative like jealousy. it does become malicious .
If you have Jealousy, you indirectly admit that you feel inferior to the person the target of your jealousy.. Jealousy in one's heart is the cause of downfall. It is a self degrading tendency; don't allow it to drag you down. It kills your personality and clouds your thinking. You can't be rational in your thoughts. Stay away from it. It causes resentment towards other people's success. It says I want to have what you have but I don't want you to have it.
As against this Envy says you have it, I also want to have what you have. Envy as a matter of fact may ignite passion to work hard and also achieve what the other person has without having a thought that the other person should not have it "Every time a friend succeeds ,I die a little" so said Gore Vidal, an American writer and political critic; it is jealousy.
Feeling envious of someone implies admiration and a wish to be in their place. In envy the person envied is an object of admiration; it therefore should serve as model of emulation. But you are jealous when you are insecure, have a feeling of inadequacy and scared of losing something or someone.
Advice to readers
1. Curb your jealousy
2. Be envious rather than be jealous
( If this topic arouses interest -I may come out with another write up on this .Readers may find envy being described as a very negative emotion in almost all the self Help /Motivational book-even Brian Tracy terms it as highly negative-I wrote to him about my view that is contrary to his -but he has not replied back-I have devoted full one chapter in my book Failure is a knock on the door of success--Those interested my read my book )
S.S.A.Zaidi
Retd Banker ;Author &;Motivational speakerTraining and Development Consultant
9987644300
Post updated on: Aug 15, 2021 3:13:31 PM
There is a Zen Story about a King who had a large rock placed in the middle of a roadway. This completely blocked entry to the city .His plan was to see who would take initiative to remove it. Will those people who use the road get discouraged, quit and turn away.
He hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. He watched people coming to this roadblock and then turning away .Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the rock, he did not turn away .Instead he tried and tried to push it out of the way. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded in dislodging and pushing it away out of the way .
S.S.A.Zaidi
Retd Banker ;Author &;Motivational speaker
Training and Development Consultant
9987644300
He hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. He watched people coming to this roadblock and then turning away .Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the rock, he did not turn away .Instead he tried and tried to push it out of the way. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded in dislodging and pushing it away out of the way .
After dislodging the rock, the peasant noticed a purse lying there .The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the rock from the roadway.
The peasant learned what many of us never understand: Lesson learnt is "Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition."
S.S.A.Zaidi
Retd Banker ;Author &;Motivational speaker
Training and Development Consultant
9987644300
Post updated on: Aug 15, 2021 3:10:34 PM
The elephant god. The leader of the demons. The son of Shiv-Parvati. The non-sectarian deity. The lover of sweets. The benefactor of writers and students. The remover of obstacles. The lord of intellect. The one who brings in prosperity. The most popular god.
The rider of Kroncha. The husband of Riddhi and Siddhi. The bestower of boons.
Amit. Bhupati. Chaturbhuj. Dharmik. Ekadanta. Ganapati. Haridra. Kirti. Lambodara. Manomay. Namasthetu. Omkara. Pramoda. Rudrapriya. Shweta. Tarun. Uddanda. Vinayak. Yogadhipa. If you want anything to begin auspiciously, call him, for he is the Lord of Auspicious Beginnings.
Ganesha's happy go lucky attitude teaches us a lot about Life. The smile on his face tells us that misfortunes should not worry us. His elephant-head is a lesson for all. He is able to shrug it off so easily and that's what each one of us should do. Not get worried if things are not working our way. Take the bad with the good and continue.
The most important teaching that we get from this lovable god is respect for parents. When Parshuram, the axe-wielding incarnation of Vishnu visited Mount Kailash to see Shiva, Ganesha stopped him. Shiva had given Parshuram an axe with special powers, which Parshuram had used to defeat his enemies, and thus wanted to thank his benefactor. When Ganesha did not allow him, Parshuram was enraged, and started fighting with him. Ganesha had an upper hand throughout the tussle but when he was almost close to winning, Parshuram threw the axe at him. Ganesha could have easily avoided it but because his father had given it to Parshuram, he let the axe hit his left tusk. He did not want Parshuram to think that the axe was ineffective. He willingly sacrificed a part of his body but did not allow his father?s reputation to be stigmatized.
There?s another instance from Ganesha?s life that depicts his respect for parents. Once he and his brother Kartikeya decided to see who could circumnavigate the three worlds faster. His brother went off to do just that but Ganesha simply went around his parents Shiv-Parvati. When asked to explain his action, he said that for him, his parents constituted the three worlds.
Jai Ganesh! Jai Ganesh! Jai Ganesh!
Written by my son Nasir Zaidi - NZ
The rider of Kroncha. The husband of Riddhi and Siddhi. The bestower of boons.
Amit. Bhupati. Chaturbhuj. Dharmik. Ekadanta. Ganapati. Haridra. Kirti. Lambodara. Manomay. Namasthetu. Omkara. Pramoda. Rudrapriya. Shweta. Tarun. Uddanda. Vinayak. Yogadhipa. If you want anything to begin auspiciously, call him, for he is the Lord of Auspicious Beginnings.
The most important teaching that we get from this lovable god is respect for parents. When Parshuram, the axe-wielding incarnation of Vishnu visited Mount Kailash to see Shiva, Ganesha stopped him. Shiva had given Parshuram an axe with special powers, which Parshuram had used to defeat his enemies, and thus wanted to thank his benefactor. When Ganesha did not allow him, Parshuram was enraged, and started fighting with him. Ganesha had an upper hand throughout the tussle but when he was almost close to winning, Parshuram threw the axe at him. Ganesha could have easily avoided it but because his father had given it to Parshuram, he let the axe hit his left tusk. He did not want Parshuram to think that the axe was ineffective. He willingly sacrificed a part of his body but did not allow his father?s reputation to be stigmatized.
There?s another instance from Ganesha?s life that depicts his respect for parents. Once he and his brother Kartikeya decided to see who could circumnavigate the three worlds faster. His brother went off to do just that but Ganesha simply went around his parents Shiv-Parvati. When asked to explain his action, he said that for him, his parents constituted the three worlds.
Jai Ganesh! Jai Ganesh! Jai Ganesh!
Written by my son Nasir Zaidi - NZ
Post updated on: Aug 14, 2021 4:59:40 PM
"Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is." ~ Bhagavad Geeta (chapter 18 verse 58)
The thought that the Geeta has advocated has been expounded so beautifully by Mahatma Gandhi in his own inimitable style as under:
"Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning."
There are no limits to what you can believe. With your strong belief you can do anything. Your belief is your thought that what you trust is true.
There is no straight path to where you are going. If you are walking a different path, never see it as a flaw or think that something is wrong with you. Being different is your biggest asset and will help you succeed. You can because you think you can. Confidence is another word for belief. Some beliefs can hold you down, other beliefs can lift you up. Free yourself from the beliefs that holds you down. Transform your mind and develop the beliefs that can lift you up. It is your mind; change it and choose a new belief that inspires you to achieve what you desire to. You can certainly change your mind and introduce in it your new belief. Remember that you choose your beliefs, therefore you can also discard those that do not work for you.
Don't be the prisoner of your old beliefs that incapacitate you. Consider the unlikely. Explore the impossible. There are no limits to what you can do, so experience and enjoy a lot more than you think you can. Choose a new belief that will help you improve and achieve.
He who does not know his own worth is ruined, so said Imam Ali (as). This quotation identifies the basis of self-confidence. You be self-confident one must have self-esteem or self-value. You must know your own worth in order to believe in yourself. The strongest factor in attaining success is your strong belief that you can do it, you deserve it and that you will get it. Self-esteem is the foundation of your self-confidence. And eventually, it is your confidence in your own merit that will lead you on to the path of success.
Key Takeaways
1. Don't be the prisoner of beliefs that incapacitate you.
2. Get your negative beliefs replaced by positive ones that lift you up.
3. There are no limits to what you can achieve.
4. Know your worth, don't compromise on your self-esteem.
S.S.A.Zaidi
Retd Banker ;Author &;Motivational speaker
Training and Development Consultant
9987644300
Post updated on: Aug 14, 2021 2:24:16 AM
The virginal sound. The only sound that retains its virginity despite innumerable chanting since the world was created. The sweetest sound. The clearest sound. The most dynamic sound. The first sound. The original sound. The sound with multiple meanings. The sound that throbbed when there was nothing. The sound that makes the universe throb.
Om is not only a tool for meditation, as claimed by various scholars. Om is a tool to understand life. Om connects the self with the cosmic world. Om takes you beyond boundaries. Om resurrects. Om revives. Om rejuvenates. Om is the most sacred sound.
Every creation has an essence. Om is the essence of Krishna. Krishna is Om. Om is the essence of Shiv. Shiv is Om. Brahman is Supreme Self. The Creator of all existence. Om is Shabda Brahman (Brahman as sound).
Om is a rhythm, a beat that inspires. Om is soul's nourishment. The deeper you go in this sound, the stronger you emerge. Om is vibrancy. Om is energy. Om is universe's music. Om establishes a bond between the self and the Creator. Om transforms; Om renovates. Om penetrates.
Om is the soul of Gayatri Mantra, the most powerful mantra. Om bhur bhuvah suvah. When you chant this, you rise. You gain ascendancy. You soar towards the Ultimate. You reach the cosmic consciousness. You become one with the One.
Om, Om, Om, Om, Om.
Let this sound be the music of your heart. Let this sound be the lyrics of your soul. Let this sound rule your mind. Let this sound echo and re-echo in your being. Let this sound influence your every move. Submerge in this sound. Let the waves of time roll over you. Om is a shield. Om protects. Om fortifies.
The present, past, and future is indeed, Om. And whatever else is beyond these three dimensions of time ? that also is in Om.
- NZ
S.S.A.Zaidi
Retd Banker, Author & Motivational speaker
Training and Development Consultant
9987644300
Post updated on: Aug 14, 2021 2:23:41 AM
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves-says William Shakespear.
The above is a part of a quote from Shakespeare's play JULIUS CAESAR. It reads as "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves, that we are underlings." (Julius Caesar,) It flags a message that we should not be guided by our astrological signs to do what we want to do. What we achieve in life is the outcome of our own actions not the fate or stars. Those who succeed in life are doers not star watchers. They don't look up to their astrological charts to decide what to do or what not to do.
In a nutshell it means we must have the strength of will, to overcome the roadblocks that obstruct the way to our goals. Our actions are our own choices and they are not the result of Stars which are beyond our control.
Pause for a moment to think about the faults in yourselves, and then choose your actions that may shape your destinies. This suggests you oversee your own destiny. Make your own choices as S.Naqi Haider Rizvi did . He turned his disabilities into abilities. This has been narrated in the following here below He has proved that what matters the most in our life to succeed is our thought process and attitude.. Our destiny is governed not by stars but our own actions.
When you want to do something you realize there are many obstacles on the way. Accept the existence of the obstacles preventing you from doing what you want to do and then go beyond them. This applies to everyone who aspires to achieve true success. Success has no destination. It is continuous and constant. Success means overcoming the difficult situations that you encounter on the way.
Obstacles are many. Obstacles can be overcome, once you understand the odds, everything outside of them becomes a possibility. S.Naqi Haider Rizvi is shining example. Read below what Naqi says - unedited version of what he says is reproduced here below
Losing Sight Is Not The Same As Losing Vision.
Naqi says; I have lost sight but not the vision
While addressing audience at TED Talk Naqi put his thoughts as follows
About your plans for tomorrow you may include a splendid breakfast laundry or for some of you choosing the right combination of clothes for a formal event; all of these are activities that most of us do without much effort. Now close your eyes and imagine doing those same activities but now with the blindfold. How will you differentiate the salt from sugar; how will you know which button to press on the washing machine, how will you know which tie best goes with your suit to make you look as handsome as me. Those same activities, same tasks, same goals now more difficult. Now imagine doing this with a blindfold not for a day but for the rest of your life yes ladies and gentlemen this is what I had to grapple with at the tender age of 7 when I lost my sight due to congenital glaucoma. Even when I was born I couldn't see very much and the gradual deterioration of my sight was like a slow poison that ate away the soul and happiness with me and my family. My parents tried everything in their power to save my eyes but it appeared the blindness had been destined for me and there was nothing that we could do except to come to terms with that bitter reality. It appeared before the rest of my life my world would be very bleak colorless and dark. Normal activities like reading writing drawing walking or even playing with children seemed like insurmountable mountains with no ropes that I could hold to reach the summit. It meant every time I would try to climb I would often fall .On the day I was born to an Indian mother and Pakistani father my parents realized that there was something very peculiar about me, not that I was a cocktail of immiscible countries or overly cute as a child but what noticeable was that my eyes were unusually protruding. They tried to seek answers but to no avail .Unfortunately the doctors won't have much help either. Mom and Dad however embraced me and took me home as a child; They didn't know how much I could or could not see. All they knew that as a toddler when I played with toys that fell far from me I found it difficult to find them and that my eyes watered uncontrollably when exposed to light. My mother who's a very ambitious woman and overly loving decided to put me in a regular school with sighted girls and boys so that I too could live a life as close to as near normality as possible. I will not delve into the specific challenges that I face being the only blind student in that school or there would be no end to this talk in sight
What I would however say is that the formative years of my life were full of challenges obstacles trials and tribulations .The only advantage to being different at school was that everyone knew my name and I was famous not for the most pleasant reason. Of course normal dreams that parents see for their children going to school playing sports going to university seemed incredibly difficult for me not only because they seemed too unrealistic or far-fetched but because our resources were scarce and we could not guarantee that schooling me in a regular setting would actually bear the desired results. My parents with unwavering faith in God believed that nothing was impossible .This propelled them forward. They knew that I had not been sent to this world as a mere glaucoma patient but rather as someone with a much bigger purpose in life. They worked with me day and night and raised me up just like a normal child. In fact I was even scolded for being overly naughty at school as my mother was a teacher in the same school and often heard my complaints in the teacher staff room .My mother who's an MBA graduate from a very prestigious university decided to let go of her career to help me cope at school. She worked with me day and night and helped me reach where I am today .On the other hand my larger-than-life father made me try the wonders of this world like karate skating cycling public speaking and even driving. not on a road of course .My sister was one of my biggest support and delight .She never fails to brighten up my days, She can relate to living in a pitch-black world as she also suffers from the same disease .She does however have some sight remaining and often describes the surroundings of new places that we visit together .Even as a child she never failed to brighten up my days in the hospital when she brought me my favorite toys ,chocolates and flowers during a debilitating surgery last year in which my eyes were removed and replaced with prosthetic ones to alleviate me of my excruciating eye pain .She came by my hospital bed and held my hand and at that time she conveyed something that no words could express and no one else could understand ladies and gentlemen. I'm no superhuman but just an ordinary person like all of you sitting here. All of us face problems in our lives of varying nature and magnitude. All of us also have dreams and ambitions that we yearn to accomplish but obstacles that prevent us from doing so sometimes our goals can seem too unrealistic or far-fetched. Resources are always scarce and none of us can guarantee that the effort we put in to accomplish those tasks will yield the desired results. I believe that too but does that mean we give up .Remember that when you try you will fall and when you fall fall forward because when you get up you're still ahead of where you were before you fell and that too is progress. Keep in mind that you cannot be victorious unless you come to the battlefield with the mindset of a warrior as Helen Keller beautifully articulates , keep your face to the Sun and the shadows will fall behind you ? I came to London two weeks ago ,coming to a new place adjusting to a new lifestyle learning rules studying engineering seems like an enormous challenge for me but I came here with the mindset of a warrior and now I not only go to most places on my own but also live a normal life I study engineering with my sighted friends, Do my house chores on my own and also enjoy life doing undergraduate degree. Many people thought I was being overly ambitious when I decided to opt for Industrial Engineering and I wouldn't lie it was incredibly difficult with those complicated diagrams equations computer programs and laboratory experiments but I knew I had to prove myself. I worked tirelessly and pleasantly surprised those same people on the day of my graduation when despite being the only one in my class with a physical impairment I graduated with the highest grade on my batch and that day proved to me that disability is not the same as inability. I did not attribute the success to myself alone as if it were not for the help of God, the love affection and support of my family, the guidance of my teachers and the moral support of my friends I wouldn't have been able to come this far. I proudly tell the world that even though I have lost my sight I haven't lost my vision .For me my attitude has always been the first step towards achievement. For some people my world may appear very bleak colorless and dark but to me my world is very bright and illuminated because when some sighted people see things they see them the way they are but when I see things I see them the way I choose to view them .Ladies and gentlemen all of us have goals and ambitions that we want to accomplish and many obstacles that prevent us from achieving those, do not wait, go out there and fight to overcome those obstacles. Keep in mind that obstacles will always be there what needs change is the way we tackle them. Try to overcome those obstacles. If you can't overcome all of them just like the ones I encounter on the pavements here, then go around them do not let any person; any circumstance define your success or failure. Remember that you are the captain of your ship and the master of your destiny. Do not let frustrations hold you back. Use them to propel you forward .Keep in mind that kites fly against the wind and not with it. Do keep in mind that nothing is impossible because even the word impossible says I am possible .Keep in mind that your perseverance and attitude can make the difference. Start with a small step and soon you'll be leaping towards your goals with obstacles propelling you forward instead of holding you back .Remember the obstacles are challenges and failures are stepping stones to success. Trials and tribulations will always be there but what will help you succeed is your belief that nothing is impossible .And now at the count of three I want all of you to say together nothing is impossible okay one two three nothing is impossible, Let us try again .this time let's say to the floor nothing is impossible ok, nothing is impossible and now the last time the loudest and with maximum conviction nothing is impossible ladies and gentlemen It was for me an idea worth spreading."
Note ::This is discussed in detail in my book Failure is a knock on the door of success
S.S.A.Zaidi
Retd Banker ;Author &;Motivational speaker
Training and Development Consultant
9987644300
Post updated on: Aug 11, 2021 11:18:41 PM
S. S. A. Zaidi
Training and Development Consultant
0091-9987644300
Life is a struggle. One such struggle is to find solutions to the problems we encounter day in and day out. And to overcome this we all need to be Thinkers?.
It is wisely said "most problems are really the absence of ideas. And the moment a problem has been clearly defined and stated, 90% of its solution has been found?.
To get ideas, keep your mind open. Mind is like a parachute. It is useless if it is not open." Newton had his eyes open when the apple fell in front of him. He saw the apple falling, he thought and came up with Law of Gravitation. A man could not have landed on the moon without the knowledge of this Law'.
Knowledge and experience no doubt widen one's mental horizon but in the end it is the "THINKING Process" that helps find a solution. A process is a series of meaningful repeatable steps that produces an outcome. Every process requires Inputs to produce some output. The process of thinking produces IDEAS / SOLUTIONS. This thinking process involves.
- Letting one's sub conscious mind work on it round the clock.
- Meeting, visiting and talking to a lot of people.
- Developing one's common sense and using it.
- Not making "Best" the enemy of "Better" i.e implementing what one thinks is better than before.
- Not being afraid of mistakes - Remember a mistake is the best teacher. A wrong decision can be corrected.
Start your thinking process and see the ideas popping up like Pop- Corn.
Dream is the ultimate of process of thinking. It is the result of complete involvement. What we think during the day, we dream about in the night. Success comes only from complete involvement, that becomes a part of one's sub-conscious and is reflected in one's dreams.
Remember in life there are two things worth living for,
- Do what is worthy of being written.
- Write what is worthy of being read.
Thinking is done in "Mind" . It is the "Mind" which thinks, perceives, feels, wills, conceives, believes and achieves.
"Mind" is the best asset we have. This asset needs to be taken care of and protected as one would do, for example, for one's car. When one buys a car, one gets a "CAR OPERATING Manual" . When one gets a job, one perhaps gets a job Operation Manual. Manuals describe the logical steps / precautions that need to be taken to operate the car and to do one's job.
Can't we then have a "MIND Manual" to do our job better at home and in office?
Relax and think how much of your mind did you use yesterday? You might have done 100 things, but think how many of these could have been done by your assistants. May be, your assistants may have taken longer time, may have made more mistakes but if you keep on delegating authority and responsibility to them, don't you think your assistants will improve themselves? Certainly they will.
This will give you enough time to use your MIND fully and it will take you towards your goals.
Your mind can store as much information as you want to. It will never be full. Mind is like a tape recorder. It will keep on recording, if you keep it switched on. It will also play back whenever you want to have any information.
Mind is like a muscle. More you train it, stronger it gets. The older you get, better it becomes provided you KEEP ON USING IT.
Mind is like a piece of land. On the land you can grow whatever you put into it. You cannot get good ideas unless you put in seeds of good ideas.
Mind is actually better than the piece of land, because germination can even take place not only within six days, or six months, but even after 10,20 or 30 years. Relax and think. To one who tries and concentrates, ideas come seemingly from nowhere.
Mind comes to us Free as standard equipment at birth What we get free; we attach little value to it. If you use your mind and value it, you will experience its miracle.
It is the miracle of mind when suddenly an idea starts flashing on the screen of your mind. It is now up to you to transfer this flash from your mind to a piece of paper.
God has given this piece of land MIND to all of us. We add to it or delete from it in regard to its fertility.
These ingredients would add fertility to your Mind helping it to produce rich crops of good ideas. In the process you become rich and your Organization becomes richer.
REMEMBER
Thinking can be done by your assistants too. Encourage them to get involved in thinking.
There is a story of a crow that could raise the level of water in the pitcher by dropping pebbles into it. The crow solved the problem by thinking and using its mind. Incidentally this story has been modified. The crow who had dropped the pebbles saw that the water that came up was muddy. It flew away without drinking the water. Another crow who was sitting nearby and observing all that was happening waited with patience for a few minutes so that the mud could settle down and when it did, it quenched its thirst with the clean water.
The moral is when you are thinking, do not limit your scope and span of thinking.
If you are asked to join the following nine dots with four straight lines without lifting your pen, you cannot do it until you widen your span of thinking and extend to the area that lies outside the nine dots. This is known as ?THINKING OUTSIDE THE Box. (A very common exercise used in Training Programs).
Can you join these dots with four straight lines without lifting your pen?
THINK
Yes ? you can but only if you think beyond the area of dots.
This reinforces the view that greater success comes only to those who do not confine their thinking to a definite / set mould. And this is what we as Managers need to work on. We should widen the scope and span of our thinking.
We should strive to be ?DIFFERENTIATORS?.
To be Differentiators we need to:
- Give more autonomy and space to employees.
- Raise the performance level in all key activities.
- Encourage activities like team working / reciprocity.
- Give demanding expectations that would require the employees to think to go that extra Mile?.
Managers, therefore need to think and encourage employees to think. This would produce plethora of ideas. Such ideas would help organization scale newer and newer heights of achievements.
This is very well illustrated and testified by the experience of a Production Manager in a leather factory in India under whom more than 300 workers were working. Almost all these workers were illiterates, with not so bright IQ. But the Production Manager never had any difficulty in getting the required output from them. When this company got a very large export order it became necessary for the Production Manager to increase the productivity. But there was a big problem. There was no drying machine with the result that the leather after having been tanned and dyed was put under the sun for it to dry. This took longer time hampering the productivity. The cost of the drying machine was about $9,000 and it required to be imported from Germany after obtaining import license. And to get the licence was a long drawn procedure. The company had actually applied for the licence eight months back but had not yet received it.
The Production Manager did not want to lose this export order. And the only way to do it was to accelerate the drying process to increase the productivity.
The Production Manager went to his workers and told them about the export order and the need for rigging up a drying mechanism. He asked the workers: How shall we do it
The workers responded to the challenge and said that they would think about it. After some time they came up with a Drying Mechanism that cost the company only $1,000 and accelerated the drying process resulting in increased productivity.
This Production Manager, whenever he had a problem, would go to his workers and ask them How shall we do it. This would trigger the process of thinking and the workers would come up with ideas to solve the problem.
This Production Manager was a differentiator, a Motivator. We, managers therefore, should go to our employees with the Poser. How shall we do it. And experience the miraculous results.
As SWITZER said,
You do not help anyone by preaching a new idea; you help only by assisting a man to think.
Post updated on: Aug 10, 2021 4:11:28 AM
Rejection hurts but it should not hold you back
Rejection does put one out of comfort zone. It does feel like a big blow. However, it does throw up a golden opportunity to the person who receives the rejection to reflect to improve. It could also spurone to move on and shift gears.
Rejections could be prompts to you to improve your skills on what you got rejected at. Rejection should not make you feel that you are incompetent or you are a failure, it only means you are not perhaps equipped with the skills required for that activity you were working at. You should therefore take it as a learning experiment. You should educate yourself. You should not get disheartened. You should not accept defeat and quit.
Rejection makes one resilient. It should be an integral part of one's learning and growth. Dealing with rejection can be difficult and painful. One may ignore it and move on while others may wallow in self-pity.
A genuine rejection is positive and should be taken as a signal to you to learn and improve. Ignore negative rejections and grow through what you go through. If you get rejected in a job interview, you don't declare yourself incompetent, do you? No, you don't. You rather continue pushing yourself until you succeed. Adopt same approach in all the setbacks and rejections you receive.
One person's rejection or opinion should not define you who you are. It should give you an opportunity to grow and become better. Face rejection with courage and convert it into success. Not all rejections are bad; some help to improve. Take rejections as your next step towards success. Learn from these rejections and if you do that you will be a better version of yourself. Take rejection as a fact that you could have done better. Use it as a tool to improve. Giving up is not an option. Correct approach for you will be to give it yet another try rather than giving up. Take it as something better coming. Take it as a stepping stone to success. Appreciation always follows Rejection.
I had a few rejections in my professional life. Some dampened me a bit but I did not get discouraged. I overcame it. First rejection was when I was not taken as a teacher despite me having done quite well in the interview. My being the past student of that collage and even good one was also ignored; Second rejection was for banking job in officer's cadre. Though my performance in the written tests and interview was very good, I was not taken. In both the cases I understand why I was not taken but I would prefer to desist from commenting on that.
Among many other rejections the last rejection was froma Publisher when after a wait of about two months they informed that they would not be able to publish my book Anti Money Laundering/Anti Terrorism Financing & Know Your Customers Banker's Handbook. Some other publishers didn't respond. I was getting a bit jittery, but not losing hope and things in course of time turned out positive.
Snow White Publishers Kalbadevi Mumbai after several phone calls and a few meetings finally agreed to publish. The book was instant success and went into second edition that also sold out in six months.
The book has been adjudged the best book on the subject. A few comments of appreciation in regard to that read like as follows
1. Marc Hochstein Executive Editor, American Banker commented? The financial services industry today offers great opportunity for innovation and disruption. But even the most visionary start-ups must manage risk and understand the regulations, including anti-money laundering and know-your-customer requirements. S.S.A. Zaidi has written a timely book for those who want to get a handle on the complex work of AML compliance, a major concern of financial institutions ranging from global banks to local money transmitters. He is a passionate advocate of transparency and integrity in business, and his writing will inspire those trying to build ethical, risk-averse corporate cultures in an era when short-term thinking is unfortunately prevalent.
Mrs V. R.Iyer Retd CEO Bank of India, messaged
I find Mr. Zaidi's book ?Anti-money Laundering/Anti-Terrorism Financing & Know Your Customer? to be very comprehensive and informative. The complex subject of Money Laundering has been dealt with in a very logical sequence and easy to understand language. The style of presentation makes easy reading. The book will be of great help not only to front line staff dealing with customers but also be a good source of material for trainers.
I have known Mr. Zaidi as a very competent trainer and the presentation style of the book reflects his professional competence. The fact that the book is going into second edition within a period of five months of its publication speaks volumes about the quality of the contents and manner of presentation of the book. I wish the second edition of the book and its author all success
The lesson you can draw from all this is not to get discouraged by such rejections.
What is all narrated above can be summarized in the words of ? Lailah Gifty Akita , Author of Think Great: Be Great as under
"Everyone at some point in life have faced rejection and failure, it is part of the process to self-realization."
Lesson is --Don't allow rejections to disturb and threaten your comfort Zone
Take Always -
1) Rejection should not lead to not to lead to Dejection
2) See rejection as a tool to get better and improve it's not the end.
3) You must remain motivated and inspired
Post updated on: Aug 8, 2021 10:58:49 PM
An organization is the collective name of people working together for a common goal. It is the people behavior that determines the productivity and therefore the profitability of organizations. People behavior therefore is the NUCLEUS around which the whole activity of an organization revolves and is shaped.
Behavior is the reflection of one's attitudes. Attitudes are formed by one's experiences, beliefs and values. People behaviors are, therefore, molded by their experiences, values, opinions and views collectively termed as attitudes. People are hired for aptitudes but fired for attitudes.
A senior executive of an American firm once remarked I would love my job if it weren't for the peoples. Most of the organizations are plagued by PEOPLE PROBLEMS. These problems are shown in their behaviors. Why people behave the way they do, has, therefore, been the concern of all organizations and it has led to the study of BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE. One of the proponents of this Science was Dr. Eric Berne. As propounded by him every person has three Behavioral Characteristics known as Parent, Adult and Child. These Behavioral Characteristics are called Ego States which represent sets of Behaviors, Thoughts, Feelings and Attitudes.
The readings of:
1. GAMES PEOPLE PLAY by Dr. Eric Berne.
2. EVERYBODY WINS by Dorothy Jongeward and
3. I AM OK, YOU ARE OK? by Thomas and Amy Harris
Provide insight into the complexities of People Behaviors. Analysis of these behaviors throws clues as to why people behave the way they do and this is known as Transactional Analysis that Dr. Eric Berne advocated. Many organizations through out the world have turned to Behavioral Sciences for answers to People Problems. as it is the people who make or mar organizations. If the people are happy, they are more responsible and more effective, therefore they are more productive. Happy people contribute to the vitality and success of an organization.
It is not the job that frustrates as much as the Problems relating to People. As one Cost Analyst Complained, I thought my job would be dealing with figures, not people. What a surprise!
People have some basic beliefs about self and others. They use these beliefs to justify their decisions and behaviors. These behaviors are known as GAMES. Games are played wherever there are people.
This article, without a claim to originality, makes an attempt to:
? examine what prompts / motivates game - playing on the job.
? illustrate from experience how certain games are played in the organizational setting.
? demonstrate how games can be stopped.
What is a Game?
A Game is a transaction and a transaction is a communication between two or more people. It is an exchange of thoughts and of feelings expressed verbally or conveyed non-verbally (Tone, Pitch, Volume, Facial Expressions, Gestures and Postures).
What prompts Game - Playing in an Organization?
People play games because they have idle time. They need to fill up time. If they do not do it, they suffer boredom. Boredom saps physical and mental energies that causes deterioration. People who are bored with their jobs are more prone to Game - Playing.
People need recognition. It is a universal phenomenon. If the work environment is void of RECOGNITION people have all the more reasons and need to play games.
Motives and Effects.
Every game has a hidden agenda. There are hidden motives. Game players actually do not talk about what it sounds they are talking about. What they say, they do not mean; what they mean, they do not say. In the process someone gets hurt and the real problems remain unsolved. Such games prevent honest and open relationship and reveal that each person's real Hell.. is the other People.
Those who play games find other people to talk and to gossip and put other people down. By playing such games they are transmitting a message that they are OK but others are NOT OK. However in reality they may be having a belief that they are NOT OK. Therefore they feel better by putting others down.
Games are destructive. They cost the organization heavily. People who otherwise could be productive divert their energies into game-playing rather than doing their own job or getting the job done, making decisions or solving problems.
Games always fortify a feeling of I AM NOT OK and / or YOU ARE NOT OK. They lead to loss of productivity. The time of the organization which could have been used productively is used to reinforce negative concepts about self / others.
A few sample of Games played in Organizations.
? The following statements are often heard being made by employees.
? Well, I was only trying to help you.
? If it weren't for the Training Manager we could have run this training program well in time.
? It baffles me why such weird things always happen to me.
? This is the fourth time she has messed up the job for us.
Such statements aim at finding fault with others. When people play such games they do things like passing the buck. Such games are known as Blaming Games or Passing the Buck games. People who play these Games present themselves as angels and blemish-less by placing the responsibility for their short comings on some one else.
In an office setting someone senior or someone junior is blamed for their own mistakes
Such people find themselves inadequate and the blame is put on others for their inability / incompetence to achieve.
Another Blaming Game played is I have got you . In this game someone ends up being caught for having made a mistake. The game player arranges a set up for someone to make mistakes and when the mistakes occur the player shouts at him, gets angry at him. A Manager / Supervisor who gives incomplete instructions can be setting up such a game.
A game usually played between staff and line managers is but why don't you It is a game to put people down.
See what you made me do is a very common statement made by people in the organization. It is to blame a mistake made by the game player in the presence of another person on that other person.
Such a person takes the position nothing is ever my fault, but it is yours. Such a person is the collector of angry feelings about others and feelings of inadequacy about self.
The words "if it weren't for----" may be a clue to the possibility of game playing rather than an honest complaint. " If it weren't for such a rigid organization policy we could be creative" suggest the employees are playing a game, as they are actually not sure of their own creative abilities.
In office one finds a nit-picker. The game office nit-picker plays is to point out mistakes that are small and of no consequence. The people picked on can become angry and resentful.
A game where a bait is thrown in a manner that a trap falls on an employee who may then have to decide whether to stick with the organization or to seek employment elsewhere. Some organizations, in their desire to attract bright students in the college campus, paint a very rosy picture of the position they are offering. When they join, the realization comes that the position is not that was projected to be; and they feel trapped.
Another dirty game is where one person goes to a second person in an attempt to engage the second and the third person in an argument. It proceeds like this.
One employee A goes to another employee B saying in confidence ?It makes me feel uncomfortable to tell you this but I thought it over and feel you need to know what C is saying about you. And then the person proceeds to reveal, distort or fabricate what C is saying. In all likelihood B will soon engage in a conflict with C
In office one finds a corner player. Who maneuvers other people into a situation where they remark ?It seems, whatever we do, we never come out right, no matter what ever we do we can't please the boss. Such a feeling is typical of one who feels cornered.
The games described above are my own personal experiences / observations and are but a few of the variety of games played in an organization. These games are classified by Behavioral Scientists under different names like Blaming, Under Cutting, Putting other people down, Bear Trapping etc.
However whatever may be the type and nature of games played, they ultimately vitiate the work place environment, prevent development of honest and open relationship, and inhibit problem solving, curb creativity and productivity, put fetter on authentic interactions and cause anger and resentment among employees.
How Games can be stopped
? Games always aim at undermining other people. What is required is to develop and nurture those management skills that would help create such ambience at the work place as would make other people seem Heavenly. Insight into one's own personality and into what makes other people tick or click can probably lead to creation of that Heavenly ambience and those moments when other people seem Heavenly and feel Heavenly.
? When game-playing is stopped or curtailed within the organizations, it paves the way for more open, honest and authentic interactions among employees. It saves time and money. Moreover Curtailing / Preventing of organizational games helps people to be creative and productive.
? Managers who take the stance YOU ARE NOT OK tend to stall the personal growth and development of employees they manage. Managers can change this position. With persistence and enough foresight games can be stopped before they start. Efforts should be made to stop putting others down and putting ourselves down. In other words we should refrain from defining others as insignificant, refrain from collecting negative feelings about ourselves and stop exaggerating personal shortcomings. It will help stop game - playing.
? There are many ways in which management can diminish if not fully eliminate the time invested in games. This can be done by :
- reducing boredom on the job,
- Enriching work environment.
- allowing people to express and develop their own Potential.
- Integrating the personal goals with the Organizational goals.
It is to the benefit of organizations, if employees are given freedom to channel their energies into solving problems, making decisions and developing their talents and potentials. Happy employees contribute to the productivity that leads to increasing profits.
We managers need to create work environment that provides conducive conditions to employees to use their time productively and effectively. Less idle time they have, less scope is there for them to play games. Attitudes can be changed if the organizational Climate / Culture provide empowerment and professional freedom to employees to develop their potentials. Management can do that by fostering the attitude, WE (MANAGEMENT) ARE OK; YOU (EMPLOYEES) ARE OK?. This in all probability will help utilize the full potential of all its employees and create a Win Win situation.
Post updated on: Aug 6, 2021 1:53:41 AM
Manager
and Leader
Managers ensure process flows, structural clarity, sustained excellence, fairness and equality; they are to be conduits of ideas /innovation through out the organization.
Leaders lead without the formal authoritarian control, to lead means to have followers and following is a voluntary act.
Managers tend to be relatively risk free, leaders tend to be risk seeking, managers manage work, leaders lead people.
Love is universal but intensely personal. Likewise leadership is universal and it is personal as well. Love energizes the universe so does leadership. From this energy flows action. Leadership encompasses the whole universe in its fold; Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela are the shining examples of this Universality, their footprints are indelible, eternal. Leadership derives energy from the love of the vision/ mission that he/she is set to realize. Mother Teresa is an example of this purity of love that kept her energized to keep going strongly/enthusiastically with the noble mission of serving the poor preaching LOVE ALL -HATE NONE to make this world hatred free. Similarly it was the love of the vision/mission to have their countries free from the shackles of slavery that energized Gandhi and Mandela. They had the reservoir of energy/passion that kept their people energized and motivated and mission achieved. How aptly the remark of Follet, ??there is energy, passion, unawakened life in us--those who call it forth are leaders?, fits in with these leaders
The excellence of leader is dependent on the followers. Great leaders take their workers with them; a leader creates organization that can flourish in spite of them. He rises above his ego. He creates an environment where people are not afraid to fail.
As John C Maxwell has said ?A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. ?
Leader ship is, therefore, about
Guiding people to go where they have never been
Inspiring them to produce exceptional results
Creating an image of future (vision), to have vision is the very essence of leadership that inspires enthusiasm and commitment
empathizing with the people and responding to their emotions as they cope with the journey
Encouraging learning by experimentation
Tolerating ambiguity and mistakes
Being available to people
Taking the work seriously and enthusiastically but taking the EGO lightly
Being humble. Leaders aren?t self-promoting or engaged in building a personal fiefdom
Having a sense of responsibility. Leaders are willing to bear the ultimate responsibility for their undertakings. They don?t point the finger of blame when things go awry. They don?t take all the credit. They give credit to others and refuse it for themselves. They do not sustain themselves in reflected glory. Leaders have integrity, the strength of character that restrains them from falling prey to temptations to self glorification and self perpetuation
Being passion- igniter not extinguisher and competence -appreciator not castrators?
)
Post updated on: Aug 6, 2021 12:21:57 AM
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