Mr. Jitendra Tomer's Blog

Life

Just Had to Share This!

No matter how confused or stupid or unloving other persons may appear to us, we have no right ever to assume that their consciousness is on a lower level than ours. They may be realizing far deeper dimensions of love. The way we see them is an explicit measure of our own vibration level. The very people we now see as vulgar, unenlightened, stupid, rip-offs, insane -- these people, when we learn to love them and all our feelings about them, are our tickets to paradise. And that is all we need to do -- love them. We may express that love or not as we wish, in any way we wish. It doesn't even matter how we treat them. But we must see them and love them as they are now, for we cannot deny them the freedom to be what they are, just as we must love ourselves as we are now.

- Thaddeus Golas

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Radha Krishna's Unconditional Love

Friendly Ghost wanted to know...I dug this out. I am simply sharing this and it is not my composition please!

Here is a story about lord Krishna that will tell us what true love is about.

Krishna, while living in Dwarka with his favourite wife Rukmani, would
very Often softly utter to himself, "O Radha… O Radha"

Rukmani felt jealous and asked him why he kept Remembering Radha so
often. Krishna did not say Anything. He just smiled.

A few days later, Krishna complained of stomach Ache. Rukmani gave him
medicines, but the pain did not Go away. He kept moaning in pain.

Krishna told her that only a little charanamrita (blessed water) of a
person who truly loved him would Put an end to his agony. He begged
Rukmani to give him some of her charanamrita

A shocked Rukmani refused: "How can I commit such a terrible sin? You
are the Lord of all that be, and if I gave you my charanamrita I would
surely go to hell.

Krishna than asked Rukmani to send an attendant to Vrindavan and try
and procure some charanamrita from Someone there. Soon the attendant
returned with a Cupful of charanamrita and as Krishna sipped it, all
The pain disappeared.

He then asked the attendant, "Who gave you this Charanamrita the
attendant replied, "no one in Vrindavan was ready to give it on
learning it was for Lord Krishna.

Then one young woman came running up to Me and gave me this cup. Her
companions cautioned her, "You fool Radha, you are committing the
greatest sin. But she did not care. She said, "I don't care about What
happens to me but I cannot bear to see my beloved Krishna in pain."

Krishna turned to rukmani standing by his side and Said, "Radha is not
afraid of going to hell for me. She only thinks about me.

So if Radha loves me so Much, should I also not long for her?

Things I Learnt About Love From Life

The things I have learnt of love in life are endless. They seem unimportant until something happens to give the lesson due importance at a later stage in life.

I have learnt that it is possible to seperate from the person you truly deeply love and still remain connected forever,that too, not by making an effort at trying to forget but by acknowledging that such love and depth of feelings do exist for the person concerned. Then, no matter where you go, you never stop loving.

I have learnt that a friend can turn into someone you love very very much but to turn a lover into a friend never happens. It is utter stupidity.

I have learnt that in matters of love it works out best when you give your all and not want anything in return. The grief is not there then. It is just an inner peace that comes with the realisation that you have the right to fall in love with someone but no right is ever given to you to expect the person to love you as much and in the same manner.

Breaking up always hurts. Its something you have to snap out of..there is no weaning out really. You are either in or out.Subsequent to a break-up, you really discover the spiteful side of a person by the way you behave with the person you have broken up with. You also discover whether you are just as spiteful or not.

Love does mean having to say sorry, except, when you say so, mean it or don't say it at all. Love also means saying thank you. It does not mean you need to use just your vocal chords to do so. Use your heart!

Love has reason for making you do things that your mind will never begin to understand. Because, when you do something for the one you love, it is never an obligation. It is more of a wanting to do it and share the happiness it can bring to the other. It never is a second thought.

Why am I talking about love...? Well, we all have theories about love...the above are what I have learnt. My confirmity to what has just been written may or may not be there and I do not choose to argue my own points or contradict. The lessons you learn are not the end all and be all of life...it is what IS that matter. Always!!

The Tickle Point

This is such a fundu world...I got some score on the tickle test for this one. For a person who has begun to see some stars in the daylight, not because the love bug's hit me,... of course, the next time I logged into the tickle and got conned into taking the test on "Is he the one?" This is how the result went...

There's definite potential here — he just might be "the One"! Maybe it's too early to tell if this is really "Mr. Wonderful," but it sounds like you've found someone great. There's no strict definition of love, but there are some things to think about that might help you to discover if this relationship is meant to last. Do your best qualities seem to shine when he's around? Do you find yourself overlooking pet peeves just because he's the guilty party? Do you feel all warm and fuzzy just thinking about him, even when he's not there? When you think about your future, is he in the picture? These are just a few of the good signs.

"There's no easy recipe for a long-lasting relationship, but you've found some of the main ingredients. Chemistry is definitely a great foundation. Then you add some trust, communication, and respect. Of course, a dollop of humor and a generous amount of romance make it much more satisfying. There are many more things you can add to make it better, but that depends on the needs of the relationship and the individuals. The two of you have clearly mastered some key elements and seem well on your way to building a loving, long-lasting relationship. If, however, you have some doubts about him, or if this relationship isn't truly what you want, listen to your inner voice. "Forever" shouldn't be taken lightly. Try to explore your fears and concerns thoroughly. And, remember, if he's not "the One", that's okay, because you'll find someone who is even better for you. It's a win-win situation! "
Ho, Hum...Ahem...who really cares. Love makes my world go round. Never mind the number of times it drowns me and kills me I do get back on my feet...It makes my world go around and if my world goes around I think it calls for celebration of life. I've discovered since I first fell in love (was I a gawky teenager then!!!), it only gets more meaningful when you are older. I understand today that there are certain things nobody can ever take away from me.
So why cry when there is no reason to cry...Instead celebrate life and love...it gives you countless opportunities to make the most out of it and to live and love, over and over again in this one lifetime.
Read this somewhere and I think it aptly puts across why it is such an important element in my life..."SOME DESIRE IS NECESSARY TO KEEP LIFE IN MOTION" aye aye sir!

Thoughts

I have thought long hours of daylight and darkness looking for reasons why we are drawn towards someone...sometimes I feel it is the way that certain someone looks at you, sometimes I think it is the sound of the person breathing next to you, unconsciously but what a storm it brings with it! Sometimes you can go breathless while someone just strips you with a gaze, sometimes, the ravages of our needs perhaps takes us to unknown shores, unfamiliar in the way it looks and yet familiar in its essence...you know, like storm and calm, fire and ice, someplace suspended in time with love and care, lust and emotions, needs and desire...all of which really confounds all reasoning, floods all over you, defying barriers and reasoning...no logic really works then...all crumbles, tumbles...a mush of every possible emotion...until there really remains no difference...the madness is there and there is funnily an inner peace you cannot even dream of otherwise...then you dont need to say anything...the silence speaks volumes, conversations...in solitude...

The Love Bug

Just when does one realise that one is hit? Being in love is such an euphoric state of mind, such a desperate state of mind, such a lost state of mind, such a happy state of mind, such a painful state of mind...its full of gladness, its full of ache, its full of one face above all others haunting you day and night, its one thought ever constant among others that run in your head, its a re-run and a reference to the person in question in every conversation, its just so many things rolled into one that a lifetime is not enough to understand and envisage the feeling in its colossal complete meaning.
Situation 1 - you walk in to a room full of strangers and home in to the one person who stares right back at you for that one split second and you get that zing up your spine for all that its worth. Love struck.
Situation 2 - you met someone casually, hold a conversation, leave after a while with a smile on your face and find yourself thinking of the person and you want to get back again as soon as possible (never mind the ego that does not let you call ASAP)...Love Struck.
Situation 3 - you've been with the person for years, he/she is your best friend...between you, come conversations, feelings, touches, and you get suddenly aware of seeing each other...you are on the edge, just a notch beyond camaraderie, camouflaged in the usual routine meetings, eyes meet, hold, looks linger, something charges up, somewhere between giving and sharing, the fortifications crumble, things connect and you find yourself fantasising, a bit guilty, a bit afraid, undisclosed thoughts that reflect in a hint of a smile...and there emerges something...Love struck.
I am no master in analysing just how it happens but these are the most interesting ones. And why so? Well, no plausible reason really...just a gut thing. Love is a gut thing...an out an out age, logic, caste, creed, personality, attitude and rationality defying phenomenon. So...just a gut thing...its that awesome thing that can make your jaw drop, make or break you so you either feel like royalty or like a pauper.
Why did I even begin to write this down...never mind that. I let it flow...there isnt a bigger bug than this one though...so perhaps this was the prologue to bigger things I may run into later and quantify here...meanwhile, get BIT...you may lose but its worth the sting at least once...!

January, 2008 2:06 AM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it | Entertainment

Value of the MBA to the employer

The MBA - is it worth it? More importantly, is it worth the investment made by companies in sponsoring developing leaders on the programme? It can be argued that underdeveloped managers are a greater cost to a company than the once-off investment of a qualification such as the MBA.

However, such a statement needs some substance - therefore one has to look at "What value can an MBA graduate add to your company ? "

The fact is, we are operating in an ever-changing, fast-paced, highly competitive and global world of work, but how does one respond to this environment. According to Dr Charlene Lew, former dean of the Damelin International College of Postgraduate Business Sciences, the first step would be to gain an understanding of this distraught business world. “It all starts with an understanding of the economy and how businesses can contribute to the invention of products that will increase the country’s resources. With that is an understanding of economic concepts, such as ‘inflation’ and ‘consumer price index’. A simple insight into managerial economics, such as supply and demand and opportunity costs assists MBA graduates understand the role of profit maximisation endeavours in the firm and how economics inform organisational decision-making,” said Dr Lew.

“In aligning the company with the government’s economic policies, the manager with an MBA can then oversee the financial management of the firm. And, by understanding the company accounts, the manager can assess the performance of the business. With the well-acclaimed holistic viewpoint of MBA graduates, productivity is seen in terms of the input that all the role-players in the firm must play. Of course the MBA also equips the manager, as a strategist, with analytical tools to assess profitability, through, for example, indicators of return on investment (ROI) or residual income (RI), to mention but two illustrations.”

Up to this point it is clear that the manager with an MBA understands the economic pressures on the company and has a firm grip on the financial condition of the firm. The MBA manager also understands to what extent the current financial situation is aligned with the strategy for profitability. The next logical step is for the MBA manager to know how to discover, predict and fulfil customers’ needs, so the company can show true profits. It is all about knowing how to compete. And it is about that winning relationship with customers and other stakeholders and, through marketing research skills, finding out what the customer wants - a true value-add to the company.

In the quest for productivity, top managers need to consistently determine whether the company is capable of surpassing problems in the process of successfully delivering products or services to the customer, and is the customer prepared to pay for these. If not, management needs to know when to introduce drastic actions. Productivity is clearly dependent on the decision-making ability of the leaders of the firm. Leaders with a purely financial or marketing background are not sufficiently knowledgeable regarding the decisions required for a productivity and competitive analysis.

Now, with the company riding the waves of the economy, forecasting its financial needs, controlling its funds and adding to its bottom line by getting the right product at the right price to the right place for the right person, while promoting all this in the most effective manner, the MBA manager can also do a bit of healthy introspection. “It is now when the MBA manager can have an intelligible look at how the company has been put together, how effectively communication flows among the various elements and how valuable the learning is that is taking place. Here the top manager with the MBA is equipped to forecast trends and developments in the organisational design and use techniques to improve the performance of the organisation as a whole. Based on that, intelligent actions can then be taken in terms of the people in the company and how their performance and development are managed,” said Dr Lew.

“With the organisation designed to run like clockwork, and where the delicate balance has been reached between giving to employees and gaining from their skills and endeavours, the MBA manager can evaluate the degree to which operation management is contributing to the competitiveness and profitability of the company. It is accepted that the MBA qualification will have given the individual the ability to have a strategic outlook on how operations can adhere to world-class standards and how they can operate in synergy with the other business functions.”

Dr Lew said that of course, the manager must then also be able to turn technological advancement to the benefit of the company, rather than seeing it as a threat. An understanding of information systems and knowledge technology then underpins the success of the MBA manager in this regard. This produces information that is useful to the company.

Clearly each element of value that the MBA adds builds on the others, but these values reach a different level when the skills of international business strategy are included. Consider just a few of the skills that the MBA manager has in this regard: He/she can manage the strategic options for the company, implement an effective team process, formulate strategies for the various business functions, gauge product-market demand and competitive interdependencies, including the scope of proposed businesses strategies, show flexibility and creativity in response to changing markets, identify and balance any competing forces for localisation or globalisation for the business and its functions such as marketing and production. These are only few of the very convincing arguments of the value that the MBA holds for the employer.

“Yet, there is more,” said Dr Lew. “The MBA manager can also tackle complex research endeavours to bring specific solutions to the company. The power of this lies in that the MBA manager does not only have extensive management knowledge, but also unusual insight into the firm he/she is operating in. With that combined knowledge, and with access to appropriate secondary data and newly gained primary data, the research yields recommendations and plans that could not be generated in any other way.”

“Overall, there is one key as to how the MBA programme facilitates improved company performance and increases managerial effectiveness and efficiency. The key lies in the new way of thinking that the MBA programme provides to its students. It is accomplished by developing a holistic understanding of business, leading to the detection of business problems and the recognition of opportunities. Through such insights, students can then creatively define and analyse alternatives before deciding on an appropriate course of action. This is the essence of the strategic MBA outlook,” said Dr Lew.

Convincing. The MBA manager can truly add value to any firm. And the value is added where it really matters – in improved performance of the manager and in increased profitability of the company. “But, a principle condition to this increased value-add needs to be clearly stated - the value added is proportional to the degree to which the MBA knowledge is applied,” concluded Dr Lew.

The conclusion? The MBA qualification that manifests in applied skills is of immense worth to the employer.

What is an MBA?

The MBA (Master of Business Administration) is an internationally recognised and geographically portable post-graduate, post-experience academic course in a number of subjects that together can be said to constitute the scienceofmanagement.

It is intended for those who work in business and management who seek career advancement, business ownership, or technical skills and business knowledge. The challenges imposed by the 21st Century place a high premium on upgrading skills and qualifications in order to meet the demands set by companies, customers and the environment that managers operate in.

Management areas

Functional areas of management comprise Human Resource Management, Operations Management, Marketing Management, Information Management, Financial Management, Strategic Management and Organisational Behaviour. At the end of an MBA programme, the graduate emerges with an upper level knowledge of functional managerial and business issues as well as new conceptual skills ready to meet the demands that are set by the competitive business environment.

However, in addition to developing strong technical skills, today’s managers must be able to influence people, interact with a broad spectrum of colleagues, customers and suppliers; and negotiate with individuals from all walks of life. They must know how their company relates to competitors in both the micro and macro business environments.

Prior experience essential

The MBA programme, which was first launched in the US in the 1950’s as a two-year post-graduate course and exported to Europe in the 1960’s, was initially rejected as irrelevant to the world of business and the schools were viewed as second rate.

Albeit, the MBA qualification grew largely within the framework of their non-vocational universities; the first year was devoted to the core disciplines of the science of management and the second year offered more specialisation through a choice of electives. Specialist MBAs were introduced with modular topics such as international business, finance, the public sector and even football. While the US model enrolled students after taking a first degree, business schools in Europe placed much greater emphasis on practical work experience prior to entering the MBA programme. By comparison, the learning curve of entrants with prior business knowledge and work experience played a significant role in re-writing the criteria for universal MBA enrolment.

Over a period of almost 30 years, from the beginning of the 1960’s to the end of the 1980’s, the MBA was transformed from being the Cinderella of professional qualifications to a coveted tool to be utilised in building existing competencies to find plausible solutions to concurrent business issues. By the late 1970’s, the battle for respectability had been won and the number of universities sprouting business school and MBA courses increased dramatically. Today, increased globalisation and changing lifestyles has meant that thousands of universities worldwide present the MBA qualification, offering more flexible ways of learning, including: distance learning, modular, in-company, and part-time study.

New developments

Driven by competitive factors, new developments over the past 20 years have successfully changed the primary two-year MBA programme to offer entrants shorter programmes (the one-year programme being the norm in some countries); running different programme structures such as modular, consortium, international and joint, as well as programmes accommodating diverse groups of people from different business sectors or different age groups; and internationalisation of curriculum content.

While most established programmes around the world have adopted the MBA title, there are programmes that are similar to what other schools would call an MBA, which also lead to degrees with other titles. Such titles include MBL (Master of Business Leadership), which is a post-graduate degree in the management sciences, and MBS (Master of Business Studies).

Choose your course carefully

While entrants may benefit from the wide choice of programmes, making the right choice of programme is paramount. In choosing a school and an MBA programme, the entrant should bear two main considerations in mind: what he or she wants to gain from the programme in terms of the skills or competence they wish to develop, and what is appropriate for their personal constraints such as budget, time availability, location, etc. Competition is strong for enrolment at the best business schools and employers also place a high premium on the criterion to attract the best graduates.

The MBA programme of the 21st Century is in a state of perpetual change – continually adding value through creativity, knowledge, innovation and learning for the benefit of our future business leaders. It has become one of the most sought after qualifications in today’s corporate world as a prerequisite to most top management positions. Possibly even more important is the fact that an MBA is a dynamic qualification that is qualitatively linked to the continuous change and growth associated with the management of global economic models.

Worldwide, the best business leaders consider an MBA qualification key to the continual success of careers in sectors like manufacturing, business, education, healthcare and other service sectors. A good business programme offers skills not ordinarily mastered in a conventional work environment such as Finance, Statistics, and Managerial Economics. While electives may opt to specialise within specific business components such as International Management, Human Resources, and Finance, the MBA is clearly a process of lifelong learning. Besides equipping managers with executive skills, it is a medium that encourages self-motivated continual learning not just as a means to career progression, but also to make a viable contribution to stimulate growth and development of the global economy.

Yet, at the dawn of the 21st Century, the classic profile of the MBA student is changing. Just a decade ago, MBAs were arming themselves with a qualification that would pave the way to a top managerial position with a multinational corporation. Today, the MBA is also relevant to those opting for a position with a smaller, but progressive company as well as business tycoons wanting to run their own company or join new-economy start-ups. This means that the traditional MBA is entering its most progressive stage of development.

Why an MBA?

The MBA qualification broadens and enhances knowledge and should be viewed in a sense of building up skills. Although the most popular reasons for undertaking the MBA is to increase salary, other reasons include widening career opportunities, furthering one’s career and/or to extend personal networks.

There are other equally important reasons that any prospective MBA student will state, but by far the most compelling is to create career opportunities for oneself. The challenges imposed by the 21st century have made it an essential component that we upgrade skills and qualifications in order to meet the demands set by companies, customers and the environment we operate within.

This is where the MBA becomes a tool to be utilised in building up existing competencies - the theory learned can be utilised to find plausible solutions to concurrent business issues. At the end of an MBA programme, one emerges with an upper level of functional managerial and business issues as well as new conceptual skills ready to meet the demands that are set by the competitiveness around us.

· Whether you're a doctor, an engineer, or an editor for your local newspaper, a graduate business degree can prepare you to move into a managerial position within your field.

With an MBA, you can:

Change your career

· If your current career path is a less than perfect fit for your aptitudes and interests, business school can give you the opportunity to explore your options, then provide you with the training you need to change careers entirely.

Set up your own business

· Interested in starting your own business, but not sure that you have the necessary expertise to launch a start-up in a high-growth industry? An MBA can prepare you to do everything from writing a business plan to acquiring venture capital to launching an IPO. Research has shown that the failure rate for small businesses started by an MBA is about 50 percent less than the standard failure rate.

Develop technical skill and business knowledge

· Can you advance to a managerial position or launch your own business without the benefit of a graduate degree in business? Yes. There is much to be learned from on-the-job training and employers certainly value work experience. However, an MBA programme will put you on the fast-track to career advancement by offering you the chance to develop a wide range of general business knowledge and a broad base of technical skill in a relatively short period of time.

Become a leader in an emerging field

· Innovative education can lead to an exciting career in a newly emerging field, such as brand management, information technology, e-commerce, or mobile telecommunications.

Network

· Networking is another key benefit. Business school teaching styles encourage teamwork and, over the course of an MBA programme, you'll develop important relationships that can serve you well throughout your business career. And no matter the school, you can often get plugged into a network of alumni working at a wide range of companies. This is useful for professional contacts.

Although the degree is considered the pathway to a successful career, it still does not guarantee a flood of job offers, but when one considers the positive options, it far outweighs the negative issues. It is a costly course and the time constraints that are associated with the study load are legendary. That’s why, in some circles, it has been termed “Married, but away”.

Approach the studies with an open mindset and let your intentions be to develop yourself to your full capacity. Accept the programme as a challenge, set your personal as well as career objectives and, most importantly, utilise the Masters of Business Administration degree to close gaps that may exist within your skills and qualifications, so that you can facilitate and expedite your management career

January, 2008 4:00 AM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it | Organizations

Time Management System

TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Money is actually very available when needed for a good reason. We learned a long time ago that it is the demand for capital, rather than supply that sets the limit to growth and activity. People can be hired, although you can't always hire really "good" people. Knowledge, the most important resource, is plentiful and available to those willing to search it out.But you can never obtain more time. There are 24 hours in a day - and that's it. The supply of time is totally set in concrete. Regardless of demand, the supply will never change.Yesterday's time is gone forever and will never come back. There is no substitute for time. Are you beginning to see the importance of developing a good time management system?Everything requires time. It is the only truly universal condition. All work takes place in time and uses up time. Yet most people take for granted this unique, irreplaceable, and necessary resource.Nothing else, perhaps, distinguishes effective people as much as their tender loving care of time. Every successful person has their own efficient time management system.Why is developing a good time management system so hard?Managing time probably wouldn't be too difficult except for one very unpredictable element - people.Have you ever gone into a meeting thinking it would take ten minutes and come out an hour later?Personal relationships and time management systems are not compatible. If you give the use of time such a high priority that it results in damaging personal relationships, it will only result in frustration, anger, and a host of other negative feelings. So flexibility becomes very important. You can't think "efficiency" with people. You have to think "effectiveness" with people and "efficiency" with things.I've tried to give ten minutes of "quality time" to a child or an employee to solve a problem, only to discover such "efficiency" creates new problems and seldom resolves the original concern.I see many mothers with small children often frustrated in their desire to accomplish a lot because all they seem to do is meet the needs of little children all day.Frustration is a function of our expectations, and our expectations are often affected by outside influences rather than our own values and priorities.Examine your heart and mind to determine the values that drive you. You can put aside your time management system for the sake of those values without worrying about compromising your integrity.You can adapt and be flexible. Don't feel guilty when you don't meet your schedule or when you have to change it.The only consequence will be your having to adapt to the change. A time management system is merely a guideline to help you make the best use of your most precious resource - time. And only you can determine what the best use of your time is.So the reality is that there's no such thing as time management, there is only self-management. Time management means self-management.See your time in the context of what's really important. You can organize your life while also giving yourself the freedom to subordinate your schedule to higher values.A good time management system will help you achieve your goals. It gives direction and purpose to the way you spend each day. And it helps balance your life.But throughout all of this you must have a primary focus on your values, relationships and results, with a secondary focus on your time management system.An interesting aspect of saving time is that each of us can do it equally well. The small business owner is in as good a position to save time as a rich and powerful competitor. A teenager can do it just as well as a more experienced adult.Over a lifetime, it's incredible how much time you can save and the advantages you can achieve.
Take, for example, sitting in your car. Some easy-to-use time management tips for your car include:-always phone ahead when you visit someone-keep a self-improvement book in your car at all times to take with you and read while in waiting rooms-park your car in a getaway position-listen to CD's and audiobooks that teach you something-use either a pad or a tape recorder to "write notes" to yourself while travellingThere are several other non-car time management tips. Here are just a few:-always carry something useful to read-try not to go to the bank (or run other errands) during Friday lunch hour (or other typically busy periods)-take a speed-reading course-use your answering machine to screen time-wasting calls

-listen to informative tapes or radio while you jog or exercise-adjust your daily schedule at noon every day-avoid people who waste time-if you know someone is a time-waster, talk to them right before you know that they have to leave

Prioritize your activities, only handle things once, and use notes/checklists.
If there is one "secret" to the effective use of time, it is concentration. Effective people do first things first, and they DO ONE THING AT A TIME.
People who "do so many things" do them one at a time. As a result, they need much less time in the end than those of us who try to do five things at once.Be sure to make the efficient use of time a part of your daily routine. But remember that your values should influence your priorities. You can always put aside your schedule for the sake of those values.Here's some more time management tips...

developing a good time management system:

Become A "Time-Miser"
You must develop the habit of taking care of every little task that comes up in your life as soon as possible. Getting things done now actually gives you much more time in the long run.

The Best Kept Secret Of The Rich
We all have the same 24 hours every day. Why is it that some people accomplish 10x as much as others during the same time frame? It's because they have a great time management system.

Managing Your Time
Time is your most precious resource. You must think about how you're spending your time throughout every day so that you can increase your effectiveness and be successful.

There Is No Such Thing As Time Management
There really is no such thing as a time management system. To be successful you must develop an activity management system.

How To Get 48 Hours Out of Every Day
Squeeze the most out of every minute of your day and be amazed at how much you will accomplish.

Why You're Only Five Minutes Away From Success
Success depends very much on using your time wisely. Every day we waste numerous five minute blocks of time and they ad up quickly - how much time do you waste?

Time Robber Enemy #1
Procrastination is the greatest enemy you'll encounter on your path to success. To be successful you must eliminate the habit NOW!

Practical Project Management
There are certain skills you must possess if you want to be successful. Project management and the ability to organize are at the top of the list.

Just Do It!
People who get what they want in life use their time better...Period!

December, 2007 11:13 PM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it | Organizations

my love for you

In Life as a House, the man said, “if there is one thing I have been faithful in, it is my love for you.”

I want someone to have that for me. And I can hear a fellow saying I do have that for you… but…what that fellow doesn’t realize…is that there is more to loving me then just that feeling you have. It is more than telling me and treating me well…it is even more than passion… Loving someone…controls you.

I am sure you hear that line and think oh no! not real love, it shouldn’t control you, it should set you free! Ah yes, yes it should. And it will. And that is precisely how it will control you. You will never want to do a thing to harm your love. You will never want to do or say or act, even when they aren’t around, in ways to hurt your love.

Love is way more than words.

Love is way more than kind gestures and gentle kisses.

Love is more than welcome homes and sad goodbyes.

It is more than the yearning absence and the beloved silence.

Love is who you are all the time.

Love molds your character when you are away.

how you act toward other people

how your conversations are formed

who consumes your thoughts and your deeds

who drives you to be better, not because they are pushing you, but because you want to be the best you can for them, because of them.

Love changes you when you figure it out.

Love is more than a person.

Love is respect for love, respect for that person.

I love and respect my husband right now and I don’t even know who he is.

I have loved. But I know whatever love I have for him will surpass all others…and when I find him…he isn’t going to doubt my love…

The fact that I doubt your love to me is enough to prove it isn’t wholly there.Not yet anyways…

December, 2007 8:53 PM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it | Hobbies

Five point someone

Chetan Bhagat

At the outset, I must confess that it can never be easy to adapt a book like Five Point Someone to stage, and I was pleasantly surprised. Five Point Someone is the story of Alok Gupta, Ryan Oberoi and Hari Kumar, three freshers who make it to the hallowed Indian Institute of Technology at Delhi, from completely different backgrounds and vastly different takes on life. Alok has a family to look after -- he is the only hope for his paralyzed father, school-teacher mother and a simpering sister. Ryan is ubercool, with parents earning a dollar salary, but indifferent to the needs of their child, and as a result, the son has turned into a cynic, a brilliant cynic. Hari is a rolling stone, and most of the moss he gathers is what Ryan feeds him. The three who become friends right in the first few days of their stay during a ragging incident, decide to take life light, enjoy the 'best' years, and end up as five-pointers, and barely make through the semesters, who are supposed to be scorned at, humiliated in class, and as a result spend most of their time outside of it rather than in it. They however, find time to fight with each other, make up, fall in love, lay inebriated on the institute terrace, get caught stealing question papers, and finally make it out of IIT. The story is well known -- the book having sold hundreds of thousands of copies, but capturing the magic on stage was not an easy task.

It is at this point that one needs to commend the director and the actors. If I said that the audience was in splits, I would be undermining the amount of noise the auditorium generated. The book is in first-person narrative style, and the director stuck to it, introducing the author who was recounting his story as a fellow actor while we saw the actors on stage. The play was full of punch lines -- about how students lived their life at 'Sassies' (the all night eating joint), the inability to understand the female species, the altercations with the professors -- and the audience raised the hall with their claps at each of them. The directory was also able to portray the emotional parts well especially the dichotomy in Alok's mind. The sets were minimalist and most of the action was limited to a single room. The lights were well-handled except for a lapse or two in the entire play, which really commendable since they were used very heavily since the two likenesses of Hari were together on stage a lot of times. I am afraid I didn't much notice the music except for Floyd's 'Brick in the Wall' before the beginning and after the end.

Sarvesh Sridhar as Alok was the pick of the actors. This monologue about being a 'loser' was really well done since at no point the audience felt that it was dragged. Also, little things like always running when he got on stage (and near perfect cueing) made it a treat to watch him perform. Abhijeet Mohanty as Hari was faltering, as the character demanded. However, his movements felt a little too unnatural and forced at times. Praveen Bharatwaj as Ryan was blase, but one hoped to see something more exciting -- and the maverick didn't come out that well. S Vidyuth as the author was detached and the high-point was when after Hari and Neha have sex, and the author comes on stage and blushes! Uttara Krishnadas as Neha handled the romantic scenes quite well (which were well applauded), but the emotional scenes became a little drab. The other professors did their small roles quite well, esp. Shankar Sundaram as Prof. Dubey.

While he play was very well adapted and very well presented, I personally felt that two of the scenes they had left out should have been there -- the initial ragging scene, and the scene where Hari goes to give his Viva having had a few rather large shots of Vodka. Those two scenes would have been superb, and I was silently wishing that they would be there. The little things which as a hostelite I have lived and experienced, and the (perhaps not so much) pressure at another such institute that I have seen, really made it a personal journey.

What I also really appreciated was that the organizers were kind enough to give me (and my friends) tickets to see the show (divine intervention) and one was able to establish a personal rapport with a few members of Evam. And I came back with a bag full of chocolates as a prize for being super-insistent for the tickets! Thanks guys! I wanted to give a tempo shout (a celebration of victory) of my college after the play but sadly my friends were not willing.

A great show -- and I am sure everybody who saw it absolutely loved it -- and went back feeling much lighter and happier. And the intense stomach pain after the play due to all the laughing -- as they say hanste hanste mera pet phat gaya. A must watch! Technorati Profile

December, 2007 8:49 PM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it | Books

Knowledge Bank

1. Nobel Prize for Economics started in…
a. 1929; b. 1945
c. 1968; d. 1986

2. India was brought under the rule of the British Crown in…
a. 1858; b. 1862
c. 1868; d. 1876

3. The Brihadeswara Temple of Thanjavur is dedicated to...
a. Vishnu; b. Shiva
c. Brahma; d. Durga

4. According to Census 2001, which state has the lowest population?
a. Goa; b. Sikkim
c. Nagaland; d. Mizoram

5. Which Constitutional amendment deleted the right to property as a fundamental right?
a. 43rd; b. 44th
c. 48th; d. 52nd

6. Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library is based at…
a. Kolkata; b. Mumbai
c. Kanpur; d. Patna

7. Which of the following represents the number of principal organs of the UN?
a. 5; b. 6
c. 7; d. 8

8. The War of American Independence was fought in…
a. 1770; b. 1772
c. 1774; d. 1776

9. Which of the following is not a terrestrial planets?
a. Mercury; b. Venus
c. Mars; d. Saturn

10. India is located between 8o4’ to … north latitudes.
a. 34o6’; b. 35o6’
c. 36o6’; d. 37o6’

11. Tehri Dam is built over…
a. Alaknanda; b. Mandakini
c. Bhagirathi; d. Saryu

12. Korba, an important thermal power centre, is in…
a. Bihar; b. Chhattisgarh
c. Orissa; d. Jharkhand

Answers

1. C 2. A 3. B 4. B 5. B 6. D 7. B 8. D 9. D 10. D 11. C 12. B

December, 2007 8:29 PM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it | Books

Business fermentation

Books

Business fermentation
Shombit Sengupta’s new work provides an insight into the interplay of social currents and business success

Not many books on business management can actually claim to be a commentary on the society too. Would you, for instance, expect from a book that talks about customer sensitivity, corporate values, marketing and quality management to describe in detail how the society and culture, and its manifestations like the art forms, have impacted innovations and business? Well, Shombojit Sengupta does exactly that in his Jalebi Management.

In his pathbreaking work, he introduces some key thoughts. The first issue, which the western world and the emerging economies can ignore only at their own peril in this era of economic fusion, is the difference between billion-population and million-population mindset. Even as the two economic spheres are mingling, it would help to understand the basic differences. As Sengupta says, “The scale of a million people and their way of functioning is very different from the billion population scale. An airport or railway station of a sophisticated developed country which is populated by millions not billions is large, almost like nearly vacant exhibition gallery. In contrast, in such functional zones in billion-peopled India or China, the crowds will not allow you to see any free space. A million people country has sharp focus and discipline akin to the military…”

Among the myriad observations on culture he discusses, two very important thoughts are the importance of dislocation and discomfort in fostering innovation. Citing the chequered history of Europe in the last few centuries, culminating in two world wards and economic recession, Sengupta says these were reasons enough to inspire people to innovate. Giving example of displacement, he cites the US as the biggest success, as people from across the globe have made it their home. “Their unstinting confidence of being able to blend in an intellectual melting pot has made Americans the strongest nation on earth.”

In comparison, India has never had to suffer that level of displacement. Even partition didn’t create a positive displacement.

About discomfort, he comments, “Keeping the antenna up for the not-so-obvious is the only way to win the business game… people in the West have the capability to create self-struggle that generates thought, which leads to a vision and materialises in human development.” He gives several examples of osmosis of thought between artists, filmmakers, innovators and businessmen. For example, X-ray had first been depicted in an art work, but was actually developed later. Also, he provides numerous examples of how artists, singers, actors and people from other pursuits disturbed the social equilibrium and took the society forward.

Sengupta writes from a vantage point of having had a chance to not just observe but live both the eastern and western experiences. Born in a family that was dislocated from East Bengal (Bangladesh), he spent his childhood in a slum devoid of water, electricity and sanitation. Thanks to his mother who believed that there’s a larger life beyond slums, the young child of seven would see the best of movies, including Shakespeare in a club across a railway line. Youth saw him travelling to France with $8 and pick up a sweeper’s job. He today heads consultancy firm Shining, and has helped turn the fortunes of many a global corporates.

But where does jalebi fit in this global scheme? Sengupta takes many thoughts from jalebi making — its right fermentation, its culture-affiliations, its uniqueness. And while he takes a lot of inspiration for his business practices from the quintessentially Indian dish, there’s much that Indian industry can absorb from the book. While the book leaves a deep impact, the title still leaves a different taste. For all the temptation for this syrupy sweet dish, Jalebi Management is not too tempting a title. Overcome that initial skepticism and you will enjoy one of the most thought-provoking business books of the present times. Top

Entertainment

Eklavya for Oscars: Eklavya, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Sanjay Dutt, has been nominated as India's official entry for the prestigious Oscar awards. The film has been nominated ahead of the hugely-popular films Chak De India, Gandhi My Father and Guru.

Besides Gandhi: Anil Kapoor's Gandhi My Father hit the box-office on August 3. The film, directed by Feroz Abbas Khan, explores Harilal Gandhi's relationship with his father, Mahatma Gandhi. It is the first time a subject such as this has been taken up by Bollywood, which today seems heavily loaded with romance and comedy scripts.

The casting crew of the film features Akshay Khanna as Harilal, Darshan Jariwala as Mahatma Gandhi and Bhoomika Chawla as Harilal’s wife.

Sports

1983 revisited: The young blue brigade under the captaincy of MS Dhoni did what Kapil Dev and company did for India in 1983 - victory in the World Cup. In a thrilling final against Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup, India beat Shoib Malik's team by five runs in Johannesburg on September 24. The entire country erupted in jubilation as Team India got Rs eight crore and vice-captain Yuvraj Singh got Rs one crore for hitting six massive sixes in an over against England. Irfan Pathan was declared the man of the match for his splendid spell of 3 for 16 in just 4 overs of his quota, while Pakistani all rounder Shahid Afridi clinched the man of the series title.

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled its Twenty20 league - Indian Premier League (IPL) - in Delhi on September 13 to rival the Indian Cricket League (ICL). IS Bindra, Chirayu Amin, Arun Jaitley, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Rajiv Shukla and Lalit Modi were named as members of the BCCI IPL committee, with Lalit Modi in the role of the chairman of the seven-member governing council.

And the award goes to…: India's Jhulan Goswami was named women's cricketer of the year at the International Cricket Council (ICC) awards ceremony at Johannesburg on September 10.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting won Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Cricketer of the Year and the Captain of the Year award. Matthew Hayden was named the One-Day Player of the Year and fast bowler Shaun Tait won the Emerging Player's award. Simon Taufel was declared the best umpire for the fourth year in a row. Pakistan's batsman Mohammad Yousuf bagged the Test Player of the Year ward for scoring 944 runs in 10 innings at 94.40 during the voting period of August 2006-August 2007. No male Indian cricketer featured in the list of awardees.

Get ready for F1: India will host Formula One Grand Prix in 2010. The Formula One management has given the approval to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to host the event. The Formula One management has approved two sites -one in Sohna near Gurgaon in Haryana and the other near Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh for construction of the tracks.

Chappell back in India: According to media reports, Greg Chappell is back as a coach in India and has signed a three-year contract with the Rajasthan Cricket Academy. The former Team India coach has agreed to train Rajasthan Cricket Academy.

Tania wins Asian Chess: Indian chess champion Tania Sachdev won the Asian women's chess championship in Tehran on September 11. She emerged victorious after drawing with Chinese Ju Wenjun in the ninth and final round of the championship.

December, 2007 8:22 PM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it | Books

Love is Life

Just Had to Share This! Smile