Once upon a Time

ONCE UPON A TIME

Once upon a time leadership mattered, now dealership rules the world.

Once upon a time quality was craftsman's pride, now it is a departmental mess.

Once upon a time mouse was an untouchable mammal, now it is handheld pest.

Once upon a time wisdom was cultivated by wise people, now it is flashed on T-shirts.

Once upon a time teacher taught and students learnt, now teacher trades and students consume.

Once upon a time population was a problem, now it is a flourishing mass market.

Once upon a time competition brought out the best, now it brings out the worst in people.

Once upon a time there was a golden rule, now if you have gold, you rule.

Once upon a time truth telling was good for your soul, now it is bad for promotion.

Once upon a time success meant living by ideals, now it is about using above all principles.

Once upon a time beauty was in the eye of the beholder, now it is booming business

“Humor is the essence of life and Patience is the sense of life”

Importance of Love .. A Nice Story

IMPORTANCE OF LOVE

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."

"Is the man of the house home?", they asked.

"No", she replied. "He's out."

"Then we cannot come in", they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. "Go tell them I am home and invite them in!"

The woman went out and invited the men in"

"We do not go into a House together," they replied.

"Why is that?" she asked.

One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed.. "How n ice!!", he said. "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!"

His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?"

Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!"

"Let us heed our daughter-in-law's advice," said the husband to his wife.

"Go out and invite Love to be our guest."

The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest."

Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, t he lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?"

The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!!!!!!"

"Appreciation is a wonderful thing; it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well"

Indian Mind .. Very Gud 1 for Laughs

Why India Shining

An Indian man walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer. He tells the loan officer that he is going to India on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000.

The bank officer tells him that the bank will need some form of security for the loan, so the Indian man hands over the keys of a new Ferrari parked on the street in front of the bank. He produces the title and everything checks out. The loan officer agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan.


The bank's president and its officers all enjoy a good laugh at the Indian for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral against a $5,000loan. An employee of the bank then drives the Ferrari into the bank's underground garage and parks it there.


Two weeks later, the Indian returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41.The loan officer says, "Sir, we are very happy to have had your Business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multi millionaire. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow "$5,000"


The Indian replies: "Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41 and expect it to be there when I return'"


Ah, the mind of the Indian...

This is why India is shining.

The story does not end here

Reading the above story, an American went to an Indian bank in NY and did the same stunt. Gave the Ferrari as a collataeral borrowed $5000 and came back and returned it two weeks later paying a 'parking fee' of $15.41. He went laughing out of the bank for having got back at the Indians.


The Indian staff at the bank too were grinning from ear to ear. Where else could two Indian bank officers drive a Ferrari around New York for a week each without paying the rentals???

Moral of the story: Indians are always great.

“ Live for a cause not for applause. Live to express not to impress”

sharpen your axe

SHARPEN YOUR AXE

Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job with a timbermerchant, and he got it. His salary was really good and so were the working conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposedto fell the trees. The first day, the woodcutter brought down 15 trees. "Congratulations," the boss said. "Carry on with your work!"

Highly motivated by the words of his boss, the woodcutter tried harder thenext day, but he only could bring 10 trees down.

The third day he tried even harder, but he was only able to bring down 7trees. Day after day he was bringing lesser number of trees down."I must be losing my strength", the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on."When was the last time you sharpened your axe?" the boss asked.

"Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees..."

That's right. Most of us NEVER update our skills. We think that whatever wehave learned is very much enough.But good is not good when better isexpected. Sharpening our skills from time to time is the key to success.

You cannot expect success tomorrow, by working today with yesterday's tools

"A MAN'S TRUE WEALTH IS THE GOOD THAT HE DID TO THIS WORLD"

Mohammed Prophet

Sand and Stone

SAND AND STONE

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE."

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one, who had been slapped, got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After the friend recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE."

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"

The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND, AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE

“Life is more strict then a teacher . A Teacher teaches the lesson and then takes the EXAM. But Life takes the Exam first then teaches the lesson”

Respond but Never React

RESPOND BUT NEVER REACT

(Speach by Azim Premji)

I am very happy to be here with you. It is always wonderful to be with young people. The funny thing about life is that you realize the value of something only when it begins to leave you. As my hair turned from black, to salt and pepper and finally salt without the pepper, I have begun to realize the importance of youth.

At the same time, I have begun to truly appreciate some of the lessons I have leant along the way. I hope you will find them useful when you plan your own career and life.

The first thing I have learnt is that we must always begin with our strengths. From the earliest years of our schooling, everyone focuses on what is wrong with us. There is an imaginary story of a rabbit. The rabbit was enrolled in a rabbit school. Like all rabbits, it could hop very well but could not swim. At the end of the year, the rabbit got high marks in hopping but failed in swimming. The parents were concerned. They said, "Forget about hopping. You are anyway good at it. Concentrate on swimming." They sent the rabbit for tuitions in swimming. And guess what happened? The rabbit forgot how to hop! As for swimming, have you ever seen a rabbit swim? While it is important for us to know what we are not good at, we must also cherish what is good in us. That is because it is only our strengths that can give us the energy to correct our weaknesses.

The second lesson I have learnt is that a rupee earned is of far more value than five found. My friend was sharing me the story of his eight year-old nieces. She would always complain about the breakfast. The cook tried everything possible, but the child remained unhappy. Finally, my friend took the child to a supermarket and brought one of those ready-to-cook packets. The child had to cut the packet and pour water in the dish. After that, it took two minutes in the microwave to be ready. The child found the food to be absolutely delicious? The difference was that she has cooked it! In my own life, I have found that nothing gives as much satisfaction as earning our rewards. In fact, what is gifted or inherited follows the old rule of come easy, go easy. I guess we only know the value of what we have if we have struggled to earn it.

The third lesson I have learnt is no one bats a hundred every time. Life has many challenges. You win some and lose some. You must enjoy winning. But do not let it go to the head. The moment it does, you are already on your way to failure. And if you do encounter failure along the way, treat it as an equally natural phenomenon. Don't beat yourself for it or any one else for that matter! Accept it, look at your own share in the problem, learn from it and move on. The important thing is, when you lose, do not lose the lesson.

The fourth lesson I have learnt is the importance of humility. Sometimes, when you get so much in life, you really start wondering whether you deserve all of it. This brings me to the value of gratitude. We have so much to be grateful for. Our parents, our teachers and our seniors have done so much for us that we can never repay them. Many people focus on the shortcomings, because obviously no one can be perfect. But it is important to first acknowledge what we have received. Nothing in life is permanent but when a relationship ends, rather than becoming bitter, we must learn to savour the memory of the good things while they lasted.

The fifth lesson I learnt is that we must always strive for excellence. One way of achieving excellence is by looking at those better than ourselves. Keep learning what they do differently. Emulate it. But excellence cannot be imposed from the outside. We must also feel the need from within. It must become an obsession. It must involve not only our mind but also our heart and soul. Excellence is not an act but a habit. I remember the inspiring lines of a poem, which says that your reach must always exceed your grasp. That is heaven on earth. Ultimately, your only competition is yourself.

The sixth lesson I have learnt is never give up in the face of adversity. It comes on you suddenly without warning. One can either succumb to self-pity, wring your hands in despair or decide to deal with the situation with courage and dignity. Always keep in mind that it is only the test of fire that makes fine steel. A friend of mine shared this incident with me. His eight-year old daughter was struggling away at a jigsaw puzzle. She kept at it for hours but could not succeed. Finally, it went beyond her bedtime. My friend told her, "Look, why don't you just give up? I don't think you will complete it tonight. Look at it another day." The daughter looked with a strange look in her eyes, "But, dad, why should I give up? All the pieces are there! I have just got to put them together!" If we persevere long enough, we can put any problem into its perspective.

The seventh lesson I have learnt is that while you must be open to change, do not compromise on your values. Mahatma Gandhiji often said that you must open the windows of your mind, but you must not be swept off your feet by the breeze. You must define what your core values are and what you stand for. And these values are not so difficult to define. Values like honesty, integrity, consideration and humility have survived for generations. Values are not in the words used to describe them as much as in the simple acts.

At the end of the day, it is values that define a person more than the achievements. Because it is the means of achievement that decide how long the achievements will sustain. Do not be tempted by short cuts. The short cut can make you lose your way and end up becoming the longest way to the destination. And the final lesson I learnt is that we must have faith in our own ideas even if everyone tells us that we are wrong.

There was once a newspaper vendor who had a rude customer. Every morning, the Customer would walk by, refuse to return the greeting, grab the paper off the shelf and throw the money at the vendor. The vendor would pick up the money, smile politely and say, "Thank you, Sir." One day, the vendor’s assistant asked him, "Why are you always so polite with him when he is so rude to you? Why don't you throw the newspaper at him when he comes back tomorrow?" The vendor smiled and replied, "He can't help being rude and I can’t help being polite. Why should I let his rude behavior dictate my politeness?

In my youth, I thought of myself as a rebel and was many times, a rebel without a cause. Today, I realize that my rebellion was another kind of conformity. We defied our elders to fall in line with our peers!

Ultimately, we must learn to respond instead of reacting. When we respond, we evaluate with a calm mind and do whatever is most appropriate. We are in control of our actions. When we react, we are still doing what the other person wants us to do. I wish you all the best in your life and career.

I hope you achieve success in whatever way you define it and what gives you the maximum happiness in life. Remember, those who win are those who believe they can.

(Address by Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Corporation, in the "Shaping Young Minds Program" (SYMP) organized by the All India Management Association (AIMA) in collaboration with the Bombay Management Association (BMA) on February 9, 2004 at NCPA in Mumbai on " My Lessons in Life)

“One machine can do the work of 50 ordinary men. But no machine can substitute one extraordinary man”

Elbert Hubbard

Three Wishes of Alexander The Great.

THREE WISHES OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT

There is very instructive incident involving the life of Alexander, the great Greek king. Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence. He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would not permit Him to reach his distant homeland. So, the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last. He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail." With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's last wishes.

"My first desire is that," said Alexander, "My physicians alone must carry my coffin." After a pause, he continued,

"Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury."

The king felt exhausted after saying this. He took a minute's rest and continued.

"My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin."

The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes. But no one dare bring the question to their lips. Alexander's favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. "O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?"

At this Alexander took a deep breath and said: "I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt. I want my physicians To carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted.

The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.

And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world." With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last.

“If you don’t stand for something you may fall for anything and everything in life”

Alexander Hamilton

4 MBA Students -- Joke

One night 4 MBA students were boozing till late night and didn't study for the test which was scheduled for the next day.

In the morning they thought of a plan. They made themselves look as dirty and weird as they could with grease and dirt. They then went up to the dean and said that they had gone out to a wedding last night and on their return the tire of their car burst and they had to push the car all the way back and that they were in no condition to appear for the test.

Then dean was a just person so he said that you can have the retest after 3 days. they said they will be ready by that time. on the third day they appeared before the dean. The dean said that this was a special condition test.

All four were required to sit in separate classrooms for the test. They all agreed as they had prepared well in the last three days. The test consisted of 2 questions with total of 100 marks.

Q.1. Write down your name -----(2 marks)

Q.2. Which tyre burst -------(98 marks)!!


“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty”
Winston Churchill

IAS Interview Questions

IAS INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Question and their Answers given by Candidates Just brilliant !!!!! Try to answer them and them compare with the ones given by the toppers, pasted at the bottom herein

Q1: How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it?

Q2: If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall,how long would it take four men to build it?

Q3: If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in the other hand, what would you have?

Q4: How can you lift an elephant with one hand?

Q5: How can a man go eight days without sleep?

Q6: If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what it will become?

Q7: What looks like half apple?

Q8: What can you never eat for breakfast ?

Q9: What happened when wheel was invented ? Q10: Bay of Bengal is in which state?

Answers:

A1: Concrete floors are very hard to crack! (UPSC Topper)

A2: No time at all it is already built. (UPSC 23 Rank Opted for IFS)

A3: Very large hands.(Good one) (UPSC 11 Rank Opted for IPS)

A4: It is not a problem, since you will never find an elephant with one hand. (UPSC Rank 14 Opted for IES)

A5: No Probs , He sleeps at night. (UPSC IAS Rank 9

A6: It will Wet or Sink as simple as that. (UPSC IAS Rank 2)

A7: The other half. (UPSC - IAS Topper )

A8: Dinner.

A9: It caused a revolution.

A10: Liquid (UPSC 33Rank )

“There is no limit to two things in this world. One is universe and the second one is human stupidity. I don’t know much about the former.”

Albert Einstein

Three things in Life

THREE THINGS IN LIFE

- That make U a great person

1. Hardwork

2.Sincerety

3.Success

- are most valuable

1.Love

2.Self respect

3. Friends

- must not be lost

1.Peace

2.Hope

3.Honesty

-That destroy a person

1.Greed

2.Pride

3.Anger

-Once gone never come back

1.Words

2.Opportunity

3.Time

- are never sure

1.Dreams

2.Success

3.Fortune

“Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools”

Napolian

A Real Funny Incident

A Real funny incident happened in prosecution

Lawyers should never ask a Wisconsin grandma a question if they aren't prepared for the answer. In a trial in northern Wisconsin , a small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a white-haired, elderly grandmother, to the stand. He approached her and asked,

"Mrs. Jones, do you know me?"

She responded, "Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a young boy, and frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, and you manipulate people and talk bout them behind their backs. You thinky you're a big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you."

The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?" She again replied, "Why, yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. He's lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. He can't build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state of Wisconsin . Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women.

One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him." The defense attorney almost died.

The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench and, in a very quiet voice, said, "If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I'll send you to the electric chair."

“A man with 4 best friends is the richest man in the world “

Robin Sharma author of who will cry when you die

Best Speach delivered in History

This is one of the best speeches ever delivered in history. A lengthy one, but definitely worth reading it. Please don’t miss it.

This speech was delivered during the commencement exercises of the University of Philippines graduating class of 2003 by Mr. Butch Jimenez, the youngest commencement speaker in the university's history. He once dreamed of doing so, and it came true!!! :-)


Students wished they had a pencil or paper to jot down notes during the speech; some even wished they had a tape recorder. Some members of the faculty found his speech practical, refreshing, and funny!

Butch Jimenez, head of PLDT's media and strategic communications department, delivered this speech at the UP Diliman Class 2003 commencement exercises.What's better than...? By Butch Jimenez

Better than being negative

As college students, you're just about to set sail into the real world. As you prepare for the battleground of life, you'll hear many speeches, read tons of books and get miles of advice telling you to work hard, dream big, go out and do something for yourself, and have a vision. Not bad advice, really. In fact, following these nuggets of truth may just bring you to the top. But as I've lived my life over the years , I have come to realize that it is great to dream big, have a vision, make a name, and work hard. But guess what: There's something better than that.

So my message today simply asks the question, What's better than...?

Let's start off with something really simple. What's better than a long speech? No doubt, a short one. So, you guys are in luck because I do intend to keep this short

Now, let me take you through a very simple math exam. I'll rattle off a couple of equations, and you tell me what you observe about them. Be mindful of the instructions. You are to tell me what you observe about the equations.

Here goes: 3+4=7, 9+2=11, 8+4=13, and 6+6=12. Tell me, what do you observe?

Every time I conduct this test, more than 90 percent of the participants immediately say, 8+4 is NOT 13, it's 12!

That's true and they are correct. But they could have also observed that the three other equations were right. That 3+4 is 7, that 9+2 is 11, and that 6+6 is 12.

What's my point? Many people immediately focus on the negative instead of the positive. Most of us focus on what's wrong with other people more than what's right about them. Examine those four equations. Three were right and only one was wrong. But what is the knee-jerk observation? The wrong equation.

If 10 people you didn't know were to walk through that door, most of you would describe those people by what's negative about them. He's fat. He's balding. Oh, the short one. Oh, the skinny girl. Ahhh, 'yung pango. Etc. Get the point? It's always the negative we focus on and not the positive. You'll definitely experience this in the corporate world. You do a hundred good things and one mistake-guess what? Chances are, your attention will be called on that one mistake.

So what's better than focusing on the negative? Believe me, its focusing on the positive. And if this world could learn to focus on the positive more than the negative, it would be a much nicer place to live in.

Better than working hard We have always been told to work hard. Our parents say that, our teachers say that, and our principal says that. But there's something better than merely working hard. It's working SMART. It's taking time to understand the situation, and coming out with an effective and efficient solution to get more done with less time and effort. As the Japanese say, "There's always a better way."

One of the most memorable case studies I came across with as I studied Japanese management at Sophia University in Tokyo was the case of the empty soap box, which happened in one of Japan's biggest cosmetics companies. The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a box of soap that was empty. It immediately isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soap box went through the assembly line empty. Management tasked its engineers to solve the problem. Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high-resolutionmonitors manned by two people to watch all the soap boxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast.

But a rank-and-file employee that was posed the same problem came out with another solution. He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line. He switched the fan on, and as each soap box passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line. Clearly, the engineers worked hard, but the rank-and-file employee worked smart. So what's better than merely working hard? It's working smart. Having said that, it is still important to work hard. If you could combine both working hard and working smart, you would possess a major factor toward success.

Better than dreaming big

I will bet my next month's salary that many have encouraged you to dream big. Maybe even to reach for the stars and aim high. I sure heard that about a million times right before I graduated from this university. So I did. I did dream big. I did aim high. I did reach for the stars. No doubt, it works. In fact, the saying is true: "If you aim for nothing, that's exactly what you'll hit: nothing."

But there's something better than dreaming big. Believe me, I got shocked myself. And I learned it from the biggest dreamer of all time, Walt Disney. When it comes to dreaming big, Walt is the man. No bigger dreams were fulfilled than his. Every leadership book describes him as the ultimate dreamer. In fact, the principle of dreaming and achieving is the core message of the Disney hit song, "When You Wish Upon a Star". "When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are; anything your heart desires will come to you. If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme. When you wish upon a star, as dreamers do," as Jiminy Crick et sang. But is that what he preached in the Disney company? Dream? Imagineering Well, not exactly. Kinda, but not quite. The problem with dreaming is if that's all you do, you'll really get nowhere. In fact, you may just fall asleep and never wake up.

The secret to Disney's success is not just dreaming, it's IMAGINEERING. You won't find this word in a dictionary. It's purely a Disney word. Those who engage in Imagineering are called imagineers. The word combines the words "imagination" and "engineering."

In the book "Imagineers," Disney's CEO, Michael Eisner, claims that "imagineers turn impossible dreams into real magic."

Walt Disney explained there is really no secret to their approach. They just keep moving forward-opening new doors and doing new things, because they are curious. And it is this curiosity that leads them down new paths. They always dream, explore and experiment. In short, Imagineering is the blending of creative imagination and technical know-how.Eisner expounds on this thought by saying that "Not only are imaginers curious, they are courageous, outrageous, and their creativity iscontagious." The big difference with imagineers is that they dream and then they DO! So don't just be a dreamer, be an imagineer.

What's better than vision:

You must have all been given a lecture at one time or another about the importance of having a vision. Even leadership expert John Maxwell says that an indispensable quality of a leader is to have a vision. The Bible also makes it very clear that "Without vision, people perish." So no doubt about it, having a vision is important to success. But surprise! There's something more potent than a vision. It's a CAUSE. If all you're doing is trying to reach your vision and you're pitted against someone fighting for a cause, chances are you'll lose.

The Vietnam War is a classic example. Literally with sticks and stones, the Viet Cong beat the heavily armed US Army to surrender, primarily because the US had a vision to win the war, but the Vietnamese were fighting for a cause.

In the realm of business, many leaders have visions of making their company No.1, or grabbing market share, or forever increasing profits. Nothing really wrong with that vision, but take the example of Sony founder Akio Morita. He did not just have a vision to build the biggest electronics company in the world. In his biography, "Made in Japan," he reveals that the real reason he set up Sony was to help rebuild his country, which had just been battered by war. He had a cause he was fighting for. His vision to be an electronics giant was secondary.

What's the difference between a vision and a cause? Here's what sets them apart... No one is willing to die for a vision. People will die for a cause. You possess a vision. A cause possesses you. A vision lies in your hands. A cause lies in your heart. A vision involves sacrifice. A cause involves the ultimate sacrifice.

Just a word of caution. You must have the right vision, and you must be fighting for the right cause. In the end, right will always win out. It may take time, and it may take long. But if you have the right vision and are fighting for the right cause, you will prevail. If not, no matter how sincere you are, if you are not fighting for what is right, you will ultimately fail.

The Bible, which says, "To whom much is given, much is required." Having been given the opportunity to study in UP, no doubt, much has been given to you in terms of an excellent education. Don't forget that in return, much is now required of you to use that education not just for yourself, but for others. And as you move up and start reaching the pinnacle of success, even more will be required of you to look at the welfare of others, of society and of the country.

A final review:

* What's better than focusing on the negative? Focus on the positive.
* What's better than working hard? It's working smart.
* What's better than dreaming? Imagineering.
* What's better than doing something for yourself? Doing something for your country.
* What's better than a vision? A cause.
* What's better than a long speech? Definitely, a short one.

Thank you and congratulations,UP Diliman graduating class of 2003

"Excellence is not a destination; it is a continuous journey that never ends."

Learning is Unlearning

Learning is Unlearning

A scholar came to meet a wise master in quest for knowledge. “Master I have traveled a great distance to meet you with the desire to drink from your ocean of knowledge. Please enlighten me.”

The master made him to sit. He took a kettle from the table and poured the tea into an already full cup. Startled at the master’s behavior, the seeker hurriedly reminded, “but the cup is already full…”

“So are you”, said the master unruffled.

Most often we listen to others full of our own ideas and concepts. We listen to ourselves. This inhibits our learning. To learn one must first empty oneself of old concepts and ideas.

Without an open mind, progress in the material and spiritual planes is but a fantasy. A quick glance at the lives of great men would reveal their tremendous humility. With humility comes listening and learning

“Dream dreams, dreams lead to thoughts, thoughts lead to actions, Actions lead to your destiny”

Abdul Kalam

Honesty is the Best Policy

HONESTY IS STILL THE BEST POLICY

Once a general manager wanted to test his people who had come from all over India, about their values of life.

He announced that in their seminar folder, there is PVC pouch and in it there is a seed. When they return , they must put it in a good soil in a pot and look after it very well.

He would hold a competition in the next year's seminar and that the best plants would be awarded suitably.

Everyone did what was told to him. A year passed quickly. And next year in a big hall, there were hundreds of pots and a great variety of plants-a great scene.

Except one pot in which the soil was there and no plant! The owner was standing quietly and seemingly ashamed of himself!

The general manager called him on the stage. He asked him what happened and he told him the truth. He planted the seed which he was given – and did that was to be done- but nothing happened!

The general manager declared him the winner!

Everyone was shocked. It was announced, "Gentlemen! The seeds I gave you were boiled seeds. You planted them and nothing happened! You acted smartly and used some other seeds. This man was honest to his work and, therefore he did not cheat me or himself!"

“Our Scientific power has own run our spiritual power. We have guided missiles, but Misguided Men”

Martin Luther King Junior

James Bond and Telugu Guy ... Joke

On a flight James bond was sitting beside a Telugu guy.

Telugu Guy: "Hello, May I know your name please?"

James Bond: "My name is Bond " Continuing in his inimitable style, " ......James Bond."

James Bond: "And you?"

Telugu Guy: "My name is Rao ...

Siva Rao...

Samba Siva Rao...

Venkata Samba Siva Rao...

Yarlagadda Venkata Samba Siva Rao...

Rajasekhara Yarlagadda Venkata Samba Siva Rao...

Sitaramanjaneyula Rajasekhara Yarlagadda Venkata Samba Siva Rao...

Vijayawada Sitaramanjaneyula Rajasekhara Yarlagadda Venkata Samba Siva Rao..."

Since then when anyone asks Bond his name he simply says "James Bond

“Life is an ocean of opportunities....To find the right ones is the biggest challenge...But remember, even a stopped watch shows the right time twice a day.”

Famous quotes from Navajyoth Singh Siddhu

Collection of famous quotes by Navjot Singh Sidhu
1. That ball went so high it could have got an air hostess down with it.

2. There is light at the end of the tunnel for India, but it's that of an incoming train which will run them over.

3. Experience is like a comb that life gives you when you are bald.

4. This quote was made after Ganguly called Dravid for a run and midway sent him back and Dravid was run out in the third test against the West Indies at Barbados."Ganguly has thrown a drowning man both ends of the rope."

5. Sri Lankan score is running like an Indian taximeter.

6. Statistics are like miniskirts, they reveal more than what they hide.

7. Wickets are like wives - you never know which way they will turn!

8. He is like Indian three-wheeler, which will suck a lot of diesel but cannot go beyond 30!

9. The Indians are going to beat the Kiwis! Let me tell you, my friend that the Kiwi is the only bird in the whole world, which does not have wings!

10. As uncomfortable as a bum on a porcupine.

11. The ball whizzes past like a bumble -bee and the Indians are in the sea.

12. The Indians are finding the gaps like a pin in a haystack.

13. The pitch is as dead as a dodo.

14. Deep Dasgupta is as confused as a child is in a topless bar!

15. The way Indian wickets are falling reminds of the cycle stand at Rajendra

Talkies in Patiala one falls and everything else falls!

16. Indian team without Sachin is like giving Kiss without a Squeeze.

17. You cannot make Omelets without breaking the eggs.

18. Deep Dasgupta is not a Wicket Keeper, he is a goalkeeper. He must be given a free transfer to Manchester United.

19. He will fight a rattlesnake and give it the first two bites too.

20. One, who doesn't throw the dice, can never expect to score a six.

21. This quote was made after Eddie Nichols, the third umpire, ruled Shivnarine Chanderpaul 'NOT OUT' in the second test at Port of Spain T&T "Eddie Nichols is a man who cannot find his own buttocks with his two hands."

22. Anybody can pilot a ship when the sea is calm.

23. Nobody travels on the road to success without a puncture or two.

24. You got to choose between tightening your belt or losing your pants.

25. The cat with gloves catches no mice.

26. Age has been perfect fire extinguisher for flaming youth.

27. You may have a heart of gold, but so does a hard-boiled egg.

28. He is like a one-legged man in a bum kicking competition.

29. The third umpires should be changed as often as nappies and for the same reason.

30. Kumble's bowling at the moment is flat as a Dosa.

31. This quote was made after Rahul Dravid got run out because of his poor run between wickets in a match against Pakistan in Sharjah “ He was running between the wickets as if he has taken a bottle of sleeping pills”

32. This quote made against Ganguly after his poor dismissal “ Ganguly is like a Chinese Egg. Why Chinese Egg? Because nothing will be hatched out of it”

“ Great undertakings are achieved though mighty obstacles “

Swamy Vivekananda

Funny Stuff

I wrote your name on sand it got washed.
I wrote your name in air,it was blown away.then
I wrote your name on my heart & i got Heart Attack .
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
God saw me hungry, he created pizza .
He saw me thirsty, he created pepsi .
He saw me in dark, he created light .
He saw me without problems, he created YOU.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Twinkle Twinkle little star
You should know what you are
And once you know what you are
Mental hospital is not so far.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
TEACHER== Name four members of the cat family?
STUDENTS== Daddy cat,Mummy cat and two kittens !
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Police man== Stop, stop, your headlights are not working.
The Man== Move, move, even the brakes are not working.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Why does history keep repeating it self?
Because we weren't listening the first time !
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A sardar ji pulled out 6 people from a burning house...
still he was in jail.......why?
coz all the 6 were firebrigade staff !
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Doctor, doctor, will i be able to play the
violin after the operation?"
"yes of course...."
"Great ! i never could before"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The rain makes all things beautiful. The grass and flowers too.
If rain makes all things beautiful why dosen't it rain on you?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When ur life is in darkness pray to God ask him to
free u from darkness and if after you pray and you r
still in darkness, please pay your ELECTRICITY BILL !

“Success can be achieved through repeated failure and introspection “

Sui Chiro Honda, Founder of Honda

The Comfort Zone .. Lessons 4 Life

The COMFORT ZONE

A trainer in a training session of young executives, began by drawing a diagram of a stick man standing in the middle of a circle. To make it more interesting, he drew things like a house, a car, and a few friends inside the circle.

He asked the question "Can anyone tell me what this is?"After a long silence, one guy said "the world?"

The trainer said "That's close, this is your Comfort Zone. Inside your circle you have all the things that are important to you. Your home, your family, your friends, and your job. People feel that inside this circle they are safe from any danger or conflict.

"Can anyone tell me what happens when you step out of this circle?"A strong silence came over the room.

The same eager guy abruptly announced "You are afraid".Another guy said "You make mistakes".

The silence continued & the trainer smiled and said "When you make mistakes what can the result be?"

The first guy shouts "You learn something.""Exactly, you are learning." The trainer turned to the board and drew an arrow pointing from the stick man directly to the outside of the circle. He proceeded to say "When you leave your Comfort Zone you put yourself out there, in front of the world to be in a situations that you are not comfortable with. The end result is that you have learned something that you did not already know, you expand your knowledge to become a better person."

He turned again to the board and drew a bigger circle around the original circle, and added a few new things like more friends, a bigger house etc.Thus if one stays inside one's Comfort Zone, one will never be able to expand one's horizons and learn.

Moving out of one's Comfort Zone makes a bigger circle and a wider horizon.........

“Anticipate change though the things are going right”

… Azim Premji .. Wipro Chairman..

Most complex problems do have a solution

Even the most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't attempt to think

Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter.

Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal.

So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.

1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.

2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.

3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl?

If you had to advise her, what would you have told her? Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:

1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.

2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.

3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.

Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.

What would you recommend to the Girl to do? Well, here is what she did ....

The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles. "Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."

Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Even the most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't attempt to think.

....Simple to be Happy, Difficult to be Simple !

Award Winning Jokes

This particular joke won an award for the best joke in a competition organized in Britain and this joke was sent by an Indian......


A MBA and an Engineer go on a camping trip, set up their tent, and fall asleep. Some hours later, the Engineer wakes his MBA friend.

"Look up at the sky and tell me what you see The MBA replies, "I see millions of stars." The Engineer asks "What does that tell you?" The MBA ponders for a minute:

" Astronomically speaking, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically , it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time wise , it appears to be approximately a quarter past three. Theologically , it's evident the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant.

Meteorologically , it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.

What does it tell you?"

The Engineer friend is silent for a moment, and then speaks.

"Practically...it tells me that someone has stolen our tent"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This particular joke won an award for the best in USA:


Chinese walks into a bar in America late one night and he saw Steven Spielberg.

As he was a great fan of his movies, he rushes over to him, and asks for his autograph. Instead, Spielberg gives him a slap and says, "You Chinese people bombed our Pearl Harbour, get out here."

The astonished Chinese man replied, "It was not the Chinese who bombed your Pearl Harbour, it was the Japanese". "Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, you're all the same," replied Spielberg.
In return, the Chinese gives Spielberg a slap and says, "You sank the Titanic, my forefathers were on that ship." Shocked, Spielberg replies,
"It was the iceberg that sank the ship, not me." The Chinese replies, "Iceberg, Spielberg, Carsberg, you're all the same. "


“The day without laugh and the day with outlove is really the day without life”
Robin Sharma, Author of The Monk who sold his Ferrari

Japanese Empty soap box case study

An interesting case study…

One of the most memorable case studies in Japanese management was the case of the empty soap box, which happened in one of Japan's biggest cosmetics companies.

The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a soap box that was empty.

Immediately the authorities isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soap box went through the assembly line empty. Management asked its engineers to solve the problem. Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the soap boxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but they spent whoopee amount to do so.

But when a rank-and-file employee in a small company was posed with the same problem, did not get into complications of X-rays, etc but instead came out with another solution.

He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line. Heswitched the fan on, and as each soap box passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line.
**********************************************************************************
Moral of the story: ALWAYS look for simple solutions. Devise the simplest possible solution that solves the problem

" So, learn to focus on solutions ,,, not on problems "

Unnecessary Complications are not a requirement - Live easy

Frequent Job Change

Dr. Gopalakrishnan succeeds Mr. Ratan Tata as Chairman of Tata Sons Ltd., the holding company for many of the Tata Bluechips - like Tata Steel, Tata Motors,Tata Power, Tata Chemicals, Voltas, etc. Possibly, he is the first non-Tata person to head the Tata Empire.The below article, written by him, is really interesting!

The grass isn't always greener on the other side !!

Move from one job to another - but only for the right reasons.

It's yet another day at office. As I logged on to the marketing and advertising sites for the latest updates, as usual, I found the headlines dominated by "who's moving from one company to another after a short stint", and I wondered, "why are so many people leaving one job for another ? Is it passe now to work with just one company for a sufficiently long period" ?

Whenever I ask this question to people who leave a company, the answers I get are"Oh, I am getting a 200% hike in salary";"Well, I am jumping three levels in my designation";"Well, they are going to send me abroad in six months".

Then, I look around at all the people who are considered successful today and who have reached the top - be it a media agency, an advertising agency or a company. I find that most of these people are the ones who have stuck to the company, ground their heels and worked their way to the top.

And, as I look around for people who changed their jobs constantly, I find they have stagnated at some level, in obscurity !

In this absolutely ruthless, dynamic and competitive environment, there are still no short-cuts to success or to making money. The only thing that continues to pay, as earlier, is Loyalty and Hardwork. Yes, it pays ! Sometimes - immediately, sometimes - after a lot of time. But, it does pay.

Does this mean that one should stick to an organisation and wait for that golden moment ? Of course not. After a long stint, there always comes a time for moving, in most organisations. But, it is important to move for the right reasons - rather than superficial ones, like money, designation or an overseas trip.

Remember, no company recruits for charity.

More often than not, when you are offered an unseemly hike in salary or designation that is disproportionate to what that company offers its current employees, there is always an unseen bait attached.The result ?You will, in the long-term, have reached exactly the same levels or maybe lower levels, than what you would have in your current company.A lot of people leave an organisation because they are "unhappy". What is this so-called-unhappiness? I have been working for donkey's years, and there has never been a day when I am not unhappy about something in my work - environment, boss, rude colleague, fussy clients, etc.

Unhappiness in a workplace, to a large extent, is transient.If you look hard enough, there is always something to be unhappy about. But, more importantly, do I come to work to be "happy" in the truest sense ? If I think hard, the answer is "No".Happiness is something you find with family, friends, may be a close circle of colleagues who have become friends.What you come to work for is to earn, build a reputation, satisfy your ambitions, be appreciated for your work ethics, face challenges and get the job done.

So, the next time you are tempted to move, ask yourself "why are you moving" and "what are you moving into" ?Some questions are

Am I ready and capable of handling the new responsibility ? If yes,what could be the possible reasons my current company has not offered me the same responsibility

· Who are the people who currently handle this responsibility in the current and the new company ? Am I as good as the best among them ?

· As the new job offer has a different profile, why have I not given the current company the option to offer me this profile

· Why is the new company offering me the job ? Do they want me for my skills, or is there an ulterior motive ?An honest answer to these will eventually decide where you go in your career - either to the top of the pile, in the long-term (at the cost of short-term blips), or to become another average employee who gets lost with time in the wilderness ?

- By -Dr. GopalkrishnanChairman - TATA Sons.

An Inspirational Story by Swamy Vivekananda

An Inspirational Story by Swamy Vivekananda

Once, in Heaven there was a discussion among the Gods to decide where the miraculous secret power, the power by which man can achieve anything in this world was to be kept hidden.

One of the Gods suggested that it could be kept hidden in the depths of the Sea. Another said it could be buried on top of high mountains. The third one thought of a cave in the woods as the right place.

At last, the most intelligent among them said, 'Keep it in the depths of man's mind. He will never suspect that the power is hidden there because right from his childhood, his mind is prone to wandering and he will not look within.Only the intelligent among them will look within, and use the power and become great.' All gods agreed. So, do you see that the difference between two people lies in their minds? One knows how to tap its power and the other does not. So, the truth expressed here is that in the depths of man's mind lies hidden the miraculous power, using which one can become great.

Whatever you think, that you will be. If you think yourselves weak, weak you will be; if you think yourselves strong, strong you will be.

By Swami Vivekananda

"Life ends when U stop dreaming. Hope ends when U stopbelieving Love ends when U stop caring Friendship endswhen U stop sharing. So share all your feelings withwhomever, you consider a friend ..."

Difference between focussing on problems and focussing on solutions

The Difference between Focus on Problems, and Focus on Solutions

The Difference between Focus on Problems, and Focus on Solutions" When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that the pens wouldn't work at zero gravity. (Ink won't flow down to the Writing surface). Russians also had the same problem too, when they launch cosmonauts in space.In order to solve this problem, Americans hired Andersen Consulting (Accenture today). It took them one decade and 12 million dollars.

They developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down, underwater, in practically any surface including crystal and in a temperature range from below freezing to over 300 degrees C .

But the Russians they did not scratch their head like Americans. They neither spent money nor time. They used a bit of commonsense. " Russians used pencils instead of pens..."


Success can be achieved thru repeated failures and introspection
.. Sui Chiro Hondoa, founder of Hero Honda

Realize the Value of Time

REALIZE THE VALUE OF TIME

If you want to realize value of 5 years ask a politician who lost in Elections

If you want to realize the value of 1 year ask a person who failed in his final graduation exams

If you want to realize the value of 1 month ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby

If you want to realize the value of 1 week ask an Editor whose weekly is having largest circulation

If you want to realize the value of 1 day ask a labor who lost his daily wage

If you want to realize the value of 1 hour ask two lovers who are waiting for each other

If you want to realize the value of 1 minute ask a person who just missed a Train

If you want to realize the value of 1 second ask a person who just escaped from an accident

If you want to realize the value of 1 millisecond ask a person who missed silver medal in 100meters race in Olympics


"Time and tide wait for No man"

"Past is history, Future is mystery. Present is yours that is why it is called as Present"

Tactis are Important than Talent

TACTICS ARE IMPORTANT THAN TALENT

AN ANCIENT KING once dreamed that all his teeth had fallen out.

He was naturally concerned about his dream, so the next morning he sent for a soothsayer to interpret his dream for him. The soothsayer listened to the king’s dream, pondered it for a moment, and then delivered this pronouncement:

“Your Highness, the dream means that all your relatives will die and you will be left alone.”The king was furious at the soothsayer’s interpretation, and he demanded the soothsayer remove himself from the palace at once.

Then the king called for a second soothsayer.

This soothsayer listened to the king’s dream, pondered for a moment, and then proclaimed: “Rejoice, O King! The dream means that you will live many more years. In fact, you will outlive all your relatives! LONG LIVE THE KING!”

This interpretation so pleased the king that he gave the interpreter a large purse of gold.

Essentially, the two soothsayers made the same prediction. But there was a big difference in HOW they delivered the message, wouldn’t you agree? As a result, there was a big difference in how the message was received.

The moral of the story is very clear: It’s not WHAT you say, but HOW you say it that counts!

2nd moral: Tactics are important than talent