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Ramadan Tracker Microsoft Excel

2026-09-11T18:27:35.440+04:00

Ramadan Tracker — Microsoft Excel

A free, easy-to-use Excel workbook to track your prayers, Zakat, Qur'an, good habits, and the last ten nights of Ramadan — all in one file, no macros, no setup.

Ramadan asks a lot of us at once — five daily prayers plus Taraweeh, Zakat calculations, Qur'an goals, good habits to build, bad ones to leave behind, and the extra focus the last ten nights deserve. This workbook brings all of that into a single Excel file you can open, fill in, and glance at every day. It's built to be genuinely easy to use: every status you log is a simple dropdown, every total and percentage calculates itself, and the charts update automatically as you go.

Download the Workbook

Free to use. No sign-up, no macros, works in any modern version of Excel.

⬇ Download Ramadan Tracker (.xlsx)

What's Inside

Intro

A short reflection on what Ramadan is about, with a Qur'an reference to set the tone.

Mandatory Prayers

All 30 days × 5 daily prayers, with Jamat / Alone / Qaza / NA tracking and a live summary chart.

Voluntary Prayers

Tahajjud, Ishraq, Chasht and Awwabeen tracked separately — bonus worship, never counted against you.

Zakat Management

Enter what your Zakat is due on, get the 2.5% calculated automatically, and log payments as you give.

Qur'an

Recitation, translation, tafseer, and memorization — organized by Surah, with progress charts for each.

Habits Development (To Do / To Stop)

Set a target for good habits to build and bad ones to leave behind, and watch your consistency add up.

Deeds & Charity Tracking

Daily charity, mosque help, and other good deeds — simple to log, simple to see your progress.

The Power Night (Laylat al-Qadr)

A dedicated space for the last ten nights — extra Qur'an, dhikr, charity and prayer, night by night.

Why You'll Like Using It

✓ No macros — opens safely in any version of Excel, nothing to "enable content" for.
✓ Dropdown lists for every entry — no free typing, no inconsistent data.
✓ Every total, percentage, and chart updates itself the moment you fill in a cell.
✓ Color-coded automatically, so a glance at the sheet tells you how you're doing.
✓ Works completely offline — your data stays in your own file, on your own device.

Ready to Start?

Grab your copy and fill in today's prayers in under a minute.

⬇ Download Ramadan Tracker (.xlsx)

Prefer an Online Version?

If you'd like advanced analytics, theme customization, and a more versatile, interactive design — with everything updating live in your browser — try the full online tool instead:

Ramadan Tracker 2027 — Online

Advanced analytics · Theme customization · Versatile, interactive design

Visit Ramadan Tracker 2027 →

Found a bug or have feedback? Email mjunaidtahir@gmail.com — Ramadan Mubarak.

Story: Alphabet For Blinds

2026-09-11T17:43:05.297+04:00

Braille was 10 years old when he was sent to a special boarding school for the blind. He was both intelligent and creative and wasn't going to let his disability slow him down.

The books for the blinds had large letters that were raised up off the page. Since the letters were so big, the books themselves were large and bulky. It took him a long time to read a sentence. By the time he reached the end of a sentence, he almost forgot what the beginning of the sentence was about. Louis knew there must be a better way.

By the time Louis Braille was 12, something important happened. A soldier visited the school and showed children the military code called "night writing" which was used by soldiers to communicate after dark. It was based on dots system. Each dot or combination of dots stood for a letter or a phonetic sound. This was a very complicated system, but it inspired Louis Braille to develop a six-dot system for the blind.

On his next vacation home, he sat in his father's leather shop and picked up one of his father's blunt awls. The idea came to him in a flash. Louis used the blunt awl to punch out a sentence using dots. He read it quickly from left to right. Everything made sense. It worked.

He worked on this system of six raised dots in different combinations, each combination corresponding to a letter of the alphabet. Because there were fewer dots, they could be "read" with one finger-tip. Soon the benefits of the new system were realized. Today, Braille is used in almost every country in the world.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Braille is one of the most important innovations in history. True it does not affect the majority of people, but for anybody who has too poor eye-sight to read normal text, it is a vital link to the outside world.

Story: Dad, Son and New Car

2026-09-11T17:42:48.132+04:00

While a man was polishing his new car, his 4 year old son picked stone ; scratched lines on the side of car.In anger, the man took the child's hand & hit many times. Not realizing he was using a wrench. At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures.. When the child saw his father... with painful eyes, he asked..
"Dad when will my fingers grow back?" Man was so hurt and speechless. He went back to car and kicked it many times. Devastated by his own actions... sitting in front of the car, he looked at the scratches, child had written "I LOVE YOU DAD"

Anger and love have no limits - Things are to be used and people are to be loved, but problem in today's world is that, People are used and things are loved.

Story of Young Son - The Perspective Understanding

2026-09-11T17:42:30.215+04:00

The train has started moving. It is packed with people of all ages, mostly with the working men and women and young college guys and gals. Near the window, seated an old man with his 30 year old son. As the train moves by, the son is overwhelmed with joy as he was thrilled with the scenery outside.. "See dad, the scenery of green trees moving away is very beautiful"

This behaviour from a thirty year old son made the other people feel strange about him. Everyone started murmuring something or other about this son."This guy seems to be a crack..." newly married Anup whispered to his wife. Suddenly it started raining... Rain drops fell on the travellers through the open window. The Thirty year old son, filled with joy "see dad, how beautiful the rain is ..." Anup's wife got irritated with the rain drops spoiling her new suit. Anup," can't you see its raining, you old man, if your son is not feeling well get him soon to a mental asylum..and don't disturb public henceforth"

The old man hesitated first and then in a low tone replied " we are on the way back from hospital, my son got discharged today morning only, he was a blind by birth, last week only he got his vision, when his mother died she donated her beautiful eyes to him, therefore these rain and nature are new to his eyes... Please forgive us if we caused inconvenience to you."

And he stood up & shifted to the next compartment of the train with his son...........
The things we see may be right from our perspective until we know the truth. But when we know the truth, our reaction to that will hurt us. So try to understand the problem better before taking a harsh action.

Story of Carpenters - Birdging the gap

2026-09-11T17:42:11.353+04:00

Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by-side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference and finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I 'm looking for a few days' work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor. In fact, it's my younger brother! Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."
The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day -- measuring, sawing and nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.
The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all.
It was a bridge! A bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched.

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."
The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder.
"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.
"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have many more bridges to build."

Story - The Green Concept

2026-09-11T17:41:52.101+04:00

Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman that she should bring her own shopping bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days."

The cashier responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."

She was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, pop bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so they could use the same bottles over and over. Yes, they really were recycling.

We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen; and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But, we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up the stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every shop and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.

But, she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an 'energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts;' wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But, that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And, the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the county of Yorkshire .

In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.

When we packaged a fragile item to send in the post, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power.

We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But, she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank water from a fountain or a tap when we were thirsty instead of demanding a plastic bottle flown in from another country.

We accepted that a lot of food was seasonal and didn't expect that to be bucked by flying it thousands of air miles around the world.

We actually cooked food that didn't come out of a packet, tin or plastic wrap and we could even wash our own vegetables and chop our own salad.

But, we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the tram or a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mothers into a 24-hour taxi service.

We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances.

And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But, isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

Story of Farmer's daughter

2026-09-11T17:41:24.829+04:00

A young man wished to marry the farmer's beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission.

The farmer looked him over and said,

"Son, go stand out in that field. I'm going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of any one of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter."

The young man stood in the pasture awaiting the first bull.

The barn door opened and out ran the biggest, meanest-looking bull he had ever seen. He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through the pasture out the back gate.

The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life. It stood pawing the ground, grunting, slinging slobber as it eyed him. Whatever the next bull was like, it had to be a better choice than this one. He ran to the fence and let the bull pass through the pasture, out the back gate.

The door opened a third time. A smile came across his face. This was the weakest, scrawniest little bull he had ever seen. This one was his bull. As the bull came running by, he positioned himself just right and jumped at just the exact moment.

He grabbed… but the bull had no tail!

Moral

Life is full of opportunities. Some will be easy to take advantage of, some will be difficult. But once we let them pass (often in hopes of something better), those opportunities may never again be available. So always grab the first opportunity

Story: Easy to criticize

2026-09-11T17:38:42.543+04:00

Once upon a time there was a painter who had just completed his course under disciplehood of a great painter. This young artist decided to assess his skills so he decided to give his best strokes on the canvass. He took three days and painted beautiful scenery.

Suddenly an idea flashed in his mind and he decided to display it on a busy street-square of his small town. He wanted people's opinion about his caliber and painting skills.

He put his creation at a busy street-crossing. And just down below a board which read - "Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. Since I am new to this profession I might have committed some mistakes in my strokes, etc. Please put a cross wherever you see a mistake."

While he came back in the evening to collect his painting he was completely shattered to see that whole canvass was filled with Xs (crosses) and some people had even written their comments on the painting.

Disheartened and broken completely he ran to his master's place and burst into tears. Sobbing and crying inconsolably he told his master about what happened and showed the pathetic state of his creation which was filled with marks everywhere. Such was the state that colors were not visible, only things one could see were crosses and correction remarks.

This young artist was breathing heavily and master heard him saying "I am useless and if this is what I have learnt to paint I am not worth becoming a painter. People have rejected me completely. I feel like dying."

Master smiled and suggested, "My Son, I will prove that you are a great artist and have learnt a flawless painting."

Young disciple couldn't believe it and said, "I have lost faith in me and I don't think I am good enough, don't give false hopes master."

"Do as I say without questioning it. It will work." Master interrupted him.

"Just paint exactly similar painting once again for me and give it to me. Will you do that for your master?" Master instructed.

Young artist reluctantly agreed and three days later early morning he presented a replica of his earlier painting to his master. Master took that gracefully and smiled.

"Come with me." master said.

They reached the same street-square early morning and displayed the same painting exactly at the same place. Now master took out another board which read - "Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. Since I am new to this profession I might have committed some mistakes in my strokes, etc. I have put a box with colors and brushes just below. Please do a favor. If you see a mistake, kindly pick up the brush and correct it."

Master and disciple walked back home.

They both visited the place same evening. Young painter was surprised to see that actually there was not a single correction done so far. But master was not satisfied as yet and he told his disciple, "May be one day was too little a time for people to come up with ideas and take time out of their busy schedules to correct it so let us keep it here for one more day.

Tomorrow is Sunday, so we can expect some corrections coming in."

Next day again they visited and found painting remained untouched. They say the painting was kept there for a month but no correction came in!

Moral of the Story: It is easier to criticize, but difficult to improve

http://www.ezsoftech.com/stories/problems.and.solutions.asp

Latest Post Story of Young Son - The Perspective Understanding

Story: The Little Boy with Grandma

2026-09-11T17:38:33.210+04:00

A little boy is telling his Grandma how "everything" is going wrong. School, family problems, health problems, problems with friends, etc.

Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which, of course, he does.

"Here, have some cooking oil." *"Yuck" says the boy.
"How about a couple raw eggs? " "Gross, Grandma!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"

"Grandma, those are all yucky!"

To which Grandma replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! He brings problems in our life so that we can learn and improve. We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!"

Muslims Prayers Tracker for Females - Microsoft Excel

2026-09-11T17:38:06.323+04:00

Performing 5 Prayers is a mandatory act of worship from Allah.

If you would like to track your prayers and ensure 100% compliance, please check out this Easy-To-Use Prayers excel file.

The Excel file can be downloaded from our download section.

In case of any issues with download, please send email to editor@dailytenminutes.com and we will send you the file in'sha'Allah

Below is the sample data entry snapshot for a specific month:

if you have performed your prayer on time, enter a

if you missed your prayer and performed later (Qaza) then enter q

if you did not perform your prayer due to monthly female cycle, then enter p

That is all you have to do in the tracker.

Below are automatic reports and graphs that will help you see the summary of your prayers:

The Excel file can be downloaded from our download section.

In case of any issues with download, please send email to editor@dailytenminutes.com and we will send you the file in'sha'Allah

Wise Father's Letter to His Son

2026-09-11T17:37:51.889+04:00

Dear son,
I am writing this to you because of 3 reasons:

1. Life, fortune and mishaps are unpredictable; nobody knows how long he lives. Some words are better said early.

2. I am your father, and if I don't tell you these, no one else will.

3. What is written is my own personal bitter experiences that perhaps could save you a lot of unnecessary heartaches.

Remember the following as you go through life

1. Do not bear grudge towards those who are not good to you. No one has the responsibility of treating you well, except your mother and I. To those who are good to you, you have to treasure it and be thankful, and ALSO you have to be cautious, because, everyone has a motive for every move. When a person is good to you, it does not mean he really likes you. You have to be careful, don't hastily regard him as a real friend.

2. No one is indispensable, nothing in the world that you must possess. Once you understand this idea, it would be easier for you to go through life when people around you don't want you anymore, or when you lose what/who you love most.

3. Life is short. When you waste your life today, tomorrow you would find that life is leaving you. The earlier you treasure your life, the better you enjoy life.

4. Love is but a transient feeling, and this feeling would fade with time and with one's mood. If your so called loved one leaves you, be patient, time will wash away your aches and sadness. Don't over exaggerate the beauty and sweetness of love, and don't over exaggerate the sadness of falling out of love.

5. A lot of successful people did not receive a good education, that does not mean that you can be successful by not studying hard! Whatever knowledge you gain is your weapon in life. One can go from rags to riches, but one has to start from some rags!

6. I do not expect you to financially support me when I am old, neither would I financially support your whole life. My responsibility as a supporter ends when you are grown up. After that, you decide whether you want to travel in a public transport or in your limousine, whether rich or poor.

7. You honor your words, but don't expect others to be so. You can be good to people, but don't expect people to be good to you. If you don't understand this, you would end up with unnecessary troubles.

8. Do not believe in lucky draws or lotteries. That means if you want to be rich, you have to work hard! There is no free lunch!

9. No matter how much time I have with you, let's treasure the time we have together. We do not know if we would meet again in our next life.
Love,
Your Dad

It is claimed that this letter was sent to his son from a renowned Hong Kong TV broadcaster/Child Psychologist. The words are actually applicable to all of us, young or old, children or parents! This applies to daughters too. All parents can use this in their teachings to their children.

Humor: Who is a Consultant

2026-09-11T17:37:40.548+04:00

A shepherd was herding his flock in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Oliver Peoples sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the shepherd, “If I tell you exactly how many sheep you have in your flock, will you give me one?”

The shepherd looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing flock and calmly answers, “Sure. Why not?”

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Apple notebook computer, connects it to his Verizon iPhone, surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite navigation system to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo. The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany. Within seconds, he receives an email on his iPhone that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with hundreds of complex formulas. He uploads all of this data via an email on his iPhone and, after a few minutes, receives a response.

Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the shepherd and says,

“You have exactly 1586 sheep.”

“That’s right. Well, I guess you can take one of my sheep.” Says the shepherd. He watches the young man selects one of the animals stuffs it into the trunk of his car.

“Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my sheep?”

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, “Okay, why not?”

“You’re a consultant.” says the shepherd.

“Wow! That’s correct,” says the yuppie, “but how did you guess that?”

“No guessing required.” answered the shepherd. “You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew; to a question I never asked; and you don’t know crap about my business.”

Story: Lost in Desert

2026-09-11T17:37:30.077+04:00

Once a man got lost in a desert. The water in his flask had run out two days ago, and he was on his last legs. He knew that if he didn't get some water soon, he would surely die. The man saw a small hut ahead of him. He thought it would be a mirage or maybe a hallucination, but having no other option, he moved toward it. As he got closer, he realized it was quite real. So he dragged his tired body to the door with the last of his strength.

The hut was not occupied and seemed like it had been abandoned for quite some time. The man entered into it, hoping against hope that he might find water inside.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw what was in the hut - a water hand pump...... It had a pipe going down through the floor, perhaps tapping a source of water deep under-ground.

He began working the hand pump, but no water came out. He kept at it and still nothing happened. Finally he gave up from exhaustion and frustration. He threw up his hands in despair. It looked as if he was going to die after all.

Then the man noticed a bottle in one corner of the hut. It was filled with water and corked up to prevent evaporation.

He uncorked the bottle and was about to gulp down the sweet life-giving water, when he noticed a piece of paper attached to it. Handwriting on the paper read : "Use this water to start the pump. Don't forget to fill the bottle when you're done."

He had a dilemma. He could follow the instruction and pour the water into the pump, or he could ignore it and just drink the water.

What to do? If he let the water go into the pump, what assurance did he have that it would work? What if the pump malfunctioned? What if the pipe had a leak? What if the underground reservoir had long dried up?

But then... maybe the instruction was correct. Should he risk it? If it turned out to be false, he would be throwing away the last water he would ever see.

Hands trembling, he poured the water into the pump. Then he closed his eyes, said a prayer, and started working the pump.

He heard a gurgling sound, and then water came gushing out, more than he could possibly use. He luxuriated in the cool and refreshing stream. He was going to live!

After drinking his fill and feeling much better, he looked around the hut. He found a pencil and a map of the region. The map showed that he was still far away from civilization, but at least now he knew where he was and which direction to go.

He filled his flask for the journey ahead. He also filled the bottle and put the cork back in. Before leaving the hut, he added his own writing below the instruction: "Believe me, it works!"

This story is all about life. It teaches us that We must GIVE before We can RECEIVE Abundantly.

More importantly, it also teaches that FAITH plays an important role in GIVING.

The man did not know if his action would be rewarded, but he proceeded regardless.

Without knowing what to expect, he made a Leap of Faith.

Water in this story represents the Good things in Life

Give life some Water to Work with, and it will RETURN far more than you put in........!!!

Wise Quotes from "Lift Me Up" by Ron Kaufman

2026-09-11T17:37:23.491+04:00

⏱ 3 min read

Timeless Wisdom: Quotes That Sharpen Your Thinking

Wisdom isn't about knowing more — it's about seeing more clearly. The quotes below have been collected from thinkers, leaders, and traditions across the world. Each one offers a small shift in perspective. Read them slowly. Let a few settle in.

Some will resonate immediately. Others may take time to unfold. Either way, they're worth returning to.

Chapter 1: Everyday Wisdom

1. Thought is the original source of all wealth, all success, all material gain, all great discoveries and inventions and of all achievement. — Claude Bristol

2. The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. — William James

3. Great people talk about ideas, average people talk about events; small people talk about other people. — Anonymous

4. You can tell whether a person is clever by his answers; you can tell whether a person is wise by his questions. — Mahfouz Naguib

5. Going to work for a big company is like getting on a train. Are you going at sixty miles an hour, or is the company going at sixty miles an hour and you are just sitting? — Paul Getty

6. The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts. — Marcus Aurelius

7. A wise man never knows all; a fool knows everything. — African proverb

8. None of us is as smart as all of us. — Japanese proverb

Chapter 2: Profound Wisdom

These next few quotes go a layer deeper. They're about character, patience, and the quiet mechanics of growth.

1. More mistakes, more experience. More experience, fewer mistakes.

2. If you are patient in a moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow. — Chinese Proverb

3. Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking. — Jackson Brown

4. Information applied gives knowledge. Knowledge applied yields wisdom. Wisdom applied brings success.

5. To the man who only has a hammer, everything looks like a nail. — Abraham Maslow (The world we see is a reflection of who we are.)

6. Speak to open the minds of others; listen to open your own.

Chapter 3: Insightful Wisdom

1. Thoughts have power; thoughts are energy. You can make your own world or break it by your own thinking. — Susan Taylor

2. The commentator makes a noise; the activist makes a difference.

Chapter 4: Acquiring Wisdom

Wisdom isn't something you have — it's something you practice. These quotes focus on how to cultivate it: through focus, humility, and the willingness to change.

1. I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow. — Woodrow Wilson

2. The ability to focus attention on important things is a defining characteristic of intelligence. — Robert Shiller

3. What we see depends mainly on what we look for. — John Lubbock

4. Being willing to change allows you to move from a point of view to a viewing point — a higher, more expansive place from which you can see both sides. — Thomas Crum

5. Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. — Plato (Speak only when your words improve the silence.)

6. Half of being smart is knowing what you are dumb about. — Solomon Short (The other half is finding someone smart about it who can help you.)

7. The difference between a smart man and a wise man is that a smart man knows what to say, and a wise man knows when to say it and whether or not to say it. — Frank Garafola

Source: ronkaufman

A Final Thought

Wisdom isn't about collecting quotes — it's about living them. Pick one from this list that challenged you. Write it down. Return to it this week. Let it shape a decision, a conversation, or a quiet moment of reflection. That's how words become wisdom.

✦ Compiled for Daily Ten Minutes — timeless wisdom for everyday life.

Story: How our inner Ego sometimes misjudges a PERSON

2026-09-11T17:35:33.871+04:00

As received from someone :)

A lady in a faded grey dress and her husband, dressed in a home-spun suit walked in timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's outer office. The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Harvard.

"We want to see the President "the man said softly.

"He'll be busy all day "the secretary snapped.

"We'll wait" the lady replied.

For hours the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president..

"Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll leave" she said to him. The President, stern faced and with dignity, strutted toward the couple.

The lady told him "We had a son who attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago, he was accidentally killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus."

The president wasn't touched....He was shocked. "Madam "he said, gruffly, " we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery."

"Oh, no," the lady explained quickly” We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard."

The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the gingham dress and homespun suit, and then exclaimed, "A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings here at Harvard."

For a moment the lady was silent. The president was pleased. Maybe he could get rid of them now. The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a university ? Why don't we just start our own?"

Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment. Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford got up and walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California where they established the University that bears their name: -StanfordUniversity, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.

Most of the time we judge people by their outer appearance, which can be misleading. And in this impression, we tend to treat people badly by thinking they can do nothing for us. Thus we tend to lose our potential good friends, employees or customers.

Remember

In our Life, we seldom get people with whom we want to share grow our thought process. But because of our inner EGO we miss them forever.

It is you who have to decide with whom you are getting associated in day to day life.

Small people talk about others,

Average people talk about things,

Great people talk about ideas.

Latest Post Do You Treat People Fairly ?

Short Story: The Red Light Special

2026-09-11T17:35:26.232+04:00

Two men were in a car when they had to stop at a red signal light. The man at the steering did not say anything.

The other man said, "The time we waste at these red lights - why, a man could write a book!"

The driver still said nothing.

Finally the man beside him said, "Didn't you hear what I said?"

"No."

"How come you did not hear? I was talking".

"Whom were you talking to?"

"I was talking to God," he said. "I've been making it a practice every time I get to a red light to pray for one of my friends. It is wonderful how many folks I have on my prayer list and how many I have time to pray for in this way."

Story about a Soap Box

2026-09-11T17:35:17.720+04:00

One of the most memorable case studies on 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 workman 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. He switched 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. "If you look at what you do not have in life, you don't have anything; if you look at what you have in life, you have everything

Latest Post Story: The Teacher, The Students and The Potatoes

Story: The Teacher, The Students and The Potatoes

2026-09-11T17:35:06.453+04:00

A kindergarten teacher decided to let her class play a game.

The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes.

Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child hates.

So the number of potatoes that a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates.

So when the day came, each child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/she hated. Some had 2 potatoes; some 3 while some up to 5 potatoes. The teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes in the plastic bag wherever they go (even to the toilet) for 1 week.

Days after days passed by, and the children started to complain due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes. Besides, those having 5 potatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After 1 week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended....

The teacher asked: "How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for 1 week?". The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they go. [short story]

Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game. The teacher said: "This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go.

If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just 1 week, can you imagine what is it like to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime???"

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Story: The Dog in the Well

2026-09-11T17:34:58.415+04:00

By Junaid Tahir:

In old times, there was a village having only one well for drinking water. One day a dog fell down in the well and died. The water became filthy and undrinkable. The worried villagers went to the old wise man for advice. They were told to take 100 buckets of water from the well so that clean water come to the surface of the well. The villagers took 100 buckets but water status was same. They went to the wise man again. He suggested to take another 100 buckets. The villagers did the same but to no avail. They villagers tried third time to take another 100 buckets as per the advice from the wise man but water was still impure. The wise said, How come the whole well is polluted even removing this much considerable amount of water. Did you remove the dog body prior to taking 300 buckets of water? The villagers said, "no sir, you only advised us to take water out, not the dog body !!!"

Reflection:
Several times in life we try to resolve our problems without considering the root cause of the problems. We believe that we are resolving the problem whereas in actual we are working on the side effects of problem not the problem itself. We don't see the big picture to understand the root of the issue. We take advice from our well wishers but do not use our brain to think logically to analyze the advice and then decide, instead, we start acting blindly on the solutions suggested by others.

Some article you may like:
Story; Difference between Education and Wisdom
7 Super Personality Powers You Must Posses
How to Overcome Fear of Making Decisions
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About Author: Junaid Tahir is a passionate blogger. He writes articles on Leadership, Stress Management and Life Enhancement subjects at his personal blog

The Old German Dog

2026-09-11T17:34:44.273+04:00

An old German Shepherd dog starts chasing rabbits and before long, discovers that he's lost. Wandering about, he notices a panther heading rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch.

The old German Shepherd thinks, "Oh, oh! I'm in deep trouble now!"

Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the panther is about to leap, the old German Shepherd exclaims loudly,

"Boy, that was one delicious panther! I wonder, if there are any more around here?"

Hearing this, the young panther halts his attack in mid-strike, a look of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees.

"Whew!," says the panther, "That was close! That old German Shepherd nearly had me!"

Meanwhile, a squirrel who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the panther. So, off he goes.

The squirrel soon catches up with the panther, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the panther.

The young panther is furious at being made a fool of and says,

"Here, squirrel, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine!"

Now, the old German Shepherd sees the panther coming with the squirrel on his back and thinks, "What am I going to do now?," but instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn't seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear, the old German Shepherd says...

"Where's that squirrel? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another panther!"

Rest...you know what could have happened next.......

Moral of this story...

Don't mess with the old dogs... Age and skill will always overcome youth and treachery!

Insight and brilliance only come with age and experience. so be careful messing up with your seniors and try to stay in harmony with them :)

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Story: Lightening on the Bus

2026-09-11T17:34:37.344+04:00

A bus full of passengers was traveling while. suddenly the weather changed and there was a huge downpour and lightening all around.

They could see that the lightening would appear to come towards the bus and then go elsewhere.

After 2 or 3 horrible instances of being saved from lightening, the driver stopped the bus about fifty feet away from a tree and said -

"We have somebody in the bus whose death is a certainty today."

Because of that person everybody else will also get killed today.

Now listen carefully what I am saying ..

I want each person to come out of bus one by one and touch the tree trunk and come back.

Whom so ever death is certain will get caught up by the lightening and will die & everybody else will be saved".

They had to force the 1st person to go and touch the tree and come back.

He reluctantly got down from the bus and went and touched the tree.

His heart leaped with joy when nothing happened and he was still alive.

This continued for rest of the passengers who were all relieved when they touched the tree and nothing happened.

When the last passenger's turn came, everybody looked at him with accusing eyes.

That passenger was very afraid and reluctant since he was the only one left.

Everybody forced him to get down and go and touch the tree.

With a 100% fear of death in mind, the last passenger walked to the tree and touched it.

There was a huge sound of thunder and the lightening came down and hit the bus - yes the lightening hit the bus, and killed each and every passenger inside the bus.

It was because of the presence of this last passenger that, earlier,the entire bus was safe and the lightening could not strike the bus.

LIFE LEARNING from this..

At times, we try to take credit for our present achievements, but this could also be because of a person right next to us.

Look around you - Probably someone is there around you, in the form of Your Parents, Your Spouse, Your Children, Your Siblings, Your friends, etc, who are saving you from harm..!

Think About it..

You will surely find that Person..!!
Beautiful Lines

    ''Alone I can 'Say' but
    together we can 'talk'.
    'Alone I can 'Enjoy' but
     together we can
    'Celebrate'.

    'Alone I can 'Smile' but
    together we can 'Laugh'.

That's the BEAUTY of
Human Relations.

    We are nothing without
    each other

    Stay Connected!!

Are You Emotionally Intelligent? Here's How to Know for Sure

2026-09-11T17:33:57.632+04:00

⏱ 6 min read

Are You Emotionally Intelligent? Here's How to Know for Sure

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is one of those terms that gets thrown around a lot — in job interviews, leadership books, and self-help circles. But what does it actually mean to be emotionally intelligent? And more importantly, how do you know if you are?

Unlike IQ, which measures cognitive ability, emotional intelligence is about how well you recognize, understand, and manage your own emotions — and how effectively you navigate the emotions of others. The good news? EQ isn't fixed. It can be developed with awareness and practice.

Let's break down the practical signs of emotional intelligence, so you can honestly assess where you stand and where you might grow.

You Can Name What You're Feeling

This sounds simple, but most people can't do it. When asked how they feel, many default to "fine," "stressed," or "okay." Emotionally intelligent people have a richer emotional vocabulary. They can distinguish between frustration and disappointment, between anxiety and excitement, between feeling overlooked and feeling disrespected.

Why does this matter? Because you can't manage what you can't name. If you can't identify the exact emotion, you'll likely respond to it in a vague, unproductive way — snapping at someone who doesn't deserve it, or withdrawing when you actually need support.

💡 Try this: Next time you feel "off," pause and ask yourself: What are three words that describe this feeling? This simple practice builds emotional granularity over time.

You Pause Before Reacting

Emotional intelligence isn't about suppressing emotions — it's about creating a gap between feeling and acting. When someone pushes your buttons, do you immediately fire back? Or can you take a breath, notice what's happening inside you, and choose a response that aligns with your values?

This pause is everything. It's the difference between a conversation that escalates and one that de-escalates. It's the difference between regret and resolution.

People with high EQ still feel anger, hurt, or frustration. They just don't let those emotions drive the car. They acknowledge the feeling, then decide what to do next.

You're Curious About Others, Not Judgmental

When someone behaves in a way you don't understand, what's your first instinct? To judge them? Or to get curious?

Emotionally intelligent people tend to ask questions like, "What might be going on for them?" or "What am I missing here?" They understand that behavior is often a surface-level expression of something deeper — stress, fear, unmet needs, or past experiences.

This doesn't mean they excuse bad behavior. It means they approach people with curiosity rather than contempt. That shift alone can transform relationships.

If you struggle with judging others too quickly, this article on whether you judge people fairly offers a useful reality check.

You Take Responsibility for Your Emotions

This is a big one. Emotionally intelligent people don't say things like, "You made me angry" or "You ruined my day." They recognize that while others can trigger emotions, those emotions belong to them.

That doesn't mean they tolerate mistreatment. It means they own their internal experience. If they're upset, they explore why — and they communicate it clearly rather than blaming others for how they feel.

This sense of ownership is liberating. It means you're not at the mercy of other people's behavior. You always have a choice in how you respond.

🧠 Key insight: Taking responsibility for your emotions doesn't mean blaming yourself. It means recognizing that your feelings are information — not commands — and that you get to decide what to do with them.

You Can Hold Space for Others

When a friend or colleague is upset, do you immediately try to fix it? Or can you just sit with them in their discomfort?

Emotionally intelligent people understand that not every problem needs a solution right away. Sometimes what people need most is to feel heard and validated — not to receive advice.

Holding space means listening without interrupting, reflecting back what you hear, and resisting the urge to make it about you. It's a skill that strengthens trust and deepens connection.

You Manage Negative Thoughts Without Spiraling

Everyone has negative thoughts. The question is: what do you do with them?

Emotionally intelligent people don't pretend negative thoughts don't exist. They notice them, question them, and redirect their attention. They know that a thought is not a fact — it's just a mental event.

If you find yourself caught in loops of worry or self-criticism, you might benefit from practical strategies for dealing with negative thoughts. The key is to develop a toolkit — journaling, reframing, talking it out, or simply acknowledging the thought and letting it pass.

You're Comfortable with Discomfort

Life is full of uncomfortable moments — difficult conversations, uncertainty, conflict, rejection. Emotionally intelligent people don't run from these moments. They lean in.

They know that avoiding discomfort usually makes it worse. So they have the hard conversation. They sit with uncertainty. They allow themselves to feel awkward, sad, or scared without collapsing.

This doesn't mean they enjoy discomfort. It means they've built the capacity to tolerate it — and that capacity is one of the strongest predictors of emotional resilience.

You Adapt Your Communication Style

Emotionally intelligent people understand that not everyone communicates the same way. Some people need directness. Others need warmth. Some need time to process. Others want to talk it out in the moment.

This flexibility isn't about being fake. It's about being attuned. It's about recognizing that effective communication requires meeting people where they are — not where you wish they'd be.

If you can adjust your tone, pace, and approach based on who you're talking to, you're demonstrating high emotional intelligence.

You Know When to Set Boundaries

Emotional intelligence isn't about being nice all the time. It's about being honest — with yourself and others.

That means knowing when to say no. Knowing when you need rest. Knowing when a relationship or situation is draining you and needs to change.

People with high EQ understand that boundaries aren't walls — they're filters. They protect your energy so you can show up fully for the people and things that matter most.

You're Willing to Grow

Perhaps the most telling sign of emotional intelligence is a willingness to keep learning. No one gets it right all the time. Everyone loses their temper, misreads a situation, or says the wrong thing.

The difference is what happens next. Do you reflect? Do you apologize? Do you ask for feedback? Do you try again?

Emotional intelligence isn't a destination. It's a practice. It's a commitment to showing up with more awareness, more compassion, and more courage — one interaction at a time.

So, Are You Emotionally Intelligent?

If you recognized yourself in most of these signs, you're likely more emotionally intelligent than you realize. If some of them felt uncomfortable or foreign, that's not a failure — it's an invitation. Emotional intelligence can be built. Start with one area. Practice. Be patient with yourself. And remember: the goal isn't perfection. It's progress.

✦ Written for Daily Ten Minutes — practical wisdom for everyday life.

Top 10 Traits of Great Coaching

2026-09-11T17:26:56.199+04:00

⏱ 4 min read

Top 10 Traits of Great Coaching

Empathy

Great coaches have the ability to understand and share the feelings of their clients. They listen actively and with compassion, which helps build trust and rapport. Empathy allows coaches to better support their clients' emotional and psychological needs.

Communication Skills

Effective communication is crucial in coaching. Great coaches can convey ideas clearly and concisely, provide constructive feedback, and ask powerful questions that provoke thought and self-reflection. They are also adept at listening without judgment.

Patience

Coaching often involves helping clients through challenging and slow progress. Great coaches are patient and understand that growth and change take time. They are supportive and encouraging, even when progress seems slow.

Adaptability

Each client is unique, and great coaches are flexible in their approach. They tailor their coaching methods to fit the individual needs and circumstances of their clients, ensuring that the coaching experience is relevant and effective.

💡 Great coaching is not a one-size-fits-all formula. The best coaches blend empathy, structure, and adaptability to meet each client exactly where they are.

Goal-Oriented

Great coaches help their clients set clear, achievable goals. They provide a structured framework for defining, pursuing, and achieving these goals, ensuring that clients remain focused and motivated throughout the coaching process.

Knowledgeable

Expertise in their field is essential for great coaches. They possess a deep understanding of the subject matter and stay updated with the latest developments and best practices. This knowledge allows them to provide valuable insights and guidance.

Positive Attitude

A great coach maintains a positive and optimistic outlook. They inspire confidence and enthusiasm in their clients, fostering a can-do attitude that helps clients overcome obstacles and remain motivated.

Accountability

Great coaches hold their clients accountable for their actions and progress. They set clear expectations and regularly check in to ensure that clients are following through on their commitments. This accountability drives clients to stay on track and achieve their goals.

Integrity

Trust is fundamental in a coaching relationship, and great coaches act with honesty and integrity. They are transparent about their methods and intentions, and they maintain confidentiality and ethical standards in all their interactions.

Passion for Helping Others

Above all, great coaches are genuinely passionate about helping others succeed. They are deeply committed to their clients' personal and professional growth and derive satisfaction from seeing their clients achieve their full potential. This passion fuels their dedication and effectiveness as coaches.

For further reading on related leadership and self-awareness topics, explore these articles: Leadership Skills Found in Managers and Do You Judge People Fairly?

Conclusion

Great coaching is a blend of character, skill, and genuine care for others. By cultivating empathy, communication, patience, adaptability, and the other traits above, coaches can create lasting impact and empower clients to reach their fullest potential.

✦ Originally published on Daily Ten Minutes — updated for clarity and readability.

Theory X and Theory Y - Understanding People's Motivations

2026-09-11T17:23:37.038+04:00

Theory X and Theory Y: Understanding People's Motivations

Douglas McGregor, a social psychologist, introduced Theory X and Theory Y in his 1960 book "The Human Side of Enterprise". These theories describe two contrasting models of workforce motivation and management style. Understanding these theories can help managers better motivate their employees and create a more productive work environment.

Theory X

Theory X is based on a more pessimistic view of employee motivation. It assumes that employees are inherently lazy, lack ambition, and need constant supervision and control. According to Theory X:

People dislike work and will avoid it if possible.
Employees need to be coerced, controlled, and threatened with punishment to achieve organizational goals.
Employees prefer to be directed, avoid responsibility, and desire security above all.

Managers who subscribe to Theory X tend to adopt an authoritarian style of management. They believe in strict oversight, rigid policies, and a hierarchical structure. This approach can lead to a lack of trust, low morale, and high employee turnover. However, it may be effective in environments where tasks are routine and require little creativity.

Theory Y

In contrast, Theory Y offers a more optimistic view of employee motivation. It assumes that employees are self-motivated, enjoy work, and seek out responsibility. According to Theory Y:

Work is as natural as play or rest, and people will seek out work opportunities.
Employees will exercise self-direction and self-control to achieve objectives to which they are committed.
Given the right conditions, employees can learn to accept and seek responsibility.
Creativity and ingenuity are widely distributed among the population and can be harnessed for organizational benefit.

Managers who adopt Theory Y tend to use a participative style of management. They trust their employees, encourage collaboration, and provide opportunities for personal growth and development. This approach can lead to higher job satisfaction, increased innovation, and lower turnover rates. Theory Y is particularly effective in dynamic environments where problem-solving and creativity are essential.

Practical Implications

Understanding Theory X and Theory Y can help managers tailor their management style to better meet the needs of their team and the demands of their work environment. Here are some practical implications:

Assess Your Workforce: Determine which theory aligns more closely with the behavior and attitudes of your employees. This assessment can guide your management approach.
Create a Balanced Approach: While Theory Y may be more appealing, some situations or employees may require elements of Theory X. Striking a balance between oversight and autonomy can be key.
Foster a Positive Work Environment: Implement practices that encourage motivation and engagement, such as recognizing achievements, providing opportunities for growth, and fostering a culture of trust and collaboration.
Adapt to Change: Be flexible in your management style. As your team or work environment evolves, be willing to adjust your approach to maintain motivation and productivity.
Invest in Training: Equip managers with the skills to recognize and adapt to different motivational needs within their team. Training can help managers effectively implement elements of both theories where appropriate.

By understanding and applying the principles of Theory X and Theory Y, managers can better motivate their employees, leading to a more productive and harmonious workplace.

The Gardner Who Was Tired

2026-09-11T17:23:18.352+04:00

There was once an earnest gardener who loved his work and his produce. One day he was walking through his delightful garden and happened to notice a weed. The gardener was particularly tired so he decided to leave it.

The next day he had to leave to visit his relatives in another country for two weeks. When he came back, the back yard was covered in weeds and all his produce was dead!

REFLECTION

Likewise, if we allow just one bad thought in our head and fail to remove it, it will sprout and instead of having to pick one weed, we will have too much to control.
If we destroy our negative thoughts, by allowing positive ones to grow, they will display in our personality like a beautiful garden.

Thats the power of positive thought. We are, what our thoughts are.
We should always entertain only good and positive thoughts in our mind and never give way for anything negative!
Be alert and conscious of your thoughts and pick out the weeds of your negative thoughts consciously and quickly, at the right moment--

Labels: happiness, hard times, Short Story, Success