Thanks you for taking me to the stone age. Please send me some leaves so that I can tie them around and shout RBI ki Jai!

Do you people have any knowledge about how the internet operates?

Do you people have any knowledge about how internet freelancing works?

Do you people have any knowledge about how internet payment system works?

Do you understand the business concept: Client is the King!

Now when 90% of the internet transactions happen via Paypal and 90% of the people/clients prefer to pay by Paypal, you super brilliant organization is asking me to sacrifice 90% of my client and expect me to operate profitably to bring valuable Foreign Exchange to India.

Won’t you ask TCS, WIPRO, INFOSYS and other mega companies to receive payments in chunks of $500? If not, do they pay any commission to you?

Do you people believe all the servers hosting websites are located in India?

Are you in a dream land where internet transactions thru Indian Credit cards is reliable? Don’t you know that most of the Indian Credit Card transactions never becomes a successful.

So you are disenfranchising Indians from having websites? This is the pathetic situation of IT minded people in the Land of Free speech. Bravo RBI.

Do you understand that having few websites and paying up for the registration, renewal and hosting fees alone will reach the credit card limit?

Are you sure about the effect of your policies on the Internet Entrepreneurs?

Have you people ever heard about a species called Internet Entrepreneurs?

If you cannot answer these questions properly then it should be you who are roaming around the corridors of RBI with leavers tied around you.

I am going to publish this article all around the internet as much as I can.

Thank you.

Hi Visitors, Please share this letter with your contacts to let the world know about our Stone Age RBI.

But despite being extremely adaptive, we are always hoping for the stability of the status quo in our daily lives. We like the regularity of routine and the inevitability of monotony.

We feel vindicated when we can make dependable predictions and dictate rules regarding acceptable behavior.

Our comfort zone provides us with a degree of security and we are happy to let it at that.

However, extraordinary results are not obtained by staying within your comfort zone.

When you are happy with the status quo, you are not changing with the external changes that are taking place.

You are not making progress; you may have momentum, but you are not moving forward.

Your comfort zone can trap you in a prison of sorts, keeping you away from fresh challenges, experiences, and people.

If you really want to get out of your comfort trap, and on to the vanguard of change, it is time to start pushing your boundaries and breaking the rules.

Examine consequences

Staying in your comfort zone can have both good and bad associations. For example, your comfort zone can be a great antidote for stress and burnout.

If you have been driving yourself hard for a long time, stepping back into your comfort zone can offer a temporary respite and help you refuel for your next run.

If you have already achieved your life’s dreams, stepping into your comfort zone is a great way to bask in the glory of your past achievements.

But if you still have your whole life and its aspirations ahead of you, your comfort zone can trap you in a mirage of satisfaction.

Need to get out

It can be difficult to let go of that warm, satisfied feeling that being in your comfort zone can give you.

It is like coaxing a child to leave behind his favorite teddy when he goes to school. But it is necessary for the child to abandon his old comfort zones in quest of newer milestones.

Recognise how being in your comfort zone is stopping you from growing and moving forward.

The recognition that your comfort zone is limiting you is the first big step towards breaking out of it.

Set new goals

What are your goals, and how is being in your comfort zone stopping you from achieving those goals?

Goals typically need to challenge you, draw out your best and bring you out of your comfort zone. If they can be achieved easily, you need to scale them up and raise the bar higher, so that you can test the upper limits of your potential.
Get your cheese

Believe it or not, successful people are more prone to failures than those who are less successful.

This is because they take more risks, try new things and never give up till they get what they strive for.

In his book ‘Who moved my cheese?’ Dr. Spencer Johnson tells a wonderful story around two little people named ‘Hem’ and ‘Haw’ who have lost their precious hoard of cheese and are stuck in a maze with no food and no prospects.

To find new cheese, they have to venture out and explore new uncharted paths in the maze. The fear of the unknown prevents Hem from leaving the comfort of the old cheese station even if he is starving, while Haw lets go of his fear and succeeds in finding new cheese and a whole lot of confidence after a few failed attempts.

Dump the fears, prejudices and old habits that keep you stuck to your comfort zone.Be more open to change. Remember that almost all positive changes happen beyond the familiarity of the comfort zone.

Pain of change

The moment people start experiencing the anxiety, the discomfort and the awkwardness of letting go, they pull back into the comfort zone.

If you want to improve your life or change it for the better, you must steel yourself to put up with the pain of change.

People who get out of their comfort zones derive greater success and satisfaction from life. They may not get immediate results, but they force themselves to go beyond the point of no return.

And when that happens, they realise that there is a new horizon beyond and greater challenges and experiences ahead.

Switch On!

Hearing is one thing listening is another. Hearing is what one does to noise, listening is when we pay attention.

If it’s a meeting, an interview, or just a tête-à-tête, prepare yourself by arming yourself with the facts that is going to be talked about so that responses from you, if required, will be pat and to the point.

If you do your homework, the chances are that you won’t be caught off guard. At meetings you need to be alert or something that will affect you will pass you by without notice! You can’t make up your mind to start listening from the word go! It comes with practice and plenty of effort!

Switch Off!

If you make a noise how can you hear let alone listen? Switch off your larynx for a while and absorb what’s happening around you.

You must of course add to the conversation but make sure you don’t add to the noise! If you say less than others, what you do say will be listened to with greater attention.

Parallax View

Focus is what you must have. Its like looking through the viewfinder of a camera and looking only at what you want to capture. When actively listening, you must block out everything else.

Concentrate and give the speaker the idea that you are listening intently. Just as you can make out when the people you talk to begin to lose interest, so can people who talk to you.

If you need to ask a question at this time, note it down rather than ask it straight away because the speaker may answer it in the very next sentence. People should feel that you are and have been listening. Sometimes people will say things that we would hotly challenge.

Stop! Don’t do this because the ability to process the input will be blocked by your defensive posture! Listen, let them have their say, smile in an understanding manner and then reply, having considered your answer carefully, so that your answer or rebuttal has more credibility.

Vicarious Living!

Your interlocutor may be the last person you want to please, but the best way to disarm is to listen with an understanding of where he is coming from. If you can see that, you will, at least, be able to listen and process the information.

If you start thinking of your pet peeve against him you’ll start tuning out and you’ll miss what he may inadvertently let fall. Similarly, if you are in an interview and the interviewer is saying something, don’t think of the question you just answered wrongly and concentrate on the question.

Try and put yourself in his position and see what answer you would like the most and then open your mouth and say it with verve!

Opening Your End

To listen well, you may sometimes have to ask leading questions. They should not be long-winded questions, but short ones that will force elaborate answers.

Answers that reveal the contents of the person’s mind. Questions that ask why or how generally require long answers. The longer an answer the more the speaker reveals and that is what you need to leverage when it all comes tumbling out! Open-ended questions forces the respondent to talk more and reveal more than he intended to.

Newspersons do this all the time. Once a person’s verbal floodgates are open, all you have to do is listen gleefully.

In an interview, often if you let the interviewer talk more by keeping absolutely silent, the answer he is seeking is often revealed in the question itself. If you look sufficiently serious and intent, the interviewer will try to elaborate and in doing so will, unknowingly let slip the answer! This has happened so often to me that I know you’ll be seriously advantaged if you try it!Now, shhh! Listen to me!

It is entirely normal to be nervous before job interviews. (In fact, a vast majority of candidates admit to emotions ranging from mild uneasiness to downright panic leading up to their interviews.) While a manageable level of stress quickens the mind, sharpens our responses and pumps more adrenaline into our system, extreme anxiety and nervousness can make a person tongue-tied, talk too much or say the wrong things.

Here are a few simple tips for keeping anxiety at bay and calming those nervous jitters before and during your interview:

Preparation

One of the best ways to overcome pre-interview nervousness, of course, is to be well prepared. Check out the website of the company you are interviewing with, and speak with any contacts you have who can help you get a better understanding of the company. You should also draft answers to common interview questions and practise speaking them out loud. Ensure that you are appropriately dressed and adequately prepared for the interview. Being well prepared will boost your confidence and lower your nervousness. Arrive 15 or 20 minutes ahead of your scheduled interview time. Reaching the venue early for the interview will give you enough time to collect your thoughts and calm yourself before the big event.

On the morning of your interview, try to avoid caffeine as much as possible. A lot of people believe that it helps them to relax, but drinking too many cups of coffee or cola before your interview can actually trigger feelings of anxiety. A glass of water instead will help hydrate and energize your body, and clear your throat.

Relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation are effective in overcoming extreme cases of interview fright. Extreme fear can cause panic attacks and preconditioning will do wonders for this type of anxiety.

If you find yourself becoming nervous during the interview, take a deep breath and focus on the interview questions. Don’t rush through your answers or make unqualified statements. Most interviewers take down answers just in case a group of job applicants are short-listed.

Do try and maintain eye contact as much as possible when speaking or listening. Avoid looking away or looking down; it signifies lack of confidence or interest. If looking straight into the interviewer’s eyes makes you uncomfortable, then focus on the interviewer’s face right above and between his or her eyes. Although you are not looking straight into their eyes, you appear to be maintaining eye contact.

Admitted, an interview is an important event that could lead up to your dream job or career, but worrying too much about the stakes will only make you more nervous and hamper your performance. Give yourself credit for getting an interview – only a small percentage of people get this far in the process.

Try to keep things in perspective. At worst, you might not do well at the interview. So what if you fail? It is not the end of the universe. It is not the end of your life either. You are going to have to eat, sleep, and live your life, irrespective of how you fare at the interview. So don’t worry too much about success or failure. Instead concentrate on doing your best, and let it go at that.

Lastly do remember that the interviewer is not a monster. He is not looking to trick you, terrify you or make you look bad. Instead, he is looking to make a connection in order to find the ideal candidate for the job. If you keep that in mind, you will find yourself a lot more relaxed and confident when selling your strengths and skills to the interviewer.

The most fundamental rule that governs any negotiation process, applies to this one too: Never be the first one to disclose your requirements. Don’t reveal your `expected salary’ either in your résumé, or at the time of interview. The first one to provide numbers establishes a range, and if you give an approximate number first, the interviewer will either hire you at the figure you quote, or tell you that the figures are too high. The drawback with disclosing your expected salary is that if you ask for less than what the interviewer was expecting, you’ll probably get it – without ever knowing that you could have earned more. If you think you can get the better of the situation by giving an excessively high figure, take it from me, it is not a very wise idea. It will make you appear unreasonable, and increase the probability of your getting dropped from consideration.

If the interviewer asks for your expectations during the interview, forestall him by saying that you’d like to talk about salary once you have a firm offer. Still, a good interviewer will keep at it. So, try asking the interviewer what he would pay someone for this job. Never negotiate for your salary till you have a firm offer. If the employer quotes a ballpark figure, ask for a written offer-letter specifying the full terms and conditions of employment, and request for some time to think over it. Most employers will give you anything from a day to a week’s time to think about an offer. Negotiate for the maximum time you can get.

Use the time to do your research and plan your strategy. To know what to ask for in negotiations, you must know the pay range for your position. Check out salary surveys online and in trade journals. Check with friends, peers or recruiters who regularly sign up people for your kind of job. You could also do some discreet enquiry at the organisation to find out what is being paid to employees in the cadre you would be fitted in. This way, when it comes to talking money, you have hard facts to back yourself up. Consider all alternatives and how much room you can allow for compromise. During negotiation talks, quote the top of the salary range that is being paid for your position. You can even show the hiring manager your research and remind him about the `power-factors’ that you have going for you. Power-factors are aspects that lend weight to your viewpoints and enable you to assess your bargaining position more accurately.

If you find that the salary offered is already on the higher side, you could propose taking on added responsibilities so that you could ask for slightly more pay. But remember, too much haggling on what is a fair package will make it appear like you are interested in the job only for the money.

Of course, like any bargain, salary negotiation too has its trade offs. You win some and you lose some. There may be times you have to walk away from a job that does not meet your salary expectations. But, if you do your research consistently and hone your negotiation skills, you can confidently ask and get what you are worth, sooner or later.

Sigmund Freud

Body language is a largely unconscious, yet a revealing aspect of our true selves. It’s not what we say but how we say something is important. Many a time we speak volumes without even uttering a word. Communication is a package deal of verbal, non-verbal and vocal cues. Through extensive communication research, it has been discovered that words account for a tiny seven percent of a message’s impact. The rest comes from non-verbal cues, such as voice tone and facial expression. It’s only when we interpret all the cues, that we get the whole message – or what you end up with is a partial communication.

Remember how we’ve been taught not to believe everything we hear? Only believe what you sense and see, such as body language and its associated meaning. If someone compliments you with a smirk on his face, are you going to feel flattered?

Body Language is also the most powerful method of validating your words. Even if you say the most meaningful sentence with a deadpan expression, nobody will believe you. Your expressions, body, gestures and vocal pitch must match your words. Body language is what gives meaning to words; it causes the message to reach the heart and brain.

There are instances when words fail us in our efforts to convey a message. Often, we don’t reveal how we feel about people or what we actually mean when we say something. Sometimes a `no’ means a `yes’ or a `maybe’ implies `no’. So, to make the meaning of our words clear, we use body language. We use body language all the time.

Since humans are social creatures, when two people come into contact, they begin exchanging non-verbal communication signals. Just the very presence of another person marks the beginning of communication. It’s not possible to be not communicating when amongst people.

Also related to non-verbal communication is self-presentation – appearance. Would you dress up in your best to go to the local grocery for milk? On occasions like interviews, public performances and formal events, one may choose to manipulate impressions in order to impress upon others about one’s desirable qualities in an effort to strengthen self-image.

Culture is a strong determinant of body language – of how we use and interpret it. It is wise to remember that meaning of certain gestures varies from culture to culture. Workplace culture has its own set of rules and interpretations. Out here you really need to be more specific and meaningful, so your gestures should match your words.

Nobody has the time or patience to find out what you really mean, why you are behaving in a certain way, or what your underlying issues may be. There’s a lot to be said about people at the workplace from the way they sit or stand, shake hands, look and speak, move and use their body. You can read people by observing their facial expressions, vocal qualities, hand gestures, body movements, posture, etc.

They can be judged at the intuitive level by observing all of these movements. Body language is especially important in the corporate world as it can be used to influence decisions and turn the tide in your favour.

In order to send the right messages at work, be conscious of how you use your body:

Don’t be stiff: Use the body – it ought to move. It speaks when words fail you. One who says the right words but doesn’t use his body to send compatible signals comes across as insincere, impersonal and ineffective person.

Don’t gesticulate too much: Be aware of how much you are using your body. Too much gesturing can be annoying, distracting and makes you appear hyperactive. Remember to use your body to score a point, not lose one.

Don’t just tell, show: When you’re making a presentation, attending an interview or holding a meeting, show them how good you are. Use gestures, expressions and, in fact, perform to hold your audience’s attention.

Imbibe mannerisms: Imagine which mannerisms you like and adopt those that best suit you and your purpose. If you like a certain way, work on it. Don’t adopt mannerisms that are incongruent and awkward with what you are as a person. Gestures are meant to be natural, not artificial. Or the whole purpose of using gestures gets lost as they are supposed to substantiate and give credibility to your words.

Dress appropriately: Our outer garb is also a reflection of how we want to appear and what statement we are trying to make. Clothes should enhance your purpose, not distract it. These are conscious forms of body language wherein we try to make an impact on a select audience.

It is fascinating to understand body language and use it to our advantage. Apart from making communication more effective and interesting, an understanding of body language will go a long way towards improving our ability to make out when a person is lying and sense where one’s opponent’s interests lay.

Sloth: Idleness can take many forms at a workplace. First of all make a list of not-to- do things. You can skip reading reports which no body has time for and also meetings where your presence is merely nominal.

Wrath: It is perfectly all right and normal to get angry at work. Ask yourself who is to blame for this negative emotion. You may have unconsciously contributed to that feeling yourself. Know your triggers so that you are aware what heralds the onset of this feeling. Also remember to direct your anger not at a person but at an issue

Vanity: With everyone whining it will be difficult to get yourself heard. Who wants to forgo the pleasure of whining about workplace wounds? However, accept the fact that sometimes your whining may not get you the wanted results. Be aware of all the areas/places where you don’t have an influence. And don’t think that you are God’s gift to the organisation: you aren’t!

Gluttony: Fight obsolescence. Enough cannot be said about investing in new skills and upgrading them frequently. Be a glutton as far as new learning is concerned. But, don’t hog the limelight and give credit where it is due

Envy: With the workplaces changing dramatically it is important to get regular feedback on your performance. Ask your superior whether he is happy with your work and what, if anything is lacking in your performance. And do not covet what is not yours

Pride: Are you too proud to network? Can you remember the last time you networked at your workplace? It is not too late. Make time regularly to meet up with people and stay connected. Getting along with your supervisor may also be a recipe for good health. Be enthusiastic and available to anybody connected with work.

Lust: Does your workplace feel like a dysfunctional playground? Try changing your attitude and you may be pleasantly surprised at how all the dysfunctional areas actually become productive. Do not give in to your base urges by asking for more than you deserve, but if its lust for work that you feel, then go right ahead!

Eliminating common defective practices from workplace will go a long way in improving profits. What you sometimes need to do is not to work harder but smarter. It would be a fallacy to assume that the most dependable way to increase productivity is to put in more hours. Get it right and you wont have to struggle with a guilty conscience anymore!

The ‘Stop. Come Back!’ technique

This technique is simple and most effective. When your mind starts to waver from the task on hand, say to yourself `Stop. Come Back!’ Refocus your attention on the task. Keep your attention there for as long as possible. When it wanders again, reissue the warning. `Stop. Come Back!’ You may notice that your mind often wanders (as often as several times a minute, at times). Each time just say `Stop. Come Back!’

You might have to do this hundreds of times on a daily basis, if you’re normal and more perhaps if you are one of those who get easily distracted. But keep at it. You will find that you are able to keep your thoughts from straying for a progressively increased period of time.

Invisible Blanket technique

Learn to ignore distractions. When a door slams, or the telephone rings, do not allow yourself to react. Imagine there exists an invisible blanket that insulates you from the rest of the world. Keep your concentration on what’s in front of you. If your thoughts get distracted momentarily, use the `Stop. Come Back!’ technique to get back to work.

Worry time for worry warts…

Set aside a specific time each day to think about the things that keep entering your mind and interfering with your concentration.

When the mind starts to get side-tracked by worrisome thoughts, remind yourself there is time set apart for all the worrying you need to do. Let go for the present, and focus on your immediate activity.

Early bird, or a night owl!

All of us have different energy levels. Some of us are early birds, at our best and brightest in the mornings, others are night owls who find their energy levels picking up late at night. Yet others are sharpest in the afternoon. Chart your energy levels.

When you are on to a task that requires your total concentration, choose to work on it when your energy level is at the highest (You can relax when your energy level hits the rock bottom, by doing the least taxing or the most enjoyable of your tasks).

Light and other factors…

Make sure that you have adequate light. Opt for comfortable but not luxurious furniture. Sit up straight to aid concentration rather than in a sprawled out position. Clear your desk of all clutter except those relating to the job at hand. Also put the `To-do’ list out of sight.

You don’t want to worry about the next task till you are finished with this one, do you? Take your phone off the hook or request someone else to hold fort till you are through.

Research on Music aiding concentration is inconclusive. If you prefer to have music on, make sure it is not one with a hummable tune and a definite beat. If so, you might soon find yourself distracted. Opt for something a little less catchy and more monotonous. You could try a little white noise perhaps – noise that masks the little environmental sounds that could prove distracting. You could switch on the fan or turn on the radio to a band where only static is heard.

Shift positions often. Concentration-spans range from 35 minutes or longer to 90 minutes. Take short breaks at the end of an hour or whenever you reach the limit of your concentration span. When you take a break, oxygenate (get more oxygen to your brain)! Get up and walk around the room for a couple of minutes. When you sit for long periods, blood tends to pool in your lower body and legs.

When you walk, blood gets to flow more evenly throughout the body, carrying more oxygen to the brain and in turn making you more alert.

Give yourself a reward when you’ve completed a task. The task might be small, such as staying with a difficult assignment until you’ve finished. An appropriate reward might be a walk down the corridor, a glass of water, or reading the day’s cartoon in the newspaper.

Keep practicing and soon you could find your concentration skills vastly improved. Improved concentration will pump up your self-discipline and will power and in turn you will be delighted to find yourself accomplishing much more in the same period of time.

You are a manager, interviewing a prospective employee. One of the applicants has long hair, plays the guitar in a rock band called The Ugly Rumours, is frequently in trouble and was flogged by his House Master at school because, in the words of the House Master, “He was the most difficult boy I’ve ever had to deal with!” What would you do? Most probably, promptly reject him! But, the British didn’t! And, hold your breath, they made him their Prime Minister. The aforementioned attributes describe Tony Blair at the age of 17!

Many an advantage is won or lost through the talent and capabilities of your team. Employing people who are honest, dependable and have the required experience will get the job done, but won’t necessarily create the buzz and atmosphere that often separates a mediocre team from a great team. To have a great company, you must first have a great team. Many people consider attracting great talent is just providential and does not involve any management skill. It’s not. It’s a difficult task to pick winners and is an even harder challenge to nurture and retain that talent. It is all about “putting the right people in the right jobs”, and its importance can never be overstated.

How do you spot a winner then? We discussed the anecdote at the beginning of this article not to say that talent only exists in eccentric non-conformists. The point is, talent can come in many forms; and, as an organisation, you need to be prepared to embrace diversity in employees. In short, personal prejudices should not distract you from hiring someone who has the potential to add tremendous value, diversity and growth to your business.

Optimism is one quality you should look for in a candidate. Ask yourself; does this person have a bright and sunny outlook? You sure don’t want long faces around you!

Try to distinguish between energy suppliers and energy drainers. Energy drainers are a worried lot with more shadows than sunshine. Try talking to these people and you feel drained at the end of the conversation. By contrast, energy suppliers don’t have all the answers but they say: ‘Leave it to me, I’ll find a way.’ You feel good if they are around and wish to have more of them.

There’s no disputing the fact that technical skills and experience are important. The real mark of a winner is to be able to adapt to change. Experience is not always as important as passion and adaptability. If you see the fire in them, then do hire them! Skills can always be imparted later!

But, you also need to retain your treasured team members. So, what’s the carrot stick?

First and foremost, remuneration is very important. But, using only remuneration to attract talent can be a dangerous strategy because if you win talent with money, you could lose it for money! Each member of your team is unique and is therefore likely to have different needs and desires. The packages you are offering should be as unique as the employees. Further, you may not even be able to attract the talent you require only offering full-time employment. Instead, you may need to consider part time and casual employment.

The key is to recognise that different employees will respond to different benefits and being able to deliver on those will offer your company a tremendous competitive advantage in the ‘hunt for talent.’ In short, be flexible. Don’t forget the intangibles. Sometimes, talent is not only interested in what you’re offering, but also who you actually are. Work Culture is everything. The point is, it is illogical for employees to want to purposely be difficult or lazy; they clearly don’t enjoy it and would much rather enjoy themselves at work and find meaning in their careers. It is the responsibility of owners and managers to create appropriate environment and conditions that will allow employees (and their talent) to shine. Find a company that has great talent. You’ll likely be looking at a company that has very open and very honest communication. Everyone has a role in an organisation, but that doesn’t necessarily indicate that one role is more valuable than another. Senseless hierarchies create barriers to communication and will serve as a deterrent to attracting talent. So, hierarchy is out, flat is in: There is no definitive “how-to” list to be followed that will attract the necessary talent. Employees are as diverse as the jobs. However, understanding changes in the industry, appreciating the needs of different employees, and realising the effect that “culture” has over your entire team is a great start. Change will continue to take place. Accordingly, what made you successful in the past won’t necessarily ensure success in the future. Embrace diversity and be prepared to dare to be different. You will have winners on your side!