Key to Success

Secret of Success-Ability to Take Risk

2006-08-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

Here i am posting a story that appeared in the Hindu. It features about two youngsters who have been able to take risk and pursue their dream and are successful in their career. Definitely an inspiring story for others.

Now here goes the story of Rajesh and Dayalan

Theirs is a story that dreams are made of. Two young men from lower middle class families in Otteri now run their own swanky beauty salon in Nungambakkam.
V. Dayalan and H. Rajesh, both 32 years old, started working in the beauty business right after school, as they could not afford higher education. They began as apprentices in Lakme salons and went on to become skilled beauticians. Dayalan took up a correspondence degree course in business administration and Rajesh completed a diploma programme.
But their entrepreneurial spirit combined with an aptitude for hard work would not let them rest. They formed a youth self-help group with the guidance of voluntary organisation Asha Nivas. This was to become a turning point in their lives.
"A little over a year ago, six of us formed a group called `Essential.' We took big loans to start a salon," says Rajesh. Asha Nivas offered a cash loan of Rs. 2 lakh and Andhra Bank offered a loan of Rs. 1.75 lakh to buy equipment. They borrowed from friends and relatives and cleaned out their savings to raise another Rs. 8 lakh.
The group hired prime space in the El Dorado complex on Nungambakkam High Road and called their salon `Studio Essential.' They pay Rs. 20,000 as rent and Rs. 2,500 for maintenance. They have six persons working along with them.
Says Dayalan, "We knew we were taking a big risk. But as my dad would say, `If you are starting a new business do it before you cross 35. There would be too many commitments after that.' The popularity of the parlour exceeded expectations. Not only are we paying off our loans, we also manage a decent profit."
Rajesh specialises in hair cuts, colouring, streaking, rebonding and straightening. Manicure and pedicure treatment is Dayalan's forte. As theirs is a unisex salon, they have female staff if women customers request for it. A loyal customer, V. Sharada, says the salon has a "friendly, family atomosphere".
Rajesh is very grateful to Asha Nivas. "I started my career there as a courier boy," he reminisces. The group plans to visit Asha Nivas' projects in tsunami-affected parts of Kanyakumari district to offer employment training next month.
Dayalan and Rajesh have risen in their lives but they still keep in touch with their friends in Otteri. Their long-term plan is to start a beauticians' training academy to help youth from disadvantaged sections.

Source: The Hindu, dated:Aug10, 2006

Secret of Success-Quotes from Chanakya

2006-08-08T21:23:00.000-07:00

These are the "Secret of Success" quotes from Chanakya who was an Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275 BC. These are still applicable in today's modern world context. So i thought to share it here with you all.

"A person should not be too honest. Straight trees are cut first and honest people are hooked first. "
" Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venemous".
"The biggest Guru-mantra is" Never share your secrets with anybody. It will destroy you."
"Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead."
"As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it."
"The world's biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman."
"Once you start a working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest."
"The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction."
"God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god. The soul is your temple."
"A man is great by deeds, not by birth."
"Never make friends with people who are above or below you in status. Such friendships will never give you any happiness."
"Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends."
"Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person."
"Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth."

I am not sure whether i agree with all the points mentioned above, but yet these are words of a great person...and surely the secret of success tips...Hence mentioned here....

Secret of Success-Identifying the Problem Area

2006-07-10T01:54:00.000-07:00

This story was shared by my work mate. I loved the story and wanted to share it with you all. The reason is simple, the story conveys a very strong message in a simple and humourous way.I am sure most of you would love the story too. Please read the story.

A man feared his wife wasn't hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid. Not quite sure how to approachher, he called the family Doctor to discuss the problem. The Doctor told him there is a simple informal test the husband could perform to give the Doctor a better idea about her hearing loss. Here's what you do,"said the Doctor, "stand about 40 feet away from her, and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response." That evening,the wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he was in the den. He says to himself, "I'm about 40 feet away; let's see what happens." then in a normal tone he asks, 'Honey, what's for dinner?" No response. Sothe husband moves closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife andrepeats, "Honey, what's for dinner?" Still no response. Next he movesinto the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks,Honey, what's for dinner?" Again he gets no response so; He walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. "Honey, what's for dinner?" Againthere is no response. So he walks right up behind her." Honey, what'sfor dinner?" ;;;;"James, for the FIFTH time I've said, CHICKEN!"

Moral of the story: The problem may not be with others as we alwaysthink! It could be very much within us..!!

Image Source: archives.upenn.edu

Inspirational True Life Story - Edison

2006-05-18T03:13:00.000-07:00

I have always been amazed by Edison, who had filed 400 patents between 1876 and 1884, at approximately a patent a week. Isn't he remarkable?

This is a true story which i came across from one of the Newsletters which was trying to explain about "things ahead of its time". It seems that Edison liked to demonstrate his phonograph by allowing people to speak into the machine and then playing the recording back for them. However, the technology was outside almost everyone's conceptual understanding. Up to that point in history, the only thing that could mimic the sound of one's voice was a ventriloquist, so people thought it had to be a trick. Clergymen came to pronounce it "the devil's work" and to discredit Edison.
But here's the really fun part. Edison used to charge people 25 cents to try to "fool the machine." A person who spoke Latin (a dead language) would speak Latin into it and, of course, it would speak Latin back to the person. People wondered how Edison was able to teach a machine to speak Latin. A person would speak Chinese into the machine and it would speak Chinese back to them. Again, people would wonder how the "Wizard of Menlo Park" taught the machine to speak Chinese.
People simply did not understand the concept of a recording.

This just goes into prove "what a genius, he is".

If you would like to read and know more about this genius do visit:http://www.edison.me.uk

Image Source: edison.rutgers.edu

Secret of Success-Personal Power

2006-05-05T05:18:00.000-07:00

This was the message that i had received from my work mate. This provided lot of insight. It is definitely a message to be shared.

Life Into Being

Personal Power
Many of us have do not understand what personal power means. We have been given the false notion that power is bad-that it is something we use to exert our will upon others. In fact, when our personal power is intact, we are neither overbearing nor meek. We have a clear sense of our strength and the impact we can have on others. This actually enables us to be more sensitive. Personal power is what permits us to work on behalf of our dreams and desires. It allows us to realize that we are worthy and deserve to be heard. In addition, our personal power lets us extend the respect we know that we deserve to the people around us. There is no reason to be afraid or ashamed of fully owning your power.

In the chakra system, the solar plexus is the seat of personal power. One way to evaluate your sense of power is to breathe into this part of the body. If it feels tight or nervous, it is an indication that you may not be fully expressing your power. You can heal this imbalance by expanding the area of the solar plexus with your breath. You can also visualize a bright yellow sun in this part of your body. Allow its heat to melt any tension, and let its light dissolve any darkness or heaviness. Repeating this exercise on a regular basis can restore and rejuvenate your sense of power.

Another way to nurture your personal power is to honor your dreams and desires by making concrete plans to manifest them in the world. Start by making a list of things you want, and let yourself think big. Choose one goal from the list and commit to bringing it to fruition. In addition, break the goal into tasks that you can work on each day. Know that you deserve to have your dreams come true and that you have the power to bring them into being.

Image Courtesy: Google Images

Inspirational Life Story True - Kiran Bedi

2006-05-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

Today's Inspirational True Life Story deals about the life of a person who is well known in Indian and around the world for her courage and strategies. Yes we are proud to feature Kiran Bedi, the first woman to join the Indian Police Services in 1972, who was also a former Asian women’s lawn tennis champion, an extraordinary academician, author, speaker and activist, winner of the Magsaysay Award(also called the Asian Nobel Prize), the first woman to become Police advisor to head the Civilian Police Division in the United Nations Department to Peace keeping Operations.

When, in the ’90s, she was transferred to Tihar—Asia’s most notorious jail—she transformed the vice-den into something like an ashram, introducing meditation and literacy programmes. Her Tihar work won her the Magsaysay Award in 1994. It was this stint in Tihar jail has secured her place in the history of policing as a pioneer, for her extra ordinary reforms that she carried out for the inmates of Tihar Jail.

No one can also forget the courage she displayed in handling the Punjab separatist movement when she single-handedly fought sword-brandishing sikh militants. It is her actions and motivational speeches that have triggered lot of young girls to look Indian Police Services as a career choice. If today we are able to see lot of young girls entering Military services and Police services, the true credit would definitely go to KIRAN BEDI.

If you have know of some one who has made a difference to the society in any form and of any inspirational stories to share, please feel free to mail to itispals@yahoo.co.in

Image courtesy: Google Images

Secret of Success-A full life is not necessarily a long life

2006-04-24T21:35:00.000-07:00

Charlie Badenhop is the originator of Seishindo, an Aikido instructor, NLP trainer, and Ericksonian Hypnotherapist. I am sharing with you one of his thoughts from his newsletter, "Pure Heart, Simple Mind"

Do you have the feeling you're fully appreciating your life RIGHT NOW, or are you somehow failing to treasure the richness of all you have in the moment? Living a life of gratitude is a challenge that I think most all of us face.

Three years ago the eight year old daughter of a friend died in a freak accident at school. My friend was devastated and I could not think of any wise words that might console him. As the weeks rolled by my friend slipped into an ever deeper sense of despair, and nothing anyone said seemed to lift his spirit.
After a few months time he went out of town on a business trip, and on the train ride back home he engaged in a conversation with the woman sitting next to him. The woman sat there and nodded her head often as my friend talked about the death of his daughter. He reported to me that he had the sense of talking and talking and talking, until he finally felt like he had nothing more to say.
As my friend came to a natural state of rest, the woman nodded her head one more time as she took a deep breath, and then said the following, "I can very much feel your pain, and I understand that the loss of your child must be devastating. At the same time," she said, "I wonder if your pain would not be lessened if you celebrated the life of your daughter.
"You told me about your daughter's sense of awe the first time you took her to the ocean, and how you carried her in your arms as you waded out into the water. You also spoke about the many times she sat on your lap and told you about the magical adventures she had during the course of her day. Perhaps the sweetest story you shared was how you told your daughter every night how much you loved her as you tucked her into bed.
"I am wondering," the woman said, "What is it that leads you to believe that you and your daughter did not live a glorious fulfilling life together? Is it because she died at eight years old and not at eighty? Certainly it would seem that the quality of one's life is not tied to the length of one's life. I would suggest that you and your daughter did perhaps live a full and complete life together. She just didn't live as long as you had hoped for and expected."
As the train neared the station the woman continued speaking, "I am fifty two years old, and in looking back on my life I don't feel I have shared with anyone, the depth of experience and love you and your daughter had together. On one hand this makes me deeply sad. On the other hand, it helps me to realize that with the time I have left, I can indeed strive to live a complete and fulfilling life. This is the realization that your experience has helped me to understand, and for this wonderful gift I thank you deeply."
The woman smiled as she stood up, preparing to exit the train. "None of us know how long we have to live. We don't seem to have all that much control over the length of our life. The quality of our life on the other hand, we can indeed ensure on a daily basis. It is never too soon to begin to enjoy and fully appreciate the life we do have, right here and now."

To the readers of this article I gently suggest you consider how you want to live your life, in order to ensure that your time on earth is fulfilling and complete.

Inspirational True Life Story - Saraswathi Ramaswami

2006-04-20T03:04:00.000-07:00

Last week my friend sent me a link from Rediff. It carried an article about a 106 year old lady, Saraswathi Ramaswami. It was truly inspirational.

I am just sharing with you all the story here. There are lot of things to be learnt from this MOTHER.Please take a few minutes to read this article, even if you find it lenghty. Kudos to Rediff, Shoba Warrier and Sreeram Selvaraj.

Article as narrated by Shoba Warrier.
Burdened with so many preconceived notions about the elderly, I didn't expect a 106-year old lady to walk briskly towards me, speak in a strong voice (that too in five languages), hear very clearly and remember things that happened a century ago. How wrong and foolish I felt after meeting Saraswathy Ramaswamy, freedom fighter and Gandhian.
As I waited for her in the lobby of Vishranthi, an old age home for women, she came rushing towards me with folded hands. Holding my hands close to her cheeks, she said in English, "Thank you for coming, Sir (she calls everyone Sir). I look forward to speaking with you."
Then, sitting in the front yard, under the shade of all kinds of trees, she began to rewind the clock.January 1, 1900
A little girl was born to a young couple in Secunderabad. Distraught on seeing a female first born, the young man's sister ordered the baby to be thrown into the Hussain Sagar. She was promptly wrapped in a silk cloth and thrown into the water.
Fate had other plans for the baby though.
The midwife who delivered her happened to see the bundle floating in the river while she was washing clothes. Horrified, she took the baby back to the young mother, who was sobbing uncontrollably.
The child was named Saraswathy, and the astrologer who read her horoscope said she would live long and become famous!
"God didn't want me to die that easily," Saraswathy Amma laughed loudly. "Death came close several times, but I survived. A couple of years ago, a tree fell on my house and me. But here I am!"
At the age of 7, two major events occurred in her life. She began going to school, and she was married to a 12-year-old boy named Ramaswamy. She stayed with her parents until she completed her Bachelors degree though, travelling across India. "I was sent to my husband's house when I attained puberty at 18. It was the custom."
Joining her husband was an unexpected turning point in her life. The young Ramaswamy was so drawn to Mahatma Gandhi's call for freedom that he chucked his job as an assistant postmaster and decided to devote his life to his country.
"I was not sad when my husband left the job and gave his property to the Congress. I was proud to be part of a big struggle. If not for him, I would have remained in one place and, like all women, would have thought of my own family alone. But my husband made me believe my country is bigger than everything else in life."
When Gandhi came with his wife Kasturba to Nagpur, where Saraswathy then lived, she went with her friends to meet them. "I asked Kasturba what I could do for the country. She asked me if I knew how to use a charkha. I said I didn't. After teaching me, she told me to spread the knowledge to others."
Following Kasturba's instructions, Ramaswamy and his wife packed their bags and moved to the Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry. There, Saraswathy taught students to spin and also took tuitions, while her husband organised meetings. Over the next five years, she taught English, Tamil and mathematics to at least 500 children.The Salt Satyagraha and the Dandi March, 1930
Saraswathy and Ramaswamy could not stay put in Pondicherry when Gandhi urged the country to march to Dandi. They went along. "We were separated. I sat there waiting for my husband for a long time, but he didn't come. When I saw a police constable, I asked him to help me find my husband. When he refused, I shouted, 'Mahatma Gandhi ki jai' three times and walked away. He then told me that a lot of people had been arrested and that my husband could have been one of them. Indeed, he was.
After the Dandi March, the couple decided not to go back to South India. Saraswathy also remembers their involvement in the Quit India movement of 1942.
If August 15, 1947 was a day of joy for all of them, January 30, 1948 was a day she still mourns. Not only because Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, but because she lost her husband and three sons in the riots that followed. Her husband was shot at; her children, crushed to death.
She was in Mysore to give birth to her fourth child. On hearing the news, she rushed to identify the bodies of her loved ones. Shortly thereafter, she lost her daughter to chickenpox. "I lost my family for the sake of my country. I shouldn't be crying," she says. "And yet, the tears rolled down my cheeks constantly. Those were the only times in my life when I cried aloud and accused God of being unfair to me."
She wandered around in Mumbai, Jabalpur and across Maharashtra, went to all government offices asking for a job. Everywhere she went, she was asked about certificates, but she had nothing except the one sari she wore. Those were the darkest days of her life. She was hungry, with no proper clothes and no place to stay. But she was sure about one thing -- she would not go to a Congress office and ask for money.
"My self-respect comes before everything else. I was ready to take tuitions for just Re 1."
She felt hopeful when she met a Christian teacher in Bombay. "He told me, mother, you look as if you come from a good family. Why are you roaming around like this?' I told him, with tears in my eyes, that I wanted a job. I want to teach children and live a respectable life. Taking pity on her, the teacher arranged for her journey to Madurai where he worked, and from there to Pattukottai in Tamil Nadu.
From 1949 to 2004, she made Pattukottai her home, teaching children until she reached the age of 104. She was sure about one thing though: she would never go to the government for pension or any such concessions. That was like begging for her.
Every year, on August 15, she would hoist the national flag and distribute sweets.
When her health deteriorated, and there was nobody to take care of her, the people of Pattukottai brought her to Vishranthi. "I resisted coming here because Pattukottai was my home since 1950! After coming here a year and a half ago, I was sad because I had nothing to do. But then, Madam (Savithri Vaithi who runs Vishranthi) told me to be happy. Now, I am."
It was only after coming here that her contribution towards making India independent was made known to the outside world.
"I love talking to people like you about what we went through. I spoke on television and on the radio. The only problem I face now is I can't sing loudly."
Saraswathy's day is never complete without her going through various newspapers. "I can't live without knowing what's happening in my country. I can only read about it now. The days of being part of the happenings are over for me."
But what she reads these days doesn't make her happy at all. What shocked her most was politicians distributing money for votes. "The first time somebody from the Congress came to me with money, I shouted at him and asked if he knew who he was offering the money to. He lost the elections!" she chuckles.
"I don't like this corrupt India. This is not the India we dreamt of, the India we sacrificed our lives for. It pains me to see corruption everywhere. But I must say there are so many loving, selfless and affectionate people in our country! It is only politicians who are selfish.

Deep in slumber or helpless?

2006-04-15T23:48:00.000-07:00

AT LEAST for the past 100 or 200 years, the youngsters have been brought up in a highly turbulent society. Hence let us be honest and accept the fact that every generation of youth has been muddled in some way or the other. Icons such as Gandhiji, Vivekananda or Bhagat Singh were brought up in such a way that they developed a passion to serve, an ability to demarcate between the right and the wrong and hence built nerves of steel for themselves.

The environment then was no less depressing than it is today. The Gandhis and Nehrus could have easily become successful barristers and magistrates instead of plunging themselves into a lifetime of struggle. But they dared to be different and brought about a revolution within themselves and imparted that spark to everyone around them. If I ask my friends about Gandhiji, some do agree with his universally accepted greatness. But instead of accepting their inability to emulate the man who personified sacrifice and greatness, most of them have something else to say: "His ideas are obsolete and do not apply to the current scenario... We can't relate ourselves to his ideas... Don't you have anything better to talk about... You can't talk of non-violence in a violence ridden society... "

Petty strikes

Usually youth is associated with revolutionary thoughts, which are often impulsive and romantic. But even these impulsive instincts are missing today. The "nothing will change" attitude continues and we turn a blind eye to everything unpleasant around us.

Being a college student I too see many students conducting the so called revolutionary activities which are nothing more than a few petty strikes the reasons for which are as silly as the protesters themselves. The students too cooperate and why not when the teachers themselves stand there helplessly! In fact most of them are not even aware of the reasons for which the strikes are called.

Most of the leading political parties have got their own student wings and use them to meet their own ends.

Quite often it is seen that parents burden their children with dreams of their own. Moreover parents are burdened by the questions put forward by friends and relatives such as "What is your son doing... Why is he doing this and why not that?" As a child, I was asked a question by many people "Do you want to be a doctor or an engineer?" Such questions put a notion into our head that the world of education ends with a few conventional courses.

Unsung heroes

The media has made name, fame and money look like two minute noodles. Survey of the most powerful is carried out with extensive coverage leaving the unsung heroes to rot and die. Who is more successful — the corporates building an empire of their own or the social activists who bring a smile on the faces of millions but shun publicity? While exclusive coverage is given to Fashion weeks and page 3 parties, not even a quarter of that time is dedicated to the Medha Patkars of the country. Hence we get a notion that to gain respect and popularity, you need money.

Who is to blame? The parents who want to see their sons and daughters in a financially secure position, the teachers who are forced to finish the textbook cover to cover by March, or the youngsters who feel compelled to tread the conventional path?

What the youngsters require is not just guidance but a mass movement which will beckon them to serve their motherland and an instilling force of pride which will develop in them a sense of responsibility to preserve their heritage which might otherwise soon die out or live under the mercy of the remix culture. Unfortunately, today the term youth icon is restricted to some known faces from the self advertising page 3 circuit and we rarely look up to those from other sectors of society.

This is the second post that i came across today in The Hindu. It is definitely a thought provoking article. Please feel free to share your views.
Image Courtesy: Google Images

Secret of Success - What ails Indian Youth? - A reality

2006-04-15T23:33:00.000-07:00

I was going across the articles in The Hindu. Two of the articles that i came across reflected the thoughts even i share. It is not only me, lot of other youngsters would surely share this thought. Hence with due credits to the authors, i am sharing the articles here in the blog. KAVITA WANKHADE is the author of the first article which was very impressive and at the same time reflects the present situation in an excellent manner. Here is the article. Please feel free to share your views.

TWO OF the articles that appeared in the Open Page section on March 26 were concerned with today's youth. One (Mr. Dinesh Kumar) accused this generation of being evasive, irresponsible and irreparably obsessed with money. The other (Vidya Venkat) pleaded for the generation's inability, trapped as it is within today's society. I think the reality is somewhere between the two.

To Mr. Kumar, I would like to say: Sir, not all the members of my generation are money seeking hedonists. A friend of mine is currently touring remote villages in Maharashtra, working on health care projects. Another dissolved a consultancy he had set up with six years of hard work and effort, because he did not want to work for MNCs.

I know a person who after completing an architecture degree, forwent an opportunity to work on Gurgaon's shining malls, and chose to join the Institute of Rural Management. Another is in Sri Lanka — working in rehabilitation — under threat to her own life. For every batch of IIM that passes out, (some of them on salaries more than 1 lakh a month), there is a batch of social workers from TISS and IRMA (some of whom start their career on 1 lakh a year). And I could go on and on.

I concede that a majority of the youth today are extremely self-centred and detached from politics and society. But who is responsible for them? Can society wash its hands of its youth? All the young people mentioned in the earlier paragraph are engaged in socially relevant work, against all odds from society, and mostly against their parents' wishes. The key concern of Indian parents is that their children should `settle down' — which means getting a secure, well-paid job, or sometimes for girls, a rich husband. Parents coerce their kids to take up lucrative professions; I know quite a few who have refused to finance their children's education for anything other than stipulated courses.

Pat answers

Moving on from parents to recruiters, I do believe that interviewers are looking for pat answers; they are not looking for convictions, but conformity. If there exists a thriving business in coaching classes for interviews for everything from IIM or IAS entrances to lucrative jobs, the classes must be doing something right — they must be preparing the candidates for pat answers that the interviewers foolishly (or intelligently) lap up. Convictions do not land upon one; they are the result of a lot of soul-searching and experience, for which society provides the youth with neither the space nor the time. The youth are but a part of society, and they are but a symptom of what ails society.

But if I believe that society cannot point a finger at its youth, without taking some of the blame, I also believe that the youth cannot blame everything on their parents, society, and the world at large.

Vidya, all the youth I know who are working to make a difference in society are doing it on their own initiative, with little support from elsewhere. Social pressures are as old as society itself. The youth of every generation have been subjected to social pressure. Some more than others. But they refused to buckle under it, and followed their convictions, and so must the youth of today.

The road less travelled has never been easy, and will never be. We cannot absolve ourselves, and expect the underprivileged to raise their voices by themselves; they are no less or no more bound by society than the youth are. If social change has to take place, everyone must stop pointing fingers at others, and do their little bit, and so must the youth.

Having spent a year at an international university, I sincerely believe that the Indian students are more intelligent, more socially aware, and importantly, more idealistic than many others. Callous, money-minded many of the youth of today might be and yet it is to this generation that India must look to for its future leaders.

Inspirational True Life Story - Learn from a Moth

2006-04-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

I had received this story as a forwarded mail. I am not sure who the author is, yet it teaches a wonderful lesson.

A marvelous lesson appeared for me just now as I was exiting thru the garage, to come to this little playplace they call an office.

As I opened the garage door, I startled a large moth, which, upon spreading it's wings, displayed a bright red "tail" hidden by the motley brown wings, more a "butterfly" than a moth.

It flew immediately to its perceived escape, the circle-topped window where it frantically tried to exit thru the invisible wall of closed glass.

I raised the third-car garage door in hopes of aiding it's escape. That caused it to fly higher and higher and become entangled in a spider web. Fearful that it would remain entangled in the web, I selected a long-handled broom to assist him escaping the tangled threads.

At this, he returned to furiously pumping his wings and banging into the glass, which was, in his perspective, the pathway of escape, but remained his cage.

By simply turning his focus to one side, he would have easily exited his prison. Rather, due to his intent on one direction, he remained confined, captive.

Image source: Google

Inspirational True Life Story - Medha Patkar

2006-04-08T01:01:00.000-07:00

Not a day passes with out an article about Medha Patkar and her fast. Today there was a news article that stated that an organization by name Narmada Abiyan, planing to stage a demonstration in support of Sardar Sarovar Dam, highlighting the benefits of the project. Still Medha Patkar and her fight is for a worthy cause. Though this just goes to reinforce the fact that "There is always two sides to a coin" we wish to present her in the Inpirational true life story. She has shown exemplary courage in serving for the villagers and tribal communities.

Medha Patkar's struggle began in 1985, when world bank financed "Sardar Sarovar Dam" project across the river Narmada was announced. Medha Patkar was the strategist and central organizer of Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), which was a people's movement formed to stop the construction of these dams across the river Narmada. Projects on Completion would surely submerge more than 35,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land. Apart from this approximately half a million villagers would have to be relocated. Already submersion of villages have taken place causing lot of hardship to these villagers who stand to loose their livelihood and their hangs a big question mark about the future of these villagers. Various reports from magazines and dailies also indicate that the governments have not kept up to their promises made to these displaced villagers. In 1991, 93 & 94 she under took long protest fasts of which the first one was lasted for 22 days. Even this year she has under gone hunger strikes and she has received immense support from Booker Prize winner Arundathi Roy and many other international writers, scholars and critics. They indicate that her claim of tardy rehabilitation of the Narmada dam-displaced families should be taken seriously. She is the winner of The Right Livelihood Award, an alternative Nobel Peace Prize.

Image courtesy: Google Images

Inspirational Life Story True - Kalpana Chawla

2006-04-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

"Do something because you really want to do it. If you're doing it just for the goal, and don't enjoy the path, then I think you're cheating yourself"--was the statement from Kalpana Chawla, which truly reflects her personality. Kalpana chawla has truly sowed the necessary inspiration in the minds of young Indians. Her life has motivated lot of youngsters in India, for she is the second Indian and the only Indian girl to have made it to the space. The first person being Rakesh Sharma. The Indian government has named the Metrological Satellites Series after her, as a mark of tribute to this role model. More importantly this inspiring star was inspired by none other than J.R.D TATA.

If you wish to know further about her career in NASA, please visit NASA.

Image Source : Google Images

Inspirational Life Story True - Walking the Road Less Travelled

2006-04-01T08:31:00.000-08:00

Gaurav and Sharath are two graduates to be presented here in this series of Inspirational Life stories. Probably they have a long journey to complete, yet this blog considers the step that these two have taken can be a lesson for lot of other youngsters in India to follow. These two graduates from the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) have decided to opt for unconventional career paths than the fat-pay packages, earning laurels from the institute chairman and chief mentor of Infosys N R Narayana Murthy and director Bakul Dholakia. While Gaurav Dagaonkar could well be the next Abhijit Sawant with his foot-tapping music, Sharath Babu aspires to build a food chain and employ about 50,000 people.

Hailing from Chennai, Sharath has risen from a modest background and managed to graduate from IIM-A this year and has already begun his own catering business in Ahmedabad. "I have faced innumerable challenges during the past 25 years. I remember how my mother Deepa Ramani cooked mid-day meals in a nearby school, earned Rs 30 a day and has managed to tend our family including two elder sisters and a younger brother,” said an emotional Sharath, while announcing his plans. Sharath said that he himself had sold 'idlis' on the streets to eke out a living. “I have already registered my company, Foodking Catering Services Private Limited, and I aspire to start a food-chain and employ about 50,000 people in about 10 years", he said. "I have approached few corporates and premier educational institutions in the city and the response so far has been good,” Sharath said adding that he was planning to supply quality food at reasonable prices mainly to the corporate sector and educational institutions.

However, for Mumbai-based Dagaonkar, music is the first love. Gaurav, who released the demo version of his album on Saturday, aspires to make a creative mix of his natural ability to sing and his managerial and entrepreneurial skills to carve out a place in the Indian music industry. "I have composed about ten songs and hope to come out with a full-fledged album in the next two months with the help of a music company,” said Gaurav. Gaurav, who was the cultural secretary of IIM-A, had formed a band 'Zaahir' with other musicians in Ahmedabad. He has also designed a music studio in his hostel at IIM-A, where he studied the technicalities of the music sequencing and arranging. Hearing about their plans, Narayana Murthy said, "I am happy and proud that they have opted to walk on a road less travelled.” He said India's booming economy provided ample opportunity to budding entrepreneurs to start their own ventures. "Youngsters from disadvantageous backgrounds like Sharath Babu have managed to overcome difficulties and start their own ventures,” he remarked. Patting Sharath, Narayana Murthy said, "In India a lot of children are not able to go to school because they do not have enough food to eat. So once you establish your food business, I will request you to donate a small part of your earnings to the mid-meal scheme being run in the nearby school.” He said the IIMs were doing a “wonderful job” in churning out management students skilled in different aspects like human resources, finances, sales and marketing, corporate strategy, technology and others. IIMs needed to expand in terms of the intake capacity of the students and needed to raise the salaries of the faculty so as to help the students get the best education in the world, he said. He also called for greater autonomy for IIMs. IIM-A director Dholakia also applauded both the students for “their risk-taking abilities” by opting for unconventional careers.
We wish both a great and successful journey.
Image source:Posterunlimited.com

Inspirational Life Story True - Rosa Parks

2006-03-30T20:41:00.000-08:00

Today's inspirational true life story showcases the life of a woman whose courage had changed the lives of so many Americans and people around the world. We are truly inspired by Rosa Parks, to whom courage was a key to success.

Rosa Parks began a movement that ended legal segregation in America, and made her an inspiration to freedom-loving people everywhere. She showed exemplary courage when she was arrested for violating a city ordinance. All she did was not to give her bus seat to a white passenger and was later arrested. Rosa Parks did not buckle up and rather she emerged stronger than ever before.

The Bus incident sowed the seeds to start up Montgomery Improvement Assocation. MIA was formed under the able guidance of then a young pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The association called for a boycott of the city-owned bus company, which lasted for 382 days and brought Mrs. Parks, Dr. King, and their cause to the attention of the world. A Supreme Court Decision struck down the Montgomery ordinance under which Mrs. Parks had been fined, and outlawed racial segregation on public transportation.

Rosa Parks later made significant contributions to the society. She founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development which educates teenagers about the history of the country and civil rights movement. She has won numerous accolade for her inspiring work.

She passed away in 2005 at the ripe age of 92.After her death, her casket was placed in the rotunda of the United States Capitol for two days. This was a huge honor considering that it was only reserved for the President of the United States and she becomes the first woman in the history of America to receive that honor.
Image source : Google Images & Hey-guess-what.com

Inspirational Life Story True - Meena Dhadha

2006-03-28T19:34:00.000-08:00

Ms Meena Dadha, Director, MUKTI is the one to be featured in the Inspirational True Life Story Series.

Meena Dadha is the founder of MUKTI which helps amputees, polio victims and those affected by cerebral palsy. The upper, lower limbs and calipers are donated to these affected people.
These artificial limbs are made using High Density Polyethylene (HDP).The most important aspect of this donation is that a beneficiary is welcome back any number of times to have their walking aids replaced or repaired.

Meena Dadha started this activity in 1986. Starting its office from a Garage, later it moved to its present office located in Meenambakkam. Today after two decades her noble service has helped reshape the future and life of approximately one and half lakh people. The number of people approximately benefited as of today stands at:

Lower Limbs - 99437 amputees
Upper Limbs - 559 amputees
Braces - 59678 polio victims

Today Meena Dadha doesnot restrict her services to Indians alone, rather victims from Srilanka & Bangladesh are also being offered free walking aids.
Most Importantly Meena Dadha doesnot just stop in providing these free walking aids, she goes a step further through her organization and provides career guidance. She encourages the physically challenged persons to set up small industries or service centres such as data processing, telephone booth operations and marketing consumer products. Guidance in getting help from various Agencies assisting the physically challenged persons with soft loans and other means of financial support, is imparted on a regular basis.

MUKTI, is located near the Meenambakkam Railway station and the Meenambakkam bus stop. It is just 5 Minutes from my house and i have always wanted to spread the message about the good work being done by this organization. If you wish to know further about their services and if you wish to contribute to this organization just visit Mukti India

Image Source: The Hindu.

Inspirational Life Story True - Foot Prints

2006-03-28T19:24:00.000-08:00

This story i am sharing here is a forward mail, that i have always kept in my mailbox. This story conveys lot of message. Who ever has an email id would have surely received this story, yet for those who haven't come across this story of "Foot Prints" i thought this blog would carry the message.

Last night I had a dream. I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonged to me, the other to the Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. “Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You’d walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”

The Lord replied, “My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of suffering, when you could see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

Inspirational Life Story True - Two Frogs

2006-03-26T04:21:00.000-08:00

This Inspirational Life Story may not be true or real, yet the lesson it teaches is good and worth following. i received the following story as a forward mail from one of my friend. I am not sure who the author of this story is, yet it is worth sharing, because good things can be and must be shared to the world.

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story teaches two lessons:

1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.

2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them.

Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of words... it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.
Source: accelerateu.org

Inspirational Life Story True - Vaishnavi & Vandana - Daringly Different

2006-03-23T23:59:00.000-08:00

Age is never a factor to achieve your desires. It is just the determination that matters! This inspirational story is of two young girls who did something daringly different, which has helped change the lives of lot many people. Hats off to them. To serve what you need is lot of conviction, and these two youngsters just stand as an example for the word "determination".
Vandana and Vaishnavi are the two young girls, if i remember correct from Ethiraj who provide shelter to the homeless women, who faced violence in the form of physical and sexual abuse. In these 13 years that has passed by, these girls have helped atleast 1500 women, rehabilitated 700 - 800 women and continue to do the good work. Inspite of all their initial struggles, yet Banyan has stabilized and its roots have grown deep in the minds of service minded community. One should understand that to run a home of this nature costs a few lakhs every month and definitely they make all their efforts to meet the costs. If you wish to know how they help, just click here
The Seed for Banyan:
Vandana Jayakumar was a MSW ( master's of social work) student in a Chennai college. Vaishnavi Jayakumar had moved to chennai from Kolkata. she was doing her schooling then. It was the college which gave her the opporunity to know Vandana, who was her senior by a year. Both these two had similar interests and as days passed by these two turned out to be good friends.

The day began as just like any other day for Vandana Gopikumar. Just infront of her college she came across a mentally ill homeless woman, who was scantily dressed, in a state of distress. since no one was helping this woman, vandana along with her principal and vaishnavi, admitted the woman to a home. After couple of weeks they came to know that the girl had run away from that home and the home did not seem to take any responsibility. This was the incident that started the thought in the minds of the daringly different duo to take up the responsibility in their own hands, in spite of their lack of experience.

The life of Vaishnavi & Vandana just showcases some important factors which can be truly inspirational for others to follow. Lack of experience, lack of funds, lack of knowledge are not true obstacles in implementing a real good idea that has true value.

At this moment i just wish to reaffirm the fact that i would always extend my support to Banyan in ways that can make a small difference in the lives of women they take care. If you wish to contribute in whatever way you wish, please visit The BANYAN, I EXIST THEREFORE I AM

Inspirational Life Story True - The 500 Rs Note

2006-03-22T08:17:00.000-08:00

Due to the insistance of my friend, i once attended a seminar organized by JapanLife, which was a MLM company.This story that i am sharing is no way related with MLM activities. Yet it gave an opportunity to learn one of the most important lessons of life and truly inspired me.

One of the speaker was explaining the benefits of the program and was also explaining the quality of the products that JapanLife was marketing. Suddenly, the speaker took the wallet from his pocket. Took a 500 Rs in his hand and showed it to the crowd. I was wondering what he was going to say and probably even the crowd was wondering similarly.

Then he asked a simple question that "Who would want this 500 Rs note"?
I was a bit hesitant, wondering what was the catch behind his question, because i was sure he was not going to give it anyway. Most of the hands were up. Some were even raising both their hands, showing their eagerness. He said he would give the note to one lucky winner and started to crumple the 500 Rs note.

I was wondering, has this this guy gone crazy? why is he crushing the note? What trick is he upto? All different kinds of questions were running in my mind.

Then, he asked again, "Who would want this 500 Rs note"? still every one were raising their hands.

Finally he gave the reason for his act:

"This is a very valuable lesson to remember. Inspite of me crumpling the 500 Rs. note every one wanted it just because, the value is not lost.

Similarly every one of us go through tough times, times where some one crush us, times when some one trash us and times when some one kick us.

All these things can happen. You might even think you are not worth a paisa, still the reality is that you never lose your value. Every one are special and every one should know that. All it requires is to unearth the value that is hidden in you. Remember it always".
Though i didnt join Japan Life, yet i felt that the couple of hours i spent there was worthy because this lesson that i learnt always stays in my mind.

image source : istockphoto.com

Random thoughts on contradiction

2006-03-22T06:45:00.000-08:00

I have always had this question in mind and I have always had an answer for it too.Yet I thought I would share it here in this wonderful forum for people to share their views.

Life is full of contradictions, which I feel is what makes life interesting.

Probably is that the reason why people are also full of contradictions? This thought about contradiction started from my school days when we started learning Thirukural, a two line Tamil poem, written by the great Thiruvalluvar. I have always been a great admirer and follower of Thirukural. That’s where the problem began regarding the contradiction. Thirukural deals with lots of aspects of life, of which friendship is one of my favorite. In one of the poems, he would advise you that if you have a bad friend you should leave him at any cost, while in another poem he would say once you have made friendship, no matter what kind your friend is, you should never leave him. Ok moving ahead, then this talk of being content is something that I have always been confronted with. I love being content and at the same time I have this burning desire inside me to keep creating or exploring new things. I love to take risks about new ventures and ideas. Try the impossible, go for it and you are sure to achieve it. Now if you are content, neither can you try nor explore. If you do not explore or try, new things do not happen. If you new things do not happen, the world would be just standstill. Would we have had this Blogging? But mind does know that if you are not content you need to face the difficulties in your journey. Then comes the branding too, if you are content in an organization, the organization would brand you stating that you are not competitive and you do not possess the skills to compete. If you try for newer opportunities and switch jobs, then you would be labeled you are not sincere to an organization.

About this concept of saving, till a decade back Indians were known for their saving habits. Then consumerism came in, now we are just aping America. We have also got the mindset where on the day of salary, we have huge bills readily to be cleared. In most cases it is the case of ECS, Electronic Clearance System, where automatic deduction of the amount to be paid happens through bank. Credit Card payments, personal loans, white goods EMI’s are the culprit for this habit. Here again, if people remain content, if people do not change their goods then the companies would be bleeding. Just taking the instance of TV’s and Mobile phones, these companies keep introducing changes quite often there by tempting the customers to make a change to their product. Else the companies would not be in a position to survive.

Fashion is another word that has come to play in the minds of people that puts pressure and a reason for change.

“Oh are you holding such an old mobile phone? Oh don’t you have a Flat screen television?” are some of the common questions that can be heard today? The thought process has definitely undergone a sea change. Some say it is for good but the only question is for whose good is this change? Is it for the people or the company? It just reinforces the fact that Good and Bad co-exists and what is good for one need to be good for the other. Feel free to share your views and opinions.

Image Source : Guru Software

Inspirational Life Story True - VShanta - Magsaysay Awardee

2006-03-20T07:51:00.000-08:00

Dr. V. Shanta, executive chair of Chennai’s Cancer Institute (WIA).

V. Shanta was born to an illustrious family and raised in a world of books, ideas, and high achievement. Resisting the conventional path for women, she studied medicine at Madras Medical College and came under the spell of Muthulakshmi Reddy, a social reformer and India’s first woman medical graduate. In 1954, under Dr. Reddy’s leadership, the Women’s Indian Association Cancer Relief Fund founded the Cancer Institute (WIA) in Madras, now Chennai. Drawn to Reddy’s vision, young Dr. Shanta spurned a more lucrative post to join the Institute. She has never left.

The fledgling institute had only twelve beds and two doctors—Shanta herself and Dr. S. Krishnamurthi, the founding director and Reddy’s son. As the Institute’s associate director, Shanta set up India’s first comprehensive pediatric cancer clinic, conducted the country’s first major cancer survey, and developed its first program for the early detection of cancer in rural areas. She became a passionate advocate of cancer prevention and opened a tobacco cessation clinic. And she conducted India’s first successful trials of combination therapy, leading to a dramatic breakthrough in the control and cure of oral cancer.

Simultaneously, Shanta conducted groundbreaking research on oral, cervical, and breast cancer and pediatric leukemia, publishing the results in international journals and establishing the Institute as India’s first Regional Cancer Research and Treatment Center in 1975. In 1984, the Institute added a postgraduate college where Shanta proceeded to train cancer specialists, more than 150 of whom now practice throughout the subcontinent.

As director from 1980, Shanta strove to make the Institute a world-class research center with institutional partners in Europe, North America, and Japan and state-of-the-art laboratory and imaging equipment. She worked tirelessly to raise donations, grants, and government subsidies and trained hundreds of village-health nurses to screen rural women for cervical abnormalities. In 2000, she opened India’s first hereditary cancer clinic.

Today, the Cancer Institute (WIA) comprises a 428-bed hospital and research center plus the Dr. Muthulakshmi College of Oncologic Sciences, with advanced specialties in medical, surgical, and radiation oncology. In an era when specialized medical care in India has become highly commercialized, Dr. Shanta strives to ensure that the Institute remains true to its ethos, "Service to all." Its services are free or subsidized for some 60 percent of its 100,000 annual patients; travel allowances make regular treatments accessible to the poor. And through a volunteer program called Sanctuary, the Institute provides hope-giving emotional support and counseling to patients and their families and to cancer-afflicted children. There are thousands who might say, as leukemia victim Delli Rao, a wageworker, has said, "I owe my life to Dr. Shanta."

Seventy-eight-year-old Shanta still sees patients, still performs surgery, and is still on call twenty-four hours a day. It disturbs her that it is so hard to raise funds for the Institute when, she says, "we seem to have enough money to construct pilgrim shelters and temples in almost every street of the city." Even so, she cautions young people against cynicism. Perhaps reflecting on her own life, she tells them: "Learn to accept that you are good and that from you a lot of good can happen."

In electing V. Shanta to receive the 2005 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service, the board of trustees recognizes her leadership of Chennai’s Cancer Institute (WIA) as a center of excellence and compassion for the study and treatment of cancer in India.

Inspirational Life Story True - Story of Ju

2006-03-18T01:33:00.000-08:00

“This is the first lesson to learn: be determined not to curse anything outside, not to lay the blame upon anyone outside, but stand up, lay the blame on yourself. You will find that is always true. Get hold of yourself” Says Swami Vivekananda. Here is a story, which reflects those words of Swami Vivekananda.

This is the story of Ju, one of the six children; where mother was diagnosed with post depression, father a wife abuser. She had to undergo physical abuse as a child. Hence Ju’s child hood was very terrible. It so happened that her parents divorced. In order to help her mother and the other kids she had to go to work at the tender age of 15.

Teen hood had its effect on her, like most other teens, she also fell in love at the age of 18, got married and had two kids by the age of 20. It was in those two years she came across the other side of her husband. He was a guy who had the addiction to drugs, who slept with other women, who drank too much and more importantly abused her to a great extent. The only solution she had was to divorce him. Her husband took their kids and handed to his friend. That friend demanded her money in exchange of the kids. Some how she managed to get the money, got her kids and left the kids with her mother and started looking at her career. Now her teen life was also spoilt.

She got a job and life was going on smoothly. She was able to take care of her family and she was able to send them money. She was providing them with the basic amenities needed for a family. When everything seemed to be going well, at the age of 28 she had a fire accident. She suffered 2^nd degree burns.

As she lost her self confidence and her self esteem went down, which led her to depression. She attempted to kill herself many times and failed. After a major surgery and lots of counseling and support from relatives and friends, she started her life all over again even with one partly deformed hand and fingers. It was tough finding a job and this increased her anxiety. She was managing her life in spite of all these adversities.

Again a big blow stuck her in the form of cervix cancer. During one of the medical diagnosis she was found to have cervix cancer. If there was any word in the dictionary for suffering, she faced everything in life which was driving her mad. Naturally she blamed her father, her mother and everyone for what brought her sufferings. Worst, she blamed herself.

Just because she didn’t want to undergo pains, she accepted for her treatments and chemotherapy. This was when she took the time to look within her. She thought that she might not live long enough so she decided to reconnect with her children. It was not easy especially with her son who had gone through his own childhood trauma.

She turned to her family for moral support and she turned to God. Now eight years later, she is still alive. Waking up and able to breathe for another day is a gift for her. She has two grandchildren whom she adores and that give her much joy. She takes some jobs every now and then when her health permits and rests when she needs it.

Her perception has changed. Her attitude has changed. She now asks “what is it she could do to get more out of what is left?” She has understood one major point about life that it does not play any favorites, for things happen and happen to every one. All of us have a story to share. She is not the single person to undergo pains. It is only the amount of pain that varies.

It is all about the ability on how he handle these situations that matters. We do not have to wait until a major catastrophe interrupts us to think of what we should do with our lives. It is we who instruct our brain what to do. It is left to us to either make it or break it. We are responsible for all our actions. We have the power to think what we want to think. It is left with you either to forget past hurts or to linger with them.

We can decide, plan and take action on what we want to have, do or be. At least when the universe intervenes, we know that we have done our best.

Image source : Absolutestockphoto.com

Secret of Success - Power of a Minute

2006-03-18T01:21:00.000-08:00

This Inspiring story narrated here is from Sherman Roger’s old book, FOREMAN: Leaders or Drivers? This story shows out how important the effective relationships are.

Also this story goes to show how effective managers know the importance of taking a moment to point out what a worker is doing well. But what a difference a minute of affirmation can make in any relationship!

When Rogers was in his college, he had a chance to spend one of his summers in Idaho logging camp. Roger had to take charge of the position of superintendent, when the superintendent had to take a few days off.

Rogers was very well aware that managing the logging camp would be tough. There were different kind of people and especially one by name Tony, an immigrant, was tough to handle. The reason was that he always used to growl and grumble all day.

So when he took up charge, he asked the superintendent what he should do if he had any problems with Tony.

"Fire them," the superintendent said. Then, as if reading Rogers' mind, he added, "I suppose you think you are going to fire Tony if you get the chance. I'd feel badly about that. I have been logging for 40 years. Tony is the most reliable worker I've ever had. I know he is a grouch and that he hates everybody and everything. But he comes in first and leaves last. There has not been an accident for eight years on the hill where he works."

Next day when Rogers took over, he met Tony and had a chat with him.
Rogers: “Tony, do you know I'm in charge here today?"
Tony grunted.
Rogers: "I was going to fire you the first time we tangled, but I want you to know I'm not," and also added that the superintendent had told him.

When he finished, Tony dropped the shovel ful of sand he had held and tears streamed down his face. "Why hadn’t he told me about it eight years ago?"

Tony worked started working harder than ever before.

Rogers went back to school after that summer. Twelve years later he met Tony again. He was superintendent for railroad construction for one of the largest logging companies in the West. Rogers asked him how he came to California and happened to have such success.

Tony replied, "If it not be for the one minute you talk to me back in Idaho, I kill some body someday. One minute, changed my whole life."

All it takes is just One minute. Have you got one minute to thank someone? Have you got a minute to tell someone what you sincerely like or appreciate about that person? A minute to elaborate on some thing he/she did well? One minute. It can make a difference for a lifetime.

Source : artelino.com

Secret of Success - Resilience

2006-03-18T00:50:00.000-08:00

The secret of success tips need not be learnt only from the successful people belonging to the upper strata, businessman and thought leaders. I have always wondered about these people at the lower strata. Today's Hindu gave an absolute answer to my doubts. Resilience, the secret of survival is the article that i am presenting here. It is a nice article which definitely gives a dose of inspiration.