Well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a Rupee 500 note.
In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this Rupee 500 note?"
Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this note to one of you but first let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the note up.
He then asked, "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air.
"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?"
Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth Rupee 500/-.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.
You are special. Don't ever forget it! Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
'A Leader Should Know How to Manage Failure'
(Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam at Wharton India Economic forum , Philadelphia, March 22,2008)
Question: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?
Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India's "Rohini" satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources -- but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal.
By 1979 -- I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal. It was a big failure.
That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference -- where journalists from around the world were present -- was at 7:45 am at ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure -- he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization.
The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite -- and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, "You conduct the press conference today."
I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team. The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.
Question: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?
Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India's "Rohini" satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources -- but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal.
By 1979 -- I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal. It was a big failure.
That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference -- where journalists from around the world were present -- was at 7:45 am at ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure -- he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization.
The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite -- and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, "You conduct the press conference today."
I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team. The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.
Monday, September 15, 2008
War Of Economy
Economy has made countries to wage war against each other, the european and the american nations namely US UK Germany France Canada and many other nations as leaders of the world.
The fact is different, those nations are rich by making over utilization of resources in the Asian countries.
Scenario :
The deflated currency value and the availability of cheap abundant english speaking labor force has made those western nations to dominate the world.
Reversal :
The recent growth potentiality in the Asian countries has dragged the western world's economy to the record bottom.
The Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the 2 giant american housing leasehold agencies has incurred a loss crossing several billions. The housing crisis in UK is never-the-less same with its profits reaching new bottoms. The Lehman Brothers has incurred a record loss of 3.9 billion US dollars this quarter alone and has expected a further loss in the next quarter.
Retail, the major economy sector of UK is now facing a slump with soaring prices, bad economy condition and a bad weather conditions which has hit the UK's retail sector making Tesco to see a slight downturn in its sales, says British Retail Consortium.
The european and US economic downturn is still hazardous.
Few quick facts :
1.) US budget deficit has been hiked to 438 billion US dollars, reports Congressional Budget Office.
2.) Increased unemployment has become a tense for the politicians.
3.) UK's economy has seen a downfall of 0.2 %, with reduced exports.
4.) The German exports too have faced a fall by 1.7% in july itself.
Silver Lining :
As a contrast, the Asian and the African economies are in a positive rally.
A World Bank report has said that the Asian and the African economies are growing with new opportunities and will power.
These new opportunities are making the growing economies to be more strong by giving a stiff competition to the western world leaving them alone helpless someday in the near future.
Lets wait for such a beautiful day where India will be the world leader and a real superpower.
The fact is different, those nations are rich by making over utilization of resources in the Asian countries.
Scenario :
The deflated currency value and the availability of cheap abundant english speaking labor force has made those western nations to dominate the world.
Reversal :
The recent growth potentiality in the Asian countries has dragged the western world's economy to the record bottom.
The Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the 2 giant american housing leasehold agencies has incurred a loss crossing several billions. The housing crisis in UK is never-the-less same with its profits reaching new bottoms. The Lehman Brothers has incurred a record loss of 3.9 billion US dollars this quarter alone and has expected a further loss in the next quarter.
Retail, the major economy sector of UK is now facing a slump with soaring prices, bad economy condition and a bad weather conditions which has hit the UK's retail sector making Tesco to see a slight downturn in its sales, says British Retail Consortium.
The european and US economic downturn is still hazardous.
Few quick facts :
1.) US budget deficit has been hiked to 438 billion US dollars, reports Congressional Budget Office.
2.) Increased unemployment has become a tense for the politicians.
3.) UK's economy has seen a downfall of 0.2 %, with reduced exports.
4.) The German exports too have faced a fall by 1.7% in july itself.
Silver Lining :
As a contrast, the Asian and the African economies are in a positive rally.
A World Bank report has said that the Asian and the African economies are growing with new opportunities and will power.
These new opportunities are making the growing economies to be more strong by giving a stiff competition to the western world leaving them alone helpless someday in the near future.
Lets wait for such a beautiful day where India will be the world leader and a real superpower.
Successful boss
It was a deep dense forest with various animals,
There was a lion to the north of the forest which was a successful boss of the forest.
Situation 1 :
Once, it so happened; a fox was going to the nearby city which was located to the north of the forest, to get a new watch by exchanging his old damaged watch which cannot be repaired.
On the way the fox met the lion and told about the damaged watch to the lion
The lion took the watch from fox and went inside its den to get it repaired , the fox knew that the watch cannot be repaired and the lion's effort will be futile !!
After 10 minutes the lion came back with the watch which was repaired and was working properly !!
The fox was shocked and went back home with its old watch by thanking the lion
Situation 2:
The other day, the fox came to lion's den to watch the cricket match between india and pakistan and told the lion about its tv which is damaged and cannot be repaired and it plans to buy a new tv
The lion asked the fox to get the tv, and it went inside its den and came back by repairing the tv and to shock, the tv was working properly !!
The fox thanked the lion and went home with its repaired tv.
Interpretation :
The lion was honored as the best boss as it made the watch and the tv work but the fact is, the rabbits who were expert technicians employed by the lion who really made the watch and the tv work !!
Understanding :
The best manager is one who has best employees in his team.
There was a lion to the north of the forest which was a successful boss of the forest.
Situation 1 :
Once, it so happened; a fox was going to the nearby city which was located to the north of the forest, to get a new watch by exchanging his old damaged watch which cannot be repaired.
On the way the fox met the lion and told about the damaged watch to the lion
The lion took the watch from fox and went inside its den to get it repaired , the fox knew that the watch cannot be repaired and the lion's effort will be futile !!
After 10 minutes the lion came back with the watch which was repaired and was working properly !!
The fox was shocked and went back home with its old watch by thanking the lion
Situation 2:
The other day, the fox came to lion's den to watch the cricket match between india and pakistan and told the lion about its tv which is damaged and cannot be repaired and it plans to buy a new tv
The lion asked the fox to get the tv, and it went inside its den and came back by repairing the tv and to shock, the tv was working properly !!
The fox thanked the lion and went home with its repaired tv.
Interpretation :
The lion was honored as the best boss as it made the watch and the tv work but the fact is, the rabbits who were expert technicians employed by the lion who really made the watch and the tv work !!
Understanding :
The best manager is one who has best employees in his team.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Perspective on life
One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah," said the son.
"So, tell me, what you learned from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered:
"I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night...
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.
We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them."
The boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."
Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.
Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah," said the son.
"So, tell me, what you learned from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered:
"I saw that we have one dog and they had four.
We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night...
Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.
We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them."
The boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."
Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.
Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends
Final Judgement
The Judgement Day has come
The scientists are performing the most awaited LHC will be performed today at 12.30 pm
The time where the earth starts counting its last days !!
For more info also visit :
http://lhc.web.cern.ch/lhc/
We will be providing you with more information, photographs, videos, scientists opinions and many more
Keep visiting
www.m-haveyoursay.blogspot.com
On all latest news
HAVE YOUR SAY
The scientists are performing the most awaited LHC will be performed today at 12.30 pm
The time where the earth starts counting its last days !!
For more info also visit :
http://lhc.web.cern.ch/lhc/
We will be providing you with more information, photographs, videos, scientists opinions and many more
Keep visiting
www.m-haveyoursay.blogspot.com
On all latest news
HAVE YOUR SAY
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