Archives for July 2010

Inspirational Quotations by George Bernard Shaw (#334)

July 26, 2010 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

No man dares say so much of what he thinks as to appear to himself an extremist.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

To a mathematician the eleventh means only a single unit : to the bushman who cannot count further than his ten fingers it is an incalculable myriad.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

Those who understand evil pardon it : those who resent it destroy it.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

What a man believes may be ascertained, not from his creed, but from the assumptions on which he habitually acts.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

Moderation is never applauded for its own sake.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

Virtue consists, not in abstaining from vice, but in not desiring it.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

Man is the only animal which esteems itself rich in proportion to the number and voracity of its parasites.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

The difference between the shallowest routineer and the deepest thinker appears, to the latter, trifling ; to the former, infinite.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

The unconscious self is the real genius. Your breathing goes wrong the moment your conscious self meddles with it.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

Titles distinguish the mediocre, embarrass the superior, and are disgraced by the inferior.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

Greatness is the secular name for Divinity : both mean simply what lies beyond us.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

The best brought-up children are those who have seen their parents as they are. Hypocrisy is not the parent’s first duty.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

Imprisonment is as irrevocable as death.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

A learned man is an idler who kills time with study. Beware of his false knowledge : it is more dangerous than ignorance.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

The man with toothache thinks everyone happy whose teeth are sound. The poverty stricken man makes the same mistake about the rich man.
—George Bernard Shaw (Irish Playwright)

Inspirational Quotations #333

July 18, 2010 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.
—Frederick Douglass (American Abolitionist)

Freedom can never be reached by the weak. Throw away all weakness. Tell your body that it is strong, tell your mind that it is strong, and have unbounded faith and hope in yourself.
—Swami Vivekananda (Indian Hindu Mystic)

It is seldom indeed that one parts on good terms, because if one were on good terms one would not part.
—Marcel Proust (French Novelist)

For some moments in life there are no words.
—David Seltzer (American Screenwriter)

It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.
—Albert Einstein (German-born Theoretical Physicist)

Sooner or later you’ve heard all your best friends have to say. Then comes the tolerance of real love.
—Ned Rorem

The door to virtue is heavy and hard to push.
—Chinese Proverb

I am treating you as my friend, asking you to share my present minuses in the hope I can ask you to share my future pluses.
—Katherine Mansfield (New Zealand-born British Author)

One’s suffering disappears when one lets oneself go, when one yields – even to sadness.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery (French Novelist, Aviator)

Every experience, however bitter, has its lesson, and to focus one’s attention on the lesson helps one overcome the bitterness.
—Edward Howard Griggs

Inspirational Quotations #332

July 11, 2010 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Determined efforts are better than a miracle.
—Tonbo

The closest to perfection a person ever comes is when he fills out a job application form.
—Stan Randall (Canadian Businessperson)

It is the beautiful bird that gets caged.
—Chinese Proverb

Strength is Life, Weakness is Death.|Expansion is Life, Contraction is Death.|Love is Life, Hatred is Death.
—Swami Vivekananda (Indian Hindu Mystic)

The most decisive actions of our life—I mean those that are most likely to decide the whole course of our future—are, more often than not, unconsidered.
—Andre Gide (French Novelist)

Men are not punished for their sins, but by them.
—Elbert Hubbard (American Writer)

Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. … Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.
—Barack Obama (American Head of State)

Courage is sustained by calling up anew the vision of the goal.
—Antonin Sertillanges

Since we must all die sooner or later, let us enjoy life while we can.
—Otomo no Tabito

Virtue is an angel; but she is a blind one and must ask of knowledge to show her the pathway that leads to her goal. Mere knowledge, on the other hand, like a Swiss mercenary, is ready to combat either in the ranks of sin or under the banners of righteousness—ready to forge cannon balls or to print New Testaments, to navigate a corsair’s vessel or a missionary ship.
—Horace Mann (American Educator)

10 Smart Things You Can Do in 10 Minutes

July 8, 2010 By Nagesh Belludi 1 Comment

1. Clear the clutter

Disorder and clutter are the primary sources of the feeling of not being on “top of things.” Messy workspaces can quickly get out of hand and drag you down. Conquer clutter by processing each paper or object at your desk by asking, “Why is this here?” Consider throwing things away; ask, “What is the worst that could happen if I dispose of this?” Organize, simplify, and setup an environment that works for you.

2. Stretch at your desk or brisk walk

Interrupt your deskbound lifestyle by practicing a few exercises right at your desk, walking up a few flights by stairs, or brisk walking around your office block. Simple workouts can revive your energy, prevent afternoon slumps, help you think more clearly, and help control anxiety.

3. Get caught-up on your email and remain caught-up

Given the pervasiveness of email in our lives, regulating email, remaining responsive and productive about email are critical soft-skills for any knowledge worker. Empty your inbox everyday by using following productivity guru Merlin Mann’s ‘Process to Zero’ and ‘Inbox Zero’ techniques. Systematize your email habits by deleting, archiving, responding or delegating every email in your inbox.

4. Embark on a “10-Minute Dash” to conquer procrastination

Not finishing what you have started can be a source of stress and anxiety. Pick a task that you have been putting off, turn on your favorite music, sip your favorite beverage, and work on that task for just ten minutes without any interruption. You will probably find that the seemingly difficult task gets easier once you start working on it. This “10-minute dash” technique can build momentum, get you into the “flow,” and motivate you to work and complete the task.

5. Write a “thank-you” note

In today’s fast-paced world, it is easy to forget to repay kindness with gratitude. Thank-you notes not only help people feel appreciated for things they do to for you, but can also motivate them to do more for you in the future (this secondary reason should not be the key motivation for your attitude of gratitude.) When writing a thank-you note, mention what the other person did for you, how it was relevant, and how much you appreciate their help.

6. Tend to your network

Tending to your professional and social network is not as time-consuming as you might expect. Invest ten minutes each day to email or ring a friend or two, perhaps even to say a quick hello. Cultivate and maintain a strong network. Remember people’s birthdays and anniversaries and reach out to them on their special days. Avoid contacting people only when you need something from them.

7. Update your résumé or your list of achievements

Most professionals tend to procrastinate on keeping their résumés updated. Do not expect to pull your résumé together when you need one and expect it to work efficiently. Spend ten minutes updating your résumé by adding details from your latest projects and assignments. Try to review each section and question yourself, “Is this section relevant? Is there anything more worthwhile that I could replace this section with?” Keeping your résumé updated can reduce the anxiety of preparing an impressive résumé at short notice.

8. Walk the floor, talk to your customers, and seek their ideas

Companies and leaders who excel at customer service talk to customers on a regular basis and follow-up scrupulously. Simply walk the floor for ten minutes or pick-up the phone and talk to a customer or two. Ask customers how your product or service has been of value to them, seek to understand their needs, run your ideas past them, and incorporate their views to design/improve your product or service. Going the extra mile to reach out to a customer can have a big impact on customer loyalty.

9. Look for easy ways to simplify your life

Differentiate between activity and achievement. Rather than finding ways to squeeze more activities into your life, find ways to leave out some things. Focus on things that actually need to be done and eliminate anything that does not fit your immediate priorities. Ask for help, delegate, and lower your standards. Plan for the next day or the week ahead and prepare to-do lists to get things off your mind.

10. Take a break and chill out

When you feel overwhelmed, take ten minutes to rest, relax, and clear your mind. Meditate, listen to music, catch up on news or sports, play with your pet, take a short map, look out of the window, or do something else that can benefit you the most. Stepping out of the moment of busyness can lower your blood pressure, slow down your breathing and heart rate, and bring about psychological changes that can reduce the harmful effects of stress and worry.

Bonus: Put your own needs first

When you are overwhelmed with the demands on your time at work and at home, try to examine if you tend to succumb instinctively to the pressure and put others needs ahead of your own. While it is virtuous to be selfless and attend to the needs of others, devoting too much of your own time to others can become an impediment to your own happiness. Consider constructing boundaries on your time and try to think of at least one activity you can stop, or one task that you cancel at once. Do not become a victim of your own generosity. Taking care of your own needs first is not about being selfish; it is rather about being fair to yourself. Exercise your right to protect your own time and interests.

Inspiration from the 14th Dalai Lama (#331)

July 6, 2010 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Today, we celebrate the birthday of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. Born on 6 July 1935, His Holiness is the secular leader of the Tibetan people and the leader of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. He lives in exile in Dharamsala, India, ever since the Chinese occupied Tibet in 1959. As one of the most respected men of our times, the Dalai Lama is a champion of the basic human values of compassion, love, altruism, and nonviolence.

His Holiness is the 1989 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize “for his consistent resistance to the use of violence in his people’s struggle to regain their liberty” and “in part a tribute to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi.”

Here is the Dalai Lama’s favorite prayer for your consideration. This is a verse from a translation of “Bodhicaryavatara” by Shantideva, an Indian Buddhist scholar from the 8th century.

For as long as space endures
And as long as sentient beings remain
May I too abide
To dispell the miseries of the world.

“My religion is kindness”

Because we all share this small planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. That is not just a dream, but a necessity.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader)

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader)

I believe all suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of inner peace and contentment, which in turn must be achieved through the cultivation of altruism, of love and compassion and elimination of ignorance, selfishness and greed.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader)

Reason well from the beginning and then there will never be any need to look back with confusion and doubt.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader)

From the moment of birth every human being wants happiness and freedom and wants to avoid suffering. In this we are all the same; and the more we care for the happiness of others the greater our own sense of each other becomes.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader)

Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader)

All major religions, when understood properly, have the same potential for good.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader)

Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader)

Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader)

Any Crisis Calls for Constant, Candid Communication

July 3, 2010 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

As the current crises at Toyota and BP highlight, how you respond to a problem or crisis is the ultimate test of your leadership character. Knowing how to step up your communications efforts to the right levels during disorder can be a powerful tool in managing a crisis. Here are seven key lessons for communicating during crises.

Be visible. Communicate and lead from the front. In a crisis, your key constituencies (your board, management, team, government, or the public) insist on hearing from the leader. Stay engaged and maintain consistency of purpose and action. Keep all the lines of communication open.
Communicate in real-time and explain your position. If you do not communicate frequently with your key constituents, somebody else will. In the absence of information, people will develop their own perceptions of the problem and its implications. Keeping your constituencies well informed diffuses many suspicions and uncertainties.
Be transparent and forthright right from the beginning. Face the realities of the problem and its potential consequences. Acknowledge what you know about the problem or crisis and go into detail about what steps you are taking in response. Proactive communication is reassuring and prevents perceptions of negligence and evasion from becoming realities.
Research thoroughly the challenges you face and your options for remedial actions. Be prepared to describe everything that matters at each moment. Carefully administer your communication plan with due consideration to possible litigations and penalties.
Be objective and calm. Avoid engaging in finger pointing and playing pass-the-parcel. Avoid criticizing and discrediting the victims or critics. Continuously verbalize empathy and responsibility, and announce plans for early resolutions and restitution.
Remember that your attitude sets the tone for the rest of your organization. If you take a defensive position, play victim or engage in finger pointing, the rest of your organization will react the same way. Through your communications, set a positive tone to build confidence within your organization and promote constructive responses.
As soon as the crisis dissolves, research and communicate opportunities to make fundamental changes to improve your organization. Reiterate your core values and missions. Revamp internal practices as necessary and follow through on all initiatives to rebuild your credibility. Consider organizational changes and new processes for managing future crises.