Right Attitudes

Ideas for Impact

Nagesh Belludi

Inspirational Quotations #197

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We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.
—Friedrich Koenig (German Inventor)

Far away, there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations; I may not reach them but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.
—Louisa May Alcott (American Novelist)

Everything in the world may be endured, except continual prosperity.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Poet)

The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants them to do, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.
—Theodore Roosevelt (American Head of State)

There is a world out there waiting for me—and I intend to conquer it.
—Unknown

Yesterday is past—we cannot change it. Tomorrow is the future—it is unknown. But today is a gift—that’s why it is called the present.
—Unknown

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.
—Louisa May Alcott (American Novelist)

Fear is something to be moved through, not something to be turned from.
—Peter McWilliams (American Author)

The first duty of a revolutionary is to get away with it.
—Abbie Hoffman

All our tomorrows depend on today.
—Anonymous

Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.
—Benjamin Franklin (American Political leader)

Inspirational Quotations #196

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I don’t care how much you know until I know how much you care.
—Unknown

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.
—Mother Teresa (Albanian Catholic Humanitarian)

A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.
—Maya Angelou (American Poet)

It is not enough to fight. It is the spirit which we bring to the fight that decides the issue. It is morale that wins the victory.
—George Marshall (American Military Leader)

Anger is the most impotent of passions.—It affects nothing it goes about, and hurts the one who is possessed by it more than the one against whom it is directed.
—Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon

Dharma means the natural state or condition of beings and things, what sustains, the law of their being, what is right for them to be, the very stuff of their being.
—S. N. Tandon

Oh, the comfort—the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person—having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.
—Dinah Craik (English Novelist)

A bird does not sing because he has an answer. He sings because he has a song.
—Joan Walsh Anglund

The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one’s work seriously and taking one’s self seriously. The first is imperative and the second is disastrous.
—Margot Fonteyn

Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings.
—Jane Austen (English Novelist)

Establish Credibility for Persuasion

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‘Facts bridge the credibility gap.’

In “The McKinsey Way,” author Ethan M. Rasiel presents numerous insights to problem solving, analytical reasoning and effective communication practiced by consultants from McKinsey & Company, one of the foremost management-consulting firms.

When a typical associate joins McKinsey & Company, she “will have graduated near the top of her college class, spent two or three years working for a large company, then received her MBA from a top business school. She will be in her mid- to late-twenties. On her first engagement, she may have to present her analysis to the CEO of a Fortune 50 company, who will not give much credence to what some newly minted, 27-year-old MBA has to say—unless she has an overwhelming weight of facts to back her up. This is just as true for a junior executive presenting a proposal to his boss.

Call for Action

One of the primary facets of our work is to sell ideas—to lead and persuade an audience to appreciate our arguments or our perceptions on a certain topic or problem.

Credibility is the cornerstone of persuasive communication. Many of us mistakenly presume that credibility is an entitlement—a function of our positions or affiliations. We fail to realise that credibility is a virtue we earn and preserve over time.

Establishing Credibility with Research

The single most effective approach to establishing credibility is to demonstrate concrete foundations to our proposed thoughts—to draw on meaningful information and deduce concrete inferences in support of our positions.

  • Collect facts and data from reliable sources. Interpret data and demonstrate its relevance. Deduce and structure your arguments in a logical manner to lead people to draw conclusions you would like them to.
  • Include particulars (data, analyses, information) of your background work in an appendix to your presentation or report.
  • Consider your position from every angle and prepare to answer questions. Address counter-arguments in your communication: “Some of you may argue that… Let me assess the risk and suggest a contingency plan.”

Bear in mind that people trust a person’s thoughts so long as they trust the underlying research.

Wondering what to read next?

  1. Here’s a Tactic to Sell Change: As a Natural Progression
  2. Persuade Others to See Things Your Way: Use Aristotle’s Ethos, Logos, Pathos, and Timing
  3. Facts Alone Can’t Sell: Lessons from the Intel Pentium Integer Bug Disaster
  4. Don’t Say “Yes” When You Really Want to Say “No”
  5. Nice Ways to Say ‘No’

Inspirational Quotations #195

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Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.
—Moshe Arens

Accountability starts with yourself. “I am responsible.”
—Rudy Giuliani (American Politician)

Every human mind is a great slumbering power until awakened by a keen desire and by definite resolution to do.
—Edgar V. Roberts

There’s no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love. There is only a scarcity of resolve to make it happen.
—Wayne Dyer (American Motivational Writer)

When a man begins to understand himself he begins to live. When he begins to live he begins to understand his fellow men.
—Noruin G. McGranahan

Doubt is the vestibule which all must pass before they can enter the temple of wisdom.—When we are in doubt and puzzle out the truth by our own exertions, we have gained something that will stay by us and will serve us again.—But if to avoid the trouble of the search we avail ourselves of the superior information of a friend, such knowledge will not remain with us; we have not bought, but borrowed it.
—Charles Caleb Colton (English Angelic Priest)

Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who’ll never find out.
—Frank A. Clark

No matter what I do, someone is going to hate me for it, so I might as well do it anyways.
—Unknown

One who fears failure limits his activities. Failure is only the opportunity more intelligently to begin again.
—Henry Ford (American Businessperson)

In spite of all wanderings, happiness is always found within a narrow compass and among objects which lie within our immediate reach.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (English Poet)

We can only learn to love by loving.
—Iris Murdoch (English Novelist)

Let a man strive to purify his thoughts. What a man thinketh, that is he; this is the eternal mystery. Dwelling within himself with thoughts serene, he will obtain imperishable happiness. Man becomes that of which he thinks.
—The Upanishads

Inspirational Quotations #194

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Be brave. Even if you’re not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.
—Unknown

There is nothing so comfortable as money, but nothing so defiling if it be come by unworthily; nothing so comfortable, but nothing so noxious if the mind be allowed to dwell upon it constantly. If a man have enough, let him spend it freely. If he wants it, let him earn it honestly.
—Anonymous

Pain is inevitable but suffering is your own decision.
—M. Kathleen Casey

Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.
—Babe Ruth (American Sportsperson)

When you judge others, you are revealing your own fears and prejudices.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (American Author)

Talent is that which is in a man’s power; genius is that in whose power a man is.
—James Russell Lowell (American Poet)

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into.
—Henry Ward Beecher (American Protestant Clergyman)

Live, love, laugh.
—Anonymous

Joy increases as you give it, and diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself. In giving it, you will accumulate a deposit of joy greater than you ever believed possible.
—Norman Vincent Peale (American Clergyman, Self-Help Author)

The key is not to prioritize your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. Do the important things first – because where you are headed is more important than how fast you are going.
—Stephen Covey (American Management Consultant)

What comes first, the compass or the clock? Before one can truly manage time (the clock), it is important to know where you are going, what your priorities and goals are, in which direction you are headed (the compass). Where you are headed is more important than how fast you are going. Rather than always focusing on what’s urgent, learn to focus on what is really important.
—Unknown

Etiquette: Protocol of Introducing People

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The purpose of introducing people is to give them an opportunity to know each other. Beyond just stating names of the two parties, the person making the introduction is often obligated to establish an acquaintance and help the two parties initiate a conversation.

The Art of Making Introductions: Four Steps

The basic protocol of introductions calls for introducing the ‘lesser-ranking’ (socially, professionally, by age or seniority) to the ‘higher-ranking’ person. Here are four steps:

  1. First, state the name of the person being introduced to. This is the ‘higher-ranking’ person.
  2. Second, say “I would like to introduce” or, “please meet” or, “this is,” etc.
  3. Third, state the name of the person being introduced. This is the ‘lower-ranking’ person.
  4. Finally, offer some details about each, as appropriate. As I wrote in a previous article, add a snippet of information about a topic of common interest between the two parties. Do not elaborate. This will help them connect and pursue a conversation.

The foremost principle of etiquette for making introductions lies in understanding reverence and respect. Here are some guidelines.

Higher Ranking Person Lower Ranking Person Example: Introduce lower-ranking person to higher-ranking person
An older person A younger person “Grandma, this is my neighbour, John”
A senior professional A junior professional “Mrs. President, this is Mr. Analyst”
A customer A team of employees “Mr. Customer, this is my sales team”
A guest A host “Ms. New Yorker, this is my daughter, Sarah”
A guest from out-of-town A local guest “Mr. Australian, this is my neighbour Janet”
Peer from another company Peer from your company “Mr. IBMer, this is Ms. Edwards”

When introducing people of equal seniority or status, you may introduce either person to the other.

Making Introductions: A Few Examples

  • Introduce a younger person to an older person. “Grandma, please meet Alicia and Carlos, my neighbors.”
  • Introduce a relatively junior professional to a senior professional. “Ms. Director, I would like to introduce Mr. Nakamura, the Chief Product Architect for our software division.”
  • Introduce an employee to a customer. “Mr. Sung, I would like to introduce our plastics engineering team. This is Mark Smith, Jessica Ramos and Liang Zhu. All three participated in last week’s teleconference regarding product definition.”
  • Introduce a host to a guest. “Elaine, I don’t think you have met my daughter, Anna. Anna arranged for all the food at this festival party. Anna, Elaine is my Project Manager.”
  • Introduce a local guest to a guest from out-of-town. “Charlie, this is Debbie. Debbie is my colleague from work. Debbie, Charlie is visiting me from New York. We shared an apartment when we were at Columbia together.”
  • Introduce a peer from your company to a peer from another organization. “Melissa, I would like you to meet Steve, our Systems Engineer. Steve, Melissa Hoffmann is from Marketing. She is our Account Manager for Wal-Mart.”

Gender Distinction

Customarily, a number of people introduce a man to a woman out of respect, regardless of the guidelines presented above.

When introducing a man and a woman at work, consider their positions and seniorities alone. Outside of work, it may be more appropriate to introduce a man to a woman, in contradiction to the above guidelines. Be judicious and sensitive.

Concluding Thoughts

Many people have difficulty introducing people to one another and helping initiate a conversation. With some practice and a sense of social and/or professional ranking, you too can master the art of introduction.

Wondering what to read next?

  1. Flattery Will Get You Nowhere
  2. Nobody Wants Your Unsolicited Advice
  3. Silence Speaks Louder in Conversations
  4. How to … Deal with Feelings of Social Awkwardness
  5. The Pickleball Predicament: If The CEO Wants a Match, Don’t Let It Be a Mismatch

An Essential Secret of Great Speakers: Pauses in Talking

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Seven Steps to Better Presentations

Jeffrey Veen of Adaptive Path, and now, Google, lists seven steps for better presentations here. Here is a summary.

  1. Tell stories
  2. Show picture and use good metaphors
  3. Don’t apologize for something out of order or for a mistake.
  4. Start strong
  5. End strong too
  6. Stand away from the podium and out from behind the presenter table
  7. Pause while speaking

Pausing While Speaking

Often, speakers and presenters talk quickly—sometimes to an extent that the audience cannot clearly understand the speakers’ words. Perhaps these speakers are nervous. Or, they may be excited about their speeches and hence, are in a rush to express their ideas.

An effective speaker uses lots of pauses in speeches. By pausing after important segments along a speech, a speaker can gather his/her thoughts. And, the audience gets a chance to absorb the contents of the speech.

On the other hand, some speakers tend to be slow, especially if they are contemplative. These speakers quickly lose the attention of the audience.

How to Improve Pausing in Speaking

  1. While listening to radio or watching television, observe the speeches of newsreaders, stand-up comedians, broadcasters or background-narrators. Observe how they pause along their talking.
  2. Choose a few newspaper- or magazine-articles and read them out aloud as you would in a speech. At each punctuation mark—a comma, period, semicolon, etc., —pause before you proceed to the next phrase or sentence. Record your speech on a tape-recorder or on your computer (use Audacity software, a freeware) and review.
  3. As you prepare for an important presentation or speech, write down the entire text of your speech with plenty of punctuations. Practice your speech, record and review.

Concluding Thoughts

Audiences typically remember a very small portion of what they hear in speeches and presentations. By using plenty of pauses and pacing yourself, you can improve your ability to articulate and help your audience appreciate your thoughts.

Wondering what to read next?

  1. Presentation Skills #4: On Handouts
  2. Never Give a Boring Presentation Again
  3. Avoid the Lectern in Presentations
  4. Jargon Has Its Place in Business Communication
  5. A Little-Known Public-Speaking Tip

Inspirational Quotations #193

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Only necessity understood, and bondage to the highest is identical with true freedom.
—William James (American Philosopher)

What love we’ve given, we’ll have forever. What love we fail to give, will be lost for all eternity.
—Leo Buscaglia (American Motivational Speaker)

It takes as much time to wish as to plan.
—Unknown

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
—Mark Twain (American Humorist)

True wisdom is less presuming than folly. The wise man doubteth often, and changeth his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubteth not; he knoweth all things but his own ignorance.
—Akhenaten (Egyptian Monarch)

We need to learn to set our course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship.
—Omar Bradley (American Military Leader)

I touch the future, I teach.
—Christa McAuliffe (American Teacher)

Laughter is the shock absorber that softens and minimizes the bumps of life.
—Anonymous

Either I will find a way, or I will make one.
—Philip Sidney (English Soldier, Poet, Courtier)

You Have a Pile of Reading Material at Your Desk?

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In this ‘information overload’ era, you confront a sizeable quantity of reading material everyday: books, magazines, newspapers, memos, reports, and so forth. You are incessantly pressed for time. Consequently, you probably have a stack of reading material accumulating at a corner of your desk.

Here are four habits to help manage your reading material.

Preview

  • Preview memos, magazine- and newsletter-articles. Scrutinize the table of contents, and for each article that may seem interesting, scan through section-headings, introductory and concluding paragraphs, illustrations and keywords in boldface or italics. If you ought to read an article, tear-away or photocopy the relevant pages and add them to a ‘To Read’ folder.
  • Preview books before buying or borrowing a book. Check reviews on Amazon.com or other websites. Scan the jacket cover, table of contents and chapter headings. After obtaining the book, focus on reading only chapters and sections that are relevant to your interests.

Organize

  • Manage Reading Material - Organize Discard old reading material. If your reading material expands into a disorganized—and perhaps intimidating—pile, consider discarding the older articles, likely at the bottom of your pile. The content of these articles may no longer be relevant. In addition, you will probably never get to reading them.
  • Classify for priority. Assess the importance of every article and organize your reading material into two or three groups. This way, if your reading stack gets unmanageable, you may discard the least-important group.

Expand Comprehension

  • Read with purpose. Throughout your reading, ask yourself questions such as “What are the key details discussed here? How are these details relevant? What are the take-away ideas? What can I learn? How can I change?”
  • Read the first and last lines of each paragraph to help grasp the premise of the entire paragraph. Check the summary or highlights first.
  • Study tables, illustrations, graphics and charts carefully. Characteristically, these visual elements contain comprehensive information that may summarize entire sections of text.

Stay On Top

  • Carry your ‘To Read’ folder in your briefcase or bag so you can read while waiting for an appointment with your dentist or at an airport waiting to board your flight.
  • Set aside time for reading. Dedicate convenient times for reading activities and add these times to your calendar. Even brief periods of focused reading can be very productive.

Concluding Thoughts

In this fast-paced world, reading can be overwhelming. By prioritizing and adopting the above habits, you can make significant improvements to your ability to read more quickly and efficiently.

Wondering what to read next?

  1. How to Read the AP Stylebook
  2. How to Read Faster and Better
  3. How to … Read More Books
  4. How to Process that Pile of Books You Can’t Seem to Finish [+ 5 Other Reading Hacks]
  5. Rip and Read During Little Pockets of Time

Inspirational Quotations #192

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Love doesn’t make the world go ’round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
—Franklin P. Jones

The greatest secret of success in life is for a person to be ready when their opportunity comes.
—Benjamin Disraeli (British Head of State)

Whatever expensive toy you give your little child, they will always like the box better.
—Olive Redmond

Humor is laughing at what you haven’t got when you ought to have it.
—Langston Hughes (American Novelist)

There is no rule more invariable than that we are paid for our suspicions by finding what we suspect.
—Henry David Thoreau (American Philosopher)

When we don’t speak up about something through cowardice we must remember, silence is not always golden, sometimes it’s just plain yellow.
—Unknown

We are, each of us, angels with only one wing. And we can only fly embracing each other.
—Luciano de Crescenzo

The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.
—Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus

A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown.
—Denis Waitley (American Motivational Speaker)