Right Attitudes

What Jeeves Teaches About Passive Voice as a Tool of Tact

October 24, 2025 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

P. G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster tales are more than delightful escapades. They offer masterclasses in elegant interaction and psychological finesse. One standout feature is Jeeves’s knack for steering Bertie Wooster away from disaster without resorting to blunt rebuke.

Jeeves never calls Bertie foolish. Instead, he refers to the latest tangle as a “rather complex imbroglio” or a “somewhat delicate situation.” These euphemisms allow Bertie to preserve his dignity while quietly grasping that he has stumbled again. Jeeves’s tact sustains trust, amplifies influence, and fosters a dynamic of gentle guidance over domination.

Central to this diplomacy is Jeeves’s expert use of passive voice. Rather than saying, “You’ve made a fool of yourself,” he offers, “There appears to have been a slight misunderstanding.” Shifting focus from the individual to the circumstance softens criticism. It diffuses blame, avoids defensiveness, and invites collaborative problem-solving—an ideal approach when harmony matters more than fault.

Passive voice offers distinct advantages in criticism. It cushions judgment, encourages reflection, and de-emphasizes the actor. By highlighting the event rather than the person, it makes feedback feel less accusatory and more constructive. This reduces tension and promotes respectful dialogue, especially in delicate or hierarchical relationships.

Yet diplomacy falters when passive voice is overused. “Mistakes were made” may sound politic, but it lacks clarity and direction. Vagueness erodes accountability.

Idea for Impact: Choosing between active and passive voice depends on intent. If tact is the aim, passive phrasing—handled as artfully as Jeeves handles a cravat—serves a distinct purpose. But when honesty and accountability take precedence, clarity matters more than softness. Language is not just what we say; it is how we say it. And in that, Jeeves stands as a model of refined expression.

The Singapore Girl: Myth, Marketing, and Manufactured Grace

October 22, 2025 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Grace in the Skies: The Icon of Singapore Airlines' Flight Attendants

Singapore Airlines (SIA) maintains a policy that forbids its flight attendants from using public transit while attired in the iconic sarong kebaya. The airline does not permit use of the MRT or buses while wearing this distinctive uniform—not due to fears of flash mobs or schedule disruptions, but because it understands a truth about prestige that many other institutions overlook: luxury, if it is to be believed, must never fraternize with the ordinary.

SIA reserves its cabin crew for premium environments only. Thoughtfully appointed airport settings, sleek aircraft, and exclusively chauffeured transport compose the backdrop against which these ambassadors operate. While competitors vie for attention with over-the-top safety videos and celebrity endorsements, Singapore Airlines recognizes that luxury lies as much in perception as it does in service.

For decades, the carrier has cultivated its reputation through a philosophy that transcends superficial marketing. The airline’s symbolic emissary, the Singapore Girl—part brand ambassador, part mythological figure—has become a timeless icon of grace and attentiveness. She represents the airline’s commitment to a cultivated ideal. She does more than serve; she embodies Singapore’s national pursuit of understated sophistication and Asian grace, an ethos perfectly captured by the hallmark tagline ‘A Great Way to Fly.’

Even the smallest service gestures reflect this ethos. Coffee cup handles are placed precisely at 3 o’clock for right-handed passengers. A simple glass of water in economy class is not merely handed over, but presented on a tray. Refinement is upheld even at 39,000 feet—a testament to the notion that elegance hinges as much on perception as on reality. And perception, when shaped with surgical precision, becomes power in marketing.

Idea for Impact: Success demands not only the delivery of excellence, but the relentless crafting of the narrative that defines it.

What the Mahabharata Teaches About Seeing by Refusing to See

October 20, 2025 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Arjuna's Lesson in Focus from the Mahabharata Teaches About Seeing by Refusing to See The Mahābhārata, one of India’s most revered epics, intertwines themes of honor, duty, and destiny. Among its luminous tales is a striking lesson in pruned focus: young Arjuna’s test. Droṇācārya—the guru of warfare to both the Pāṇḍava and Kaurava princes, cousin clans bound by fate—devised a challenge to assess their discipline. He placed a wooden bird atop a tree and summoned each prince to aim at its eye. Before allowing the shot, he asked, “What do you see?”

Yudhiṣṭhira, the eldest of the cousins, stepped forward. Thoughtful and observant, he listed everything—the tree, the sky, the bird, even Droṇācārya. Though sincere, his scattered focus did not please the master. One by one, the other princes followed with similarly diffuse answers and were quietly dismissed.

Then came Arjuna. Calm and composed, he raised his bow, gaze locked onto the mark.”I see only the bird’s eye,” he said. Droṇācārya pressed, “Not the tree or branch?” Arjuna held firm.”Nothing else, Guru.” With reverent approval, the master allowed him to shoot. The arrow flew straight and true, striking the eye. That was the hallmark of the legend in the making. Arjuna’s clarity and devotion would shine as a beacon of mastery.

But the tale transcends its setting. It is not merely about talent—it celebrates radical focus. Arjuna’s greatness arose not from divine gifts but from subtraction: pruning distraction, discarding context, meeting the moment with terrifying purpose. His power lay in what he refused to see.

What Arjuna models is not just athletic elegance but cognitive courage—the discipline to silence all competing signals. In today’s age of constant distraction, such mastery feels almost mythical.

Idea for Impact: The modern tragedy is our inability to be Arjuna—to filter out the noise of desire, worry, and superficial validation in pursuit of a single, well-defined aim. This, too, is the bedrock of a well-lived life. And yet, it is a practice too rarely embraced.

Inspirational Quotations #1124

October 19, 2025 By Nagesh Belludi

Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers and are famous preservers of youthful looks.
—Charles Dickens (English Novelist)

Parenthood remains the greatest single preserve of the amateur.
—Alvin Toffler (American Writer, Futurist)

A person can achieve everything by being simple and humble.
—The Vedas (Sacred Books of Hinduism)

We would rather have one man or woman working with us than three merely working for us.
—Frank Winfield Woolworth (American Retail Pioneer)

It may make a difference to all eternity whether we do right or wrong today.
—James Freeman Clarke (American Clergyman)

In many instances, marriage vows would be more accurate if the phrase were changed to ‘Until debt do us part’.
—Sam Ewing (American Writer)

The important thing is to concentrate upon what you can do—by yourself, upon your own initiative.
—Harry Browne (American Author, Economist)

The important thing to recognize is that it takes a team, and the team ought to get credit for the wins and the losses. Successes have many fathers, failures have none.
—Philip Caldwell (American Businessperson)

The weakness of ourselves and of our reason makes us see flaws in beauties by making us consider everything piece by piece.
—Johann Georg Hamann (German Philosopher)

Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden.
—Plato (Ancient Greek Philosopher)

Intelligence is not to make no mistakes, but quickly to see how to make them good.
—Bertolt Brecht (German Poet)

If human progress had been merely a matter of leadership we should be in Utopia today.
—Thomas Brackett Reed (American Politician)

Sometimes, Wrong Wins Right

October 17, 2025 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

The 'Beanz Meanz Heinz' Campaign for Heinz (1967)

Baked beans are an indispensable part of the British culinary landscape, enjoyed at any meal—from a hearty breakfast on toast or as part of a “full English,” to a simple and satisfying dinner.

Their journey into British kitchens began with an American import. In 1886, H.J. Heinz introduced baked beans as a luxurious delicacy at London’s renowned Fortnum & Mason, and by 1901, distribution had expanded across the United Kingdom.

Their rising popularity was underscored during World War II when the Ministry of Food classified Heinz Baked Beans as an “essential food” amid rationing, paving the way for them to evolve into a convenient, budget-friendly meal option in the post-war era.

By the 1960s, Heinz’s early expansion and sustained quality had secured a dominant position in the UK market, even as competitors tried to claim a bite of the popularity pie.

To further cement its foothold, Heinz embraced an innovative marketing strategy that would soon become legendary. In an inspired moment reportedly sparked over two pints at The Victoria pub in Mornington Crescent, London, advertising executive Maurice Drake of Young & Rubicam coined the now-iconic slogan “Beanz Meanz Heinz.”

This playful twist on standard grammar—choosing memorable quirkiness over strict correctness—captured the public’s imagination and turned the phrase into one of the UK’s most enduring advertising slogans. Its lasting impact was such that in 2004, Heinz refreshed its packaging to sport a simplified “Heinz Beanz.”

Idea for Impact: Dare to deviate. Sometimes, wrong wins right.

A Boss’s Presence Deserves Our Gratitude’s Might

October 15, 2025 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Why We Need Bosses: The Backbone of Workplace Success

Ever pause and ponder a while on the virtues that make a boss worthwhile?

The boss hands out assignments and waits for the deliverables.

The boss helps set the course.

The boss organizes your time for you.

The boss decides what’s urgent.

The boss steers you toward success with purpose.

The boss paves the path for growth and success.

The boss lends a hand in moments of doubt.

The boss keeps you going when you don’t feel like doing it.

The boss gives you cover when you goof up (“he told me to!.”)

The boss pays you even when the client doesn’t honor the invoice.

The boss takes the blame.

The boss creates deadlines and sticks with them.

The boss makes sure you show up in the morning.

The boss pays for the office supplies.

The boss gives you someone to complain about.

The boss is an easy scapegoat for your personal frustrations or workplace dissatisfactions.

The boss carves up the work and gives you just that piece you signed up to do.

The boss gives you a role model (sometimes one who exhibits behaviors or values to be avoided.)

The boss gives you the momentum you need to get through the stuff that takes perseverance.

Tomorrow (16-Oct) is ‘National Boss’s Day’ in the United States and many other countries. It’s a good time to recognize the many challenges and pressures bosses face.

Sure, not all bosses are perfect … but let’s take a moment to show some love to those bosses who lead with dedication and commitment.

Chance and the Currency of Preparedness: A Case Study on an Indonesian Handbag Entrepreneur, Sunny Kamengmau

October 13, 2025 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Luck Meets Readiness: Harnessing Chance with the Currency of Preparedness

Travelers are often captivated by the allure of handcrafted treasures they discover in remote corners of the world. This fascination frequently sparks a compelling entrepreneurial question: Could these artisanal goods be imported and sold abroad? That question—equal parts reverence and ambition—is often where vision begins. Yet the true challenge of bringing such ideas to life lies in finding the right local partner—someone deeply embedded in the artisan community and capable of navigating the complex processes of recruiting artisans, managing production, and ensuring quality control.

Prepared Minds and Fortunate Turns

This is the story of Sunny Kamengmau, an Indonesian entrepreneur whose boutique handbag brand, Robita, won the hearts of consumers in Japan. Originally from a small village on a far-flung island in the archipelago, Sunny moved to Bali in search of a livelihood. He worked various jobs—hotel gardener, security guard—and began learning English and Japanese to better connect with international visitors.

In 1995, serendipity arrived not as a revelation but as a conversation. A chance meeting with Japanese entrepreneur Nobuyuki Kakizaki at a hotel set the stage for an extraordinary journey. The two remained in contact, and three years later, they launched an initiative to create handmade leather bags for the Japanese market, where quiet beauty is deeply appreciated. That marked the birth of Robita.

Collaborating closely with local artisans, Sunny embraced traditional craftsmanship. Robita bags became known for their distinctive qualities: unstrained leather that preserved its natural character, rare embroidery and dyeing techniques, and hand-stitched textures that conveyed authenticity. These thoughtful details resonated with discerning Japanese consumers, who valued the brand’s understated elegance and rustic charm.

The Quiet Routes of Opportunity

The road to success was anything but smooth. Sunny faced financial hardships and endured the loss of his Japanese business partner. Still, his resilience bore fruit. Robita earned international acclaim and eventually opened a boutique in Bali. Despite its loyal following and notable achievements, the brand recently announced its closure—without a lengthy explanation. Just a quiet farewell.

Entrepreneurship is often associated with strategy and grit. But Robita’s story reveals a deeper truth: Success frequently depends as much on serendipity—timing, circumstances, and chance encounters—as it does on effort. Sunny didn’t manufacture his opportunity. He met it halfway, prepared to rise when it came. Preparedness doesn’t guarantee triumph, but it positions one to seize opportunity when it arrives.

Idea for Impact: Hard work doesn’t always pay off, but sometimes, it does—if luck chooses to lend a hand.

Inspirational Quotations #1123

October 12, 2025 By Nagesh Belludi

Time is short—your obligations are infinite.—Are your houses regulated, your children instructed, the afflicted relieved, the poor visited, the work of piety accomplished?
—Jean Baptiste Massillon (French Bishop)

Never trust a man who speaks well of everybody.
—John Churton Collins (British Literary Critic)

Better a thousand enemies outside the house than one inside.
—Arabic Proverb

Being a woman is a terribly difficult trade since it consists principally of dealings with men.
—Joseph Conrad (Polish-born British Novelist)

There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.
—Denis Waitley (American Motivational Speaker)

There is a canyon of difference between doing your best to glorify God and doing whatever it takes to glorify yourself. The quest for excellence is a mark of maturity. The quest for power is childish.
—Max Lucado (American Author, Minister)

Do not remove a fly from your friend’s forehead with a hatchet.
—Chinese Proverb

Fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something.
—Frederick W. Smith (American Entrepreneur)

It is best to do things systematically, since we are only humans, and disorder is our worst enemy.
—Hesiod (Greek Poet)

That charity which longs to publish itself, ceases to be charity.
—Ulrich von Hutten (German Humanist, Reformer)

Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time you compose a book your composition of yourself is at stake.
—E. L. Doctorow (American Novelist)

There is nothing to which men cling more tenaciously than the privileges of class.
—Leonard Woolf (British Political Theorist)

Should You Read a Philosophy Book or a Self-Help Book?

October 10, 2025 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Should You Read a Philosophy Book or a Self-Help Book? Self-help and philosophy both claim to enhance life, but they approach the task from opposite ends. Self-help assumes you know what you want—success, happiness, confidence—and hands you the tools to get there. Philosophy asks whether those goals are worth wanting in the first place.

Self-help offers strategies: affirmations, routines, lists. It treats discomfort like a bug to be patched. Philosophy treats it as a signal—something to examine, not suppress. Consider Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics: it doesn’t show you how to be happy, it interrogates what happiness even means. That shift from prescription to inquiry is the fault line.

Philosophy doesn’t sell quick wins. In fact, it doesn’t sell anything. It withholds answers and insists on better questions. That ambiguity frustrates, but it’s also what makes it enduring. Where self-help simplifies, philosophy destabilizes—often constructively.

Modern self-help is philosophy run through a blender: palatable, repeatable, stripped of nuance. It offers clarity at the cost of depth. While self-help patches the surface, philosophy digs through the foundation—often asking whether the building needed to be there in the first place.

If you want action, self-help delivers fast. If you want to probe your assumptions—slowly, painfully, fruitfully—philosophy waits. It may not give you a better life. But it will offer a clearer lens for judging what “better” even means.

Idea for Impact: Self-help flatters your instincts. Philosophy cross-examines them—sometimes into silence.

A Rule Followed Blindly Is a Principle Betrayed Quietly

October 8, 2025 By Nagesh Belludi Leave a Comment

Rules—like laws—exist to civilize chaos. In the service industry, they promise fairness and consistency—noble aims, until they ossify into dogma. When employees are reduced to rule-spouting mannequins, the result isn’t order but inertia. A workforce trained to obey rather than think will reliably deliver less than it could, while the system smugly applauds its own mediocrity.

Some rules deserve reverence. Call them red zone: safety, legality, ethics. These are nonnegotiable. But most rules aren’t red zone. They’re yellow. And yellow rules, when treated as sacred, become absurd. They’re guidelines, not commandments. They exist to be interpreted—not enforced with the zeal of a customs officer confiscating a banana.

Discretion isn’t anarchy. It demands boundaries—but also trust. Define what staff can spend, compromise, accommodate, decide, and deviate from. Give them the rationale behind the rule, not just the regulation. Teach them to think, not to flinch.

When Obedience Undermines Excellence: Ritz-Carlton's Empowerment Ethos in Action Consider the Ritz-Carlton. Every employee—from housekeeper to concierge—is authorized to spend up to $2,000 per guest, per incident, without managerial approval, to resolve a problem or elevate an experience. It sounds extravagant—and admittedly, most issues won’t come close to needing a four-figure remedy. But that’s not the point. The policy isn’t about the literal dollar amount. It’s about the psychological effect of front-loading trust. The generous limit signals deep belief in the employee’s judgment. It liberates staff to act decisively and without hesitation.

That kind of empowerment transforms service into ownership. It fuels morale, initiative, and personal investment in outcomes. For guests, it delivers not just swift resolutions—but memorable gestures. These are moments that forge lasting emotional loyalty. They’re not indulgences. Ritz sees them as smart calculations—acts of discretionary judgment with an eye toward the lifetime value of a loyal customer. Ritz-Carlton knows it can’t buy loyalty with rules, but it can earn it with discretion.

Idea for Impact: Good employees should be allowed to break good rules

Fear is the enemy of judgment. A workforce trained to avoid mistakes will never achieve excellence. The best service isn’t delivered by smiling bureaucrats. It’s delivered by people trusted to use their brains. A rule is only as good as the judgment behind its use.

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Prepared Minds and Fortunate Turns

The Quiet Routes of Opportunity

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Idea for Impact: Good employees should be allowed to break good rules

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