Indra Nooyi's mantras for success

Source:-
http://specials.rediff.com/money/2008/sep/12sld1.htm

# You give a team of people a set of objectives and goals and get them all to buy into it, and they can move mountains

# Aim high and put your heart into it.

# What's important is trying to be the best and working to get there. And that's how you fulfil your potential.

# I'm putting my hand up and saying, 'Able body, ready to work. I can scrub floors to address big issues.

# Work for the right person. Work for a company that wants you to succeed. Don't play politics and just focus on the job at hand

# Take a stand. Be known for your courage and confidence.

# Success isn't money, prestige or power because net worth can never define self-worth. True success is being happy with yourself, is being fulfilled. And that comes from devoting your time, your life, to doing what you love the most.

# At the end of the day if I stand back and have regrets, it is never going to work. You just look forward and get on with life.

# What you know is more important than who you know because that's what gets you 'who you know.'

# Don't think of the difficult journey. Think, instead, of the wonderful destination.

# We are too attached to the known security of the past and too wary of the challenging promises of the future. This often leads to complacency or inertia.

# You've got to say, at every point in your life, if you were to drop dead, would your epitaph be something that you could be proud of? Is your legacy something that would linger long after you?

# If there is (a glass ceiling), remember it is made of glass and it can be easily broken. All you have to do is try.

# The best test is that I wake up every morning dying to come to work.

# My parents and my grandfather taught me that when you do a job, you got to do it better than everybody else. Simple. You cannot let anybody down.

# When you don't have a safety net, when you don't have money to buy clothes for interviews and you are going to a summer job in saris, all of a sudden life gives you a wakeup call and you realise that you have got to work extremely hard to make it happen for you.

# I grew up with a mother who said, 'I'll arrange a marriage for you at 18,' but she also said that we could achieve anything we put our minds to and encouraged us to dream of becoming prime minister or president. She made me learn Indian classical music because that's what good Indian girls did, but she also let me be in a rock band. 'You've got to be a good Indian woman first,' she said, 'but go ahead and dream.

# As a child in India, my mother would ask a simple but compelling question: 'What would you do to change the world?' Today, my answer would be that I want to lead a company that is a force for good in the world.

# The good news is that a company remains great when there is a strong competitor. If you have no competition, you will atrophy.

# We say someone is good company when we enjoy being with them. A good company creates that kind of enjoyment. In the process, it creates a strong sense of identity. People come together in pursuit of the same goals. A team is formed.

# Being a good business starts with being a good employer.

# Good candidates can pick and choose more between companies who make similar offers to them. The deciding factor is the kind of company that they want to work for. They are comfortable in societies with many cultures, they want to work flexibly. They are both more demanding and more in demand. They want success, but not at any price. They want to do some good in the world.

# Succession planning is critical. Our succession planning process is designed to identify the kinds of experiences our leaders need. Once identified, we put people in assignments that enable them to build those skill sets.

# If we do our work well, then I dream that all those extraordinary Indians residing all over the world will find their next generation back at home, in the amazing, abundant, talented land of India.

# Sometimes I think we (Indians) lack the zeal, the fire to renew ourselves and vigorously compete in the global arena.

# With almost 25 million university graduates, India's scientists, engineers and academicians rank among the best in the world. These are wonderful assets. But the world will never know unless we shout if from rooftops loudly, clearly, frequently, in a captivating way.

# To be successful in foreign countries, you got to walk a mile in the shoes of those people; while in Rome, do as the Romans do. You retain your Indianness, but you also have to adapt to what that country needs. If you remain too isolated, you will never be successful.

# India's greatest advantage is its people, so we have to invest in them.

# The toughest thing about transformation is letting your best friends and people you worked with for years leave and go off on their own.

# To attract the best people, we have got to create an environment where people can actually balance life.

# In every change agenda, there is always going to be a percentage of people -- like 10% or something -- that are not going to agree to the new agenda. They are the casualties of the change. If they have to go, they have to go.

# A good company offers employees a career, not just a job. To describe it as a career shows that we have an enduring interest in someone. They are not here today, gone tomorrow and thanks for what we could take from you.

# You should never wait until somebody is ready to say goodbye to tell them how much you value them.

# Today's is a war for talent. People don't come into the company and stay for reasons other than compensation.

# I'm a mother first, then a CEO, then a wife

# The fact is that if you are a woman and especially a person of colour woman, there are two strikes against you. Immigrant, person of colour, and woman, three strikes against you.

# Ever since I have been in the work life, I have always used a simple rule: Whatever I did, I had to produce an output that was so much better than what somebody else did. So I would work extra hard at it. More hours, yes. More sacrifices and trade-offs, yes. This is the only journey I know. I don't know what it is to have the cushy life and go home to watch the 6.00 news.

# There is an inherent issue of conflict, as the biological clock and the career clock are working at the same time.

# As a woman in a leadership position you can ensure: a) Equal pay for equal jobs done; b) Have a voice to represent women in your company; and c) Create an environment at work where there is flexibility.

# Women want to be mothers. This is the still point. But they are needed in the workforce in ever greater numbers.

# It is a difficult balance between entrepreneurial society and the needs of home.

# Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader.

# I have a five Cs model for leadership: competence (damn good at getting results); confidence to have the courage to make the tough calls; communication skills, to convey your vision and direction; compass pointed north to your true values; compassion -- empathy, not sympathy

# As a leader, I am tough on myself and I raise the standard for everybody; however, I am very caring because I want people to excel at what they are doing so that they can aspire to be me in the future.

# To be a CEO is a calling. You should not do it because it is a job. It is a calling and you have got to be involved in it with your head, heart and hands. Your heart has got to be in the job, you got to love what you do, it consumes you. And if you are not willing to get into the CEO job that way, there is no point getting into it.

# One of the most important things for a leader is to identify their own core competency. In my case, my core competency is my ability to be able to demystify any complicated problem. I continuously strive to enhance that core competency.

# A leader must have the courage and confidence to stand up and defend his/ her ideas.

# Effective communication is the key to success. Clarity and conciseness are critical for effective communication. I urge you to read speeches of great leaders like Abraham Lincoln or John F Kennedy to see how they were able inspire people.

# Consistency is an important aspect of leadership since it helps build trust in those that follow you.

# Let mentors find you. If you ask someone to be your mentor and they agree, then they probably aren't going to push you as hard as someone who is grooming you for the next level.

# Be honest in appraisals. If people aren't performing well, help them 'cross the bridge' and get where they need to go by examining why they aren't performing. Raise the bar as the boss.

# Coaches or mentors are very important. They could be anyone -- your husband, other family members or your boss. But you cannot pick them. They will pick you.

# Don't expect to be on the same promotional track as someone who works five days a week if you work three days a week. In less than ideal situations tough it out, try to change it and then leave even if it means not working for some time.

# The minute you've developed a new business model, it's extinct, because somebody is going to copy it.

# When I became the president, at 10 o'clock in the night I went home and said, 'Mom I have some very important news.' To which she said, 'Leave that important news, just go buy some milk'. To which I said, 'Raj is home. Why don't you ask him to buy the milk?' She said, 'He is tired.' Typical mother you know, can't disturb the son-in-law! I was very upset, but I went and bought the milk and banged it on the kitchen table in front of her and said, 'Tell me, why do I have to buy the milk and not somebody else?' She just looked at me -- and I will never forget it, it was a powerful lesson, and said -- 'Look, when you pull into the garage, leave the crown there. Don't walk in with it, because you are first a wife and a mother. And if the family needs milk, you go get the milk. That is your primary role in life. Everything else is what you acquired or what you got because I pray for four to five hours a day.' That is the only thing she tells me. She says, 'What did you accomplish? You sit in a meeting on a chair all the time, and I pray for 4-5 hours.'

# The power of private capitalism must serve the interests of society. Not the other way around.

# Companies today are bigger than many economies. We are little republics. We are engines of efficiency. If companies don't do (responsible) things, who is going to? Why not start making change now?

# No company can stand apart from the societies it does its business in.

# A good company makes products that responsibly nourish people and societies in some way -- physically or spiritually and often both at the same time.

# Profit is where a business' responsibility begins, not ends.

Keep the spark shining--Chetan Bhagat

Source:
http://www.outlookbusiness.com/inner.aspx?articleid=1934&subcatgid=485&editionid=999&catgid=72

Inaugural Speech by author Chetan Bhagat for the new batch at the Symbiosis BBA program 2008

Good Morning, everyone and thank you for giving me this chance to speak to you. This day is about you. You, who have come to this college, leaving the comfort of your homes (or in some cases discomfort), to become something in your life. I am sure you are excited. There are few days in human life when one is truly elated. The first day in college is one of them. When you were getting ready today, you felt a tingling in your stomach. What would the auditorium be like, what would the teachers be like, who are my new classmates - there is so much to be curious about. I call this excitement, the spark within you that makes you feel truly alive today. Today I am going to talk about keeping the spark shining. Or to put it another way, how to be happy most, if not all the time.

Where do these sparks start? I think we are born with them. My 3-year old twin boys have a million sparks. A little Spiderman toy can make them jump on the bed. They get thrills from creaky swings in the park. A story from daddy gets them excited. They do a daily countdown for birthday party – several months in advance – just for the day they will cut their own birthday cake.

I see students like you, and I still see some sparks. But when I see older people, the spark is difficult to find. That means as we age, the spark fades. People whose spark has faded too much are dull, dejected, aimless and bitter. Remember Kareena in the first half of Jab We Met vs the second half? That is what happens when the spark is lost. So how to save the spark?

Imagine the spark to be a lamp's flame. The first aspect is nurturing - to give your spark the fuel, continuously. The second is to guard against storms.

To nurture, always have goals. It is human nature to strive, improve and achieve full potential. In fact, that is success. It is what is possible for you. It isn't any external measure - a certain cost to company pay package, a particular car or house.

Most of us are from middle class families. To us, having material landmarks is success and rightly so. When you have grown up where money constraints force everyday choices, financial freedom is a big achievement.

But it isn't the purpose of life. If that was the case, Mr Ambani would not show up for work. Shah Rukh Khan would stay at home and not dance anymore. Steve Jobs won't be working hard to make a better iPhone, as he sold Pixar for billions of dollars already. Why do they do it? What makes them come to work everyday?

They do it because it makes them happy. They do it because it makes them feel alive. Just getting better from current levels feels good. If you study hard, you can improve your rank. If you make an effort to interact with people, you will do better in interviews. If you practice, your cricket will get better. You may also know that you cannot become Tendulkar, yet. But you can get to the next level. Striving for that next level is important.

Nature designed with a random set of genes and circumstances in which we were born. To be happy, we have to accept it and make the most of nature's design. Are you? Goals will help you do that.

I must add, don't just have career or academic goals. Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order.

There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.

You must have read some quotes - Life is a tough race, it is a marathon or whatever. No, from what I have seen so far, life is one of those races in nursery school. Where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same with life, where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die.

One last thing about nurturing the spark - don't take life seriously. One of my yoga teachers used to make students laugh during classes. One student asked him if these jokes would take away something from the yoga practice. The teacher said - don't be serious, be sincere. This quote has defined my work ever since. Whether its my writing, my job, my relationships or any of my goals. I get thousands of opinions on my writing everyday. There is heaps of praise, there is intense criticism. If I take it all seriously, how will I write? Or rather, how will I live? Life is not to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up? It's ok, bunk a few classes, goof up a few interviews, fall in love. We are people, not programmed devices.

I've told you three things - reasonable goals, balance and not taking it too seriously that will nurture the spark. However, there are four storms in life that will threaten to completely put out the flame. These must be guarded against. These are disappointment, frustration, unfairness and loneliness of purpose.

Disappointment will come when your effort does not give you the expected return. If things don't go as planned or if you face failure. Failure is extremely difficult to handle, but those that do come out stronger. What did this failure teach me? is the question you will need to ask. You will feel miserable. You will want to quit, like I wanted to when nine publishers rejected my first book. Some IITians kill themselves over low grades – how silly is that? But that is how much failure can hurt you.

But it's life. If challenges could always be overcome, they would cease to be a challenge. And remember - if you are failing at something, that means you are at your limit or potential. And that's where you want to be.

Disappointment's cousin is frustration, the second storm. Have you ever been frustrated? It happens when things are stuck. This is especially relevant in India. From traffic jams to getting that job you deserve, sometimes things take so long that you don't know if you chose the right goal. After books, I set the goal of writing for Bollywood, as I thought they needed writers. I am called extremely lucky, but it took me five years to get close to a release.

Frustration saps excitement, and turns your initial energy into something negative, making you a bitter person. How did I deal with it? A realistic assessment of the time involved – movies take a long time to make even though they are watched quickly, seeking a certain enjoyment in the process rather than the end result – at least I was learning how to write scripts , having a side plan – I had my third book to write and even something as simple as pleasurable distractions in your life - friends, food, travel can help you overcome it. Remember, nothing is to be taken seriously. Frustration is a sign somewhere, you took it too seriously.

Unfairness - this is hardest to deal with, but unfortunately that is how our country works. People with connections, rich dads, beautiful faces, pedigree find it easier to make it – not just in Bollywood, but everywhere. And sometimes it is just plain luck. There are so few opportunities in India, so many stars need to be aligned for you to make it happen. Merit and hard work is not always linked to achievement in the short term, but the long term correlation is high, and ultimately things do work out. But realize, there will be some people luckier than you.

In fact, to have an opportunity to go to college and understand this speech in English means you are pretty darn lucky by Indian standards. Let's be grateful for what we have and get the strength to accept what we don't. I have so much love from my readers that other writers cannot even imagine it. However, I don't get literary praise. It's ok. I don't look like Aishwarya Rai, but I have two boys who I think are more beautiful than her. It's ok. Don't let unfairness kill your spark.

Finally, the last point that can kill your spark is isolation. As you grow older you will realize you are unique. When you are little, all kids want Ice cream and Spiderman. As you grow older to college, you still are a lot like your friends. But ten years later and you realize you are unique. What you want, what you believe in, what makes you feel, may be different from even the people closest to you. This can create conflict as your goals may not match with others. . And you may drop some of them. Basketball captains in college invariably stop playing basketball by the time they have their second child. They give up something that meant so much to them. They do it for their family. But in doing that, the spark dies. Never, ever make that compromise. Love yourself first, and then others.

There you go. I've told you the four thunderstorms - disappointment, frustration, unfairness and isolation. You cannot avoid them, as like the monsoon they will come into your life at regular intervals. You just need to keep the raincoat handy to not let the spark die.

I welcome you again to the most wonderful years of your life. If someone gave me the choice to go back in time, I will surely choose college. But I also hope that ten years later as well, you eyes will shine the same way as they do today. That you will Keep the Spark alive, not only through college, but through the next 2,500 weekends. And I hope not just you, but my whole country will keep that spark alive, as we really need it now more than any moment in history. And there is something cool about saying - I come from the land of a billion sparks.
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Chetan Bhagat is the author of two blockbuster novels - Five Point Someone (2004) and One Night @ the call center (2005) - that top bestseller lists to date since their release. In March 2008, the New York Times called him the “biggest selling English author in India’s history”. Both his books have inspired major Bollywood films. ‘The 3 Mistakes of My Life’ is his third novel.

After eleven years in Hong Kong, the author relocated to Mumbai in 2008, where he works in an investment bank. Apart from books, the author has a keen interest in screenplays and spirituality. Chetan is married to Anusha, his classmate from IIMA and has twin boys Ishaan and Shyam.

MIND SET GRADUATING FROM LIFE

What should be the ideal pursuit in life — pleasure, work, wealth or knowledge? None Just learn to do good, writes Jerry Boone


Source:-http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=CAP&login=default&Enter=true&Skin=TOI&GZ=T&AW=1217216346625

What should you do with rest of your life? About three thousand years ago, a Jewish king named Solomon aired his opinion on the subject. As he put it, he “wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives”.
Solomon was an interesting character, and he had a lot going for him. He was intelligent. Indeed, this sageking still has the reputation of being the “wisest man who ever lived”.
He also had the means to do practically anything he wanted to do. In his old age, Solomon found time to reflect on his lifelong experiences. And he passed his thoughts down in writing. He starts off by telling us that everything in life is meaningless.
“I know, because I have seen it all. You name it, I've done it. I not only did it, but I did it in a big time, kingly fashion. I denied myself nothing, nothing at all. But looking back on it now, I can tell you none of it amounted to a hill of beans.”
“What do you think is worthwhile in life? The pursuit of pleasure? I had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines. I had music from men and women singers; all the wine I could drink; and a palace full of people falling all over themselves doing everything they could think of to get in my good graces.
“Sure, it is enjoyable up to a point. But when you get everything you want whenever you want it, you quickly discover how meaningless pleasure really is.
“Here is what I've learned: Whenever you seek pleasure, pleasure eludes you. The only way you may find pleasure is by seeking something else first. It could be nothing more than paying someone a sincere compliment, or giving someone a hand with an unpleasant task.
“The idea is that when you least expect it, happiness suddenly bubbles up like a well inside of you. You don’t find pleasure; pleasure finds you. Pursuing pleasure is like chasing after the wind.
“If not pleasure, then what? Wealth? Do you think you should dedicate your life to the pursuit of wealth? I had houses, vineyards, gardens, parks, fruit trees, reservoirs watering groves of trees, slaves, more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem, horses and chariots, and more silver and gold than anyone can imagine. I had it all. But if money and things could buy happiness, then I would have been the happiest man that ever lived.
“But what did I discover? Just this: Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. A rich man doesn’t even sleep well at night. He’s too worried about his money.
“Money has its uses, but don't lose perspective. We were born naked, and when we die, we’re going to take with us just what we brought into this world. Whatever we acquire will be left to someone who had not worked for it.”
If neither pleasure nor wealth are worthwhile pursuits, how about the scholarly pursuit of knowledge?
“Oh yes, I spent a great deal of time in study. I learned everything I could about every subject under the sun. That’s how I got my reputation for wisdom. It didn’t fall out of a tree, you know. What did I find out? Only this: The more you learn, the more you discover there is to know. Even the brightest of us are ignorant of many things. Certainly, wisdom is better than foolishness, but remember, in a few years, both the wise man and the fool wind up in the grave. Before long both are forgotten.”
So, pleasure, wealth, and knowledge all have limited value. What’s left? Work? “Yes, I worked. I built houses, planted vineyards, gardens, parks, fruit trees, and groves of trees. I delighted in my work. That was my reward.
“Of course, it was merely a temporary ‘feel-good-about-it’ sort of thing. In the long run, all of our toil is useless. Whatever you make, you can’t take with you. And in due course, whatever we create will be torn down or destroyed and soon forgotten.”
So, the wise man threw a wet blanket over most of the things people devote themselves to today. Then what should we do? How should we spend our brief time on earth?
The answer is simple: “A man can do nothing better than to eat, drink and find satisfaction in work. Enjoy life with the one you love. Be happy and do good as long as you live. Whatever you do, do it with all the might because you never know when life might end.
“While we are young, enjoy life as much as possible. But don’t forget, God will judge everything we do. The years slip by quickly. Infants turn into youths, youths into adults, adults into middle age, and middle age into old age. It doesn’t take long at all.
“All too soon, the troubles and afflictions of age sap the strength and weaken the mind. Then death calls your number and body returns to the ground from where it came, and soul returns to God who gave it.”
Solomon concludes his advice with this warning: “God will bring every deed into judgment including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked.”
Has Solomon’s 3,000-year-old advice stood the test of time?
Some things have changed. Primarily, we have more gadgets these days than they had back in his time. But our basic choices remain the same. We can dedicate our lives to pleasure, money or possessions, or knowledge, or work. Then again when we reflect on the brevity of life, the certainty of death, and the promise of judgment, we might decide Solomon knew what he was talking about.
But what about God judging the good and wicked? The moral law certainly implies that God cares about us, what we do with our lives, and the choices we make. Also our longing for justice, often frustrated in this life, leads us to believe, we will get whatever we are due in the world to come.
By the end of the book, Solomon reaches a different conclusion: Life has a point after all. Our sojourn can best be described as a sort of boot camp or school of hard knocks. We are here to learn. Learn what? Learn that pleasures, money, possessions, knowledge, and work all have only limited value. None of these pursuits should be the focal point of our lives.
Our primary task is to develop character, that is, a certain type of character. Earth, we discover, is nothing more than a large training centre for character. Those who graduate have learned their lessons on: fair play, unselfishness, humility, courage, faithfulness, honesty, truthfulness, and treating others with respect.

Narayana Murthy's words of wisdom

Source:- http://specials.rediff.com/money/2008/jul/25sld1.htm

Way back in 1981, Nagavara Ramarao Narayana Murthy and six other young engineering graduates launched an information technology company from a garage in Mumbai.
Murthy had borrowed Rs 10,000 from his wife (Sudha) to launch Infosys Technologies. Infy, as it is popularly known, recently, reported a net profit of Rs 1,302 crore (Rs 13.02 billion) for the quarter ended June 2008.

For 21 years Murthy served as the company's chief executive officer, before he handed over the reins to co-founder Nandan M Nilekani in March 2002.
To know more about the man, his life's philosophy and his success mantra, read on...

"We were huddled together in a small room in Bombay (now Mumbai) in the hope of creating a brighter future for ourselves, for the Indian society, and perhaps, we dreamed, even for the world."

"Our value system was like the British Constitution - it was all unwritten but extremely well practiced...Our value system is the true strength of Infosys."

"Unless we can sell well we cannot do anything, such as create jobs, pay good salaries and satisfy investors. Right from the beginning we realised that we have to focus on selling better and better in the marketplace."

"Truth is God. Our success at Infosys depends on our continual learning."

"Entrepreneurship is about running a marathon, not a 100 metre dash."

"Capitalism and Marxism intend to better the lot of humanity. Consequently, responsible Capitalism that creates wealth and allows it to percolate down seems to be a better option."

"I am a 100% free marketeer but I call myself a compassionate capitalist. While I'm very conservative in economic matters I'm very liberal about social matters."

"If we have to make life better for these (rural) people and give them reasonable standards of living, disposable incomes, healthcare and nutrition and education, I personally believe we have to look at low-tech manufacturing to start with and then high-tech manufacturing in a big way just as China has done because most of these people are semi-literate or educated at a very basic level."

"I define globalisation as sourcing material from where it is cheapest, talent from where it best available, producing where it is most cost-effective, and selling where the markets are -- without being constrained by national boundaries."

"Entrepreneurship, resulting in large-scale job creation, (is) the only viable mechanism for eradicating poverty in societies."

"I believe that we have all at some time eaten the fruit from trees that we did not plant. In the fullness of time, when it is our turn to give, it behooves us in turn to plant gardens that we may never eat the fruit of, which will largely benefit generations to come. I believe this is our sacred responsibility, one that I hope you will shoulder in time."

"Our political leaders use mobile phones to tell journalists on the other side that they do not believe in technology! If we want our youngsters to progress, such hypocrisy must be stopped."

"Our intellectual arrogance has also not helped our society. I have traveled extensively, and in my experience, have not come across another society where people are as contemptuous of better societies as we are, with as little progress as we have achieved. Remember that arrogance breeds hypocrisy. No other society gloats so much about the past as we do, with as little current accomplishment."

"Apathy in solving community matters has held us back from making progress."

"As an Indian, I am proud to be part of a culture, which has deep-rooted family values. We have tremendous loyalty to the family. Unfortunately, our attitude towards family life is not reflected in our attitude towards community behavior."

"Corruption, as we see in India, is another example of putting the interest of oneself, and at best that of one's family, above that of the society. Society is relatively corruption free in the West."

"Dignity of labor is an integral part of the Western value system. In the West, each person is proud about his or her labor that raises honest sweat. On the other hand, in India, we tend to overlook the significance of those who are not in professional jobs."

"Irrespective of your position, in the West, you are held accountable for what you do. However, in India, the more 'important' you are, the less answerable you are."

"Recognition brings respect. Respect enhances power. Humility and grace in one's moments of power enhances (the) dignity of an organisation."

"Disagreeing is in the nature of things. When you bring a set of people who have respect for each others' competence in certain areas and you're transaction-oriented then it can work as it has in our case."

"Corporations have an important duty to contribute to society. No corporation can sustain its progress unless it makes a difference to its context. Nevertheless, these initiatives should come from the corporation itself rather than being foisted upon by outside parties."

"One should be trustworthy with all in one's dealings. It is on such foundations that great organisations are created."

"A value system is the protocol for behaviour that enhances the trust, confidence and commitment of members of the community."

"The most important attribute of a progressive society is respect for others who have accomplished more than they themselves have, and learn from them."

"In a country like India, when we have to make capitalism an attractive alternative to people, it is extremely important for us to show tremendous compassion to the less fortunate."

"Don't be cynical. Cynicism takes away enthusiasm and builds a negative mindset. Move from apathy to action. To finish first, you must first finish."

"Keep up the image of India by being the best quality citizens in society. The solution to most of our problems lie within us."

"Putting public good ahead of private good will lead to private good in the long run. Consequently, it is important to go from being good people to good citizens."

"It is less important, I believe, where you start. It is more important how and what you learn. If the quality of the learning is high, the development gradient is steep, and, given time, you can find yourself in a previously unattainable place."

"we are all mere temporary custodians of the wealth we generate, whether it be financial, intellectual, or emotional. The best use of all your wealth is to share it with those less fortunate."

"Build a climate of honesty, hard work and excellence. Build a social conscience and benchmark yourself with the best in the world. Be honest and true to the profession and act fearlessly."

"IT can help alleviate many of the problems that rural India faces. Health care, education, environment conservation can be comprehensively brought to the villages."

"Working long hours over the long term is harmful to the person and to the organisation."

"Mindset and imagination are more critical than other resources. Essentially, this translates to becoming a group of educated people."

"Beyond a certain level of comfort I think one's wealth should be seen as an opportunity to make a difference to society."

"Always seek the truth. Learn from the advances abroad. Think how you can support institutions that have helped you reach where you are - your school."

"Mahatma Gandhi epitomizes the qualities of leadership by example, simplicity and perseverance. In a knowledge company whose core competencies include human intellect and learning, leaders have to walk the talk."

"Things happen 24 hours a day. Allowing for little rest is not ultimately practical. So, take a nap. Things will happen while you're asleep, but you will have the energy to catch up when you wake."

"Love your job but never fall in love with your company."

"There's a saying in America that the reward for winning a pinball game is to get a chance to play the next one. In most situations, the pleasure comes from the journey, not the destination.

Is Managing Energy More Important than Managing Time?

Taken From http://www.slowleadership.org/blog/2008/05/is-managing-energy-more-important-than-managing-time/#more-576

Well-intentioned ideas like these are no match for the harshness of entrenched organizational and financial system

Most people try to cope with ever more demanding jobs and escalating targets by working longer hours. Sometimes it seems to be the only way, even if the impact on lives and relationships is almost wholly negative. But what if responding to workplace pressure in that way is dealing with the wrong issue — trying to manage and extend time, when what you need to be doing is managing your energy levels?

That’s the message of a paper in Harvard Business Review by Tony Schwartz and Catherine McCarthy, entitled “Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time” (subscription required).

This is a long and detailed article, together with a questionnaire to help you see if you are headed for energy problems. The premise, however is simple: time is a finite resource, whereas energy can be increased — and also used more effectively. When you’ve used up all the time you can get, you cannot find more. If your energy isn’t up to the demands you are placing on it, there are techniques that can assist you to make more available.

The authors write:

The core problem with working longer hours is that time is a finite resource. Energy is a different story. Defined in physics as the capacity to work, energy comes from four main wellsprings in human beings: the body, emotions, mind, and spirit. In each, energy can be systematically expanded and regularly renewed by establishing specific rituals—behaviors that are intentionally practiced and precisely scheduled, with the goal of making them unconscious and automatic as quickly as possible.

Time and energy go together

So far, so good. Yet time cannot quite be dismissed from the equation. However much energy you have, you still need the time to use it properly; that includes decision time to be able to set proper priorities, and uncluttered working time to use your energy to get things done.

Much of the problem of overwork is due to “thieves” of time — like attending pointless meetings, compiling useless figures and reports, and wasting time reading endless e-mails. Until you tackle these, you are throwing away both time and energy on activities of no importance. That’s why we continually suggest that slowing down makes results come faster: you make time to decide carefully how to allocate your time and energy; you don’t fritter them away by rushing to complete tasks that will gain you little or nothing.

A well-intentioned answer

Here’s how the authors of the HBR paper explain their solutions:

To effectively re-energize their workforces, organizations need to shift their emphasis from getting more out of people to investing more in them, so they are motivated—and able—to bring more of themselves to work every day. To recharge themselves, individuals need to recognize the costs of energy-depleting behaviors and then take responsibility for changing them, regardless of the circumstances they’re facing.

Again, so far, so good. But looking at the problem this way sees it as more about attitudes than systems, and that’s a mistake many well-intentioned people make. They assume organizations will recognize — and act on — their best long-term interests, which includes investing in their people. They assume individuals will do the same.

What this viewpoint misses is the impact of the systems within which both individuals and organizations operate.

Reality: Change needs new systems

So long as investors, represented by Wall Street, focus on short-term trading and gains from increasing share prices, organizations will have little incentive to take the long-term view. Investing in people costs money and produces little immediate pay-off. “Persuading” them to work longer hours for the same pay gives quick returns at no extra cost. In a world of grab-and-go executives and shareholders, quick returns are what count. You may not be invested in, or employed by, the organization by the time those long-term benefits arise. Then you will have given up profits today to enrich someone else in the future — not something Wall Street or top executives relish.

For individuals too, finding ways to invest greater energy in their workplace only makes sense if they assume that: (1) they will be around to reap the benefit; and (2) promotions, pay rises, and other rewards are given out strictly according to merit.

If they fear being “let go” to boost short-term profits — or make up for corporate errors — (as many do today), it makes more sense to devote energy to job search rather than their current role. And if they see promotions going to those who play the best game of office politics, regardless of merit, how will they trust the company to reward them fairly for their devotion?

Overwork and burnout are endemic in organizational life today because of the financial and organizational systems in common use. Until those systems are changed, no amount of well-intentioned coaching is going to make much difference to people’s experience of work.

Do you have low self-esteem sometimes?

Again copied from---http://dream-and-reality.blogspot.com/2007/07/do-you-have-low-self-esteem-sometimes.html

Today, I search the web using key word of self-esteem. I found that even some successful people like businessmen, lawyers and doctors have low self-esteem and suffer depression. Do you find yourself sometimes suffering from low self-esteem also?

• Characteristics of Genuinely Low Self Esteem (from online)
  1. Social withdrawal
  2. Anxiety and emotional turmoil
  3. Lack of social skills and self confidence. Depression and/or bouts of sadness
  4. Less social conformity
  5. Eating disorders
  6. Inability to accept compliments
  7. An Inability to see yourself 'squarely' - to be fair to yourself
  8. Accentuating the negative
  9. Exaggerated concern over what they imagine other people think
  10. Self neglect
  11. Treating yourself badly but NOT other people
  12. Worrying whether you have treated others badly
  13. Reluctance to take on challenges
  14. Reluctance to trust your own opinion
  15. Expect little out of life for yourself

Here is I found out from online: 7 ways to boost you self-esteem quickly:

• Think back to when you did something new for the first time.
• Do something you have been putting off.
• Do something you are good at.
• Stop thinking about yourself!
• Get seriously relaxed.
• Remember all the things you have achieved.
• Remember that you could be wrong!

A good advice...thanks to original author.

There's not much me, but let me quote my man Rocky Balboa- "Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!"

Some words of wisdom from a practical person

As I take a career break after spending four years in job, I present here a concise list of my Golden Rules for a sureshot rise in the corporate world, many of which I learned the hard way.

1. Diplomacy always pays.

2. At times, bluntness pays better.

3. Commit honestly. Have courage to back out from commitments, if required.

4. Wasting time isn't a waste always. Even if that means discussing economic policies of Banana Rep. with your boss.

5. Everybody can't be equally talented in all aspects. Let the relevant person take leadership in his area of talent.

6. Appreciate efforts, no matter what the result.

7. Life isn't fair. The best person doesn't always win. Learn to live with it.

8. Take breaks whenever you feel like. Don't wait for the workload to get less. The world isn't going to stop for you to get off.

9. Don't bury things. Admit mistakes tactfully.

10. Money matters.

11. Having a contigency job on hand is always better.

12. Be patient. There are many more people who put up with more crap than you do .

13. Value other people's time.

14. Wear a smile.

15. Bypassing your boss is a high risk - high return strategy. Not for the amateurs.

16. Carry your work home, not the pressure.

17. Don't chase fads.

18. You don't work for the betterment of the organization. You work so that your boss looks best.

19. Having only one godfather in a company can be brutal. Instead have none.

20. Nothing is so important or so urgent to make you tense.

21. Office parties/ picnics are never casual.

22. Two people can keep a secret, if one is dead.

23. Fairer sex is not always preferred.

24. To rise high, 'Smartness may be tolerated. Shrewdness would be demanded.'

25. There are shortcuts to success.

26. You won't stick to all of your today's perceptions tomorrow. Respect people who differ.

27. Prejudices exist. Biases are inevitable.

28. You ought to be good at networking.

29. If not, make close friends with the one who has the biggest network within as well as outside the company.

30. If you keep on doing things you do best, you restrict your chances to improve.

31. Try to get into a comfort zone as soon as possible. Never stay in a comfort zone for long.

32. Hardworking, intelligent, asslicker is as good as it gets.

33. Professional hazards exist everywhere. Don't whine.

34. Its better to be true than humble at times.

35. Take care of your health. You ought to live to reach at the top.

36. Back your men; sun, wind or snow.

37. And the last two things. a) Never share everything you know. b).....

20 Golden Rules for Workplace

(Not original but borrowed....not ethical I know)

1. Rule 1. - The Boss is always right.

2. Rule 2. - If the Boss is wrong, see rule 1.

3. Those who work get more work. Others get pay, perks, and promotions.

4. Ph.D. stands for "Pull Him Down". The more intelligent a person, the more hardworking a person, the more committed a person; the more number of persons are engaged in pulling that person down.

5. If you are good, you will get all the work. If you are really good, you will get out of it.

6. When the Bosses talk about improving productivity, they are never talking about themselves.

7. It doesn't matter what you do, it only matters what you say you've done and what you are going to do.

8. A pat on the back is only a few centimeters from a kick in the butt.

9. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

10. The more crap you put up with, the more crap you are going to get.

11. If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it.

12. When you don't know what to do, walk fast and look worried.

13. Following the rules will not get the job done.

14. If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would get done.

15. Everything can be filed under "Miscellaneous".

16. No matter how much you do, you never do enough.

17. You can do any amount of work provided it isn't the work you are supposed to be doing.

18. In order to get a promotion, you need not necessarily know your job.

19. In order to get a promotion, you only need to pretend that you know your job.

20. The last person that quit or was fired will be held responsible for everything that goes wrong

Meeting with me

Well, I am a software pro from India. Some tech details.....I'm good in java (core), C, C++,SQL.