Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Unclutter your Life?
This is something which could make our mundane life a little better. Nothing original but practically highly rewarding!!
Every household suffers from one disease-Clutter!
(a) We keep buying but seldom dispose of old items
(b) We retain things telling ourselves we will use them some day-so consign them to the loft;and you know what happens to them.
(c) Our children bully us and we keep buying toys for them, which lose their sheen the very next day- they lie around quite foresaken but occupying expensive space, nevertheless!
and so on....
In my view we could do with the following:
(1) Just attack the problem ruthlessly-your spouse, children, and you yourself will be the biggest stumbling block-just don't give in- In my view, as a rule of thumb, one can easily get rid of 40-50% in the first round of "safayee abhiyan".
(2) Obviously the best way to get rid of will be to ask your house helps to lend a helping hand in the process-you pass the stuff which they will be only too delighted to take over; if they feel too full themselves, they will get their friends, relatives and so on..I speak from experience-I got rid of about 70% of the stuff we had, when I was moving to Dubai, and I am none the worse for it!
(3)The process above has to be a dynamic one-I try to follow a simple formula again as a rule of thumb-When you buy one shirt give away two of your current shirts!
Such a "no brainer" as the one I have talked above has remarkable advantages:
(i) You are immediately creating an economic value for an object which has been lying around inert, abandoned, and perhaps consuming expensive floor space, especially if you are in a place like Bombay.
(ii) You start liking your home better; you feel a lot better - for example, if you visited a Marks & Spencer showroom, you get impressed with the ambience- simple-> they do not stuff their showrooms; they simply offer a few elegant choices and that's about it! Nothing blase' about them.
(iii) When you get rid of things, you have a rationale to go and buy fresh things-always a pleasure; Life mein bhogna bahut zaroori hai! Without Bhog you are not ready for yog! - not my gag, though!! I remember Sanjoy always used to say : "I want money not to keep but to spend" - how very sensible!!
(iv) Imagine if all of us did that, our 7-8% economic growth will not simply depend on the call centre kids-we, we, the not so young kids will be proud contributors too- by the way, people of our generation spend a portion of our income but the current kids spend a multiple of their income! Deficit Financing at its best but that\'s another discussion altogether.
So why not? you are happy, your maidservant is happy, Chidambaram and Montek are thrilled!! I simply can\'t find a flaw here!!!
Every household suffers from one disease-Clutter!
(a) We keep buying but seldom dispose of old items
(b) We retain things telling ourselves we will use them some day-so consign them to the loft;and you know what happens to them.
(c) Our children bully us and we keep buying toys for them, which lose their sheen the very next day- they lie around quite foresaken but occupying expensive space, nevertheless!
and so on....
In my view we could do with the following:
(1) Just attack the problem ruthlessly-your spouse, children, and you yourself will be the biggest stumbling block-just don't give in- In my view, as a rule of thumb, one can easily get rid of 40-50% in the first round of "safayee abhiyan".
(2) Obviously the best way to get rid of will be to ask your house helps to lend a helping hand in the process-you pass the stuff which they will be only too delighted to take over; if they feel too full themselves, they will get their friends, relatives and so on..I speak from experience-I got rid of about 70% of the stuff we had, when I was moving to Dubai, and I am none the worse for it!
(3)The process above has to be a dynamic one-I try to follow a simple formula again as a rule of thumb-When you buy one shirt give away two of your current shirts!
Such a "no brainer" as the one I have talked above has remarkable advantages:
(i) You are immediately creating an economic value for an object which has been lying around inert, abandoned, and perhaps consuming expensive floor space, especially if you are in a place like Bombay.
(ii) You start liking your home better; you feel a lot better - for example, if you visited a Marks & Spencer showroom, you get impressed with the ambience- simple-> they do not stuff their showrooms; they simply offer a few elegant choices and that's about it! Nothing blase' about them.
(iii) When you get rid of things, you have a rationale to go and buy fresh things-always a pleasure; Life mein bhogna bahut zaroori hai! Without Bhog you are not ready for yog! - not my gag, though!! I remember Sanjoy always used to say : "I want money not to keep but to spend" - how very sensible!!
(iv) Imagine if all of us did that, our 7-8% economic growth will not simply depend on the call centre kids-we, we, the not so young kids will be proud contributors too- by the way, people of our generation spend a portion of our income but the current kids spend a multiple of their income! Deficit Financing at its best but that\'s another discussion altogether.
So why not? you are happy, your maidservant is happy, Chidambaram and Montek are thrilled!! I simply can\'t find a flaw here!!!
Monday, November 28, 2005
Is there More to Motivation than Blackmail?
What Management Gurus have spoken / written about Motivation fill several libraries all over the world.
This is also a pet topic for the Training Institutions. Lots of debate take place as to what it "Motivation".
The essence of what I have understood is Motivation is all about the Motivator helping the Motivatee to understand what's in it for the latter in the deal. Good Leaders, I believe are excellent in showing clearly that the motivatee gains while he contributes something to the Organization, Nation, Cause etc. Conversely the Motivator would ideally be pointing out clearly that the Motivatee loses if he did not fall in line!
Aristotle said that all actions in the world are caused by either Fear or Greed deeply ingrained in people. The Indian thinking ( I suppose articulated by Chanakya? - I am not sure who it was), talks about Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed as tools available to a Motivator. The two streams of thoughts do converge except that the Oriental Thinking provides for a "Peace" (=Saam) as a motivator which is absent in Aristotle's universe! If one thought thru' a little bit, Aristotle was operating more from insecurity and talking more of Blackmail...
Wodehouse, a seemingly unlikely reference on the subject, used to say in jest, which I think was quite profound in a way, that Nobody was more pursuasive than a Man behind a Gun!
What distinguishes our thinking from the western thinking is essentially "Saam" the "Peace". At least, on paper, we believe we can achieve through an adult to adult discussion and a sincere dialogue.
I do agree that to be an effective Motivator, one should be adept in using all the four tools (Saam, Daam, Dand, & Bhed) per situation. I think it is rare to find someone who uses all the four tools effectively! Hence the "leadership" crisis in most situations!
Seshadri to me
This is also a pet topic for the Training Institutions. Lots of debate take place as to what it "Motivation".
The essence of what I have understood is Motivation is all about the Motivator helping the Motivatee to understand what's in it for the latter in the deal. Good Leaders, I believe are excellent in showing clearly that the motivatee gains while he contributes something to the Organization, Nation, Cause etc. Conversely the Motivator would ideally be pointing out clearly that the Motivatee loses if he did not fall in line!
Aristotle said that all actions in the world are caused by either Fear or Greed deeply ingrained in people. The Indian thinking ( I suppose articulated by Chanakya? - I am not sure who it was), talks about Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed as tools available to a Motivator. The two streams of thoughts do converge except that the Oriental Thinking provides for a "Peace" (=Saam) as a motivator which is absent in Aristotle's universe! If one thought thru' a little bit, Aristotle was operating more from insecurity and talking more of Blackmail...
Wodehouse, a seemingly unlikely reference on the subject, used to say in jest, which I think was quite profound in a way, that Nobody was more pursuasive than a Man behind a Gun!
What distinguishes our thinking from the western thinking is essentially "Saam" the "Peace". At least, on paper, we believe we can achieve through an adult to adult discussion and a sincere dialogue.
I do agree that to be an effective Motivator, one should be adept in using all the four tools (Saam, Daam, Dand, & Bhed) per situation. I think it is rare to find someone who uses all the four tools effectively! Hence the "leadership" crisis in most situations!
Seshadri to me
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Polite, spontaneous communication
Seshadri to Manoj
Politeness is dishonesty but impoliteness is ego at its worst!
Spontaneity is accumulated preparation.
Communication is not what I say but what you heard!
My friend Seshadri has a way with words. He can link the most unlikely of words to bring out the truth in a situation.
He can sometimes be over your head, but never below your belt. His words need to be felt not read.
Politeness is dishonesty but impoliteness is ego at its worst!
Spontaneity is accumulated preparation.
Communication is not what I say but what you heard!
My friend Seshadri has a way with words. He can link the most unlikely of words to bring out the truth in a situation.
He can sometimes be over your head, but never below your belt. His words need to be felt not read.
Friday, November 25, 2005
vanity: the changing scenario
Men pay the price for vanity.
HERE come the mirror men. New research has found that more men than women believe that spending time on their personal appearance is important.
We are finally changing into Peacocks.
HERE come the mirror men. New research has found that more men than women believe that spending time on their personal appearance is important.
We are finally changing into Peacocks.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
GOD KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENNING
I AM NOW DOING A PROJECT ON COMPUTER MODDING.
DOES ANYONE HAVE THE FAINTEST IDEA WHAT MODDING IS? I CAME TO KNOW THAT IT'S A WORD USED IN PLACE OF REMODELLING. STRANGE WORDS BEING USED. GOD KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENNING.
DID YOU KNOW
THAT WHILE WE BLOG, SOME PEOPLE ALSO GO TO BLINKS.THESE ARE TYPICALLY ONE LINERS.
THAT DECORATING YOUR MOBILE PHONE WITH STARS AND GLITTER IS CALLED BLING.
I'M SURE YOU WOULD ALSO HAVE A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. WHAT SAY YOU?
DOES ANYONE HAVE THE FAINTEST IDEA WHAT MODDING IS? I CAME TO KNOW THAT IT'S A WORD USED IN PLACE OF REMODELLING. STRANGE WORDS BEING USED. GOD KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENNING.
DID YOU KNOW
THAT WHILE WE BLOG, SOME PEOPLE ALSO GO TO BLINKS.THESE ARE TYPICALLY ONE LINERS.
THAT DECORATING YOUR MOBILE PHONE WITH STARS AND GLITTER IS CALLED BLING.
I'M SURE YOU WOULD ALSO HAVE A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. WHAT SAY YOU?
Sunday, November 20, 2005
*Pushy Salesmanship*
*Pushy Salesmanship*
(From Seshadri to Sanjoy)
I sincerely believe that each one of us presents a distinct identity,personality and temperament. I am perfectly ok with that. There isabsolutely no need to be a terrible salesman which somehow the world hasreduced us to. THe important point is as you say, "do you really enjoy yoursituation". Are you happy the way you are? At the end of the day, to repeata truism, we are all here to have a "good" life, a happy life. *In fact, notto be a salesman and not crib about the consequence of not being a salesmanis a rare occurrence*. it is indeed a refreshingly better thing to be. I seeall around myself (myself not totally excluded) people who are running allthe time, tense all the time, pushing and jostling all the time to get"somewhere". They never stop worrying; never question as to what they arechasing. To give you a Bombay analogy, you will find the suburban stationsflush with people at 12 Midnight, going about at a pace which seems quiteunnatural for that part of the day. One would normally want to "pause"-kabhi tho rukh jao yaar! No, they seem to never question themselves, go deep into what all this is for? So Sanjoy, if you are fine the way you are, which I am sure you really are,that's great! You are a blessed one! I agree that I would rather learn humanpsychology reading George Elliot, Dosteyvesky than reading "Seven Easy Stepsto Win your Customers".
(From Seshadri to Sanjoy)
I sincerely believe that each one of us presents a distinct identity,personality and temperament. I am perfectly ok with that. There isabsolutely no need to be a terrible salesman which somehow the world hasreduced us to. THe important point is as you say, "do you really enjoy yoursituation". Are you happy the way you are? At the end of the day, to repeata truism, we are all here to have a "good" life, a happy life. *In fact, notto be a salesman and not crib about the consequence of not being a salesmanis a rare occurrence*. it is indeed a refreshingly better thing to be. I seeall around myself (myself not totally excluded) people who are running allthe time, tense all the time, pushing and jostling all the time to get"somewhere". They never stop worrying; never question as to what they arechasing. To give you a Bombay analogy, you will find the suburban stationsflush with people at 12 Midnight, going about at a pace which seems quiteunnatural for that part of the day. One would normally want to "pause"-kabhi tho rukh jao yaar! No, they seem to never question themselves, go deep into what all this is for? So Sanjoy, if you are fine the way you are, which I am sure you really are,that's great! You are a blessed one! I agree that I would rather learn humanpsychology reading George Elliot, Dosteyvesky than reading "Seven Easy Stepsto Win your Customers".
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