Make a difference

Take up the Responsibility!

Posted by Haja in Personal Effectiveness

“Ninety Nine percent of all failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses”

George Washington Carver

Think about it. How many of us are culprits when it comes to making excuses. Blaming others for being the cause of all the issues we face! There are always reasons everyone has, about why they have not been as successful as they imagine themselves to be.

However, to be successful, the first rule you need to follow is to be 100% Responsible! – for yourself.

If something goes wrong, as it will many many times, ask yourself – “How did this happen? What were the things that went wrong? Where did they go wrong? How could I have made the difference there? What do I need to do differently next time to get the results I want?”

In a discussion with my manager, I had this interesting dialogue.

We were discussing issues with a particular customer, and I was explaining all the challenges they were facing and why even if we were keen to commit the numbers that we will sell, it was going to be a challenge! His point was interesting. He said “What happens in the market is fine- but what is relevant is about what you are doing about it? Are you waiting for things to happen OR are you going out and finding how you can fix it”. Though it was unpleasant, it was real! I was blaming the world and the economy for something that I should have been proactively addressing! Rather than come with just a problem,I should have had a menu of solutions that we could have discussed better!

In your everyday life, think of the issue you are facing- and rather than blame someone around you- think about what you are doing about it!

Let us focus on being 100% responsible this year!

Jan.10

Inspiring Poem from “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill

Posted by Haja in Books

While reading the book “Think and Grow Rich”, I came across this beautiful poem. This is the precursor to the numerous differently articulated messages from various authors and books (The Secret). I was amazed with the book –and ask you all to read it – if you have not done so.

“I bargained with Life for a penny; And Life would pay no more; However, I begged at evening; When I counted my scanty store.”

“For Life is just a employer; He gives you what you ask; But once you have set the wages; Why, you must bear the task.”

“I worked for a menial’s hire; Only to learn, dismayed; That any wage I had asked of Life ; Life would have willingly paid.”

There are some excellent tips on how to reprogram one’s mind to get to a victory mindset (in this case- a Rich Mindset). I loved the language which has a tinge of the early 1900 English prose.

Check it out.!

Jan.21

Free Education–The Khan Way!

Posted by Haja in Education, India

Amazing stuff…

While browsing through the net looking for stuff to help my children learn about concepts better than they do in school, I happened on the Khan Academy.

In an era where everyone looks at monetizing their offerings, here is a special person who has provided a whole bunch of stuff meant for children – free.

This is the kind of work required for us in India to touch the Million plus children who never go beyond rote reading and many many others who drop out of school.

Thinking out of the box!

I am sure there are many many more such sites- and I will keep sharing while I stumble upon more of them in the coming days. Stay tuned.

Jan.20

Striving for Perfection

Posted by Haja in Career, Perfection, Personal Effectiveness

While reading the book “Lessons Learned – Loving your work” , I came across this article from Peggy Fleming, who was a Olympic Figure Skating Gold Medallist.

I quote-

“What that instilled in me was to practice perfection. Every time I skated and had a lesson from my coach, I tried to think of a performance- I tried to think of the crowd. I tried to think of how that pressure would feel. I actually came up with a game that I did at every lesson: I would try to do a perfect lesson. That made it even more difficult; I didn’t want to make one mistake in the hour I had with my coach. It was fun. I think he respected that to: and it was fun for him to have a student who was giving it her all at a practice.

What I learned was that practicing perfection, not cheating yourself, is the best way to go through life.

Even today, when I go for a run, I hear that little voice in my head saying, “I have committed to this hour. I am going to keep running the whole time. If I stop, I am cheating, and I’m not getting the benefit out of this. I’m only cheating myself”.

I obviously was very impressed with this article.

And I suspect most of us don’t go on to win gold medals in the Olympics because of this single attitude gap! (maybe there is a talent gap as well – but hey, we don’t know that)

Strive for perfection- every day with a conviction that you are doing it to get the best out of life- small steps every day.

I am making an effort every day to strive for perfection – in everything I do.

Perfection, in my mind, does not mean, having to drop everything else and focus on just achieving that “perfect” output- and if the right inputs are not there, to drop the project altogether.

Perfection to me, is to take what you have, put quality thinking behind it- think from the target audiences point of view – and roll it out as soon as you can, when you are confident that the quality is as good as it can get and any other inputs/insights will have only a marginal improvement.

Perfection is NOT dropping the project and waiting for the perfect inputs to come through before rolling this out.

How do you strive for perfection? Do you? If you don’t, this is as good time as any to start!

Sep.20

Love what you do..

Posted by Haja in Goals, Management, Personal Branding, Personal Effectiveness

Courtesy: http://www.savagechickens.com/2005/11/love-your-work.html

This is an oft repeated advise in various personal development courses (and books). Many a motivational speaker has become richer telling this- and here we are, reading this blog, and wondering, how many more will say this.

And you know what? So it is.

If you don’t love what you are doing, you won’t be happy at it or good at it- and worse, it will show.…and , this is great advice on paper for people who have an option.

For many of you (as it is for me), that option does not exist.

You are doing things which you just have to do because you have very limited choice.

So how do we make work life totally enjoyable?

First find something that you love in your job. There must be SOMETHING in your job that you love (apart from shutting shop end of the day). Find that. Focus your energy around that area- and bring in one new thing into that circle (of things you love doing) everyday. You will be surprised at how your energy levels will start going up post that- and your work will start shining.

From a job that was “boring”, “not stretching my abilities”, it will become more interesting & the passion will rise every day.

Stardom is just one task away!

Let me know if this works.

Sep.18