Thursday, November 30, 2006

Cute Young Yoda

Wanna become Wise Master of the Force, Please learn the art from this cute little Yoda

Hilarious isn't it?

Trusts & Relationship

This article is useful for those who want to have a pleasant family life. Nicely explained the each topic with a meaningfully associated examples.

TRUST

TRUST is a very important factor for all relationships. When trust is broken, it is the end of the relationship. Lack of trust leads to suspicion, suspicion generates anger, anger causes enmity and enmity may result in separation.

A telephone operator told me that one day she received a phone call. She answered, "Public Utilities Board." There was silence. She repeated, "PUB." There was still no answer. When she was going to cut off the line, she Heard a lady's voice, "Oh, so this is PUB. Sorry, I got the number from my Husband's pocket but I do not know whose number it is."

Without mutual trust, just imagine what will happen to the couple if the telephone operator answered with just "hello" instead of "PUB".


NO POINTING FINGERS

A man asked his father-in-law, "Many people praised you for a successful marriage. Could you please share with me your secret?" The father-in-law answered in a smile, "Never criticize your wife for her shortcomings or when she does something wrong. Always bear in mind that because of her shortcomings and weaknesses, she could not find a better husband than you."

We all look forward to being loved and respected. Many people are afraid of losing face. Generally, when a person makes a mistake, he would look around to find a scapegoat to point the finger at. This is the start of a war. We should always remember that when we point one finger at a person, the other four fingers are pointing at ourselves. If we forgive the others, others will ignore our mistake too.


CREATING PERFECT RELATIONSHIPS?

A person visited the government matchmaker for marriage, SDU, and requested "I am looking for a spouse. Please help me to find a suitable one." The SDU officer said, "Your requirements, please." "Oh, good looking, polite, humorous, sporty, knowledgeable, good in singing and dancing. Willing to accompany me the whole day at home during my leisure hour, if I don't go out. Telling me interesting stories when I need companion for conversation and be silent when I want to rest." The officer listened carefully and replied, "I understand you need television."

There is a saying that a perfect match can only be found between a blind wife and a deaf husband, because the blind wife cannot see the faults of the husband and the deaf husband cannot hear the nagging of the wife. Many couples are blind and deaf at the courting stage and dream of perpetual perfect relationship. Unfortunately, when the excitement of love wears off, they wake up and discover that marriage is not a bed of roses. The nightmare begins.


NO OVERPOWERING

Many relationships fail because one party tries to overpower another, or demands too much. People in love tend to think that love will conquer all and their spouses will change the bad habits after marriage. Actually, this is not the case. There is a Chinese saying which carries the meaning that "It is easier to reshape a mountain or a river than a person's character."

It is not easy to change. Thus, having high expectation on changing the spouse character will cause disappointment and unpleasantness.

It would be less painful to change ourselves and lower our expectations.


RIGHT SPEECH

There is a Chinese saying, which carries the meaning that "A speech will either prosper or ruin a nation." Many relationships break off because of wrong speech. When a couple is too close with each other, we always forget mutual respect and courtesy. We may say anything without considering if it would hurt the other party.

A friend and her millionaire husband visited their construction site. A worker who wore a helmet saw her and shouted,"Hi, Emily! Remember me? We used to date in the secondary school." On the way home, her Millionaire husband teased her, "Luckily you married me. Otherwise you will be the wife of a construction worker." She answered,” You should appreciate that you married me. Otherwise, he will be the millionaire and not you."

Frequently exchanging these remarks plants the seed for a bad relationship. It's like a broken egg - cannot be reversed.


PERSONAL PERCEPTION

Different people have different perception. One man's meat could be another man's poison. A couple bought a donkey from the market. On the way home, a boy commented, "Very stupid. Why neither of them ride on the donkey?” Upon hearing that, the husband let the wife ride on the donkey.

He walked besides them. Later, an old man saw it and commented, "The husband is the head of family. How can the wife ride on the donkey while the husband is on foot?" Hearing this, the wife quickly got down and let the husband ride on the donkey.

Further on the way home, they met an old Lady. She commented, "How can the man ride on the donkey but let the wife walk. He is no gentleman." The husband thus quickly asked the wife to join him on the donkey. Then, they met a young man. He commented, "Poor donkey, how can you hold up the weight of two persons. They are cruel to you." Hearing that, the husband and wife immediately climbed down from the donkey and carried it on their shoulders.

It seems to be the only choice left. Later, on a narrow bridge, the donkey was frightened and struggled. They lost their balance and fell into the river. You can never have everyone praise you, nor will everyone condemn you. Never in the past, not at present, and never will be in the future.

Thus, do not be too bothered by others words if our conscience is clear..


BE PATIENT

This is a true story, which happened in the States. A man came out of his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck. The man ran to his son, knocked him away, and hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment. When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital.

Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands. When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, " Daddy, I’m sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father went home & committed suicide.

Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or you wish to take revenge. Think first before you lose your patience with someone you love. Trucks can be repaired. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge.

People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.

Puzzle - 10

IT'S A 7 LETTER WORD

IF WE REMOVE 1 LETTER FROM IT, IT REMAINS SAME.
IF WE REMOVE 2 LETTERS FROM IT, IT STILL REMAINS SAME.
IF WE REMOVE 3 LETTERS FROM IT, IT STILL STILL REMAINS SAME.
IF WE REMOVE ALL THE LETTERS FROM IT, IT STILL STILL .....REMAINS SAME.

WHATZ IT?

The Answer is : POSTBOX

ATM Card Robbery? Reverse your PIN

There has been lots of cases recorded in Bangalore recently that the robbers catch the IT professional those who return home late. For what? beat them and pluck the ATM Card and ask them for PIN as well if they don't give smack them badly too.

In a situation like this here is a chance for you to make a secret complaint to police and not sure how easy it is to catch the thief. If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM machine, you can notify the police by entering your Pin # in reverse.

For example if your pin number is 1234 then you would put in 4321(I always wondered what if i have a non-reversable PIN like 1221, better change the PIN to reversable). The ATM recognizes that your pin number is backwards from the ATM card you placed in the machine.

The machine will still give you the money you requested, but unknown to The robber, the police will be immediately dispatched to help you.

This information was recently broadcasted on TV and it states that it is seldom used because people don't know it exists.

I just learnt from the news paper today (05th June 2008) that the intensive scrutinizing done by them with sevaral banks told told this is a myth. So, the only security you have is to catch the robber through the ATM Security Camera to get the identification. It was not informed to their customers by the respective banks because there is no such security measure is in place.

Please pass this along to everyone possible and make them aware that this is just a hoax.

Expectations

A butcher watching over his shop is really surprised when he sees a dog coming inside the shop. He shoos him away. But later, the dog is back again. So, he goes over to the dog and notices it has a note in its mouth. He takes the note and it reads "Can I have 12 sausages and a leg of lamb, please". The dog has money in its mouth, as well.

The butcher looks inside and, lo and behold, there is a ten dollar note there. So he takes the money and puts the sausages and lamb in a bag, placing it in the dog's mouth. The butcher is so impressed, and since it's about closing time, he decides to shut the shop and follow the dog.

So off he goes. The dog is walking down the street, when it comes to a level crossing, the dog puts down the bag, jumps up and presses the button. Then it waits patiently, bag in mouth, for the lights to turn. They do, and it walks across the road, with the butcher following him all the way. The dog then comes to a bus stop, and starts looking at the timetable. The butcher is in awe as the dog stops a bus by pulling its left leg up and gets in it. The butcher follows the dog into the bus. The dog then shows a ticket which is tied to its belt to the bus conductor.

The butcher is nearly fainting at this sight, so are the other passengers in the bus. The dog then sits near the driver's seat looking outside waiting for the bus stop to come. As soon as the stop is in sight, the dog stands and wags its tail to inform the conductor. Then, without waiting for the bus to stop completely, it jumps out of the bus and runs to a house very close to the stop.

It opens the big iron gate and rushes inside towards the door. As it approaches the wooden door, the dog suddenly changes its mind and heads towards the garden. It goes to the window, and beats its head against it several times, walks back, jumps off, and waits at the door. The butcher watches as a big guy opens the door, and starts abusing the dog, kicking him and punching him, and swearing at him.

The butcher surprised with this, runs up, and stops the guy. "What in heaven's name are you doing? The dog is a genius. He could be on TV, for the life of me!", to which the guy responds: "You call this clever? This is the second time this week that this stupid dog's forgotten his key."

Moral of the story.....
You may continue to exceed onlookers' expectations but shall always fall short of the boss' expectations.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Office Environment

Put eight monkeys in a room. In the middle of the room is a ladder,leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the ceiling. Each time a monkey tries to climb the ladder, all the monkeys are sprayed with ice water, which makes them miserable. Sooner enough, whenever a monkey attempts to climb the ladder, all of the other monkeys, not wanting to be sprayed, set upon him and beat him up. Soon, none of the eight monkeys ever attempts to climb the ladder. One of the original monkeys is then removed, and a new monkey is put in the room. Seeing the bananas and the ladder, he wonders why none of the other monkeys are doing the obvious, but, undaunted, he immediately begins to climb the ladder.

All the other monkeys fall upon him and beat him silly. He has no idea why. However, he no longer attempts to climb the ladder. A second original monkey is removed and replaced. The newcomer again attempts to climb the ladder, but all the other monkeys hammer the crap out of him. This includes the previous new monkey, who, grateful that he's not on the receiving end this time, participates in the beating because all the other monkeys are doing it. However, he has no idea why he's attacking the new monkey. One by one, all the original monkeys are replaced. Eight new monkeys are now in the room. None of them have ever been sprayed by ice water. None of them attempt to climb the ladder. All of them will enthusiastically beat up any new monkey who tries, without having any idea why.

"AND THAT'S HOW ANY COMPANY'S POLICIES GET ESTABLISHED". So, you know how to handle the situation now?

Puzzle - 9

Try answering this now....
If you put a coin in an empty bottle and insert a cork into the neck of the bottle, how could you remove the coin without taking the cork out or breaking the bottle?

Do you have Back ache? Are you sitting up straight?

If yes, Here is an important news for you to read about the reason caused for back ache.

CHICAGO,Nov.27.2006 -- Researchers are using a new form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to show that sitting in an upright position places unnecessary strain on your back, leading to potentially chronic pain problems if you spend long hours sitting. The study, conducted at Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen, Scotland, was presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

"A 135-degree body-thigh sitting posture was demonstrated to be the best biomechanical sitting position, as opposed to a 90-degree posture, which most people consider normal," said Waseem Amir Bashir, M.B.Ch.B., F.R.C.R., author and clinical fellow in the Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging at the University of Alberta Hospital, Canada. "Sitting in a sound anatomic position is essential, since the strain put on the spine and its associated ligaments over time can lead to pain, deformity and chronic illness."

Back pain is the most common cause of work-related disability in the United States, and a leading contributor to job-related absenteeism, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. By identifying bad seating postures and allowing people to take preventative measures to protect the spine, Dr. Bashir and colleagues hope to reduce back strain and subsequent missed work days.

"We were not created to sit down for long hours, but somehow modern life requires the vast majority of the global population to work in a seated position," Dr. Bashir said. "This made our search for the optimal sitting position all the more important." The researchers studied 22 healthy volunteers with no history of back pain or surgery. A "positional" MRI machine was used, which allows patients freedom of motion"such as sitting or standing"during imaging. Traditional scanners have required patients to lie flat, which may mask causes of pain that stem from different movements or postures.

The patients assumed three different sitting positions: a slouching position, in which the body is hunched forward (e.g., hunched over a desk or slouched over in front of a video game console); an upright 90-degree sitting position; and a "relaxed" position where the patient reclines backward 135 degrees while the feet remain on the floor. Measurements were taken of spinal angles and spinal disk height and movement across the different positions.

Spinal disk movement occurs when weight-bearing strain is placed on the spine, causing the internal disk material to misalign. Disk movement was most pronounced with a 90-degree upright sitting posture. It was least pronounced with the 135-degree posture, indicating that less strain is placed on the spinal disks and associated muscles and tendons in a more relaxed sitting position.

The "slouch" position revealed a reduction in spinal disk height, signifying a high rate of wear and tear on the lowest two spinal levels. Across all measurements, the researchers concluded that the 135-degree position fared the best. As a result, Dr. Bashir and colleagues advise patients to stave off future back problems by correcting their sitting posture and finding a chair that allows them to sit in an optimal position of 135 degrees.

"This may be all that is necessary to prevent back pain, rather than trying to cure pain that has occurred over the long term due to bad postures," he added. "Employers could also reduce problems by providing their staff with more appropriate seating, thereby saving on the cost of lost work hours."

Source: Radiological Society of North America

So, If you ever happen to experience back ache and wondering what could be the cause this could have been one of the reason. Try 135 degree position, i.e, rest back in your seat.

Tips for A Happy Life

  • Don’t worry

  • Worry is the least productive of all human activities and thoughts.

  • Don’t let needless fears preoccupy your life

  • Most of things we fear never happen!!! and because of that thinking it may happen.

  • Don’t hold grudges...

  • That is one of the biggest and most unnecessary weights we carry through our lives.

  • Take on one problem at a time

  • It’s the only way to handle things anyway..one by one.

  • Don’t take your problems to bed with you

  • They are bad and unhealthy companions for good natural sleep and rest.

  • Don’t take on the problems of other people

  • They are better equipped to handle their own problems than you are.

  • Don’t live in the past

  • It will always be there in your memories to enjoy..but don’t cling to it. Concentrate on what is happening right now in your life..and you will be happy in the present also..not just the past.

  • Be a good listener

  • It is only when one listens..that one gets and learns ideas different from ones own.

  • Do not let frustration ruin and rule your life

  • Self pity more than anything..interferes with positive actions..with moving forwards in our lives.

  • Count your blessings

  • Don’t even forget the smallest blessings.. As many small blessings add up to large ones...

    Static Current

    Have you ever heard about Static Current? Some of you might have experienced it, here is an alarming news about it...

    The Shell Oil Company sometimes ago issued a warning after three incidents in which mobile phones (cell phones) ignited fumes during fueling operations.

    In the first case,the phone was placed on the car's trunk lid during fueling; it rang and the ensuing fire destroyed the car and the gasoline pump.

    In the second, an individualsuffered severe burns to their face when fumes ignited as they answered a call while refueling their car.

    And in the third,an individual suffered burns to the thigh and groin as fumes ignited when the phone, which was in their pocket, rang while they were fueling their car.

    You should know that:
    Mobile Phones can ignite fuel or fumes
    Mobile phones that light up when switched on or when they ring release enough energy to provide a spark for ignition
    Mobile phones should not be used in filling stations, or when fueling lawn mowers, boat! , Etc.
    Mobile phones should not be used, or should be turned off, around other materials that generate flammable or explosive fumes or dust, i.e. solvents, chemicals, gases, grain dust, etc.)

    To sum it up, here are the:Four Rules for Safe Refueling
    1) Turn off engine
    2) Don't smoke
    3) Don't use your cell phone - leave it inside the vehicle or turn it off
    4) Don't re-enter your vehicle during fueling

    Bob Renkes of Petroleum Equipment Institute is working on a campaign to try and make people aware of fires as a result of"Static Electricity" at gas pumps. His company has researched150 cases of these fires.
    His results were very surprising:
    1) Out of 150 cases, almost all of them were women.
    2) Almost all cases involved the person getting back in their vehicle while the nozzle was still pumping gas, when finished and they went back to pull the nozzle out the fire started, as a result of static.
    3) Most had on rubber-soled shoes.
    4) Most men never get back in their vehicle until completely finished. This is why they are seldom involved in these types of fires.
    5) Don't ever use cell phones when pumping gas
    6) It is the vapors that come out of the gas that cause the fire, when connected with static charges.
    7) There were 29 fires where the vehicle was reentered and the nozzle was touched during refueling from a variety of makes and models. Some resulting in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station, and to the customer.
    8) Seventeen fires that occurred before, during or immediately after the gas cap was removed and before fueling began.

    Mr. Renkes stresses to NEVER get back into your vehicle while filling it with gas.

    If you absolutely HAVE to get in your vehicle while the gas is pumping, make sure you get out, close the door TOUCHING THE METAL, before you ever pull the nozzle out. This way the static from your body will be discharged before you ever remove the nozzle.

    I request you to please send this information to ALL your family and friends, especially those who have kids in the car with them while pumping gas. If this were to happen to them, they may not be able to get the children out in time.Thanks for passing this along

    Tuesday, November 28, 2006

    Trees Life

    Once upon a time there was a leafy tree in a field. Leaves grew densely on the tall branches. The roots were deeply into the ground. The tree was the most remarkable among the rest.

    The tree then became the home for some birds. They built their nests and they lived on his branches. The birds made holes on him, and they hatched their eggs within the greatness of the tree. The tree felt so delighted because he was accompanied as he walked through his long lasting days.

    People were grateful for the presence of the tree. They often came over and sheltered under him. Under his branches, they sat down and opened their picnic baskets. “This tree is very useful,” that’s what the people said everytime they went home from shelter. The tree was very proud hearing those compliments.

    However, time went on. The tree was beginning to be sick. His leaves and twigs were falling, then his body became thin and pale. The greatness he used to have was fading away. Birds felt reluctant to build their nests there. No one would come to sit under the tree to shelter anymore.

    The tree wept, “Oh God, why is it so hard for me? I need friends. Now no one would come close to me. Why do you take all the glory I used to have?” The tree cried loudly, so it echoed throughout the forest. “Why wouldn’t you cut me down, so I don’t have to bear this suffering?” The tree kept on crying, and his tears were running down his dry body.

    Seasons came and went, but his condition had not changed. The tree was still feeling lonely. His branches became drier and drier. Every night the tree wept and cried, until the morning broke.

    “Cheep...chirp....cheep” Ah, what was that noise? Oh, it’s a little baby bird who has just pipped from the egg. The old tree woke up from his daydream.

    “Cheep...chirp...cheep”, the noise became louder and louder. There was another baby bird. Not long after that, the tree became noisy because of the birth of new baby birds. One...two...three...and four baby birds have been born to this world. “Ah, He has answered my prayers,” exclaimed the old tree.

    The day after, there were many birds flying to the old tree. They were going to build new nests. The dry branches have turned out to attract their attention to nest there. The birds felt warmer to stay inside the dry branches instead of their place before. The number of birds was increasing and there were more kinds of them. “Wow, now my days are brighter with their presence here”, murmured the old tree gladly.

    The old tree was back to cheer again. And when he looked down, his heart was flowing with joy. There was a new little tree growing near his roots. The new tree seemed to smile at him. The tears of the old tree has grown a little tree who would continue his devotion to nature.

    Dear friends, that’s the way it is. Is there any lesson that we could take from the story? God always has secret plans for us. The Almighty God will always gives answers to our questions. Eventhough it is not always easy to guess what the resolution is, be certain that the Omniscient God knows what’s best for us.

    When there are times He sends temptation for us, in other times He gives us His overflowing blessings. The test He gives us isn’t something that can’t be overcome. When God gave the temptation to the old tree, actually He DELAYED in giving His glory. God didn’t choose to cut the old tree down since He kept some secrets. God was testing his patience.

    So, dear friends, be sure, whatever temptation we are facing is a part of the chain of glory He is preparing for us. Don’t give up, and don’t be discouraged. God is always there beside patient people.

    Hope you people liked it....

    Puzzle - 8

    There are two plastic jugs filled with water. How could you put all of this water into a barrel, without using the jugs or any dividers, and still tell which water came from which jug?

    As mentioned in the comment Section: Freeze the water to make it as ICE Bar then put into the Jar, Same thing can be done for the second jugs water as well or pour straight into it. Still can be differentiated till it melts down...

    The Science of Handshaking

    Handshaking: The Psychological Meaning by Robert E. Brown (Reprinted from the NCHRC Quarterly).

    Though it might seem quite perfunctory, the three-second ritual of shaking hands can provide you with as much information about the other person as a psychological profile, if you know how to read the signs. Access to this data is easily available to you insofar as this simple gesture is always performed before job interviews, performance evaluations, meetings, etc. By understanding the other person's body language, you can discover whether he/she is sincere or insincere, dominant or submissive, deceitful. This is because the body cannot lie no matter how much a person may try to cover up his/her true intentions.
    This article describes how to interpret the messages of the most common handshakes. Such nonverbal information is an invaluable addition to whatever you may learn from another person's verbal responses, clothing, resume or work record. To interpret handshaking, you'll need to learn how to pick up the subtle signals that are sent during a handshake.
    There four basic steps in this process include:
    1. Engage. A proper handshake should engage the other person's full hand. This means that the web between your thumb and index finger should be touching your partner's. The hand should be flat enough so your palms are touching. This puts your hand in the proper position to give and receive messages.
    2. Pause. Pausing is the key ingredient to a successful handshake. By pausing or lingering at the natural conclusion of a handshake, you are expressing sincerity and openness. The objective of the pause is to be the last one to release your hand from the handshake. As you pause, hold your hand slightly at an angle. Cup your last two fingers under slightly, with enough force to support the edge of the other person's palm. This will allow you to receive any of the information your partner sends during the conclusion of the shake. Being the last one to let go may seem awkward at first. But if you project a positive attitude with the rest of your nonverbal communicators (e.g. positive voice, good eye contact and smiling or restraining a smile), the lingering won't be offensive.
    3. Observe. Pausing allows you to observe what type of handshake you're receiving. The hand is particularly suited to this kind of investigation because it has more nerve endings per square millimeter than any other part of the body, with the greatest concentration in the fingers. Observe whether the other person is pushing, pulling or twisting your hand. Notice whether he or she shakes your hand vigorously or barely moves. Is the hand warm and wet or cold and dry? Is it flexible or stiff? Alert your subconscious to be particularly aware at the moment you shake hands. Say to your subconscious: "while I'm doing what I need to do, collect the information you receive, sort and categorize it, and give it to me as I need it."
    4. Remember. After the meeting, remember what the handshake was like. Ask yourself who shook first. Who let go first? Was the person nervous or relaxed? Was the handshake coherent with what he or she was saying? Compare the opening and closing handshakes. To remember more easily, make a visual image of the handshake each time you greet someone. Write down your impressions.
    Once you start remembering handshakes, you can categorize them into ten basic types. These interpretations should be modified by your own observations but they are a good place to start.

    The All-American
    This is the handshake used by most leaders and corporate executives. The person delivering it will look you right in the eye, fully engage your hand, smile and pump your hand two or three times. This handshake expresses a feeling of relaxed self-confidence. The person using it will be open, trustworthy and willing to listen. There's no hidden agenda here. He or she is a good "people" person and could be trusted in a highly classified position.

    The Lingering Handshake
    This one is firm with a warm grasp and two or more pumps. The end of the handshake pauses or lingers. The lingering quality may denote openness and sincerity, or it may suggest that the person has something up his/her sleeve. Trust your gut feeling about what the shake means. Check the person out carefully if the other signals you get warrant it. If you find that the other person is sincere, he or she will be an excellent candidate for a job or a promotion. I would recommend that you offer people a combination of the All-American and the Lingering handshake. This will send the message that you're open and friendly, while allowing you to pick up the other person's signals.

    The Push-Off
    Even though this grip may be firm and warm, at the end your hand is pushed or flicked away. The Push-Off can range from a slight stiff-arm to a flat-out rejection. This handshake implies that the other person has a strong need to establish his or her own territory and agenda. He or she will tend to be a stand-offish person without good "people" skills. This person will probably not make a good manager.

    The Pull-In
    This person holds on to your hand to pull you closer or direct you through a door or toward a chair. This is a somewhat manipulative handshake. Because this type of person is a controller who wants things done certain way, he or she may not be a good team player. If the organization's goals conflict with this person's goals, there will be a problem.

    The Two-Handed Shake
    During this handshake, the person's right hand will grab yours while the left hand grasps your wrist, forearm, biceps, shoulder, or neck The higher the left hand, the greater the manipulation and control. This is the favorite handshake of politicians Because it implies a quick sincerity and intimacy. This person is trying to sell you something that's not really there, e.g., "we're great buddies." He or she would probably not make a good salesperson because other people will tend not to trust this "used car salesman" shake.

    The Topper
    The dominant party in this handshake has his/her palm facing down in relation to the other person. Like the winner of an arm wrestling match, the hand on top is clearly in control. To retain equality, simply step into this handshake with your left foot. This handshake says "I'm in charge, I'm the Boss." It tends to be the handshake of the conventional boss or manager who manages through control. If this person is too controlling, this can limit his/her effectiveness with other people.

    The Finger Squeeze
    Like the push-off, the finger squeeze is used to keep someone at a comfortable distance. This kind of handshake will hurt your hand. This is a very insecure type of person who equates brute strength with personal power. They use their hands as weapons to dominate and overpower people. These days, some women are misguidedly using this kind of handshake.

    The Bone Crusher
    will tend to turn other people off. However, if this person matures, he or she can be a strong leader.





    The Palm Pinch
    This person just offers you two or three fingers. It is usually given by a woman who hasn't learned how to shake hands properly or who has a fear of intimacy. This person will tend not to be very good at interpersonal skills. If you're going to promote the Bone Crusher or the Palm Pincher, you should tell them to shift to the All-American shake.

    The Twister
    In this one, the other person grabs your hand normally but aggressively twists it under his/her hand at the end. This person is saying, "We may be coming into this as equals, but in the end I'll be on top." This person can turn on you. You may think you're in control, but he/she will attempt to catch you off guard. This is a deceitful or devious type of person. Don't gloss over the Twister too lightly. The Twister is a major red flag for a serious background check This candidate may not be a good team player or a good security risk.

    The Dead Fish
    We all know people who offer this kind of cold, clammy, indifferent handshake. It tends to drain your energy. This individual tends to be somewhat passive or apathetic. This type of employee will usually be better with computers, machines and information than with people. If he/she has good technical skills, don't promote him/her to a managerial position. Dead Fish handshakers probably won't have the energy and interest necessary for that type of work.

    This information may make a useful addition to your repertoire of people skills. You may want to practice using these skills for at least three or four weeks so that they become second nature to you. By following these simple steps and fine-tuning your own interpretive powers, you'll be better prepared to make more accurate decisions about other people based on your first impressions.
    Bob has produced a book and video on the handshaking concepts contained in this article.

    Monday, November 27, 2006

    Means of Attitudes

    Keeping a smile on your face,
    When inside you feel like dying,
    For the sake of supporting others,
    ...means Strength

    Stopping at nothing,
    And doing what's in your heart,
    You know is right,
    ...means Determination

    To the Questions of your life,
    you are the only Answer.
    To the Problems of your life,
    you are the only Solution

    Standing for what you believe in,
    Regardless of the odds against you,
    And the pressure that tears at your residence,
    ...means Courage

    Helping a friend in need,
    No matter the time or effort,
    To the best of your ability,
    ...means Loyalty

    Giving more than you have,
    And expecting nothing
    But nothing in return,
    ...means Selflessness

    Holding your head high,
    And being the best you know can be
    When life seems to fall apart at your feet,
    Facing each difficulty with the confidence
    That time will bring you better tomorrow's,
    And never giving up,
    ....means Confidence

    While charging cellphone never answer calls

    Don't answer a cell phone while it is being CHARGED!! A few days ago, a person was recharging his cell phone at home. Just at that time a call came through and he attended to it; with the instrument still connected to the mains. After a few seconds electricity flowed into the cell Phone unrestrained and the person was thrown to the ground with a heavy thud.

    His parents rushed into the room only to find him unconscious, with weak heartbeats and burnt fingers. He was rushed to the nearby hospital, But was pronounced dead on arrival.

    A Cell phone is a very useful modern invention. However, we must be aware that it can also be an instrument of death. In fact I also read about another explosion incident in one part of Tamil Nadu and a person lost his ear in that accident.

    Never use the cell phone while it is hooked to the mains.

    Is English Easy?

    What do you think? If yes then solve the below question in a clever manner.

    Fill in this blank with "Yes or No"

    __________, I don't have Brain

    So, Tough or Easy?

    Do you? hmmm

    We are born with two eyes in front, because we must not always look behind. But see what lies ahead, beyond us.

    We are born to have two ears one left - one right so we can hear both sides.
    Collect both the compliments and criticisms, to see which are right.

    We are born with a brain concealed in a skull. Then no matter how poor we are, we are still rich.
    For no one can steal what our brains contains. Packing in more jewels and rings than you can think.

    We are born with two eyes, two ears, but one mouth. For the mouth is a sharp weapon, it can hurt, flirt, kill.
    Remember to talk less, listen and see more.

    We are born with only one heart, deep in our ribs. It reminds us to appreciate and give love from deep within.
    Learn to love and enjoy being loved but do not expect people to love you the way or as much as you had loved them.
    Give love without expecting love in return and you will find love more beautiful.

    6 ways to nurture great ideas at work

    Success at work is often a result of combining knowledge, skills and the ability to inject your work environment with fresh and breakthrough ideas.
    While conventional wisdom teaches us to learn skills, and enhance our knowledge for the job, we often forget that we need to keep coming up with new ideas that will help the organisation succeed and also keep our jobs secure in today's competitive landscape.

    We offer a few tips towards helping you break out of a routine thought process and generate breakthrough ideas.


    EXERCISE YOUR MIND
    Your mind, like your body, needs exercise and can get it through challenges and problem-solving. A good way to feed your mind is to read a lot and study the success stories of other businesses and entrepreneurs.

    Read case studies related to your industry or biographies of successful people.

    This will not only stimulate your grey cells but also provide you a dose of inspiration. Learn how other successful people generate breakthrough ideas.


    CAPTURE YOUR THOUGHTS
    When the brilliant spells do come, make sure you capture them. Don't rely on mental notes, you'll surely forget them. Have a notepad, PDA or voice recorder ready at all times, even next to your bed at night (who knows, you may suddenly strike gold at 2 am). Once you've recorded your idea, use it as soon as you can. I read an advertisement for IT company Accenture, which said: "An idea is like a cup of coffee, it's not going to stay hot forever." So remember that ideas are best when they're fresh.

    "I always carry a voice recorder with me and tape my thoughts. Listening to them later in the day ensures that I don't deprive myself of the brilliant phases that we all have during the day," says G Rajaraman, a senior sports correspondent with Outlook magazine.


    CHANGE YOUR SETTING
    Your mind reacts to its surroundings and has an uncanny ability to generate new ideas when the physical setting changes. You may be thinking in a very linear and academic way while you are at your workstation, so take your laptop/PDA and sit by in your office garden/park or cafeteria and you may see some fresh perspectives. Take a walk or hit the gym. The mind is agile when the body is indulging in a disciplined and rhythmic physical activity like a jog or workout. For all you know, a change of setting may bring you the inspiration you need.

    "I am at my best when I am out in the open with my laptop and listening to my favourite music during a lunch break," says Shelly Jain, a Delhi based consultant with NIIT.

    You could even take a notepad and jot down your ideas and thoughts and later organise them when you get to your workstation. The time spent thinking would be worthwhile as you will be away from the usual workplace distractions.


    GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO HELP OTHERS
    Step out of your job description once in a while and help others with their tasks. Do this without having to be asked. Saying, "Need a hand there?" has a two-fold effect. First, you encourage others to give of themselves, creating a more positive workplace.

    Second, you buy yourself a future favour, since kindness always comes back. The people you have helped will become soundboards for your ideas and will be able to give you new ideas and suggestions that may get you thinking on a new track.

    "A response such as 'This is not my area of work. Find out from the person concerned', shows that the individual is responding from his own frame of reference, an attitude detrimental for both employee and organisation," says Anil Bhatnagar, a management consultant.

    Help people whenever they need your expertise. Offer your support to new emloyees as they usually have the ability to come out with bright ideas. Their minds are fresh and have not been conditioned to think in a linear fashion like most tenured employees, so they may springboard some fresh perspectives.


    KNOW YOUR ORGANISATION'S AND CUSTOMERS' NEEDS
    You must know if what you have to offer is in high demand at work. Find out the direction in which your company is headed and the areas in which it needs maximum improvement. This will ensure that you ideas have a business impact and act as a catalyst in your growth within the organisation. There's much strength to be derived from knowing how a company operates as a whole. Tailor your ideas to meet the organisational objectives and you will be in a position to add maximum benefit to your organisation.

    Did you ever think that companies would be selling fairness cream for men? Emami, a Kolkata-based company with interests in personal and healthcare business realised the need and launched 'Fair and Handsome', a fairness cream for men in April 2006. The executives at Emami realised that in the age of metrosexual men, who go for manicures and pedicures, a fairness cream, if positioned well, could be a winner in the personal care market for men.


    UNDERSTAND YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT
    In today's teamwork-oriented work environments, no man is an island. You are always a part of the bigger picture that the organisation has in mind. Expose yourself to different realities. If you are a marketing person, go and spend some time with the finance team or the product management team and ask them questions about their nature of work. Learn to see things from their perspective. The best ideas sometimes come from looking outside the familiar and that is what "thinking out of the box" means.

    Google.com founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin were batchmates at Stanford when the thought of empowering people by creating an easy search mechanism hit them. The Naukri.com advertisement depicting Hari Sadu as the monster boss is a good example of out-of-the-box thinking, because it mixes humour with a message.

    So keep your eyes and ears open and indulge in some idea generation activities.

    Balance of Life

    This was written by Catherine Pulsifer and seems to be a very interesting article. I hope you have the time to read and appreciate it and perhaps pass it on to others.

    Mary and Susan were friends for years. They grew up together and attended the same schools. They were now both in their 40's, and both had great careers. They both had a similar upbringing - same education, same family values, similar support and financial position.
    But there was one main difference. Mary never seemed to have enough time.

    She had similar responsibilities and interests as her friend, Susan.
    Susan had a career, she had three children, she had her hobbies, one of which included golf.

    Over lunch, Susan was telling Mary about the golf game that she played last weekend. "Susan, where do you find the time to play golf?" asked Mary. "I never seem to have the time, now with the children older and doing their own thing I thought I would have time to play golf like we did when we were in college."

    Susan looked at Mary and laughed, "Mary, we both have the same hours in a day. You do have the time to play golf!"
    With a sigh Mary replied, "That's easy for you to say. I never seem to have time. My work takes so much of my time. I am in the office at 7:30,I leave at 6:30 in the evening. By the time I get home and have dinner,it is 8:00! And, then I usually have a briefcase full of work. The weekends are full of more work. Just to keep up, I have to put in the hours. You know what it is like!"

    "Of course, I know what it is like," Mary said. "But what would happen tomorrow if you got sick? Who would do the work?"

    "Sick. Who has time to get sick! exclaimed Mary. "But if I did get sick,someone else would do the work, I suppose."

    "You know something, Mary, I used to be like you. I worked night and day and of course on weekends. When I got home I was exhausted but I would push myself and read my children a bedtime story. By the time I went to bed, I would be more than exhausted. The boss I had was very demanding.
    She was there early in the morning, late at night, and she always worked weekends. I felt I had to do the same - I needed the job to help support my family - just as you did.

    But then I had a change of bosses. The man I worked for was older and much wiser, I might add! Of course, I continued to work the hours I had been working. One day he came to my desk and passed me a card that had a quote on it which said, 'What I do today is important, because I will never have today again' - then he left.

    I sat there stunned. I suddenly thought of what was important to me.
    While my work was important, I realized my children were more important.

    I also realized that time for me was important. It was 4:30, the official closing time of the office. I straightened my desk, felt a twinge of guilt about leaving, but I forced myself to leave. I was home by 5:00. My children and husband were! surprised. I had a wonderful evening. It was not a chore to read that bedtime story that evening."

    Mary was looking at her friend thoughtfully and then questioned Susan about the work she had left on her desk.

    Susan replied, "I never thought this possible, but I actually accomplished more the next day then I had in weeks. As I was leaving the next day I stopped at my new boss's office and thanked him for the quote.

    He told me a story about advice his dad had given him many years ago when he was working night and day. He referred to it as 'Balance of Life'.

    His dad told him to keep balance in his work, in his family life and in time for himself. He explained to me, while all aspects of our life are important, without a balance, you become addicted and like all addictions you lose - no balance with your family - you lose them
    - no balance with your work - you lose your perspective and you actually lose focus on the important aspects of your job.
    - no balance with yourself - you forget who you are and when you retire you have nothing! Or worse than that, if you lose your job through a company sale or down sizing you lose your identity.

    He went on to tell me that who we are is NOT what we do to make a living.
    Who we are is a balance of our family, our work, ourselves! It truly was the best advice I ever received."

    Mary took a drink of her tea and tearfully looked at her friend, "But I would never get my work done if I left at 4:30!"

    Susan looked thoughtfully at her, "When you go to work on Monday, look at what you have on your desk. Make a list of everything you have to get done and beside that list write the impact of not doing it. Then focus only on the top three items that have the most impact. Do that everyday for a week.

    At first, you will find it difficult to leave. But, after awhile, you will find that you will have more energy, and you will be more focused in your work because you have BALANCE! There are times when we have to lose balance - a special project at work, or a family matter at home - but consciously focusing on balance keeps everything in check."

    Mary smiled at her friend, "Thanks for talking with me. We have been friends for so long. Thank heavens I have balance with your friendship!
    You have convinced me. I will leave the work in my briefcase this weekend.

    On Monday, I will make the list first thing. Perhaps next weekend, I will have the time to go golfing with you!"

    "Balance of Life" - important for us ALL!.

    Of course I would deny the fact that The Ultimate Balance of Life would be balancing between Material Life and Spiritual Life.

    Sunday, November 26, 2006

    10 tips to stay Young

    Research has found that people who generally live longer do so partly because of good habits. Here, Dr Vernon Coleman and others provide some of the following good habits for longevity.

    1. Laugh & fun, don’t be gloomy

    2. Let bygones be bygones. Dwelling on the past inflicts unnecessary stress.

    3. Early to bed, early to rise, is healthy & wise

    4. Stay lean, being just 30% overweight is bad.

    5. Keep learning, reading & socializing – an alert & active mind keeps brain cells healthy.

    6. Keep working, doing something you like. Don’t retire, it slows down your body.

    7. Be the boss of your own life. Letting others push you around produces stress.

    8. Too many pills ruin your body, take just what you need (if at all its completely unavoidable).

    9. Constantly alternating between weight gain & loss is bad

    10. Exercise, quit smoking and eat less fatty foods

    11. Do not worry about health & death, just get on with your life and enjoy it.
    Yes, I can actually hear some people saying 'Easier said than done' after reading the above 10 tips. But I am sure it is possible to follow at least few if not everything. This way eventually you might be able to gain control over every of the listed tips above.

    Puzzle - 7

    Here is the next puzzle for our brainy readers.

    A magician was boasting one day at how long he could hold his breath under water. His record was 6 minutes. A kid that was listening said, "that's nothing, I can stay under water for 10 minutes using no types of equipment or air pockets!" The magician told the kid if he could do that, he'd give him $10,000. The kid did it and won the money. Can you figure out how?

    Ans: Actually 'under water' is the key... This poured water in a bucket and hung above the head then stood under it. So, stayed under water...Answers in the comments are acceptable too. If somebody tell me that the kid went to Sentosa and stayed inside 'Under Water' world is agreeable too

    Secret of Success

    "Sir, What is the secret of your success?" a reporter asked a bank president.

    "Two words"

    "And, Sir,what are they?"

    "Right decisions."

    "And how do you make right decisions?"

    "One word."

    "And,sir,What is that?"

    "Experience."

    "And how do you get Experience ?"

    "Two words"

    "And, Sir,what are they?"

    "Wrong decisions"

    - Even if you didn't know about this before... Let me highlight back to you that Mistakes are the secrets of Success, Provided you learn from it.

    In the Line Of Fire

    We say that we are hardworking. Working 16 Hrs a day, work with our brains and minds, We deserve the high pay package etc.. sitting in the A/C , typing abcd, complaining abt the canteen food. I don't really know if anybody else deserves more than what we do...

    Vivek Pradhan wasn't a happy man. Even the plush comfort of the First Class air-conditioned compartment of the Shatabdi Express couldn't cool his frayed nerves. He was the Project Manager and entitled to air travel. It was not the prestige he sought, he had tried to reason with the admin guy, it was the savings in time.
    A PM had so many things to do! He opened his case and took out the laptop, determined to put the time to some good use.
    "Are you from the software industry sir," the man beside him was staring appreciatively at the laptop.
    Vivek glanced briefly and mumbled in affirmation, handling the laptop now with exaggerated care and importance as if it were an expensive car.
    "You people have brought so much advancement to the country sir. Today everything is getting computerized."
    'Thanks," smiled Vivek, turning around to give the man a detailed look. He always found it difficult to resist appreciation.
    The man was young and stocky like a sportsman. He looked simple and strangely out of place in that little lap of luxury like a small town boy in a prep school. He probably was a Railway sportsman making the most of his free traveling pass.
    "You people always amaze me," the man continued, "You sit in an office and write something on a computer and it does so many big things outside."
    Vivek smiled deprecatingly. Naivety demanded reasoning not anger. "It is not as simple as that my friend. It is not just a question of writing a few lines. There is a lot of process that goes behind it." For a moment he was tempted to explain the entire Software Development Lifecycle but restrained himself to a single statement. "It is complex, very complex."
    "It has to be. No wonder you people are so highly paid," came the reply. This was not turning out as Vivek had thought. A hint of belligerence came into his so far affable, persuasive tone.
    "Everyone just sees the money. No one sees the amount of hard work we have to put in." "Hard work!" "Indians have such a narrow concept of hard work.
    Just because we sit in an air-conditioned office doesn't mean our brows don't sweat. You exercise the muscle; we exercise the mind and believe me that is no less taxing."
    He had the man where he wanted him and it was time to drive home the point. "Let me give you an example. Take this train. The entire railway reservation system is computerized. You can book a train ticket between any two stations from any of the hundreds of computerized booking centers across the country. Thousands of transactions accessing a single database at a given time; concurrency, data integrity, locking, data security.
    Do you understand the complexity in designing and coding such a system?" The man was stuck with amazement, like a child at a planetarium. This was something big and beyond his imagination.
    "You design and code such things." "I used to," Vivek paused for effect, "But now I am the project manager,"
    "Oh!" sighed the man, as if the storm had passed over, "so your life is easy now."
    It was like being told the fire was better than the frying pan. The man had to be given a feel of the heat.
    "Oh come on, does life ever get easy as you go up the ladder. Responsibility only brings more work. Design and coding! That is the easier part. Now I don't do it, but I am responsible for it and believe me, that is far more stressful. My job is to get the work done in time and with the highest quality. And to tell you about the pressures! There is the customer at one end always changing his requirements, the user wanting something else and your boss always expecting you to have finished it yesterday."
    Vivek paused in his diatribe, his belligerence fading with self-realisation. What he had said was not merely the outburst of a wronged man, it was the truth. And one need not get angry while defending the truth.
    "My friend," he concluded triumphantly, "you don't know what it is to be in the line of fire."
    The man sat back in his chair, his eyes closed as if in realization. When he spoke after sometime, it was with a calm certainty that surprised Vivek.
    "I know sir, I know what it is to be in the line of fire," He was staring blankly as if no passenger, no train existed, just a vast expanse of time.
    "There were 30 of us when we were ordered to capture Point 4875 in the cover of the night. The enemy was firing from the top.There was no knowing where the next bullet was going to come from and for whom. In the morning when we finally hoisted the tricolor at the top only 4 of us were alive."
    "You are a..." "I am Subedar Sushant Singh from the 13 J&K Rifles on duty at Peak 4875 in Kargil. They tell me I have completed my term and can opt for a land assignment. But tell me sir, can one give up duty just because it makes life easier. On the dawn of that capture one of my colleagues lay injured in the snow, open to enemy fire while we were hiding behind a bunker. It was my job to go and fetch that soldier to safety. But my captain refused me permission and went ahead himself. He said that the first pledge he had taken as a Gentleman Cadet was to put the safety and welfare of the nation foremost followed by the safety and welfare of the men he commanded. His own personal safety came last, always and every time. He was killed as he shielded that soldier into the bunker. Every morning now as I stand guard I can see him taking all those bullets, which were actually meant for me. I know sir, I know what it is to be in the line of fire."
    Vivek looked at him in disbelief not sure of his reply. Abruptly he switched off the laptop. It seemed trivial, even insulting to edit a word document in the presence of a man for whom valor and duty was a daily part of life; a valor and sense of duty which he had so far attributed only to epical heroes.
    The train slowed down as it pulled into the station and Subedar Sushant Singh picked up his bags to alight. "It was nice meeting you sir."
    Vivek fumbled with the handshake. This was the hand that had climbed mountains, pressed the trigger and hoisted the tricolor. Suddenly as if by impulse he stood at attention, and his right hand went up in an imprompt salute.
    It was the least he felt he could do for the country.
    PS: The incident he narrates during the capture of Peak 4875 is a true life incident during the Kargil war. Major Vikram Batra sacrificed his life while trying to save one of the men he commanded, as victory was within sight. For this and his various other acts of bravery he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra - the nation's highest military award

    Saturday, November 25, 2006

    Puzzle - 6

    This puzzle is a real challenge for your lateral thinking.

    Once there was loving couple travelling in a bus in a mountainous area. They decided to get down at some place. The couple disembarked and the bus moved on. As the bus moved on, a humongous rock fell on the bus from the mountain and crushed the bus to crumbs. Everybody on board was killed. The couple upon seeing that, said, "We wish we were on that bus". Why do u think they said that? I shall wait for the readers answer first in the comment section...

    Ans: As mentioned in the comment section - The Bus would have passed by before the rock fell down If it didn't have to stop to let the couple alight...

    Bangalore - Garden City, A Historical look...

    Let us look back into the history of Bangalore (One of the Popular City in India), which is being called as Silicon Valley(Software Park) of India.

    A view of Brigade Road (The Most Popular road in Bangalore today), when you are coming down from South Parade Road (now called as MG Road) on the left hand side. The left hand side building is still standing, and housed the Ashok Electricals, the Post Office, now it is the LEE and Louis Philips showroom, The Post Office has been given eviction notice!! The building still supports the British Coat of Arms found on Government buildings. This has been covered in Brigade Road Photographs. The building on the right has been modified and part brought down, and houses a wine store. The building above that is called the Edward Building and was built in 1935. It used to be neglected and was a shop for garments, now it houses an Internet access office. The building still further up is called Albert Building, and is trying to survive between owners.

    This is the BRV Talkies in its heyday, showing the monogram of the regiment. Most of the building has not changed in structure, but a wall has been added in front that obscures the view, and the local additions of decor have also changed the side to display a large board of some advertisement or the other. For sometime this was used as a theatre, but later it was converted into a shopping / office establishment for the Military personnel, but apparently that did not work out too well. Being a busy main road parking could be one of the factors.

    This is one of the 'Victoria's' that one used to talk about. Until the 1960's these used to ply on the roads, and some of the stables were maintained on Richmond Road and Brigade Road. With the increase of motorised traffic and difficult to look after the horses and carriage body work, they have vanished, perhaps they come out for a Marvadi wedding or for a shooting of a movie. I do recall that when we were young, our family used to go to Lalbagh in these carriages. There were no taxis or autorikshaws that one finds today

    New Opera is still looking like the above photograph, except that it is not being used, and encroached by small shops that sell clothes and computer software and hardware, and even have Internet browsing facilities in the back nooks and corners. Today's look is also available on my photograph page. The ladder at the left side of the building leads to the projector room, and the larger staircase leads to the balcony. I may have been inside this place about 30 years ago.

    The only vehicles of transportation used by the majority of people those days were the man-pulled rickshaws and Victoria's (horse drawn four wheeled carriages) for longer distances. Only the rich had cars, and the few taxis were used by tourists and visitors who came frequently to Bangalore.

    The above is Oriental building at the intersection of St. Marks Road and M.G.Road.

    It was a Clean City with gardens all over. Everyone lived in a Cottage or Bungalow that invariably had a garden around. It was then that Bangalore could be called the "Garden City" unlike the mounds of Garbage one finds on every road, street and lane of today. It was a Military Cantonment and although the Other Ranks of the Army were inclined to be boisterous under the influence of alcohol towards the end of the day, the British Military Police that patrolled the streets for the greater part of the day, immediately picked up any Ranker that misbehaved and discipline was restored in a short while with the effect of the short end of their batons. Courtesy was the order of the day and made living easy and harmonious for everyone.

    The heart of the city in those days was the so called MacIver Town, the area around South Parade, St. Mark's Road, Brigade Road and Cubbon Road. Each Town had it's own Park, and apparently Coles Park was one of the big ones as it flanked Promenade Road and St. John's Church Road. This area came under the Military Administration and was extremely well maintained unlike the nightmare that it is today. There was a Bangalore Military Officers Mess on Promenade Road that was well maintained and had some fabulous trophies in silver.

    The Mayo Hall on South Parade was built in honour of the Governor-General of India Lord Mayo who was later assassinated in the Andaman Islands. It was inaugurated with great fanfare by the British Resident in the year 1904. The Mayo Hall was the venue for all important public gatherings, exhibitions and housed several public offices and nine Law Courts. It also was the Municipal Office for the Cantonment. The Parade Ground on South Parade was surrounded by a track maintained by the Military for Horse Riding.

    Few interesting things about old Bangalore:
    Funnel's Restaurant (where the Deccan Herald Office stands today) was a very popular Restaurant with Other Rankers and always very crowded and noisy. Occasionally a few of the men got into a brawl and it ended through the window onto the pavement!

    The other well known places on South Parade were Dias Music Saloon, Barton's, Spencer's & Co., and Chellaram Silk House.

    Dias Music Saloon was started by a Goan, Jose Mariano Dias in 1927. Every instrument for Western Music and Musical Scores were available at Dias. There were pianos for sale and hire and pianos were sold at Rs. 250/- to Rs.650/- for the best ones!! (Today you cannot pick up a good second hand piano for less than a lakh or Rupees!!). Dias Saloon was a place which no music lover could resist and often Army Officers, who were music professionals before the War, would step into his shop and play on his instruments. Mr. Dias was a pleasant person who welcomed music lovers and allowed them to use his instruments.

    Chellarams (where Simco glassware stands today), was the house for the best and most fabulous sarees and silks. It catered for many of the Princely tastes and Artists. The resident had witnessed persons like Uday Shankar, Ram Gopal, Vyjantimala and reputed exponents of Indian dancing and Princes from Indore and Hyderabad shopping at Chellaram's.

    Barton's where Barton Court stands today, was the house of silver masters of sterling quality. P.A. Barton was an Englishman who established his Firm of silversmiths using local craftsmen. It was patronised by a large number of Indian Princes and the British rulers and military personnel to furnish their Messes with silverware. Their exclusive and superior clientele encouraged the owners to maintain it's quality which earned then the reputation of "Bartonplate". Their master craftsmen have been working for Barton's for more than two generations.

    Spencer & Co. also started by an Englishman, Mr. Oakshot. It was the most sophisticated and only Departmental Store in the true sense. It was a store where one could buy anything from literally a "pin to an elephant", as the saying goes, under one roof. Spencer's prided itself on quality, good service, which extended to after-sales commitment, and reasonable prices. The tradition of quality and good service dates back to 1864. Spencer's was not just an outlet for sale of groceries, cosmetics and other goods. Spencer's had their own factories where strict quality control was observed. It was this feature that made Spencer's brand product popular and always in great demand. Courtesy was a tradition that made shopping at Spencer's a pleasure.

    The West End Hotel was another proof of the efficiency of Spencer's who owned the Hotel. It was a 1st. Class Hotel run according to British Standards of god wholesome food and al that goes with class living as Hotels go. The charges in those days was Rs.12/- per person per day inclusive of food and service. Next in order was the Central Hotel, also in High Style and good cuisine for a charge of Rs.10/- per room per person.

    It boggles the mind to think that just in 50 years time, Bangalore has changed for the worse in every respect.

    No more late working...

    This news is bit old, but it is applicable even today. According to the research done spending longs hours at work in front of computers can cause blood clots similar to deep vein thrombosis afflicting some long-haul airline passengers it seems. The bottom line is, please don't sit for too long and take short breaks. Also try avoid working late.

    Visit Hindu Daily to read the full article

    If You Lover Her...

    ORIGINAL QUOTE
    --------------
    If you love someone,
    Set her free...
    If she comes back, she's yours,
    If she doesn't, she never was....

    THE NEW VERSIONS.....

    Pessimist:
    ----------
    If you love someone,
    Set her free ...
    If she ever comes back, she's yours,
    If she doesn't, as expected, she never was

    Optimist:
    ---------
    If you love someone,
    Set her free ...
    Don't worry, she will come back.

    Suspicious:
    -----------
    If you love someone,
    Set her free ...
    If she ever comes back, ask her why.

    Impatient:
    ---------=
    If you love someone,
    Set her free ...
    If she doesn't comes back within some time
    forget her.

    Patient:
    --------
    If you love someone,
    Set her free .
    If she doesn't come back, continue to wait
    until she comes back .

    Playful:
    --------
    If you love someone,
    Set her free .
    * If she comes back, and if you love her
    still, set her free again, rep! eat *

    C++ Programmer:
    ---------------
    if(you-love(m_she))
    m_she.free()
    if(m_she == NULL)
    m_she= new CShe;

    Animal-Rights Activist:
    -----------------------
    If you love someone,
    Set her free,
    In fact, all living creatures deserve to
    be free!!

    Lawyers:
    --------
    If you love someone,
    Set her free,
    Clause 1a of Paragraph 13a-1 in the second
    amendment of the Matrimonial Freedom Act
    clearly states that...

    Bill Gates :
    ------------
    If you love someone,
    Set her free,
    If she comes back,
    I think we can charge her for re-installation fees
    and but tell her that
    she's also going to get an upgrade.

    Biologist :
    -----------
    If you love someone,
    Set her free,
    She'll evolve.

    Statisticians :
    ---------------
    If you love someone,
    Set her free,
    If she loves you,
    the probability of her coming back is high
    If she doesn't, your relation was
    improbable anyway.

    Schwarzenegger's fans:
    ----------------------
    If you love someone,
    Set her free,
    SHE'LL BE BACK!

    Over possessive person
    ----------------------
    If you love someone
    don't set her free.

    HR specialist
    -------------
    If you love someone
    set her free by
    Offering her VRS and other benefits
    Then outsource her.


    MBA
    ---
    If you love someone
    set her free
    instantaneously
    and look for others simultaneously

    Psychologist
    ------------
    If you love someone
    set her free
    If she comes back her super ego is dominant
    If she doesn't come back her id is supreme
    If she doesn't go, she must be crazy.

    Somnambulist
    ------------
    If you love someone
    set her free
    If she comes back it's a nightmare
    If she doesn't, you must be dreaming.

    Rhett Butler
    ------------
    If you love someone
    set YOURSELF FREE
    If she asks you why
    say you don't give a damn.

    ERP functional expert
    ---------------------
    If you love someone
    set her free
    If she comes back, map her into your system
    If she does'nt, carry out a gap-fit analysis

    Finance expert
    --------------
    If you love someone
    set her free
    If she comes back its time to look fresh loans
    If she doesn't, write her off as an asset gone bad.

    Marketing Expert
    ----------------
    If you love someone
    set her free
    If she comes back she has brand loyalty
    If she doesn't, reposition the brand in new markets.

    Let Go

    One evening a man was out walking, but he had become so absorbed is his own thoughts that, without realizing, had wandered way off course and was now completely lost. It was getting late and cold and would soon be dark. An hour or so passed and it was now pitch-black. He began to feel afraid and his steps became quicker and unsteady.

    Suddenly, something underneath him gave way and he fell. He tumbled down and down and just as he way about to fall over a ledge he managed to grab onto a branch. But, he was now just hanging there. No way to climb back up and nothing but darkness below him.

    "Help! Somebody!! Please Help me!" he cried out. But no one came; it was a desolate place. He was terrified. His hands were freezing cold and he was losing his grip on the branch.

    There was no one to help!! In sheer desperation this man, who was an atheist, call out to God, "Please please if you're there God please help me, save me and I will believe in you always!!" Suddenly, and to his amazement, a voice echoed all around him, "Trust Me .Let Go . I've Got You Trust In Me."

    The man looked around him and below him and thought for a moment, then he mumbled to himself, "Let go? Trust? You must think I'm mad?? No way!"

    This story doesn't always end like this but I think that many people find themselves in this man's situation. Maybe not necessarily hanging from a branch in the middle of no where, but never the less in a desperate situation where all their deepest instincts are telling them just to let go, to surrender themselves to a higher, deeper power or energy of some kind, to drop into the unknown, with just trust. But they are so full of doubt and fear that they just cling on instead.

    The alternate ending to this story is that the desperate man, sensing he has little choice, decides to let go. He falls into the void below, but moments later he finds himself on solid ground. It had been so dark that he could never have known that the ground was no more than about 20ft below. He was safe and unharmed. What's more, it turns out that the ground he has landed on is a pathway; the pathway he had been searching for all along - the route home!

    To me, this whole story is a lovely metaphor for having the courage to trust what is deepest within us, no matter what, to have the nerve to surrender to ourselves.

    We will get a beautiful surprise. The dark void is actually the source of all life. The 'ground' below is actually the "Ground of Being", which is another way of saying God, which is another way of saying our truest, realest Nature. This is most definitely the way home!

    Friday, November 24, 2006

    Ilussion - 1

    I am planning to post some of the cool Illusions series here...To start with experience this coolest Illusion, I have seen so far.

    Follow the instructions:

    Relax and concentrate on the 4 small dots in the middle of the picture for about 30 - 40 secs. Then, take a look at a wall near you (any smooth, single coloured surface). You will see a circle of light developing. Start blinking your eyes a couple of times and you will see a figure emerging…. What do you see??? In fact I should ask Who do you see???
    Isn’t this cool?

    Formula-One Facts

    Here are some interesting facts about F1 Car Racing for those who doesn't know about these or F1 Lovers wishing to know more...
    1. An F1 car is made up of 80,000 components, if it were assembled 99.9% correctly, it would still start the race with 80 things wrong!

    2. Formula 1 cars have over a kilometer of cable, linked to about 100 sensors and actuators which monitor and control many parts of the car.

    3. An F1 car can go from 0 to 160 kmph AND back to 0 in FOUR seconds

    4. F1 car engines last only for about 2 hours of racing mostly before blowing up on the other hand we expect our engines to last us for a decent 20yrs on an average and they quite faithfully DO....that's the extent to which the engines r pushed to perform...

    5. When an F1 driver hits the brakes on his car he experiences retardation or deceleration comparable to a regular car driving through a BRICK wall at 300kmph !!!

    6. An average F1 driver looses about 4kgs of weight after just one race due to the prolonged exposure to high G forces and temperatures for little over an hour (Yeah that's right!!!)

    7. At 550kg a F1 car is less than half the weight of a Mini.

    8. In an F1 car the engine typically revs up to 18000 rpm,(the piston traveling up and down 300 times a second!!) where as cars like the Palio, Maruti 800, Indica rev only up to 6000 rpm at max. That's 3 times slower.

    9. The brake discs in an F1 car have an operating temperature of approx 1000 degrees Centigrade and they attain that temp while braking before almost every turn...that is why they r not made of steel but of carbon fibre which is much more harder and resistant to wear and tear and most of all has a higher melting point.

    10. If a water hose were to blow off, the complete cooling system would empty in just over a second.

    11. Gear cogs or ratios are used only for one race, and are replaced regularly to prevent failure, as they are subjected to very high degrees of stress.

    12. The fit in the cockpit is so tight that the steering wheel must be removed for the driver to get in or out of the car. A small latch behind the wheel releases it from the column. Levers or paddles for changing gear are located on the back of the wheel. So no gear stick! The clutch levers are also on the steering wheel, located below the gear paddles.

    13. To give you an idea of just how important aerodynamic design and added down force can be, small planes can take off at slower speeds than F1 cars travel on the track.

    14. Without aerodynamic down force, high-performance racing cars have sufficient power to produce wheel spin and loss of control at 160kph. They usually race at over 300 kmph.

    15. The amount of aerodynamic down force produced by the front and rear wings and the car underbody is amazing. Once the car is travelling over 160 kmph, an F1 car can generate enough down force to equal it's own weight. That means it could actually hold itself to the CEILING of a tunnel and drive UPSIDE down!

    16. In a street course race like the monaco grand prix, the down force provides enough suction to lift manhole covers. Before the race all of the manhole covers on the streets have to be welded down to prevent this from happening!

    17. The re-fuelers used in F1 can supply 12 litres of fuel per second. This means it would take just 4 seconds to fill the tank of an average 50 litres family car. They use the same refueling rigs used on US military helicopters today.

    18. TOP F1 pit crews can refuel and change tyres in around 3 seconds. & 8 sec to read above point.

    19. Race car tyres don't have air in them like normal car tyres. Most racing tyres have nitrogen in the tyres because nitrogen has a more consistent pressure compared to normal air. Air typically contains varying amounts of water vapour in it, which affects its expansion and contraction as a function of temperature, making the tyre pressure unpredictable.

    20. During the race the tyres lose weight! Each tyre loses about 0.5kg in weight due to wear.

    21. Normal tyres last 60 000 - 100 000 km. Racing tyres are designed to last 90 - 120 km (That's Khandala and back).

    22. A dry-weather F1 tyre reaches peak operating performance (best grip) when tread temperature is between 900C and 1200C.(Water boils boils at 100C remember) At top speed, F1 tyres rotate 50 times a second.

    The 99 Club

    Once upon a time, there lived a King who, despite his luxurious lifestyle, was neither happy nor content.
    One day, the King came upon a servant who was singing happily while he worked. This fascinated the King; why was he, the Supreme Ruler of the Land, unhappy and gloomy, while a lowly servant had so much joy. The King asked the servant, "Why are you so happy?"
    The man replied, "Your Majesty, I am nothing but a servant, but my family and I don't need too much - just a roof over our heads and warm food to fill our tummies."
    The king was not satisfied with that reply. Later in the day, he sought the advice of his most trusted advisor. After hearing the King's woes and the servant's story, the advisor said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the servant has not been made part of The 99 Club."
    "The 99 Club? And what exactly is that?" the King inquired.
    The advisor replied, "Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Club is, place 99 Gold coins in a bag and leave it at this servant's doorstep."
    When the servant saw the bag, he took it into his house. When he opened the bag, he let out a great shout of joy... so many gold coins!
    He began to count them. After several counts, he was at last convinced that there were 99 coins. He wondered, "What could've happened to that last gold coin? Surely, no one would leave 99 coins!" He looked everywhere he could, but that final coin was elusive. Finally, exhausted, he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to earn that gold coin and complete his collection. From that day, the servant's life was changed. He was overworked, horribly grumpy, and castigated his family for not helping him make that 100th gold coin. He stopped singing while he worked.
    Witnessing this drastic transformation, the King was puzzled. When he sought his advisor's help, the advisor said, "Your Majesty, the servant has now officially joined The 99 Club."
    He continued, "The 99 Club is a name given to those people who have enough to be happy but are never contented, because they're always yearning and striving for that extra 1 telling to themselves: "Let me get that one final thing and then I will be happy for life."

    We can be happy, even with very little in our lives, but the minute we're given something bigger and better, we want even more! We lose our sleep, our happiness, we hurt the people around us; All these as a price for our growing needs and desires. That's what joining The 99 Club is all about."

    So are you in The 99 Club?

    Golden Rules for Career Success

    Richard Moran working as a business consultant all over the world, have discovered some basic career-related rules that everyone should know-but many don't.
    • Business is made up of ambiguous victories and nebulous defeats.Claim them all as victories.

    • Keep track of what you do; someone is sure to ask.

    • Be comfortable around managers, or learn to fake it.

    • Never bring your boss a problem without some solution.

    • You are getting paid to think, not to whine.

    • Long hours don't mean anything; results count, not effort.

    • Write down ideas; they get lost, like good pens.

    • Always arrive at work 30 minutes before your boss.

    • Help other people network for jobs. You never know when your turn will come.

    • Don't take days off sick-unless you are.

    • Assume no one can/will keep a secret.

    • Know when you do your best-morning, night, under pressure, relaxed; schedule and prioritize your work accordingly.

    • Treat everyone who works in the organization with respect and dignity, whether it be the cleaner or the managing director. Don't ever be patronizing.

    • Never appear stressed in front of a client, a customer or your boss. Take a deep breath and ask yourself: In the course of human events, how important is this?

    • If you get the entrepreneurial urge, visit someone who has his own business. It may cure you.

    • Acknowledging someone else's contribution will repay you doubly.

    • Career planning is an oxymoron. The most exciting opportunities tend to be unplanned.

    • Always choose to do what you'll remember ten years from now.

    • The size of your office is not as important as the size of your pay cheque.

    • Understand what finished work looks like and deliver your work only when it is finished.

    • The person who spends all of his or her time is not hard-working; he or she is boring.

    • Know how to write business letters-including thank-you notes as well as proposals.

    • Never confuse a memo with reality. Most memos from the top are political fantasy..

    • Eliminate guilt. Don't fiddle expenses, taxes or benefits, and don't cheat colleagues.

    • Reorganizations mean that someone will lose his or her job.Get on the committee that will make the recommendations.

    • Job security does not exist. Always have an answer to the question, "What would I do if I lost my job tomorrow?"

    • Go to the company Christmas party. But Don't get drunk at the company party.

    • Avoid working at weekends. Work longer during the week if you have to.

    • The most successful people in business are interesting.

    • Sometimes you'll be on a winning streak and everything will click; take maximum advantage. When the opposite is true, hold steady and wait it out.

    • Never in your life say, "It's not my job."

    • Be loyal to your career, your interests and yourself.

    • Understand the skills and abilities that set you apart. Use them whenever you have an opportunity.

    • People remember the end of the project. As they say in boxing, "Always finish stronger than you start."

    Thursday, November 23, 2006

    Puzzle - 5

    How do you call this?




    All right, The answer is WEST MAMBALAM. Try the next Puzzle please...

    A Glass of Milk

    One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

    Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you?"

    You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."

    He said..... "Then I thank you from my heart."

    As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

    Many year's later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

    Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once.

    He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case.

    After a long struggle, the battle was won.

    Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words.....

    "Paid in full with one glass of milk" ........ (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

    Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, God, that Your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands."

    There's a saying which goes something like this: Bread cast on the waters comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place - And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?

    Now you have two choices. You can send this page on and spread a positive message. Or ignore it and pretend it never touched your heart. The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn...

    "If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it " - Denny

    My Friend Jim

    Around the corner I have a friend,
    In this great city that has no end,
    Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
    And before I know it, a year is gone.
    And I never see my old friends face,
    For life is a swift and terrible race,
    He knows I like him just as well,
    As in the days when I rang his bell.
    And he rang mine if, we were younger then,
    And now we are busy, tired men.
    Tired of playing a foolish game,
    Tired of trying to make a name.
    Tomorrow" I say, "I will call on Jim"
    "Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
    But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
    And distance between us grows and grows.
    Around the corner! - yet miles away,
    "Here's a telegram sir" "Jim died today."
    And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
    Around the corner, a vanished friend.

    Remember to always say what you mean. If you love someone, tell them. Don't be afraid to express yourself. Reach out and tell someone what they mean to you. Because when you decide that it is the right time, it might be too late. Seize the day. Never have regrets. And most importantly, stay close to your friends and family, for they have helped make you the person that you are today.

    The Most, Greatest, Best and Worst

    The most destructive habit - Worry
    The most satisfying work - Helping others
    The most effective sleeping pill - Peace of mind
    The most crippling failure disease - Excuses
    The most powerful force in life - Love
    The most dangerous pariah - A gossiper
    The most incredible computer - The brain
    The most worthless emotion - Self-pity
    The most prized possession - Integrity
    The most powerful channel of communication - Prayer
    The most contagious spirit - Enthusiasm
    The most beautiful attire - SMILE!
    The most endangered species - Dedicated leaders
    The two most power-filled words - "I Can"
    The greatest Joy - Giving
    The greatest loss - Loss of self-respect
    The greatest asset - Faith
    Our greatest natural resource - Our youth
    The greatest "shot in the arm" - Encouragement
    The greatest problem to overcome - Fear
    The best company - Holy men
    The best thing to be without - Jealousy
    The best award - Appreciation
    The worst pass time - Criticism
    The worst company - Privilege seekers
    The worst thing to be without - Hope
    The worst personality trait - Selfishness
    The worst weapon - The tongue

    Everyone needs this list to live by...pass it along!!

    A true friend is one who walks in....
    ...when the rest of the world walks out...

    Wednesday, November 22, 2006

    Puzzle - 4

    Can anybody answer this Puzzle?

    If you know the answer, please leave it in the comment section

    Tension

    The moment you are in tension
    you will lose your attention
    then you are in total confusion
    and you'll feel irritation
    then you'll spoil personal relation
    ultimately, you won't get cooperation
    then you'll make things complication
    then your BP may also rise caution
    and you may have to take medication
    instead, understand the situation
    and try to think about the solution
    many problems will be solved by discussion which will work out better
    In your profession don't think its my free suggestion it is only for
    your prevention if you understand my intention
    You'll never come again to tension !!!

    Tips for becoming Good Leader

    Here's how you program yourself to become a leader...

    In organizations we must work with and for others. To be able to mutually achieve our goals we must be able to relate to others effectively. Leadership can be performed with different styles.

    Tips from Jack Welch, respected business leader and writer :

    • There is only one way - the straight way. It sets the tone of the organisation.

    • Be open to the best of what everyone, everywhere, has to offer. transfer learning across your organisation.

    • Get the right people in the right jobs - it is more important than developing a strategy.

    • An informal atmosphere is a competitive advantage.

    • Make sure everybody counts and everybody knows they count.

    • Legitimate self-confidence is a winner - the true test of self-confidence is the courage to be open.

    • Business has to be fun - celebrations energise and organisation.

    • Never underestimate the other guy.

    • Understand where real value is added and put your best people there.

    • Know when to meddle and when to let go - this is pure instinct.

    • As a leader, your main priority is to get the job done, whatever the job is. Leaders make things happen by:

      • knowing your objectives and having a plan how to achieve them

      • building a team committed to achieving the objectives

      • helping each team member to give their best efforts

      • As a leader you must know yourself. Know your own strengths and weaknesses, so that you can build the best team around you.
    Leadership can be daunting for many people simply because no-one else is issuing the aims - leadership often means you have to create your own from a blank sheet of paper. Set and agree clear standards. Keep the right balance between 'doing' yourself and managing others 'to do'.

    Be a role model – Individuals listen to people they respect and admire. They are more inclined to imitate examples of effective behavior and positive attitudes. Remember that they are watching closely to see how you respond to highly difficult or challenging situations!

    Some leaders lead by example and are very 'hands on'; others are more distanced and let their people do it. Whatever - your example is paramount - the way you work and conduct yourself will be the most you can possibly expect from your people. If you set low standards you are to blame for low standards in your people.

    "Praise loudly, blame softly."

    If you seek ONE Singlemost important behaviour that will rapidly earn you respect and trust among your people, this is it: Always give your people the credit for your achievements and successes. Never take the credit yourself - even if it's all down to you, which would be unlikely anyway. You must however take the blame and accept responsibility for any failings or mistakes that your people make. Never never never publicly blame another person for a failing. Their failing is your responsibility - true leadership offers is no hiding place for a true leader.

    Accentuate the positive - Express things in terms of what should be done, not what should not be done. If you accentuate the negative, people are more likely to veer towards it. Like the mother who left her five-year-old for a minute unsupervised in the kitchen, saying as she left the room, "...don't you go putting those beans up your nose..."

    Have faith in people to do great things - given space and air and time, everyone can achieve more than they hope for. Provide people with relevant interesting opportunities, with proper measures and rewards and they will more than repay your faith.

    Take difficult decisions bravely, and be truthful and sensitive when you implement them.

    Constantly seek to learn from the people around you - they will teach you more about yourself than anything else. They will also tell you 90% of what you need to know to achieve your business goals.

    Embrace change, but not for change's sake. Begin to plan your own succession as soon as you take up your new post, and in this regard, ensure that the only promises you ever make are those that you can guarantee to deliver.

    If you are interested in learning more - start with yourself.

    Remember .... " TO LEAD IS TO BECOME THE LEADER "