Dear Stranger, Letters on the subject of happiness by Richard Branson

Dear Stranger,

You don’t know me but I hear you are going through a tough time, and I would like to help you. I want to be open and honest with you, and let you know that happiness isn’t something just afforded to a special few. It can be yours, if you take the time to let it grow.

It’s OK to be stressed, scared and sad, I certainly have been throughout my 65 years. I’ve confronted my biggest fears time and time again. I’ve cheated death on many adventures, seen loved ones pass away, failed in business, minced my words in front of tough audiences, and had my heart broken.

I know I’m fortunate to live an extraordinary life, and that most people would assume my business success, and the wealth that comes with it, have brought me happiness. But they haven’t; in fact it’s the reverse. I am successful, wealthy and connected because I am happy.

Image from Virgin.com
So many people get caught up in doing what they think will make them happy but, in my opinion, this is where they fail. Happiness is not about doing, it’s about being. In order to be happy, you need to think consciously about it. Don’t forget the to-do list, but remember to write a to-be list too.

Kids are often asked: ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ The world expects grandiose aspirations: ‘I want to be a writer, a doctor, the prime minister.’ They’re told: go to school, go to college, get a job, get married, and then you’ll be happy. But that’s all about doing, not being – and while doing will bring you moments of joy, it won’t necessarily reward you with lasting happiness.

Stop and breathe. Be healthy. Be around your friends and family. Be there for someone, and let someone be there for you. Be bold. Just be for a minute.

Image by Rebecca Wedding Photography
If you allow yourself to be in the moment, and appreciate the moment, happiness will follow. I speak from experience. We’ve built a business empire, joined conversations about the future of our planet, attended many memorable parties and met many unforgettable people. And while these things have brought me great joy, it’s the moments that I stopped just to be, rather than do, that have given me true happiness. Why? Because allowing yourself just to be, puts things into perspective. Try it. Be still. Be present.

For me, it’s watching the flamingos fly across Necker Island at dusk. It’s holding my new grandchildren’s tiny hands. It’s looking up at the stars and dreaming of seeing them up close one day. It’s listening to my family’s dinner-time debates. It’s the smile on a stranger’s face, the smell of rain, the ripple of a wave, the wind across the sand. It’s the first snow fall of winter, and the last storm of summer.

There’s a reason we’re called human beings and not human doings. As human beings we have the ability to think, move and communicate in a heightened way. We can cooperate, understand, reconcile and love, that’s what sets us apart from most other species.

Image by Rebecca Wedding Photography
Don’t waste your human talents by stressing about nominal things, or that which you cannot change. If you take the time simply to be and appreciate the fruits of life, your stresses will begin to dissolve, and you will be happier.

But don’t just seek happiness when you’re down. Happiness shouldn’t be a goal, it should be a habit. Take the focus off doing, and start being every day. Be loving, be grateful, be helpful, and be a spectator to your own thoughts.

Allow yourself to be in the moment, and appreciate the moment. Take the focus off everything you think you need to do, and start being I promise you, happiness will follow.

Happy regards,

Richard Branson

8 Qualities That Make Great Bosses Unforgettable

8 Qualities That Make Great Bosses Unforgettable; by Jeff Haden,  Inc.

I remember all of my bosses. Some were bad. Most were good.

But only one was, in the best possible way, truly memorable.

Unforgettable bosses possess qualities that may not show up on paper but always show up where it matters most -- in the minds and even hearts of the people they lead.

Here are some of the qualities of truly unforgettable bosses:

1. They believe the unbelievable.

Most people try to achieve the achievable; that’s why most goals and targets are incremental rather than inconceivable.

Memorable bosses expect more -- from themselves and from others. Then they show you how to get there. And they bring you along for what turns out to be an unbelievable ride.

2. They see opportunity in instability and uncertainty.

Unexpected problems, unforeseen roadblocks, major crises... most bosses take down the sails, batten the hatches, and hope to wait out the storm.

A few see a crisis as an opportunity. They know it’s extremely difficult to make major changes, even necessary ones, when things are going relatively smoothly.

They know reorganizing an entire sales team is accepted more easily when a major customer goes under. They know creating new sales channels is a lot easier when a major competitor enters the market. They know reorganizing manufacturing operations is a lot easier when the flow of supplies and components gets disrupted.

Memorable bosses see instability and uncertainty not as a barrier but as an enabler. They reorganize, reshape, and re-engineer to reassure, motivate, and inspire -- and in the process make the organization much stronger.

3. They wear their emotions on their sleeves.

Good bosses are professional.

Memorable bosses are highly professional and yet also openly human. They show sincere excitement when things go well. They show sincere appreciation for hard work and extra effort. They show sincere disappointment -- not in others, but in themselves. They celebrate, they empathize, they worry. Sometimes they even get frustrated or angry.

In short, they’re human. And, unlike many bosses, they act as if they know it.

Professionalism is admirable. Professionalism -- with a healthy blend of humanity -- is inspiring.

4. They protect others from the bus.

Terrible bosses throw their employees under the bus.

Good bosses never throw their employees under the bus.

Memorable bosses see the bus coming and pull their employees out of the way often without the employee knowing until much, much later... if ever, because memorable bosses never try to take credit.

And if they can't, they take the hit. (And later speak privately to the employee in question.)

5. They’ve been there, done that... and still do that.

Dues aren't paid, past tense. Dues get paid each and every day. The true measure of value is the tangible contribution we make on a daily basis.

That’s why no matter what they may have accomplished in the past, memorable bosses are never too good to roll up their sleeves, get dirty, and do the “grunt” work. No job is ever too menial, no task ever too unskilled or boring.

Memorable bosses never feel entitled, which means no one feels entitled to anything but the fruits of their labor.

6. They lead by permission, not authority.

Every boss has a title. That title gives them the right to direct others, to make decisions, to organize and instruct and discipline.

Memorable bosses lead because their employees want them to lead. Their employees are motivated and inspired by the person, not the title.

Through their words and actions they cause employees feel they work with, not for, a boss. Many bosses don’t even recognize there’s a difference... but memorable bosses do.

7. They embrace a larger purpose.

A good boss works to achieve company goals.

A memorable boss also works to achieve company goals -- and achieves more than other bosses -- but also works to serve a larger purpose: to advance the careers of employees, to rescue struggling employees, to instill a sense of pride and self-worth in others. They aren’t just remembered for nuts and bolts achievements but for helping others on a personal and individual level.

Memorable bosses embrace a larger purpose, because they know business is always personal.

8. They take real, not fake risks.

Many bosses, like many people, try to stand out in some superficial way. Maybe through their clothes, their interests, or a public display of support for a popular initiative. They do stand out but they stand out for reasons of sizzle, not steak.

Memorable bosses stand out because they are willing to take an unpopular stand, take an unpopular step, accept the discomfort of ignoring the status quo, and risk sailing uncharted waters.

They take real risks not for the sake of risk but for the sake of the reward they believe possible. And by their example they inspire others to take risks in order to achieve what they believe is possible.

In short, memorable bosses inspire others to achieve their dreams: by words, by actions, and most importantly, by example.

The 50 New Rules of Work by Robin Sharma

The 50 New Rules of Work- Robin  Sharma
1.You are not just paid to work. You are paid to be uncomfortable – and to pursue projects that scare you.
2.Take care of your relationships and the money will take care of itself.
3.Lead you first. You can’t help others reach for their highest potential until you’re in the process of reaching for yours.
4.To double your income, triple your rate of learning.
5.While victims condemn change, leaders grow inspired by change.
6.Small daily improvements over time create stunning results.
7.Surround yourself with people courageous enough to speak truthfully about what’s best for your organization and the customers you serve.
8.Don’t fall in love with your press releases.
9.Every moment in front of a customer is a moment of truth (to either show you live by the values you profess – or you don’t). 10. Copying what your competition is doing just leads to being second best. 11.Become obsessed with the user experience such that every touchpoint of doing business with you leaves people speechless. No, breathless.
12.If you’re in business, you’re in show business. The moment you get to work, you’re on stage. Give us the performance of your life.
13.Be a Master of Your Craft. And practice + practice + practice.
14. Get fit like Madonna.
15.Read magazines you don’t usually read. Talk to people who you don’t usually speak to. Go to places you don’t commonly visit. Disrupt your thinking so it stays fresh + hungry + brilliant. 16.Remember that what makes a great business – in part – are the seemingly insignificant details. Obsess over them. 17.Good enough just isn’t good enough. 18.Brilliant things happen when you go the extra mile for every single customer. 19.An addiction to distraction is the death of creative production. Enough said.
20.If you’re not failing regularly, you’re definitely not making much progress.
21.Lift your teammates up versus tear your teammates down. Anyone can be a critic.
22.What takes guts is to see the best in people.Remember that a critic is a dreamer gone scared.
23.Leadership’s no longer about position. Now, it’s about passion. And having an impact through the genius-level work that you do.
24.The bigger the dream, the more important the team.
25.If you’re not thinking for yourself, you’re following – not leading.
26.Work hard. But build an exceptional family life. What’s the point of reaching the mountaintop but getting there alone. 27.The job of the leader is to develop more leaders.
28.The antidote to deep change is daily learning. Investing in your professional and personal development is the smartest investment you can make. Period.
29.Smile. It makes a difference.
30.Say “please” and “thank you”. It makes a difference.
31.Shift from doing mindless toil to doing valuable work.
32.Remember that a job is only just a job if all you see it as is a job.
33.Don’t do your best work for the applause it generates but for the personal pride it delivers.
34.The only standard worth reaching for is BIW (Best in World).
35.In the new world of business, everyone works in Human Resources.
36.In the new world of business, everyone’s part of the leadership team. 37.Words can inspire. And words can destroy. Choose yours well.
38.You become your excuses.
39.You’ll get your game-changing ideas away from the office versus in the middle of work. Make time for solitude. Creativity needs the space to present itself.
40.The people who gossip about others when they are not around are the people who will gossip about you when you’re not around.
41.It could take you 30 years to build a great reputation and 30 seconds of bad judgment to lose it.
42.The client is always watching.
43.The way you do one thing defines the way you’ll do everything. Every act matters.
44.To be radically optimistic isn’t soft. It’s hard. Crankiness is easy.
45.People want to be inspired to pursue a vision. It’s your job to give it to them.
46.Every visionary was initially called crazy.
47.The purpose of work is to help people. The other rewards are inevitable by-products of this singular focus. 48.Remember that the things that get scheduled are the things that get done. 49.Keep promises and be impeccable with your word. People buy more than just your products and services. They invest in your credibility.
50. Lead Without a Title

21 Habits Of Successful Entrepreneurs - Richard Branson

21 Habits Of Duccessful Entrepreneurs; Richard Branson

1. Fear Doesn’t Paralyze Them
2. They have a passion – making money is simply a byproduct
3. Entrepreneurs see failure as part of the path to success
4. Successful entrepreneurs surround themselves with a great team
5. They indulge themselves
6. They’re intentional
7. They start before they are ready
8. They are the chess players and not the pawns
9. They don’t waste time on email and social media
10. They think outside the box
11. Their cup is always half full
12. They take notes
13. They work hard and play hard
14. They give useful feedback
15. They like getting feedback
16. Entrepreneurs network constantly
17. They ask lots of questions
18. They surround themselves with the best
19. They are thankful
20. They don’t sound rehearsed
21. Their self-worth doesn’t fluctuate with their bank balance

Warren Buffet advice

Definition of Success - Zig Ziglar

Words of Ratan Tata

The Carpenter

The Carpenter

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer/contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized, we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project."

Who could say it more clearly? Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today. ( quoted from the web)

Star Fish

The Star Fish Story
'It made a difference for that one'

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out 'Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?'

The young man paused, looked up, and replied 'Throwing starfish into the ocean.'

'I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?' asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, 'The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die.'

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, 'But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!'

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, 'It made a difference for that one.'

So, can I encourage you to take the time to do something that will make difference to someone else's life ... and it doesn't have to be much and they don't need to know. Just take a moment, do something special ... the universe will know and that's enough.

7 plus 1 Habits of highly effective people

Habit 1: Be Proactive
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
Habit 3: Put First Things First
Habit 4: Think Win/Win
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Habit 6: Synergize
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Habit 8 : Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs

Jordan on failure

I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed
― Michael Jordan

Steve Jobs' design lesson

Story of Steve Job' first piece of advice from his father.

Having already marked off a section of his garage work bench for Steve - saying Steve, this is your workbench now, Paul Jobs began impressing upon his son the importance of high quality design and craftsmanship.

He began building a fence for the familys back garden in Mountain View and gave Steve a hammer to help out too, paying attention to the back of the fence as well as the visible front. The fence still stands 50 years later, because Paul focused upon the quality of his work. Steve said: I thought my dads sense of design was pretty good He loved doing things right. He even cared about the look of the parts you couldnt see.

This attitude clearly impacted upon Steves career and his incredible attention to detail at Apple. It is no coincidence that the inside of the iPhone look as good as the outside.

While I would beg to differ with many of Steves working methods - favouring more delegation over his dictatorial style everyone has to find the method that fits them best, and it certainly worked for him.

An inspirational speach by Bryan Dyson ( former CEO of Coca Cola)

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the Air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four Balls – Family, Health, Friends and Spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.”

Work efficiently during office hours and leave on time. Give the required time to your family, friends and have proper rest.

Value has a value only if its values is valued.

Little Boy Asks the Meaning of Life

Little Boy Asks the Meaning of Life, The
by: Author Unknown, A Quiet Place for the Mind

An eight-year-old boy approached an old man in front of a wishing well, looked up into his eyes, and asked:

"I understand you're a very wise man. I'd like to know the secret of life."

The old man looked down at the youngster and replied:

"I've thought a lot in my lifetime, and the secret can be summed up in four words

The first is think. Think about the values you wish to live your life by.

The second is believe. Believe in yourself based on the thinking you've done about the values you're going to live your life by.

The third is dream. Dream about the things that can be, based on your belief in yourself and the values you're going to live by.

The last is dare. Dare to make your dreams become reality, based on your belief in yourself and your values. "

And with that, Walter E. Disney said to the little boy,

Think, Believe, Dream, and Dare.

Why we shout when in anger

A Hindu saint who was visiting river Ganges to take bath found a group of family members on the banks, shouting in anger at each other. He turned to his disciples smiled and asked.

'Why do people shout in anger shout at each other?'

Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout.'

'But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner.' asked the saint

Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the other disciples.
Finally the saint explained, .

'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other to cover that great distance.

What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small...'

The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'

He looked at his disciples and said.

'So when you argue do not let your hearts get distant, Do not say words that distance each other more, Or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return. They may end up in divorce courts, for instance.'

Trees

Jellyfish

Story of a woodcutter

Once upon a time, a very strong woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant and he got it. The pay was really good and so was the work condition. For those reasons, the woodcutter was determined to do his best.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he supposed to work.

The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees.

“Congratulations,” the boss said. “Go on that way!”

Very motivated by the boss words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he could only bring 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he could only bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.

“I must be losing my strength”, the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.

“When was the last time you sharpened your axe?” the boss asked.

“Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees…”

Reflection:

Our lives are like that. We sometimes get so busy that we don’t take time to sharpen the “axe”. In today’s world, it seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy that ever.

Why is that? Could it be that we have forgotten how to stay “sharp”? There’s nothing wrong with activity and hard work. But we should not get so busy that we neglect the truly important things in life, like our personal life, taking time to get close to our Creator, giving more time for our family, taking time to read etc.

We all need time to relax, to think and meditate, to learn and grow. If we don’t take the time to sharpen the “axe”, we will become dull and lose our effectiveness.

Author: Stephen Covey
From: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

A glass of Milk, paid in Full

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.

Year’s later that 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 the 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 began to read the following words:

“Paid in full with one glass of milk.

Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly.”

Author Unknown

The story of a blind girl

There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry her boyfriend.

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything, including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, “Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?”

The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him. Her boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying:

“Just take care of my eyes dear.”

The Falcon

The Falcon--------Story with a Good Moral !!

Once there was a king who received a gift of two magnificent falcons from Arabia. They were peregrine falcons, the most beautiful birds he had ever seen. He gave the precious birds to his head falconer to be trained.

Months passed and one day the head falconer informed the king that though one of the falcons was flying majestically, soaring high in the sky, the other bird had not moved from its branch since the day it had arrived.

The king summoned healers and sorcerers from all the land to tend to the falcon, but no one could make the bird fly. He presented the task to the member of his court, but the next day, the king saw through the palace window that the bird had still not moved from its perch. Having tried everything else, the king thought to himself, "May be I need someone more familiar with the countryside to understand the nature of this problem." So he cried out to his court, "Go and get a farmer."

In the morning, the king was thrilled to see the falcon soaring high above the palace gardens. He said to his court, "Bring me the doer of this miracle."

The court quickly located the farmer, who came and stood before the king. The king asked him, "How did you make the falcon fly?"

With head bowed, the farmer said to the king, " It was very easy, your highness. I simply cut the branch where the bird was sitting."

Moral :-
We are all made to fly - to realize our incredible potential as human beings. But instead of doing that, we sit on our branches, clinging to the things that are familiar to us. The possibilities are endless, but for most of us, they remain undiscovered. We conform to the familiar, the comfortable, the mundane. So for the most part, our lives are mediocre instead of exciting, thrilling and fulfilling. So let us learn to destroy the branch of fear we cling to and free ourselves to the glory of flight..

Abdul Kalam on work

Famous Failures

Three apples that changed the world

The Broken Pot

The Broken Pot

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on an end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the masters house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his masters house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your masters house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts." the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the masters house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the Pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pots side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my masters table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In Gods great economy, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws.

Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness your strength is made perfect.

Rocks, pebbles and sand

A professor of philosophy stood before his class with some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks about two inches in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was full.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly and watched as the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The professor then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They chuckled and agreed that it was indeed full this time.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. The sand filled the remaining open areas of the jar. “Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar signifies your life. The rocks are the truly important things, such as family, health and relationships. If all else was lost and only the rocks remained, your life would still be meaningful. The pebbles are the other things that matter in your life, such as work or school. The sand signifies the remaining “small stuff” and material possessions.
If you put sand into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks or the pebbles. The same can be applied to your lives. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are truly important.

Pay attention to the things in life that are critical to your happiness and well-being. Take time to get medical check-ups, play with your children, go for a run, write your grandmother a letter. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, or fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first – things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just pebbles and sand.

Don't lay bricks, build a cathedral

A man happened along three bricklayers busy at work. He asked the first bricklayer, "What are you doing?"

"I'm laying bricks," the first bricklayer said.

The man asked the second bricklayer the same question.

"I'm putting up a wall," was the reply.

The passerby then posed the question to the third bricklayer.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm building a great cathedral," the third bricklayer replied.

(Always look at the big picture  and the greater cause of what you do)

Don't lay bricks, build a cathedral

A man happened along three bricklayers busy at work. He asked the first bricklayer, "What are you doing?"

"I'm laying bricks," the first bricklayer said.

The man asked the second bricklayer the same question.

"I'm putting up a wall," was the reply.

The passerby then posed the question to the third bricklayer.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm building a great cathedral," the third bricklayer replied.

(Always look at the big picture  and the greater cause of what you do)

One glass of wine

What are you doing?

Three men were laying brick. The first was asked: ""What are you doing?"" He answered: ""Laying some brick."" The second man was asked: ""What are you working for?"" He answered: ""Five dollars a day."" The third man was asked: ""What are you doing?"" He answered: ""I am helping to build a great cathedral."" Which man are you?
Charles Schwab

LETTER FROM ABRAHAM LINCOLN TO HIS SON'S TEACHER

LETTER FROM ABRAHAM LINCOLN TO HIS SON'S TEACHER

"My son starts school today. It is all going to be strange and new to
him for a while and I wish you would treat him gently. It is an
adventure that might take him across continents. All adventures that
probably include wars, tragedy and sorrow. To live this life will
require faith, love and courage.
So dear Teacher, will you please take him by his hand and teach him
things he will have to know, teaching him - but gently, if you can.
Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend. He will have to
know that all men are not just, that all men are not true. But teach
him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero, that for every
crooked politician, there is a dedicated leader.
Teach him if you can that 10 cents earned is of far more value than a dollar
found. In school, teacher, it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach
him to learn how to gracefully lose, and enjoy winning when he does win.
Teach him to be gentle with people, tough with tough people. Steer
him away from envy if you can and teach him the secret of quiet
laughter. Teach him if you can - how to laugh when he is sad, teach
him there is no shame in tears. Teach him there can be glory in
failure and despair in success. Teach him to scoff at cynics.
Teach him if you can the wonders of books, but also give time to
ponder the extreme mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and
flowers on a green hill. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas,
even if every one tell him they are wrong.
Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when
everyone else is doing it. Teach him to listen to every one, but teach
him also to filters all that he hears on a screen of truth and take only
the good that comes through.
Teach him to sell his talents and brains to the highest bidder but
never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Let him have the
courage to be impatient, let him have the patient to be brave. Teach
him to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always
have sublime faith in mankind, in God.
This is the order, teacher but see what best you can do. He is such a
nice little boy and he is my son.

Cheap options

Superb Speech by RATAN TATA at Symbiosis....

Superb Speech by RATAN TATA at Symbiosis....

Don’t just have career or academic goals.

Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order.

There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup.

There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts.

Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.

Don't take life seriously. Life is not meant to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here.

We are like a prepaid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends.

Do we really need to get so worked up?

It's OK, Bunk few classes, score low in couple of papers, take leave from work, fall in love, fight a little with ur spouse... It's ok... We are people, not programmed devices..!

"Don't be serious, enjoy Life as it comes

One percent improvement

Excerpts from an article  written by James Clear in the Entrepreneur

  In 2010, Dave Brailsford faced a tough job.

No British cyclist had ever won the Tour de France, but as the new General Manager and Performance Director for Team Sky (Great Britain’s professional cycling team), Brailsford was asked to change that.

His approach was simple.

Brailsford believed in a concept that he referred to as the “aggregation of marginal gains.” He explained it as “the 1 percent margin for improvement in everything you do.” His belief was that if you improved every area related to cycling by just 1 percent, then those small gains would add up to remarkable improvement.

They started by optimizing the things you might expect: the nutrition of riders, their weekly training program, the ergonomics of the bike seat, and the weight of the tires.

But Brailsford and his team didn’t stop there. They searched for 1 percent improvements in tiny areas that were overlooked by almost everyone else: discovering the pillow that offered the best sleep and taking it with them to hotels, testing for the most effective type of massage gel, and teaching riders the best way to wash their hands to avoid infection. They searched for 1 percent improvements everywhere.

Brailsford believed that if they could successfully execute this strategy, then Team Sky would be in a position to win the Tour de France in five years time.

He was wrong. They won it in three years.

In 2012, Team Sky rider Sir Bradley Wiggins became the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France. That same year, Brailsford coached the British cycling team at the 2012 Olympic Games and dominated the competition by winning 70 percent of the gold medals available.

In 2013, Team Sky repeated their feat by winning the Tour de France again, this time with rider Chris Froome. Many have referred to the British cycling feats in the Olympics and the Tour de France over the past 10 years as the most successful run in modern cycling history.

And now for the important question: what can we learn from Brailsford’s approach?
The Aggregation of Marginal Gains

Where are the 1 percent improvements in your life?

The inside story of Karu’s legend

The inside story of Karu’s legend

These glorious insults are from an era before

These glorious insults are from an era before the English language got boiled down to 4-letter words.

A member of Parliament to Disraeli:"Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease.”
"That depends, Sir, "   said Disraeli,"whether I embrace your policies or your mistress."

                   
"He had delusions of adequacy   ."
-Walter Kerr

                   
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
- Winston Churchill

                   
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure."
-Clarence Darrow

                   
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary."
-William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)

"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it."
-Moses Hadas

                   
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it."
-Mark Twain

"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends."
-Oscar Wilde

                   
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend, if you have one."
-George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... if there is one."                   
-Winston Churchill, in response

                   
"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here."
-Stephen Bishop

"He is a self-made man and worships his creator."
-John Bright

                   
"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial."
-Irvin S. Cobb

"He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others."
-Samuel Johnson

                   
"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up."
- Paul Keating

                   
"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily."
-Charles, Count Talleyrand

                   
"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him."
-Forrest Tucker

"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?"
-Mark Twain

"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork."
-Mae West

                   
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go."
-Oscar Wilde

                   
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination."
-Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

                   
"He has Van Gogh's ear for music."
-Billy Wilder

"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but I'm afraid this wasn't it."
-Groucho Marx

Enjoy

A bookseller conducting a market survey asked a woman – “Which book has helped you most in your life?”
The woman replied – “My husband’s cheque book !!”

A prospective husband in a book store “Do you have a book called, ‘Husband – the Master of the House’?
Sales Girl : “Sir, Fiction and Comics are on the 1st floor!”.

Someone asked an old man : “Even after 70 years, you still call your wife – Darling, Honey, Luv. What’s the secret ?
Old man : I forgot her name and I’m scared to ask her.

A man in Hell asked Devil : Can I make a call to my Wife ?
After making call he asked how much to pay.
Devil : Nothing. Hell to hell is Free.

Wife : I wish I was a newspaper. So I’d be in your hands all day.
Husband : I too wish that you were a newspaper. So I could have a new one every day !

Husband to wife – Today is a fine day. Next day he says : Today is a fine day. Again next day, he says same thing – Today is a fine day. Finally after a week, the wife can’t take it and asks her husband – since last one week, you are saying this “Today is a fine day’. I am fed up. What’s the matter?
Husband : Last week when we had an argument, you said, “I will leave you one fine day.” I was just trying to remind you……"

Have a laugh!

Farmer's donkey

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.

The animal cried for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over & help him. They all grabbed a dirt & began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first, the donkey didn't realized what was happening & cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel ­of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.

He would shake it off & take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors

continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off & take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well & happily trotted off..!!!


Always Remember in Life that:

Life is going to throw dirt on you.

The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off & take a step up.

Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.

We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up..But by taking a step up.

In this world people will always throw stones in the path of your success, It depends on you..what You make from them A wall or A bridge...!!!

( note;  this story is quoted from a website )

Seek first to understand, then to be understood

 Seek first to understand, then to be understood- Steven Covey 
Tells the story of a little girl holding two apples. Her mother comes in and asks her for one of the apples. The girl looks up at her mum and takes a bite of one apple, then the other. The mum looks disappointed at her daughter’s selfishness. Then the little girl gives one of her bitten apples to her mum, and says: “Mummy, here you are. This is the sweeter one.”