Hi Friends…Here comes a special edition with lots of superb articles from so many of my good friends. It was really a memorable 1.5 years reaching out with each of you through the blog.

Hope you will cherish this wonderful edition...

GOOD MORNING FRIENDS..

We tend to forget that..

Happiness doesn't come..
As a result of getting something we don't have,

But it rather comes.. as I realized
by recognizing and appreciating all that we have.

Good Morning & Have a Nice day!!

Thought for the Day - B/f Ramalingam

Seems so much of Common sense..

To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order;

to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order;

to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life;

We must first set our hearts right.

Charging the Human Battery - B/f Simple truths

"Everything that's really worthwhile in life comes to us free - our minds, our souls, our bodies, our hopes, our dreams, our intelligence, our love of family and friends and country. All of these priceless possessions are free." ~Earl Nightingale

Think about it. You can lose all of your money and start over. If your house burns down, you can rebuild it. But things that cost you nothing, you can never replace.

One of the most important keys to self-motivation is to clearly identify your core values in life. You must decide what matters most. Why the need to identify your values? Many people think,

"I know what's important; I don't need a list to remind me." What they don't fully understand, however, is that those core values will often serve as critical guides for making important decisions. When they're in doubt, your core values will cut through the fog like a beacon in the night.

We all know there are many distractions along the road of life that will try to pull us away from our values. Sometimes we are forced to make difficult choices.

But a good rule of thumb is that when you have to sacrifice material possessions for one of those "free things" that life has given you...you've made the right choice.

Cartoons - B/f Vidhya

(Click to see a Larger picture and enjoy)

B/f Thanuja

(Click to see a Larger picture and enjoy)

Quick Management Tips - B/f Narayanaswamy

Q.- Many people believe that to climb the corporate ladder successfully, they have to put others down or crush others. Bringing others down has become today's policy?

A.-. A person who is truly successful as a leader, builds his or her position, not on the failures of others but, rather, on their success.

A good leader of a society is the person who brings about success for others and, in that total success, becomes great.

Inspiration is a quality that a good leader must possess. Someone who helps others progress gains respect from many.

When most people in a company or institution help each other to progress, then there has to be prosperity.

Leadership Special – Just For YOU!!! – By John Maxwell

In The Right to Lead...Learning Leadership Through Character and Courage, you will read about people who have earned the right to lead others. They became effective leaders not by making other people follow, but by making themselves the kind of person people would want to follow.

This book is loaded with stories, quotes and "nuggets" for anyone wishing to sharpen their leadership skills. Here is John's introduction to The Right to Lead. Enjoy!

Excerpt from: The Right to Lead, by John Maxwell

WHAT GIVES A MAN OR WOMAN THE RIGHT TO LEAD?

It certainly isn't gained by election or appointment. Having position, title, rank, or degrees doesn't qualify anyone to lead other people. And the ability doesn't come automatically from age or experience, either. No, it would be accurate to say that no one can be given the right to lead. The right to lead can only be earned. And that takes time.

The Kind of Leader Others Want to Follow

The key to becoming an effective leader is not to focus on making other people follow, but on making yourself the kind of person they want to follow. You must become someone others can trust to take them where they want to go. As you prepare yourself to become a better leader, use the following guidelines to help you grow:

Let go of your ego
The truly great leaders are not in leadership for personal gain. They lead in order to serve other people. Perhaps that is why Lawrence D. Bell remarked, "Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things."

Become a good follower first
Rare is the effective leader who didn't learn to become a good follower first. That is why a leadership institution such as the United States Military Academy teaches its officers to become effective followers first - and why West Point has produced more leaders than the Harvard Business School.

Build positive relationships
Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. That means it is by nature relational. Today's generation of leaders seem particularly aware of this because title and position mean so little to them. They know intuitively that people go along with people they get along with.

Work with excellence
No one respects and follows mediocrity. Leaders who earn the right to lead give their all to what they do. They bring into play not only their skills and talents, but also great passion and hard work. They perform on the highest level of which they are capable.

Rely on discipline, not emotion
Leadership is often easy during the good times. It's when everything seems to be against you - when you're out of energy, and you don't want to lead - that you earn your place as a leader.

During every season of life, leaders face crucial moments when they must choose between gearing up or giving up. To make it through those times, rely on the rock of discipline, not the shifting sand of emotion.

Make adding value your goal
When you look at the leaders whose names are revered long after they have finished leading, you find that they were men and women who helped people to live better lives and reach their potential. That is the highest calling of leadership - and its highest value.

Give your power away
One of the ironies of leadership is that you become a better leader by sharing whatever power you have, not by saving it all for yourself. You're meant to be a river, not a reservoir. If you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp.

In The Right to Lead, you will hear from and read about people who have done these same things and earned the right to lead others. Because of the courage they found and the character they displayed, other people recognized their admirable qualities and felt compelled to follow them.

The followers who looked to these leaders learned from them, and so can we. As you explore their worlds and words, remember that it takes time to become worthy of followers. Leadership isn't learned or earned in a moment.
~John Maxwell

Brain Health Tip

Protect Your Brain with Daily Caffeine

What's the best way to consume caffeine for sustained cognitive performance?

Studies have concluded that caffeine is best consumed gradually, over the course of the time you want to be alert.

In other words, you should aim for small and frequent doses of caffeine rather than a venti chug to start the day.

This is because caffeine reaches the brain quickly and is then gradually removed by your system.

Here's the caffeine content of some popular drinks (in milligrams, per 6-oz servings):

1. Espresso: 100
2. Brewed coffee: 80-135
3. Instant coffee: 65-100
4. Tea, brewed: 40
5. Coca-cola: 23

Personality Tip - B/f Joseph

“In time, we lose our freshness and spontaneity of true conversation. These are areas in which everyone interested in self-improvement will seek to improve.”

- Dale Carnegie

Working to enhance your communication skills will add impact to your presentations.

* Develop increased flexibility through the use of expression, gestures, and voice modulation

* Demonstrate ownership of unfamiliar material

* Present written material in a captivating manner

* Improve your delivery of written material

* Overcome barriers that restrict your flexibility

Amazing – Be Blown over - B/f Srikanth

Its really Amazing ::::::::::: Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple - 360° view
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple – 360 view

http://www.view360.in/virtualtour/madurai/

For your Safety - B/f Radha

Here is an Automotive Expert advising what to do, when you are going at high speed in a car and your breaks don’t cooperate..

The right way to stop the car and be Safe….

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8980024

Put your speakers on!! Please share with your friends who love to speed in their 4-wheelers

Finish Strong!! B/f Simple truths

"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." -

~Albert Einstein

For many companies and individuals 2009 has been a difficult year. But in my 64 years on this earth, I have come to realize that the difference in our success or failure is not chance, but choice.

Because when adversity strikes, it's not what happens that will determine our destiny; it's how we react to what happens.

That's what Finish Strong is all about! As we head into the last quarter of this year, I don't think there is a person or a business out there that wouldn't want to finish strong in 2009.

But, we must understand that Finish Strong is more than a statement...it's an attitude. It's an attitude of believing you can do something, and it's having the courage and determination to see it through.

And of course, you can apply this "finish strong attitude" to your business or your life!

Vince Lombardi said, "The will to win...the will to achieve...goes dry without continuous reinforcement."

In a perfect world, we hear something once, record it in our brain, and never need to hear it again.

Well, I don't know where you're living, but my world is far from perfect. I occasionally have doubts, fears, and disappointments in my life. During those times I need to reinforce, encourage, and motivate myself to keep moving forward toward my goals.

So here's my challenge to you...decide today to Finish Strong in 2009!

Bye Friends - thanks for your support to the various editions...here is a small Phrase from Deep within my Heart.....THANK YOU!!!

Do send in your feedback, comments, suggestions to balajineela@gmail.com

Disclaimer: The publisher believes that the contents of this blog do not violate any existing copyright / intellectual property of others in any manner whatsoever. However, in the event the author has been unable to track any source and if any copyright has been inadvertently infringed, please notify the publisher in writing for corrective action.

You MAY share or publish any of the articles on the web or in print without written permission of the publisher.

I practice zero tolerance - I take extreme care to avoid publishing any material that may offend any religion, caste, sex, etc., however if you notice anything that might offend anyone or group of people, please do let me know, and I will remove that material after review.

(Please click on the picture to see an enlarged version...)

HI Friends, Here comes 77th edition of Good to great..As always with plenty of diverse articles, views, pictures to make you think and enjoy!!

As always, please share your feedback, thoughts, suggestions to balajineela@gmail.com

After a speech one day, America's motivational Guru, Zig Ziglar was approached by someone in the audience who said: "Zig, it was a great speech, but...motivation doesn't last."

Zig said, "Bathing doesn't either. That's why I recommend it daily!"
Zig loves quotes and believes that the right quote can provide "a-ha" moments and can help to reinforce a positive attitude.
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Get To Or Got To? - By Zig Ziglar

Every morning for several years, promptly at 10:00 a.m., a prominent business woman visited her mother in a nursing home. She was close to her mother and loved her very much. Often she had requests for appointments at that time of day.

Her response was always the same: “No, I’ve got to visit with my mother.” Eventually, her mother died.

Shortly thereafter someone asked this woman for an appointment 10:00 a.m. It suddenly hit her that she could no longer visit her mother. Her next thought was, “Oh, I wish I could visit my mother just one more time.”

From that moment on, she changed her “got to’s” to “get to’s.”
Her story makes us realize that pleasurable things are “get-to’s.” Burdensome things are “got-to’s.” I get to play golf today; I get to go on vacation this week, etc. We use the term “got to” when it’s not necessarily pleasurable: I’ve got to go to work at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow; I’ve got to clean house; etc. Since perceptions influence our thinking and performance, try this. Instead of, “I’ve got to go to work,” think about those who have no job. Then you can enthusiastically change it to, “I get to go to work tomorrow.”

If somebody invites you to go fishing, instead of saying, “No, I’ve got to go to my child’s game on Saturday,” think about the fact that someday your child will grow up and you won’t be able to go to his or her games. Then it’s easy to change it to “get to.”

It’s amazing what that change in words will eventually do for your attitude. You’ll find yourself looking forward to doing those things instead of feeling as if you have to do them. With a difference in attitude, there’ll be a difference in performance.

With a difference in performance, there’ll be a difference in rewards. So think about those things, change your “got-to’s” to “get to’s”!
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Your Health - Tips to Maintain Blood Sugar / Keep Diabetics under control

Diabetes develops as a result of being overweight or obese. Here are some healthy tips, to maintain blood sugar levels to normal levels.

• Stay away from sweets and desserts
• Eat low fat foods like skinless chicken and fish and low fat milk and diary products
• Follow a high-fiber diet, rich in cereals, brown bread (in moderate amounts), beans, lentils, vegetables and fruits (in moderation), since fiber slows down the absorption of sugar in the body

• Eat food with a low glycemic index – food that does not cause a rapid increase in blood sugar, such as, oats and apples. Eat moderate amounts of food with a moderate glycemic index, such as boiled potato, banana and orange juice.

* Avoid foods with a high glycemic index which cause a rapid increase in blood sugar directly after its absorption, such as white rice, sugar, white bread, and dried fruits such as raisins.

* Exercise every day to speed up your metabolism. Sports also help body cells to become more sensitive to insulin, and thus help maintain normal blood sugar levels.

It is advisable to consult your Doctor about specific amounts to eat, taking into consideration your nutritional requirements.
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Interpersonal relationships - Connect With Your Spouse better

Give Your Spouse Your Full Attention

Although there are times in every marriage when one of you is talking and the other isn't listening, don't let that become an everyday situation.

Here are some simple tips to connect ever more and better.

* If your spouse wants to communicate with you, stop what you are doing so that you can give your spouse your full attention.
* When talking with your spouse, maintain eye contact.

* When you don't want to be distracted while talking with one another, choose a neutral location to have your conversation.
* It is important to remember to listen to one another without interrupting.

* Don't jump to conclusions about what your spouse is saying.
* If you need clarification of what your spouse has said, ask questions, but don't point fingers.

* Respond without being critical of what your spouse has said.
* Be affirmative and supportive.

* Decide together to make time to have alone time with each other on a regular basis -- preferably once a week.

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Thought for the week…

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive….but the one most responsive to change"….Anon

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Painful truths....so dis-heartening to see this picture..India shining, but miles to go before everybody gets their share of Roti

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Smart car

Wash your car with a bucket of soapy water, rather than with a hosepipe.

Running a hose for just 30 minutes uses more water than an average family consumes in a whole day.
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Picture story

(Click on the picture to see an enlarged version/ clear picture)

What would You do?

Wait for the snake to pass and then drive on your vehicle or would you just get out from there?

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Laughter the Best Medicine

After twelve years in prison, a man finally escapes.
When he gets home, filthy and exhausted, his wife says,
"You escaped eight hours ago! Where have you been? "
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Quit Drinking

A man walks into a bar in Londonand ordered 3-glasses of beer and sits in the backyard of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn. When he finishes, he comes back to the bar counter and orders 3 more.

The bartender asks him, “You know, beer goes flat after I fill it in the glass; it would taste better if you buy one at a time.”

The man replies, “Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in Dubai, the other in Canada and I’m here in London. When they left home, we promised that we’ll drink this way to remember the days when we drank together.”

The bartender admits that this is a nice custom and leaves it there. The man became a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way. He order 3-Beers and drinks them in turn.

One day, he came in and ordered only 2-Beers All the other regulars notice and fall silent. When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, “I don’t want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my sincere condolences on your great loss.”

The man looked confused for a moment, then he laughs.... “Oh, no,” he, said, “Everyone’s fine - both my brothers are alive”. The only thing is I just quit drinking...! !!

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Click on the picture to see an enlarged version and relish the joke

Disclaimer: The publisher believes that the contents of this blog do not violate any existing copyright / intellectual property of others in any manner whatsoever. However, in the event the author has been unable to track any source and if any copyright has been inadvertently infringed, please notify the publisher in writing for corrective action.

You MAY share or publish any of the articles on the web or in print without written permission of the publisher.

I practice zero tolerance - I take extreme care to avoid publishing any material that may offend any religion, caste, sex, etc., however if you notice anything that might offend anyone or group of people, please do let me know, and I will remove that material after review.

Hi Friends, thanks for your stupendous response to the Diamond jubilee edition..Good to know that the edition was great...

In this edition, first articles out of partnership with Indusladies in the form of a Free eBook is available - read and benefit even MORE...

As always, Please do share your feedback, articles, comments, etc to balajineela@gmail.com

Customer Love – By Mac Anderson (Simple truths)

One of my all-time favorite quotes is...."Customer service is not a department, it's an attitude."
How true it is! As much as we try to complicate what great service is...it's really pretty simple: It is giving more than the customer expects...consistently. You notice I said simple, not easy. There is a big difference.

Today, I'd like to share a chapter I titled: "A Crash Course on Customer Service."

Excerpt from Customer Love, by Mac Anderson

The 10 phrases from my friends at Walk the Talk are an illuminating reminder of how uncomplicated it is to make customers feel loved. People don't care how much you know, (or what you sell, or what type of service you provide) until they know how much you care!

The 10 most important words: "I apologize for our mistake. Let me make it right.

"When something goes wrong, most people merely want to be heard and acknowledged. So listen, apologize, then ask what you can do to make it right.

The 9 most important words: "Thank you for your business. Please come back again."

Repeat customers cost less than new customers and are often more loyal.

The 8 most important words: "I'm not sure, but I will find out."

It's ok if you don't know the answer; it's not ok to make the customer keep searching for it. That's your job.

The 7 most important words: "What else can I do for you?"

Be prepared to go the extra mile, there is less competition there.

The 6 most important words: "What is most convenient for you?

"Your customers will be pleasantly surprised when you ask what's convenient for them.

The 5 most important words: "How may I serve you?"

This question reinforces your role in the relationship. Play that role the best you can.

The 4 most important words: "How did we do?"

Feedback is critical! Your customers have a unique perspective and they appreciate being asked.

The 3 most important words: "Glad you're here!"

Customers who feel welcome spend more time, more money and are more likely to return.

The 2 most important words: "Thank you."

Basic manners... but how often do you get thanked when you're the customer?

The MOST important word: "Yes." Become a yes person.

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Women Power

My wife shared an interesting article that had come up in one of the local magazines…

By 2030, considering the current trends in Men:Women ratio, there would be an acute shortage of Girls for marriage.

Women at this time would actually demand Dowry to get married (Demand Vs Supply Gap).

Can you believe this…could become a reality, if people don’t wake up to ensure a good balance of both the sexes.
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From Indusladies.com

Last week I announced a partnership with Indus Ladies website, so here is the first offering - A free ebook "21 Golden Rules for Indian women".

To access this free book, Click on..
http://www.indusladies.com/forums/new-member-area/33677-download-here-21-golden-rules.html

It is packed with practical ideas shared by Indusladies members. It is a very interesting read (just 7 pages) and you should definitely download and read it..

Went through the book, and was amazed to see some common themes/ideas that we are discussing here - YOU, Relationships, being happy, Child care…wow!!! (Could not believe my eyes!!)

Interestingly some similar and some not so similar perspectives, I am sure you will relish every bit of this article.

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Dr.Ginger ….

Our Grandmas had an inexhaustible stock of fresh ginger and dried ginger in the kitchen.

Stomach upset? Indigestion? Head Ache? Nausea? Rumbling in the tummy due to gas? Reach Out to Ginger - Fresh or Dry. The Dry Ginger is called Chukku in Tamizh and Malayalam.

Grandma recipes:
* Drink made with Ginger and Lime. Cumin seeds soaked in Ginger Juice to chew in case of a heavy feeling and an ominous onslaught of stomach upsets after sumptuous feasts.

* A cup of tea with a dash of ginger and mint is so refreshing!

* Ayurveda says that even if a small piece of the Ginger Skin gets into your system , it is dangerous. So, see that you scrub the vegetable clean—remove all the skin- before using it.

* You can also add small pieces of ginger in your cooking too - Curd rice, Pongal, Uppumma…

Here is an Easy to make Ginger & Lime Concoction ( an Elixir)…

GINGER & LIME - JUICE
*Ginger-peeled & washed - 100gms; Fresh Lime; Salt or sugar as preferred.
If you are using salt, you can add the juice of fresh mint along with this.

METHOD

Grind the ginger well with little water first. When it turns soft and

pasty, add a cup of water. Grind well and strain.

Squeeze the limes and add the extract to the Ginger juice. Mix well, bottle and refrigerate.

No additives or preservative as this can be made fresh every week.

Take a little in a glass, add sugar or salt and enjoy.

Here’s another tip:
To those who are prone to heaviness, over-weight, aches and pain in the legs and chronic lethargy…

*Have a Teaspoon of fresh ginger extract mixed with a spoon of Lime Juice early in the morning.

*Have your first mouthful of rice at lunch with half a teaspoon of dry ginger powder and a teaspoon of ghee.

* Consume between 3p.m and 4 p.m, an ounce of warm water with three generous pinches of Kadukkai Powder( kadukkai in Tamizh, Hardad / Haritaki or Harada in Hindi and Urdu, Karakkaya in Telugu, …

Follow this for 48 days twice a year and no big illness will befall you. It is said that even an old man will discard his stick and start running with this routine .
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Etiquettes – Toilet

Backdoor Entrance – Proper use..

Do's
* Men, in case the toilet seat is down, please put it up before using; Women, please put it up after using

* Women, please cover your sanitary waste properly and dispose it into a covered dustbin

* Always remember to flush the toilet. If there is not enough water coming, inform the housekeeping department immediately. Don’t wait for someone else to do..

* Always wash your hands after using the restroom. Even if you don’t believe in personal hygiene, your colleagues will paint a very "dirty" picture of you.

Don't

* Do not wet the toilet

* Do not sit in the toilet for a long time

* Don’t ever gossip – Remember, walls have ears

* Don’t stink up the bathroom. If you have a bad stomach, excuse yourself and go home.

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Laughter – the best medicine

All in the family

The prospective son in law was asked by his girlfriend's father, "Son can you support a family?"

"Well, No sir , he replied, "I was just planning to support your daughter. The rest of you have to fend yourselves."

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A priest is walking down the street one day when he notices a very small boy trying to press a doorbell on a house across the street.

However, the boy is very small and the doorbell is too high for him to reach.

After watching the boy's efforts for some time, the priest moves closer to the boy's position.

He steps smartly across the street, walks up behind the little fellow and, placing his hand kindly on the child's shoulder leans over and gives the doorbell a sold ring.

Crouching down to the child's level, the priest smiles benevolently and asks, "And now what, my little man?"

To which the boy replies, "Now we run!"

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Disclaimer: The publisher believes that the contents of this blog do not violate any existing copyright / intellectual property of others in any manner whatsoever. However, in the event the author has been unable to track any source and if any copyright has been inadvertently infringed, please notify the publisher in writing for corrective action.

You MAY share or publish any of the articles on the web or in print without written permission of the publisher.

I practice zero tolerance - I take extreme care to avoid publishing any material that may offend any religion, caste, sex, etc., however if you notice anything that might offend anyone or group of people, please do let me know, and I will remove that material after review.

Click to see an enlarged picture

Hi Friends, here come the Diamond Jubilee edition (75th); So whats news…a ton!! Keep discovering as you go through the edition..

On this occasion, I am also very proud to announce a New tie up with Indus Ladies as part of their Partnering program…so even more to relish, enjoy and share knowledge!!!

Read in Leisure and please drop an email to balajineela@gmail.com , if you have any comments, suggestions, contributions of articles, puzzles or questions.

I cherish hearing from each of you.

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Three Word wonders!! (& that’s only 3 words)
Ever wondered how 3 words could change someones world - here are three-word, power-packed statements !!
Try one of these and see the impact that it creates - Do it GENUINELY (that’s 3 words again)

I love you.

I thank you.

You are terrific.

I am sorry.
I trust you.

I promise you. (and keep it!)

God bless you.

I can help.
I understand you.

You are talented.

I believe you.

You will succeed.

You inspire me.

It’s no problem.

I forgive you.

You’re the best!

I will close with a three-word challenge: JUST SAY IT!
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Management Fundas!! 9 favourite tips to improve your effectiveness as a leader

1. Go to other people’s offices for meetings. It’s a lot easier to leave their office than it is to get them out of yours, and you don’t have to waste time afterward. This approach also increases your visibility with others while you’re on the move - and you may learn something in passing.
2. Encourage a “masculine” vs. “feminine” communication style. Scientists like Loann Brezendine have proven what others have long observed: men think to talk and women talk to think. Consequently, in meetings, it takes less time to hear the recommendations made by the guys as opposed to the gals. Tell your team to make recommendations that are limited to two or three sentences. Then if you like the idea, decide if you need any more information. This will help everyone to be more succinct.

3. As often as possible, meet with users, clients, or customers. this is a big time demand, but what you hear first-hand from those being served by your organization can be startling and exciting. If you’re worried about hurting a subordinate’s feelings, take them with you, but make it clear that you’re going to ask and talk a lot.

4. Snooze. Some recent studies indicate, having a mid-day nap of just 20 minutes in duration can improve mood, altertness, and performance. Next time you find yourself reaching for a coffee to boost your energy, try this first. Most people underestimate the benefits of sleep. This can be a game changer.

5. Use smart vehicle management. It’s amazing how much time we waste in travel. Improve your time management by:
· Parking your vehicle in a getaway position. At business meetings, restaurants, movie theaters, shopping centers. A little pre-planning makes a big time difference. Good for the blood pressure too.
· If you spend time commuting or traveling between meetings, use books to hone your skills and keep current on new thinking. (recommended by

Zig Ziglar, a guy who knows performance issues).

6. Review tomorrow’s calendar the night before. After a long day you’re likely to be more hard-nosed about time requests. The next day, just before you go for lunch, revisit your afternoon schedule again. Your day’s priorities may shift many days, but there will usually be one or two very important, must-do issues to be completed and this close management of your time will help keep your eye on the ball.

7. Use praise to reinforce crispness. In your meetings, make it abundantly clear that you appreciate those who are aware of how valuable your time is. You want attendees to be crisp, concise, and alert so the meeting will be effective as well as efficient. Conversely -if someone is a time hog, tell them so. I don’t mean you have to be ugly about this, but great leaders ensure that those around them are aware of their needs and objectives.

8. Use that smart phone in a smarter way. If you aren’t regularly using the recording feature on your phone, start now. We all experience moments of brilliance, and when they occur, you want to make the most of them. Never miss an opportunity to make verbal notes for use later. Trying to recall them afterward is frustrating and can cost you a lost idea. Another approach is to call the office and leave yourself a voicemail.

9. Act like a lady. Women, intuitively, are less top-down in their management styles than are men. Social scientists have a whole raft of reasons for this style difference and it may start when we’re children. Studies of youngsters show that girls often prefer games in which everyone leaves a winner, while boys are more inclined toward a winner-take-all approach. Whatever the reason behind it, when working with senior executive women, I often see that they are more likely to be egalitarian when looking for new ideas and approaches. This style works.

Here’s to your future! Cheers!!
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Diwali Blues…
Trust all of you had a Safe and Sound Diwali - this year (as per Chennai Police), there were fewer accidents thanks to various campaigns which brought about more awareness

Also, fewer shops could be seen selling crackers..generally the scale of fireworks seemed to be significantly lower, though the Sound decibel levels were much higher.

The number of accidents / casulaties at the Cracker factories was very high this year - Sad to see that safety awareness need a Major improvement!!

Ok, Post Diwali, office continues to be flooded with Sweets, savouries from various friends…nice spread and obviously very delicious!! So enjoying every moment of it…

Once in a while it is good to have this, but will move to "Diet" / "Back-to-fitness" mode very soon - so if you are in a similar situation or not, the next section is for you!!!
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For your Body!!
Who would have thought you could fight cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke … with your Hand or a spoon?
One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from these diseases is to eat a healthy diet. Whether or not you have a family history of cancer, diabetes, heart disease or stroke, what you eat - and how much you eat - can help reduce your risk.

If you are one of the many who do not smoke, eat well – along with being active and maintaining a healthy weight – is your best defense against disease.

Following a few simple recommendations can help you eat your way to a healthier weight – and a healthier YOU!
* Eat foods from each of the basic food groups: fruits and vegetables, dairy products, cereal and grains, proteins.
* Limit your salt intake. Too much sodium can cause you to retain fluids that may interfere with breathing.
* Limit your intake of caffeinated & aerated drinks.

* Avoid foods that produce gas. The best process to use in eliminating foods from your diet is trial and error.
* Try to eat your main meal early. This way, you will have lots of energy to carry you through the day.
* Choose foods that are easy to prepare. Don't waste all of your energy preparing a meal. Try to rest before eating so that you can enjoy your meal.
* Avoid foods that supply little or no nutritional value.
* Try eating six small meals a day instead of three large ones. This will keep you from filling up your stomach and causing shortness of breath.
* Try to eat in a relaxed atmosphere, and make your meals attractive and enjoyable.
* A proper diet will not cure your disease, but it will make you feel better. You will have more energy, and your body will be able to fight infection better.

These are general guidelines only; your physician is your best source of information on diet and other information
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Marriage and Nagging success!!

In marriage, chores / small tasks are a huge source of conflict. How do you get your sweetheart to hold up his or her end, without nagging?

One of my best friends from college has a very radical solution: she and her husband don’t assign. That’s right. They never say, “Get me a cup of water,” “The garbage needs to go out,” etc. This only works because neither one of them is lazy, but still — what a tactic! And they have three children!

This is something to strive for. But even if we can’t reach that point, most of us could cut back on the nagging. Here are some strategies:

1.It’s annoying to hear a lecturing voice, so suggest tasks without words.
E.g. if you want your spouse to drop the garbage, place it near the main door, so that your sweetheart can remember to drop it as they go out!

2.If you need to voice a reminder, limit yourself to one word. Instead of barking out, “Now remember, I’ve told you so many times to stop by at the department store, we need rice, if you forget, you’re going right back out!” Instead, call out, “Department store!” or “Rice!”

3.Don’t insist that a task be done on your schedule. “You’ve got to clean yout cupboard today!” Says who? Try, “When are you planning to clean your cupboard?” If possible, show why something needs to be done by a certain time. “Will you be able to clean your cupboard before our daughters Birthday party next week?”

4.Remind your partner that it’s better to decline a task than to break a promise.

5.Have clear assignments. E.g. I always buy vegetables; she always calls the Gas agency.

6.Every once in a while, do your sweetheart’s task, for a treat. This kind of pitching-in wins enormous goodwill.

7.Assign chores based on personal priorities.
E.g. If you hate messy bedroom more than your spouse, & your spouse hates a messy kitchen more than you do - then you take resp. for the bedroom and your spouse for the kitchen.

8.Do it yourself.
E.g. if there is something you can do it yourself, by all means do it, rather than spending energy following up (esp. tasks which your spouse does not like!!)

9.Settle for a partial victory. Maybe your partner won’t put Clothes in the washing machine, but getting them from the all over the house to the cleaning area is a big improvement.

10.Re-frame: decide that you don’t mind doing a chore — like putting clothes or hanging up wet towels. Suprisingly, this is easier than you’d think.

11.Don’t push for the impossible. If there is something your spouse hates to do, doesn’t even ask.
12.No carping from the sidelines. If your partner got the kids dressed, don’t mock the outfits. If you want something done your way, do it yourself.

13.Think about how money might be able to buy some happiness.
Eliminating conflict in a relationship is a high happiness priority, so this is a place to spend money if it can help.

E.g - eating out after a tired days work occassionally when you know your wife has got a late office meeting rather one of you trying to cook. Outsource Vehicle washing, removing old paper from the house, etc.,

14.Remember that messy areas tend to stay messy, and tidy areas tend to stay tidy. If you want your partner to be neat, be neat yourself!
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Key to Success - Self Discipline (From Simple truths - Mac Anderson)

"No stream or gas drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated and disciplined."~Harry E. Fosdick

Self-discipline and self-motivation are joined at the hip. Why is that? When you practice self-discipline you feel like you are in control of your life. You feel content and motivated because you're moving toward your goals.

Brian Tracy is one of America's leading authors on the development of human potential. He said this..."If I had to pick the #1 key to success, it would be...self-discipline. It is the difference in winning or losing; between greatness and mediocrity.

Introduction from The Power of Discipline - By Brian Tracy

Why are some people more successful than others? Why do some people make more money, live happier lives and accomplish much more in the same number of years than the great majority?
I started out in life with few advantages. I did not graduate from high school. I worked at menial jobs. I had limited education, limited skills and a limited future.

And then I began asking, "Why are some people more successful than others?" This question changed my life.

Over the years, I have read thousands of books and articles on the subjects of success and achievement. It seems that the reasons for these accomplishments have been discussed and written about for more than two thousand years, in every conceivable way.

One quality that most philosophers, teachers and experts agree on is the importance of self-discipline. As Al Tomsik summarized it years ago, "Success is tons of discipline."

Some years ago, I attended a conference in Washington. It was the lunch break and I was eating at a nearby food fair. The area was crowded and I sat down at the last open table by myself, even though it was a table for four.

A few minutes later, an older gentleman and a younger woman who was his assistant came along carrying trays of food, obviously looking for a place to sit.

With plenty of room at my table, I immediately arose and invited the older gentleman to join me. He was hesitant, but I insisted. Finally, thanking me as he sat down, we began to chat over lunch.
It turned out that his name was Kop Kopmeyer. He was a legend in the field of success and achievement. Kop Kopmeyer had written four large books, each of which contained 250 success principles that he had derived from more than fifty years of research and study.

After we had chatted for awhile, I asked him the question that many people in this situation would ask, "Of all the one thousand success principles that you have discovered, which do you think is the most important?"
He smiled at me with a twinkle in his eye, as if he had been asked this question many times, and replied, without hesitating, "The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. He said, "Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not."
He went on to say, "There are 999 other success principles that I have found in my reading and experience, but without self-discipline, none of them work."

Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.
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Laughter the best medicine

Two tourists were driving through Wisconsin. As they were approaching Oconomowoc, they started arguing about the pronunciation of the town's name.

They argued back and forth until they stopped for lunch.As they stood at the counter, one tourist asked the young employee a question.

Before we order," the tourist asked, "Could you please settle an argument for us? Would you please pronounce where we are... Very slowly?

The girl leaned over the counter and said: "Burrrrrr, Gerrrrrr, Kiiiing." ;~}
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Roof-top poster……..of a smoking room in a leading IT company in Mumbai...hmm, thought provoking!!

Ok, Cheers have a great Week ahead

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Disclaimer: The publisher believes that the contents of this blog do not violate any existing copyright / intellectual property of others in any manner whatsoever. However, in the event the author has been unable to track any source and if any copyright has been inadvertently infringed, please notify the publisher in writing for corrective action.

You MAY share or publish any of the articles on the web or in print without written permission of the publisher.

I practice zero tolerance - I take extreme care to avoid publishing any material that may offend any religion, caste, sex, etc., however if you notice anything that might offend anyone or group of people, please do let me know, and I will remove that material after review
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Hi Friends, Time flies - getting ready for the 75th week special edition next week; thanks everyone for the tremendous support / feedback / articles sharing to make this blog truly Good to Great.

As usual, Please send your feedback to balajineela@gmail.com

Marriage and Success!!

Received tons of feedback to last weeks topic on Marriage & Success…thanks for that; Keep sharing your feedback….

Would like to share One of the interesting feedbacks / discussion.. Apparently "Sony Pix" had a movie on a similar theme recently titled "Nothing in Common". (1986) (The title could not be more striking if you try and relate back)

The story is about ….Husband – Wife relationship, rather relationship between grown up parents and how things fall apart for our hero (Tony Hanks, then an unknown) when the parents separate – each one of them having their own personalities and….

Things could have been so different, had they talked with each other…

Have not yet watched the movie, trying to get a Legal print….

So here are some more tips..

1. Instead of trying to change something, he or she does - change you!

Far too often, people get married with the belief they can simply change the person they married, moulding him or her into the "perfect" spouse.

Instead, you need to accept your spouse for the person he/she is. If a behavior needs to be changed, then provide support and encouragement. For example, if your husband complains about not having clean clothes, rather than nag at him, xx.

2. Communication is a key ingredient to any successful marriage. That means talking through situations rather than bottling up or yelling. By showing respect, you can work together as a couple should.

With this, the two of you can talk to understand the other person's side better.

3. Keep intimacy as a part of the marriage. Remember, this person is the one you love, the one you want to share your life with, which means letting go of inhibitions. Intimacy is an excellent way to stay close, doing wonders for any marriage.

4. Accept the flaws in your spouse.

Since no one is perfect, you want to learn to appreciate the differences between the two of you. If your husband wakes up with bad hair or your wife is grumpy, love him/her, in spite of the flaws.

5. Learn to ignore the small stuff.

Every marriage faces challenges, some big and some small. Remind yourself that life is precious and short. Therefore, focus on the larger battles, working through them as a team while letting go of the incidentals that in the big scheme of things does not matter.

Wish you a Happy Married Life...!

World ……. Day!!

It is interesting to see the type of World or International " " days (Daughters day, fathers day, women's day, etc.,) that keep coming..

But this week there are 2 "World" days, which I think are worth sharing and following

World Hand cleaning day

Yes, you read it right…Oct 15th is World Hands cleaning day. In the current scenario of the much hyped & then forgotten but still very silently active H1N1 virus threat, there could not have been a better theme..

1. Washing hands with water alone is not enough!

Washing hands with water alone, a common practice around the world, is significantly less effective than washing hands with soap. Proper handwashing requires soap and only a small amount of water.

Using soap works by breaking down the grease and dirt that carry most germs, facilitating the rubbing and friction that dislodge them and leaving hands smelling pleasant. With proper use, all soaps are equally effective at rinsing away disease-causing germs.

2. Handwashing with soap can prevent diseases that kill millions of children every year.

Handwashing with soap is among the most effective ways to prevent diarrheal diseases and pneumonia, which together are responsible for the majority of child deaths. Every year, more than 3.5 million children do not live to celebrate their fifth birthday because of diarrhea and pneumonia.

Handwashing can also prevent skin infections, eye infections, intestinal worms, SARS and Avian Flu, and benefits the health of people living with HIV/AIDS. Handwashing is effective in preventing the spread of disease even in overcrowded, highly contaminated slum environments, research shows.

3 The critical moments for handwashing with soap are after using the toilet or cleaning a child and before handling food.

Hands should be washed with soap after using the toilet, after cleaning a child’s bottom (or any other contact with human excreta, including that of babies and children) and before any contact with food.

Hands are the principal carriers of disease-causing germs. It is important to ensure that people have a way to wash their hands at these critical moments.

4 Handwashing with soap is the single most cost-effective health intervention.

5 Children can be agents of change

When it comes down to sharing good hygiene practices, children – the segment of society so often the most energetic, enthusiastic and open to new ideas – can act as agents of change by taking the “handwashing lessons” learned at school back into their homes and communities.

The active participation and involvement of children – ideally situated at the intersection of the home, school, and community – can ensure sustained behavioral change when combined with culturally sensitive community-based interventions. Global Handwashing Day aims at motivating children to embrace and share proper handwashing practices, and place them as “handwashing ambassadors” at the heart of each country’s national and local initiatives.

Read more in http://sanitationupdates.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/global-handwashing-day-15-october-2009/

World Arthritis Day

Another interesting theme which I wanted to share..!

Many of us assume arthritis only affects elderly people ... but there are 200 different forms affecting young and old alike. World Arthritis Day aims to raise awareness of the condition. Stats NA for India but nine million sufferer in the UK.

Prevention is better than cure

While exercise is particularly good for people with arthritis, it's necessary to balance it with rest. The key is to keep your joints moving and your muscles strong, so exercises such as swimming are ideal. It takes the pressure off your joints.

Eating a balanced diet is also important, as keeping to your ideal weight too means less stress on your joints.

There is also evidence certain supplements can help. Essential fatty acids, fish oil, sunflower and evening primrose oil can be good for rheumatoid arthritis, while glucosamine and cod liver oil can help with osteoarthritis.

Dale carneige tip for the week – B/f Joseph / Ramesh

“Try honestly to make the other person feel important, and do it sincerely.” - Dale Carnegie

The other person is important. You have little to gain if you choose to deny this. Your relationships with employees and coworkers are not subsidiary to the work you all come together to do; rather, strong relationships are essential to doing that work--especially if you want to do that work well.

# People are much more than simply what their job description implies.

# Give each person's life sincere consideration, and notice a considerable change in your own. You are able to learn from others' experiences that which you could not from simply the experiences you've had.

Begin to foster the possibilities by employing some of the following Human Relations Principles:

# Become genuinely interested in other people

# Smile

# Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves

# Talk in terms of the other person's interests

# Make the other person feel important -- and do it with sincerity

Thought for the week – B/f Ramalingam

No one can escape from criticism. The only way you will never be criticized is if you do nothing, say nothing or have nothing. You will end up being a big nothing.

Whether a criticism is constructive or not, always remember the tree that bears most fruits will get the most stones.

Laughter the Best Medicine..B/f Shobana

Don’t Mess with Children

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.

As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.

The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."

Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

Railway catering – For frequent tea takers..B/f Guru

Ahh…these photos really caught my eye and made me wonder..!

Think before drinking tea while travelling by train…

1. Caters use toilet water for making tea

2. Your tea is made in a special zone near toilet.

3. Bath heater is used for making tea.

These snaps were taken while traveling in konkan railway (Janshatabadi Exp.)

Diwali - Safe & (No) Sound

Wish you all a Happy Diwali!!

Final message….rather a request - Let us celebrate this Diwali with Minimum sound & still enjoy it. Burst all type of sparklers, flower pots, etc., but try and keep the Heavy sound crackers to the minimum & have specific day hours to have fun with Heavy sound crackers..

There are so many people around who need the silence (Small babies, older people, pregnant women, etc.,) – if not today, there would be someone in our house of this type in the future…

So let us Keep the Bang to the minimum and also the smoke to the barest minimum.

(Each time you see smoke, thing that your paper cash is being burned, causing the smoke...

Disclaimer: The publisher believes that the contents of this blog do not violate any existing copyright / intellectual property of others in any manner whatsoever. However, in the event the author has been unable to track any source and if any copyright has been inadvertently infringed, please notify the publisher in writing for corrective action.

You MAY share or publish any of the articles on the web or in print without written permission of the publisher.

I practice zero tolerance - I take extreme care to avoid publishing any material that may offend any religion, caste, sex, etc., however if you notice anything that might offend anyone or group of people, please do let me know, and I will remove that material after review