Good to Great..Edition 52

Hi Friends, It is one year of blogging - and so here comes the special anniversary edition 52 of Good to Great in a more picturesque fashion. Thank you everyone for taking time to read the blogs.

Read another special edition and Enjoy. For Your constructive feedback/ suggestions, please mail to balajineela@gmail.com

1. It's all about YOU….B/f Murthy

Don't say you're not important,

It simply isn't true,

The fact that you were born,

Is proof, God has a plan for you.

The path may seem unclear right now,

But one day you will see,

That all that came before,
Was truly meant to be,

God wrote the book that is Life,

That's all you need to know.

Each day that you are living,

Was written long ago.

God only writes best sellers,

So be proud of who you are,

Your character is important,

In this book, you are the 'Star'

Have a Fabulous Week!!

These are such powerful words and so motivational – emphasizing the "YOU", the star in this wonderful world. Liked this so much that that this was chooses as the opener for the First edition exactly a year ago.

It is wonderful to share this again YOU are the Star in this world…so make the Most of YOU!!!

2. Thought for this week

When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives,
but are grateful for the abundance that's present....
we experience heaven on earth."

Sarah Breathnack

How simple – But how true…many times we missed to see the opportunity because we are often brooding over something long gone!!

3. Health.

Had to visit the optician last week….after standard procedures, the inevitable question came – Do you work regularly on the computer?

Ahhh – so came the advice – I am sure YOU have heard it before, but definitely all of us need to practice…the 20-20-20 rule. So here it is from the web,

Eye Care "20-20-20" Rule - Important for PC Users

" It is apt for all of us, who spend long hours at our desks, looking at the computer screen. ok, from the web, retrived this article.

Practice it....it is good for YOUR eyes.

20-20-20 Rule

Step I :
After every 20 minutes of looking into the computer screen, turn your
head and try to look at any object placed at least 20 feet away. This
changes the focal length of your eyes, a must-do for the tired eyes.

Step II :
Try and blink your eyes for 20 times in succession, to moisten them.

Step III :
Time permitting of course, one should walk 20 paces after every 20 minutes of sitting in one particular posture. Helps blood circulation for the entire body.

Your eyes are the mirror of your soul,

so do take Good care of them,

they are priceless.

4. Management quick tips..

Leadership Skills for Business Success..B/f Prabhakar

In any business, exceptional leadership skills are needed in order to succeed. Whether you own the business, manage it or whether you are an employee looking to make his or her way up the corporate ladder, the right leadership style is essential in order to reach your goals.

It can be said without argument that well-honed leadership skills are the most important component of being a success in the business world.
Below is a leadership rule to live by that will help you reap the rewards of contributing to your company.

Adaptability:

As a leader, adaptability means reacting in an effective manner to shifting circumstances in your business environment. Everybody experiences adaptive challenges, but leaders are keen to resolve these issues with a carefully thought-out plan of action. If there is one trait that every business leader needs most in today’s business environment, it is adaptability.

If adaptability is not your strongest asset, then hone your skills by:
* Learning to accept difference as just that – difference, not a problem.
* Developing ways to anticipate problems and prepare backup plans to effectively cope with those problems.
* Keeping an open mind and committing yourself to learning constantly, learning quickly and reacting accordingly.
* Adopting an approach of flexibility when faced with any situations that require adaptability.

Remember that if you design your work style around a plan that provides plenty of adaptability, you will be able to provide better support and leadership to your team or company. You’ll also be the person that others turn to for guidance when things change or an unexpected crisis arises. Lead by example – if you show them that you are adaptable, open-minded and flexible you’ll discover more opportunities opening up for you.

5. Jokes corner.. How's your hearing? B/f Angelenaa

A man feared his wife wasn't hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid. Not quite sure how to approach her, he called the family Doctor to discuss the problem.

The Doctor told him there is a simple informal test the husband could perform to give the Doctor a better idea about her hearing loss.

Here's what you do," said the Doctor, "stand about 40 feet away from her, and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response."

That evening, the wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he was in the office. He says to himself, "I'm about 40 feet away, let's see what happens." Then in a normal tone he asks, 'Honey, what's for dinner?" No response.

So the husband moves closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats, "Honey, what's for dinner?" Still no response.
Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, "Honey, what's for dinner?" Again he gets no response.
So, he walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. "Honey, what's for dinner?" Again there is no response.
So he walks right up behind her. "Honey, what's for dinner?" "Ralph, for the FIFTH time, CHICKEN!"

6. Management thoughts..Black & White..B/f Murthy

In life, a lesson learned in your past that you will never forget completely. When I was in elementary school, I got into a major argument with a boy in my class. I have forgotten what the argument was about, but I have never forgotten the lesson learned that day.I was convinced that "I" was right and "he" was wrong - and he was just as convinced that "I" was wrong and "he" was right.

The teacher decided to teach us a very important lesson. She brought us up to the front of the class and placed him on one side of her desk and me on the other.

In the middle of her desk was a large, round object. I could clearly see that it was black. She asked the boy what color the object was. "White," he answered.I couldn't believe he said the object was white, when it was obviously black!

Another argument started between my classmate and me, this time about the color of the object.The teacher told me to go stand where the boy was standing and told him to come stand where I had been. We changed places, and now she asked me what the color of the object was. I had to answer, "White." It was an object with two differently colored sides, and from his viewpoint it was white. Only from my side was it black.My teacher taught me a very important lesson learned that day:

You must stand in the other person's shoes and look at the situation through their eyes in order to truly understand their perspective

7. Inter personal Relationships – 10 Most romantic tips

Hmm… a very different topic for Married Men/Women. To be married Girls/ Boys....

1. Spread rose petals all over the bedroom.
2. What could be more classic than a fine gold locket with your photo inside? (Maybe a photo of the two of you.)

3. Bring home one small, unexpected gift each week.

4. Write a classic, romantic, passionate, handwritten, heartfelt love letter. Most adults haven't written a love letter since high school. (Why not? Have we lost our youthful idealism, or have we just gotten lazy?)

5. When traveling, give your spouse a bouquet of roses (Hey Naam ooru ponuku – Orru Mozham Maali than Sari-go) ; Attach a note that says something like this: "These flowers symbolize the love, joy, and laughter we share together."

6. Say "I love you" at least one times a day.

7. Guys: Surprise her by performing one of her chores for her. (And not something easy like carrying the groceries in from the car, but something that requires some time and effort -- like cooking all the meals over a weekend, or cleaning the entire house.)

8. Ladies: Send him a letter sealed with a kiss. (Use your reddest lipstick.)
9. Hold hands.

10. On your yearly romantic checklist, make plans for Valentine's Day -- well in advance!

Hey – make valentines day more frequently for your loved ones…not wait for the "V-Day" once a Year..

8. Puzzles B/f Sumathi

Interesting mind puzzle to tickle our grey cells….very interesting, have played this before but definitely worth it.

http://www.miniclip.com/games/blox-forever/en/

9. Managemen(t)oons..

(a) Cartoon - B/f Radha. Thanuja

Click on the picture to see an enlarged picture

(b) Super Video – See and Laugh

http://media.photobucket.com/video/Laughing%20Baby/pbhomepage/video4/babylaughedit.flv?q=3

How wonderful it is to see a wonderful ALL out smile…take us to our childhood days..

10. Women - Why women are so special????

B/f Rizwana, Thanuja, Gayathri(s), Kavitha

Mum and Dad were watching TV when Mum said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed."

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.

She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button.
She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer.
She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry. She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom.
She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the excursion and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair.
She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her bag.
Mum then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night Solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails.
Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed." "I'm on my way," she said. She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.

She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and radios, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.
In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals. About that time,
Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed." And he did...without another thought.

Anything extraordinary here? Wonder why women live longer...?
'CAUSE WE ARE MADE FOR THE LONG HAUL...... (and we can't die sooner, we still have things to do!!!!)
Share this to phenomenal women today...they'll love you for it!

Then: START YOUR DAY!
Share this to as many men as you can so that they know why women are so special :)
....whether a housewife or a working woman, every woman is special in her own way..

11. For our Community – Text books…B/f Sundararajan

Please pass on this information to your friends / neighbors... whose children are studying in the Stateboards. Tamil Nadu State board books are available online in PDF and downloadable for Std 1 to Std 12. All subjects are available in the following link...

http://www.textbook sonline.tn. nic.in/

http://www.textbook sonline.tn. nic.in/

Any GOOD hearted person can print this material & handover to deserving people.

Connect:

Please shoot me an email at balajineela@gmail.com, if you have any comments, suggestions, or questions. I love to hear from my readers. Spread the word! If you know anyone who might enjoy or benefit reading this weekly blog, please forward it on….

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.

Good to Great # 51

Hi Friends, Thanks for the very positive response to the Golden jubilee edition...I have to say an inadequate word called - THANKS!!! THANKS!!! for the constant encouragement and support.


Hmmm....it is going to be a Year of Blogging shortly and the Anniversary edition is getting ready with more super articles and sharings....With that, let's go to # 51 of Good to Great!!



Special Message: Mothers Day




"Mother carries the child in her womb for nine months and in her heart for the rest of her life".

Mother's Day is an occasion when individuals express their love and respect that they have for their mother. It's time to pamper her for all she has done for us over the years. On Mother's Day you can tell your Mom that she will always be important to you all and that you will continue to love her for ever.

Mother is the most beautiful and lovable word in any language. This goes to show the importance of mother in our lives. Mother stands for millions of things she gives to her children; it also stands for sacrifices pain, grief and sorrows which she has to undergo to keep her children happy and secure. No joy can match the joy of a mother looking at her child, those craving eyes-deeper than a whole ocean. The most important woman in an individual's life is her/his mother. Her presence affects us our entire life and she can't be replaced by anyone.




1. Its all about YOU B/f








Friendship is like the breeze,

You can't hold it, Smell it, Taste it,
Or know when it's coming,
But you can always feel it,
And you'll always know it's there,
It may come and then go,
But you can know it'll alw! ays be back.
Just like You!!!!

Click on the picture to see an enlarged view



2. Thought for this week B/f Yogeetha

'There is nothing in a caterpillar
that tells you it will be a butterfly.

What we are & what we have been
has no bearing on what we can be'.
- Richard Buckminster

3. Health...Tips for a cool summer!!!

In this part of the world, the summer is very hot and humid. Drinking water is very important during the summer months, especially for children as they are active all the time and hence are prone to becoming more dehydrated. So, it is very important to maintain the fluid balance in their bodies.

Here are some recommendations to increase your child’s fluid intake:

• Give him water during the day and other liquids like milk and fresh juices

• Encourage your child to eat fresh fruits and vegetables regularly as they are rich in water, fibers and vitamins and minerals

• Incorporate foods rich in water like salads

• Always keep fresh fruit juices in the fridge, so that they are within easy reach of your child

• Supplement with milkshake & fruits, fruit ice-cream and cold chocolate milk

If your child is playing outdoors in the hot weather:

• Make sure your child wears a hats

• Let him take a break from playing at mid day as it is the hottest time of the day, and instead let him play in the shade or indoors

• Splash water on his head when he gets too hot

4. Management quick tips.. Few key lessons to learn from IPL B/f Dev

Friends, it is IPL season….so here is a special flavour of the day!!!

# 1 Short-term strategy for each match
Every match is different and requires proper analysis of the opponent team, the weather conditions, etc.

Thus cricket statistics can give a way of thinking as to how things should be planned while facing a team in a particular match. Thus your short-term plans and actions should be in line with your long-term goals and you should consult experts to help you form these strategies.

# 2 Appoint experts for different roles
If you don't have the expertise in a particular area, you should appoint people who are expert in that area. Also you should not refrain from doing something which you have never done before.

They hired professionals with expertise in specific area who could perform and deliver the desired output. Just like the way you invest your money in mutual funds who are experts in managing your investments.

# 3 Focus on winning the war and not the battle
The ultimate objective should be to win the finals.

There would be several matches before that and one needs to learn from each match. One may lose a particular match, however if the attitude is right, you can win the World Cup.

5. Jokes corner..Engineer Vs Management – B/f Venkat, Murthy

A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She reduced altitude and spotted a man below.She descended a bit more and shouted, 'Excuse me sir, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago but I don't know where I am.'

The man below replied, 'You're in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground.You're between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude.

' 'You must be an engineer,' said the lady balloonist.'I am', replied the man.

'How did you know?'

'Well, answered the balloonist, 'everything you told me is technically correct, but I've no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I'm still lost.

Frankly, you've not been much help to me at all. If anything you've delayed my trip even more.'

The man below responded, 'You must be in management.'‘I am,' replied the lady balloonist, 'but, how did you know?

''Well,' said the man, 'You don't know where you are, or where you're going. You have risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air within.

You made a promise, which you've no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you, to solve your problems.

6. Management thoughts.. Who Packed Your Parachute? B/f Ramesh

An excerpt from "Aim for the Heart - By Tom Mathews"

As a leader, do you honor and appreciate the power of WE? Do you stop to thank and recognize the members of your team? Do you consistently show an attitude of gratitude?

This great story is about Captain Charles Plumb, a graduate from the Naval Academy, whose plane, after 74 successful combat missions over North Vietnam, was shot down. He parachuted to safety, but was captured, tortured and spent 2,103 days in a small box-like cell.

After surviving the ordeal, Captain Plumb received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit and two Purple Hearts, and returned to America and spoke to many groups about his experience and how it compared to the challenges of every day life.

Shortly after coming home, Charlie and his wife were sitting in a restaurant. A man rose from a nearby table, walked over and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"

Surprised that he was recognized, Charlie responded, "How in the world did you know that?" The man replied, "I packed your parachute." Charlie looked up with surprise. The man pumped his hand, gave a thumbs-up, and said, "I guess it worked!"

Charlie stood to shake the man's hand, and assured him, "It most certainly did work. If it had not worked, I would not be here today."

Charlie could not sleep that night, thinking about the man. He wondered if he might have seen him and not even said, "Good morning, how are you?" He thought of the many hours the sailor had spent bending over a long wooden table in the bottom of the ship, carefully folding the silks and weaving the shrouds of each chute, each time holding in his hands the fate of someone he didn't know.

Plumb then began to realize that along with the physical parachute, he needed mental, emotional and spiritual parachutes. He had called on all these supports during his long and painful ordeal.

As a leader, how many times a day, a week, a month, do we pass up the opportunity to thank those people in our organization who are "packing our parachutes?"

7. Parenting – What Kids want from their parents B/f Sundararajan

(Hey, Some of these could true with regard to expectations from our spouse!!!)

* Make sure you listen to my answers when you ask me questions.

* Listening is one of the best ways to show me you love me.

* Stop comparing me to my brothers or sisters or to my classmates. We are all different and want to be treated as individuals.

* Set high moral standards for me.

* Keep telling me you love me and are proud of me.

8. Cartoons..

Click on the picture to see an enlarged view

9. Self development – BEING ASSERTIVE B/f Satish, Anu

What is being assertive?

Standing up for your rights and not being taken advantage of is one definition of being assertive.
It also means communicating what you really want in a clear fashion, respecting your own rights and feelings and the rights and feelings of others. Assertion is an honest and appropriate expression of one's feelings, opinions, and needs. It takes self-analysis, and then practice, but the results are worth it.

How is being Assertive different from being Aggressive?
Being assertive means standing up for yourself in ways that violate the rights of others. Aggressive behaviour is typically punishing, hostile, blaming, and demanding. It can involve threats, name-calling, and even actual physical contact. It can also involve sarcasm, catty comments, gossip and "slips of the tongue."

What causes people to avoid being assertive?
Most people are not assertive for fear of displeasing others and of not being liked. However, although you may avoid some immediate unpleasantness by not being assertive, you could also jeopardize the relationship in the long run if you refuse to assert yourself and then feel taken advantage of over and over again.

How Assertive Are You?
Ask yourself the following questions.
• Do you ask for help if you need it?
• Do you express anger and annoyance appropriately?
• Do you ask questions when you're confused?
• Do you volunteer your opinions when you think or feel differently from others?
• Do you speak up in class fairly frequently?
• Are you able to say "no" when you don't want to do something?
• Do you speak with a generally confident manner, communicating caring and strength?
• Do you look at people when you're talking to them?

*****Learn to Be Assertive In a Positive Way********

How to begin?
Develop a value and belief system which allows you to assert yourself. This is the hardest part. It means giving yourself permission to be angry, to say "No," to ask for help, to make mistakes.

Learn assertiveness skills.
These include Basic Assertion, Emphatic Assertion, Escalating Assertion and I-Language Assertion (4 Types of Assertion).

Use your best communication skills.
* Maintain direct eye contact; keep your posture open and relaxed; be sure your facial expression agrees with the message; keep a level, well-modulated tone of voice; select an appropriate time to be assertive.

* Practice, practice, practice!
You won't learn how to become a more assertive person just by reading a pamphlet. If possible, become a part of an assertiveness or communication skills group. (See the back of this brochure for possible sponsors of such groups.) You can also practice on your friends and family. But tell them what you are doing first! Enlist their help; ask for feedback on how you're doing. In the long run, communicating honestly can help your relationships.

10. Tip for this week….A/C in Car – Precautions..B/f Rizwana

Please do not turn on A/C immediately as soon as you enter the car. Open the windows after you enter your car and turn ON the air-conditioning after a couple of minutes.
According to a research done, the car dashboard, sofa, air freshener emits Benzene, a Cancer causing toxin (carcinogen - take note of the heated plastic Smell in your car).

In addition to causing cancer, it poisons your bones, causes anemia, and reduces white blood cells. Prolonged exposure will cause Leukemia, increasing the risk of cancer. May also cause miscarriage. Acceptable Benzene level indoors is 50 mg per sq. ft...

A car parked indoors with the windows closed will contain 400-800 mg of Benzene. If parked outdoors under the sun at a temperature above 60 degrees F, the Benzene level goes up to 2000-4000 mg, 40 times the acceptable level... & the people inside the car will inevitably inhale an excess amount of the toxins.

It is recommended that you open the windows and door to give time for the interior to air out before you enter. Benzene is a toxin that affects your kidney and liver, and is very difficult for your body to expel this toxic stuff.

Connect:

Please shoot me an email at balajineela@gmail.com, if you have any comments, suggestions, or questions. I love to hear from YOU. Spread the word! If you know anyone who might enjoy or benefit reading this weekly blog, please forward it on….

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.