Time-out

How often we use this gesture in our daily life, be it professional or family ? We have seen it happening in sports but that is to do with strategising the moves in an on-going game. The coach animatedly shouts down the ears of the players during these time-outs.

Do we use this technique if we get into a quarrel or argument with our partner or friend or colleague or parent?

It is an excellent way of calling a truce for sometime, think over on what caused the disagreement and later get into a chat in a calm manner. Some people gets into meditation after a time-out before resuming the discussion. It is important that a dialogue happens to appreciate the point of views and to put an end card to argument. In a team meeting too, this time-out technique could be used by the convenor of the meeting of groups when they are at each other’s throat.

After all we don’t want to hurt our partner or spouse or colleague 😊

India not in a recession

This is indeed a heartening news to note India is not going to be in a recession in 2024 and 2025. Two economies, UK and Japan, have already contracted and there is a prediction that US may also join them in this year.

A slew of developmental programs, tight leash on monetary controls by the central bank, buoyant share markets, continued spending by the public have all contributed to a steady GDP growth. A shot in the arm for the ruling NDA in the general elections will no doubt help the economy as a stable government is a major factor for a positive outlook all around.

#indiagdp

#recession

https://www.livemint.com/economy/indian-economy-a-bright-spot-while-japan-uk-fall-into-technical-recession-what-this-means-for-the-global-market-11708091380673.html

Hack your own mind

Today the world talks more and more about hacking of personal data and company data compromising sensitive information that results in loss of trillion of dollars.

In a normal parlance, as we understand, the word ‘hack’ is related to hacking a network or a computer server. In a simpler term, it is stealing or changing the data through unauthorised access to a network of computer system. It is a punishable crime.

What if we decide to do an ethical act of hacking our own mind? It is a laudable action !

Our mind, over the years, has accumulated a lot of garbage that prevents us from performing to the best of our ability to think and act better. Plenty of stored unwanted data in our mind clutters our thinking process because these data about people, places and society not only harms our growth but others too. We always surround ourselves with negative vibes like jealousy, hatred, vindictiveness, pompous, demeaning behaviour, bad habits, unnecessary fear, bad addictions, strained relationships etc and they are the road blocks to our happiness and growth.

How do we do an ethical hacking of our mind?

* One can take a spiritual way of staying clear of unpleasant thoughts. Follow a person who can help achieve this objective.

* One can decide to watch and hear only good thoughts that cultivate friendliness, happiness and fairness.

* One can read books of stalwarts who inspired us. Their life stories carry a lot of information on how they achieved a pinnacle of status that we would want to emulate.

* One can take a renewed interest in people near and dear to you because a happier family of relatives and friends makes you to keep in mind their success, well being and happiness also.

* One can start devoting some hours to reach out to those who need a lot of help, empathy and compassion. Helping them to alleviate their sufferings in a small way makes you feel wonderful.

* One can start moving with a group of people who you find are like you but happier than you. Such a company of friends or people takes the burden of bad vibes off your shoulders and feels light and wanted.

* One can start praying to the Almighty, if you believe in Him, because prayers help to channelise our minds into good actions.

Well, there could be many other ways to hack your own mind and cleanse it to turn into a happy father or mother or son or daughter or spouse or friend or co-worker. You then become an ethical hacker of mind like all those renowned gurus and leaders.

Hacking of your mind is not a one time process but a continuous self-cleaning and self-healing process.

There are plenty of books available about Mind Hacking but you choose what is best for you to read and follow.

Happy Hacking !

Retirement – when is the right age and time?

We have read about young billionaires retiring early from active work and enjoying the sun set days that was advanced on their own volition.

A young billionaire with prudent investment decisions is assured of passive income that keeps the life going with not much change in life style.

We have also heard of wealthy individuals, though not in great numbers, turning into a spiritual or a philanthropic life spending their life earnings on poor people. That indeed is a laudable and noble achievement.

Could everyone aspire to be in any of the above categories? Definitely not.

How do we and when do we make that decision to retire from active work? There are some possible scenarios that look adequately safe to take that decision:

– you are in mid 30’s and you are left with a fortune in the form of real estate and stocks that could only swell year on year. The earnings keep you going as long as you are not a lavish spender.

– you have landed in a job due to your technical / business acumen and that you earn a high compensation. You work there for 12-15 years, save enough money with wise investment decisions and retirement year seems nearer when you are not avarice to earn more and more. Yours is a high pressure job that affects your health and you think of retirement . Your family fully supports you as your time is available to them all the time.

– you have worked for 25+ years, your children are in a position to take good care of themselves, saved enough money, created good assets but don’t want to continue in the high pressure work environment, has a liking towards travel with your spouse. Retirement is no problem for you.

– you are running your own business, have grown it to a reasonable size, created successor from within or outside the family to run the business, takes good returns from the business, finds it no longer exciting, takes a liking towards starting NGOs to help social causes. Retirement is not a hard decision for you.

– yours is a double engine run family of husband and wife with practically no commitments ( double income with no children, parents not with you). You have high savings that will sustain you for long years and hence retirement becomes a good option to take.

What could be other reasons or scenarios you think of ? Feel free to share your views.

#retirement

Digital Transformation

It is a catchall phrase these days for every business organisation, however small or large it may be. It is different from a Business Transformation initiative as it is not time bound and is a continuous exercise to become more agile, efficient and customer centric.

It is not an easy exercise to start unless the leadership of the organisation is clear about the following aspects:

ensuring the availability of business process knowledge upfront with documentation.
evolving a clear strategy to create a business value
assembling technical skills that work closely with the business teams
making available data about every aspect of the business – customers, vendors, products, markets, financials, machinery, infrastructure and competitors.
ensuring faster technology adoption or innovation that is best suited to the business.
driving the change management, frequently communicating with all the stakeholders and securing their buy-in.

Here is an interesting article about Digital Information ( courtesy: McKinsey & Company)

#digitaltransformation

https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-digital-transformation

Every day is a Happy day

It is bewildering to see, we Indians, attach so much importance to a new year when we have seen so many new years in the past. Both good things and not so good things happen every year and it is how our lives go on. By welcoming a new year in such a grand style, we are not going to control what is going to happen. It is a legacy left over to us by Britishers. They invented a long week of celebrations following Christmas until the New year eve, because the cold winter needed a respite for people to come together. We feel happy to spend the new year eve, rejoicing and regaling with friends and families. Some people go to church or a temple to pray and a few others make resolutions to do some great things but do we need a new year day to pray or do good deeds. Good things are meant to be done all the time. Every day is a happy day, if we think so.

⁃ Sivakumar Gopal ( http://www.beating.in)

Power is the ability to influence others and not to dictate to them

Power of an individual or a leader or a politician is like a two sided weapon that could motivate or harm others.

We have seen how power corrupts leaders especially politicians when they constantly indulge in abusing it.

In a social set-up, many individuals make an impact with their empathy and compassion . People remember them for long for their good work and the positive vibes they create around them. They are like good Samaritans that jump in for the right cause and help bring in sanity in thoughts, discussions and actions. In our midst we see only a few people doing it and others are just happy to tag alongwith them. Why do many of us refrain from involving deeper for a social cause or justice and creating an impact ? Time may be a constraint but 24 hours in a day is too much not to do any good. The fear of failure or criticism makes them not to attempt a more vigorous approach to a just cause. A society, community, organisation and Government need many such people who could make those positive contributions. That person could be heading a government, a social service leader, an actor, a saint or a preacher.

In a business organisation a leader has to exercise power that doesn’t drive away his team out of fear but that gives them stability and makes their realise self- worth.

Power is the ability to influence others and not to dictate to them. True power is not having to use it. Cultivating a mind set is difficult for many of us but the fruits of reaching that state of mind is enormous and fulfilling.

#power

#influence

#powerabuse

Sustainable Agricultural Practices – SAP

We see a lot of stuff being written about sustainable business practices across many industry verticals but we hardly see any concern towards safe and sustainable agricultural practices in an industry that is being harped as the lifeline of India.

We hardly see any concerted effort by India’s retail conglomerates, agricultural bodies or Governments towards improving organic farming output besides educating the farmers the need for them to practice sustainable practices in farming.

We hear the agricultural produce that we buy today have metals and chemicals beyond permissible quantities and is it not an utter neglect by the people who are responsible for safe food to citizens?

India’s top business houses that deal in agricultural products should set aside funds under CSR to help the farming community to be made aware of sustainable agricultural practices that would save our next generations and they will continue to get edible food besides this saving our land from turning into barren lands of rock and stones.

Here is a sneak preview of what we have failed to do until now and what needs to be done towards SAP. A good read.

https://tractorkarvan.com/blog/sustainable-agriculture-in-india

#sustainableagriculture

#saveourland

#savenaturalresources

https://lnkd.in/e8HEEJJM

Celebrate achievements

Celebrate achievements, of your own and of others.

Your close friends, relations, peers and bosses expect you to be better at things what you do, when they are in fact short in those same areas.

People are always hesitant to praise others generously whenever it is due. Appreciation motivates everyone to do better and make them consistent in their efforts,actions and words.

Mediocrity needs to be only recognised but excellence needs to be both recognised and applauded.

Celebration of others’ achievements and accomplishments makes the connect between people stronger and healthier. You may need the same reciprocation of words of solace, comfort and praise in future.

#appreciation #applaud #celebratesuccess

People are different

Every person is different than the rest and creates his or her unique hue and colour. That person picks up the traits from people who had influenced him or her to do good or bad.

The attached video grab ( thanks to the person who posted in LinkedIn and to the original contributor) is a classic depiction of how we form our actions and thoughts by picking them up from our parents, teachers, leaders and mentors. We don’t ape them but try to make ourselves unique pieces.

If a person or society or nation is respected it is because how well we have been able to imbibe and integrate the good values of our ancestors and mythological characters to form a society that is always attempting to be fair and just to everyone under its wings. Let us strive hard to keep that balance surviving for many generations to come. We do what is required to be done to achieve it.

In a world that is seeing more chaos and hatred, we as Indians, maintain an equilibrium that sustains our life.