Time to Stand and Stare?

“Time is the new currency, “ says Pushkraj Shenai, CEO, Lakme Lever. Consumers are multitasking with buying groceries and hailing cabs on mobile phone apps, food is getting delivered in record time and household chores are being outsourced. ‘Busy’ consumers are even being offered express hair colouring along with manicure and pedicures in 10 minutes instead of 40 minutes earlier!

We are increasingly becoming a people in a hurry.

#MyLearning
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
                         - William Henry Davies

The Luxury of Freedom

Actor Ranveer Singh is considered the high priest of fashion, but he believes in the  luxury of freedom. Freedom such as walking back home through the by-lanes from the studio to his suburban Mumbai home.

#MyLearning
We perform the Laxmi Puja to propitiate the goddess of wealth, but the greatest wealth she could bestow on us is not money. It is the wealth of peace and happiness, and the luxury of  the freedom to do what one’s heart wants.

From Material to Sentimental Value

Jean-Marc Lacave, President and Regional Managing director,  Moet Hennessy Asia-Pacific, was  asked what is his most prized position. His reply,  “I am starting to think I need less and less. But my watch is sentimental to me. It's not worth too much,  it was given to me by my father when I was 18.”

#MyLearning
Aging after a life of craving and acquiring things, realisation dawns  that all our indulgent acquisitions are less valuable than say, the solitaire earrings bought with your first paycheck, the pair of sunglasses left to you by your granddad or the shawls passed on to you by your mom and grandma.

The Power of Questions

Physicist Richard Feynman found the atmosphere at the Institute of Advanced Studies at Princeton stultifying.  He found it sterile because there were no students to ask him questions - questions that would force him to rethink his beliefs and perhaps discover new theories.

#MyLearning
A leader who fosters a work culture of asking questions, opens the door to an engaging and collaborative environment for innovation and success.
Read the Forbes article below for ideas and suggestions for questions leaders can ask their people.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/hennainam/2013/07/30/why-oprah-is-worth-2-8-billion-the-power-of-questions/

Love Has Many Parts

When Anand Mahindra met Harvard collegemate Bill Gates for the first time, he complained, "Thanks to you, I am never going to look like a winner to my kids." Explaining the reason why, Mahindra says his daughter asked him who were the famous people at Harvard with him, and when he  enthusiastically responded, “Bill Gates” she put him down with,  ‘Jeez Dad! In comparison, what a loser you are.‘

#MyLearning
Love has many parts to it; respect, caring, honesty and trust. While all are important, a few maybe some degrees less than others, but the weight of the rest more than make up for the lack.

Life is Choices

Actor Salman Khan says it Is difficult for him to deal with the dichotomy of perception. In his professional life, people see him romancing pretty girls, travelling to fancy places for film shoots, hosting shows, laughing, responding and giving advice, and they think he is having a good time. But, he says, with the verdict of the court cases against him due shortly, people have no idea what it takes for him to smile and romance on screen and do justice to his work.

#MyLearning
That work and life are two separate and contrasting entities of our lives is a dichotomy of perception They are just one - LIFE, and being happy is an outcome of the choices we make.

Picture source: bms. co.in

Time The Healer and The Killer

“Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them,“ says Dion Boucicault. How about women?  Actress Jennifer Lawrence says her busy schedule in Hollywood takes a toll on her body.  Moreover, she feels empty when she has nothing to do. She therefore tries to keep working instead of taking a vacation, and says now she's “aging like a president.”

#MyLearning
Man or woman, we need to draw a balance between killing time and overworking to the point of exhaustion. Time quietly kills both extremists.

Leaders Lead the Way

Both Actor Salman Khan and film director Sooraj Barjatya are the same age, yet the actor addresses the latter as Sooraj babu. Asked why, Salman say he realized (Sooraj’s) calibre right from the time of their first film together, when both were 19-year-olds. He had then noticed that people were taking Sooraj for granted, and he had not liked it. So he’d started calling him Sooraj babu so others would respect him.

#MyLearning
Every action and communication of a leader has the power to shape the perceptions,as well as behavior of his people. Use the power well.

Picture source: brettlsimmons. com

Accepting Alternative Points of View

“Raja Raja Chola, in building the magnificent Brihadeeswara Shiva temple in Thanjavur, also incorporated sculptures of Vishnu as well as the meditating Buddha thus admitting to alternative viewpoints. When Shahenshah Akbar invited scholars of all manner of persuasion to debate the eternal verities in his court, he was only following older traditions of our Hindu and Buddhist kings, who encouraged and protected the spirit of enquiry.” - Raghuram Rajan, RBI governor.
#MyLearning
Accepting an alternative point of view,  so long as it is not intended to hurt is a sign of strength & a source of enriched ideas.

Your Day a Blank Page

Asked about the kind of book he wanted to write, Rajdeepak Das,  chief creative officer, Leo Burnett says, his life has been like blank pages. He works positively to scribble something new and memorable each day.

#MyLearning
Early each day, we prepare a draft plan of our to be o actions. Once pen is put to the blank sheet of the day,  what emerges is either the exact same as we had planned, or it may be different. Both ways, it creates new learning and the scope to do a better draft plan for the next day.

That Courage to Act

Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve during the financial meltdown years, has written his memoirs. The New York Times in its review of the book says, “Bernanke’s memoir is called The Courage to Act - a title that may be ironic because, although he generally chose to act in most of the crisis he faced, it would have required an equal amount of courage, or even more, not to.”

#MyLearning
Actions carry relevance and pertinence when done at the right time & at the right place. May I have the courage to be proactive in the deserving moments of life situations.

Pic: biz shift-trends.com

Setting Life Goals

Economist and political scientist Joseph Schumpeter, who popularized the term "creative destruction" in economics, claimed that he had set himself three goals in life: to be the greatest economist in the world, to be the best horseman in all of Austria and the greatest lover in all of Vienna. He said he had reached two of his goals, but he never said which two,although he is reported to have said that there were too many fine horsemen in Austria for him to succeed in all his aspirations.

#MyLearning
Our life goals should be a healthy mix of aspirational professional and personal goals. Working toward becoming the best in each can be fun and deeply satisfying - and never mind that we may fail to achieve one or two of our goals - the fun lies in the journey!

Picture source: engineering. com

Living Life Authentcally

Their chests were to be digitally tattooed in post production so they had to shave their chest hair. While others in the cola campaign ad agreed, cricketer Sehwag did so only after some coaxing. After the shoot, while others rushed to the monitor to reflect on their performance or their looks, Sehwag just swaggered away unconcerned,  once the director yelled cut.
Because frankly, as with his batting style, he didn't give a damn.

#MyLearning
How unmindful can I be of societal, familial and peer pressure in being my authentic self?

The Truth of Intention

He treats his music room like a mosque & visitors have to keep their footwear outside. He prays five times a day, which leaves him with “no time for smoking, drinking or fornication.” That was ace composer A.R. Rahman speaking in the television documentary Jai Ho, based on his musical journey. He explained how an intention coming from purity and love  can make any music appeal to people,  irrespective of their cultures, nationalities or geographies.

#MyLearning
The truth of my intention should be seen like a beacon of light - clear, direct and of unmistakable integrity. Can I honestly do it?

Mentors and Life Lessons

Mentors don't mould champions.  Opponents do. - An ad for Jack & Jones.

#MyLearning
Opponents do mould champions by teaching them unforgettable lessons in the do’s and don'ts in certain life situations.
Mentors organise those lessons into doable actions in daily life.
Both have their roles to play.

The Pain of Ravana

Last evening, as they stood him up in the middle of the grounds, readying to set him afire, Ravana looked down sadly on the multitudes and wondered to himself,  “Who among you is Rama?”

#MyLearning
Before I criticise, or think negatively of people, can I look inside myself and ask,  “am I too guilty of the same wrongdoing? “

Skill Building Framework

"I want to thank everyone for the cricketing advice given to me over the years and apologise for not accepting most of it. I had a reason; I did it my way." Cricketer Virender Sehwag announcing his retirement.

#MyLearning
The path of skills evolution is:
1. Learn the Rules,
2. Practice the Rules,
3. Break the Rules and finally,
4. Make Your Own Rules

While the linear path to evolution may be best,  mavericks and geniuses can, and do,  skip steps. I am the best judge to decide what, where and how I shall deal with rules.

Driving Desire

"Some dreams need wings, some ride on a chariot of desire." From an advertisement for a jeweler.

#MyLearning
The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says, "You are what your deep, driving desire is. As you desire, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny." Great things happen as a result of  a deep driving desire.  Dreams too require this desire in order to take wing.

Right Focus

Hindi film lyricist Varun Grover says Hindi poets had a purist angst that a poem should not be part of a film. But now, threatened by English and Hinglish, they are changing tracks. But Urdu poets didn't mind such things, so even today, romantic songs use Urdu words.

#MyLearning
Focusing on performance over process, volume over value and quantity over quality etc, have their place, but know when to widen focus, or change focus so as not to be left behind in the race.

Your Gift to The World

An artiste has to constantly grow,  says singer Sunidhi Chavan. Epiphany dawned at the Global Citizen Festival, where she realized that as a human being & citizen of India, songs weren't the only thing she wanted to be remembered for, she  wanted to make a difference and help causes. While her profession made her a singer and entertainer,  she wanted to be someone people could look up to.
#MyLearning
The Needs of Man, says Covey, are, To Live, To Love, To Learn, & To Leave a Legacy. Once we are clear about the contribution we want to make, it can influence our actions in the rest of the needs.