A young boy enters a barber shop and the barber whispers to his Customer,'This is the dumbest kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you.'The barber puts a five rupee coin in one hand and two one rupee coins(1+1=2) in the other, then calls the boy over and asks,'Which do you want, son?'The boy takes the two one rupee coins and leaves.'What did I tell you?' said the barber. 'That kid never learns!'Later, the customer steps out of saloon and sees the same young boy coming out ofThe ice cream store. 'Hey, son! May I ask you a question?Why did you take two one rupee coins instead of five rupee coin?'The boy licked his cone and replied,'Because THE DAY I TAKE THE FIVE RUPEE COIN, THE GAME IS OVER....................................Moral: When you think the other person is dumb, you are making a fool of yourself. __._,_.___

THE TRAP - get out of your comfort zone!

There was a village that was attacked by wild boars.
Everyday the wild boars would enter the village to rampage the whole village of their food. The villagers tried various means to fight and chase away the wild boars, but without much success.

One day a wise man approached the village headman to offer his advice. He told the villagers that they will have to follow all his advice and directions. Out of desperation, the villagers agreed. The wise man told the villagers to gather all the food from every household and put it in the middle of a big empty field.

They followed his advice, and immediately they saw hundreds of wild boars approaching the vicinity where the food was placed. The wild boars were apprehensive initially, but after a while they went for the food. Once the wild boars had a taste of the food they came back for the free food everyday. And everyday the villagers would put more food in the field and the wild boars would come to have their free meals. After a while, the wise man asked the villagers to erect four poles at the four-corners of the field.

The wild boars were too busy having their food that they did not take notice of what was happening. After a few weeks, the wild boars developed the habit of having free food. The wise man then asked the villagers to put fencing around the field, with a large gate through which the wild boars can enter to have their food.

Finally once the fencing and the gate were completed the villagers closed the gate and all the wild boars were trapped inside the field. The wild boars were
Finally defeated!

SUCCESS PRINCIPLES

Habits are easily developed but difficult to get rid of. The wild boars were trapped because out of their greed, they developed the habit of having free food, and without having to work for their food.

They became so comfortable, that they did not realize they were being trapped. Most of us are like the wild boars because we become too comfortable with our jobs and businesses that we do not realize we are in one way or another being "trapped". We seek security rather than freedom!

Workplace conflicts..Story..

Conflict in your life and in your workplace? What is a person to do???? The answer may lie in the following story. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$The head of a cloistered monastery became very frustrated with the bickering and conflict among the monks who were in his charge. He felt helpless in finding a solution to this ongoing problem. One day, he was brilliantly inspired with the right and perfect solution. Knowing that behaviors can change if there is a compelling reason to do so, he called all of the monks together. He said, "I am so pleased to share this wonderfully exciting news with you today. I have learned that one among you is a divinely chosen and blessed being who is one of God's specially selected ministers. We are so fortunate to have this person among us. I know that each of you shares this excitement with me." With no further word, he turned and left the monks alone.The monks sat for a moment and looked around at each other. The puzzlement and then the wonder in their eyes were evident as they looked to each other for some sign of the "blessed one." There was outer silence, but each monk experienced similar inner dialog. "I wonder who it is? Who among us seems most likely to be God's special being? I wonder if I have insulted the blessed one?..." On and on went the inner dialog.The bickering among the monks seem to cease almost immediately as they did their best not to insult or antagonize the one who was held in special esteem by God. Since there was no indication of who the special monk was, all of the monks treated each other with respect, courtesy, and great fondness.Weeks went by. The excitement and curiosity abated and the monks settled down into their usual routine. However, the habit of bickering had been replaced with the habit of respect, courtesy, and a willingness to explore solutions to their problems. There was peace in the monastery.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This wonderful story reflects what actually takes place every day in the workplace. What if we treated our co-workers as though they are "divinely special beings" with our motive not being one of fear, but simply wanting peace in the workplace more than we want anything else?When we begin to look at others with compassionate eyes, speak words of kindness, and think of others with a desire to understand them, we will begin to change. And, interestingly enough so will they. What goes around, comes around.Moral: "Just for this moment, this day, this week, I will look for the goodness in others, as I look for and celebrate the goodness in myself."

How many Crows in the Kingdom

How many Crows in the Kingdom

One day Emperor Akbar and Birbal were taking a walk in the palace gardens. It was a nice summer morning and there were plenty of crows happily playing around the pond. While watching the crows, a question came into Akbar's head. He wondered how many crows were there in his kingdom.

Since Birbal was accompanying him, he asked Birbal this question. After a moment's thought, Birbal replied, "There are ninety-five thousand four hundred and sixty-three crows in the Kingdom".

Amazed by his quick response, Akbar tried to test him again, "What if there are more crows than you answered?" Without hesitating Birbal replied, "If there are more crows than my answers, then some crows are visiting from other neighboring kingdoms". "And what if there are less crows", Akbar asked. "Then some crows from our kingdom have gone on holidays to other places".

An old man lived alone in Minnesota. He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his situation:Dear Son,I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my potato garden this year. I hate to miss doing the garden, because your mother always loved planting time. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me, if you weren't in prison............. ......... ........Love, DadShortly, the old man received this telegram: "For Heaven's sake, Dad, don't dig up the garden!! That's where I buried the GUNS!!"At 4 a.m. the next morning, a dozen FBI agents and local police officers showed up and dug up the entire garden without finding any guns.Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what happened, and asked him what to do next.His son's reply was: "Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad......... ......... ........ It's the best I could do for you from here."Moral:No Matter Where You Are In The World, If You Have Decided To Do Something Deep From Your Heart, You Can Do It. It Is The Thought That Matters Not Where You Are Or Where The Person Is..

Missing Rib . . .

A girl in love asked her boyfriend...Girl: Tell me... who do you love most in this world..?By: You, of course! Girl: In your heart, what am I to you? Boy: The boy thought for a moment and looked intently in her eyes andsaid, "You are my rib. In the Bible, it was said that God saw that Adamwas lonely, during his sleep; God took one of Adam's rib and created Eve.Every man has been searching for his missing rib, only when you find thewoman of your life; you'll no longer feel the lingering ache in yourheart . . ." After their wedding, the couple had a sweet and happy life for a while.However, the youthful couple began to drift apart due to the busyschedule of life and the never-ending worries of daily problems...theirlife became mundane. All the challenges posed by the harsh realities of life began to gnawaway their dreams and love for each other.. The couple began to havemore quarrels and each quarrel became more heated. One day, after the quarrel, the girl ran out of the house.... At theopposite side of the road, she shouted, "You don't love me...!" The boy hated her childishness and out of impulse, retorted, "Maybe, itwas a mistake for us to be together..! You were never my missing rib...!" Suddenly, she turned quiet and stood there for a long while.... Heregretted what he said but words spoken are like thrown away water,you can never take it back. With tears, she went home to pack her thingsand was determined in breaking-up. Before she left the house, "If I'm really not your missing rib,please let me go..... She continued, "It is less painful this way... let usgo on our separate ways and search for our own partners..." Five years went by.... He never remarried but he had tried to find out about her lifeindirectly...... She had left the country and back.... She hadmarried a foreigner and divorced..... He felt anguished that she neverwaited for him. In the dark and lonely night, he lit his cigarette and felt thelingering ache in his heart. He couldn't bring himself to admitthat he was missing her.. One day, they finally met.... At the airport, a place where therewere many reunions and good-byes.... He was going away on a businesstrip. She was standing there alone, with just the security door separatingthem. She smiled at him gently. (b): How are you? (g): I'm fine. How about you... Have you found your missing rib...? (b): No. (g): I'll be flying to New York in the next flight. (b): I'll be back in 2 weeks time. Give me a call when you are back...You know my number... Nothing has changed. With a smile, she turned around and waved good-bye.. "Good-bye . . ." One week later, he heard of her death. She had perished in NewYork. In the event that shocked the world..Midnight..... Once again, he lithis cigarette..... And like before, he felt the lingering ache in hisheart.... He finally knew, she was the missing rib that he had carelesslybroken . . . "Sometimes, people say things out of moments of fury..... Most oftenthan not, the outcome could be disastrous and detrimental.... We ventour frustrations 99% at our loved ones.... And even though we know thatwe ought to "think twice and act wisely", it's often easier said thandone. Things happen each day, many of which are beyond our control. Letus treasure every moment and everyone in our lives. Tomorrow may nevercome; give and accept what you have today . . . "

Reflect

An ambitious and restless shishya was getting impatient with his guru's style of teaching one lesson at a time. He wanted to learn everything quickly and reap the rewards of this learning quickly. He finally expressed his desire to complete his course quickly and move to the next phase of his life. The guru nodded his head and told him to come to him early next morning.

Next morning when the student arrived, he found the guru waiting for him near the chicken coop. He then let the chickens free and asked the student to catch them all in the next one hour . The student ran about trying to catch one and then the other and finally at the end of his hour got exhausted and sat down dejected as he had not been able to catch any.

Then the master told him, now I ask you to catch only the one with the ribbon round its neck. The student got up and despite all the other chickens running around him just went after the ribboned one and caught it with time to spare!. The master smiled and said

"Focus is not our ability to stay attached to the 'one' but also the discipline to avoid the distractions of the 'ninety nine".

But does this story apply to us in the age of multitasking? There are many things that we want to achieve in our life, but the trick is to focus on the single most important goal at that time and work towards achieving it instead of running after many things at the same time and probably getting too exhausted to do justice to each.

Priorities and Focus on one thing at a time - then there will be time for all the other things as well.... and if you do it right... you may still have time to spare!!

"Think Out Of Box"


Employee "A" in a company walked up to his manager and asked what my job is for the day?

The manager took "A" to the bank of a river and asked him to cross the river and reach the other side of the bank.

"A" completed this task successfully and reported back to the manager about the completion of the task assigned. The manager smiled and said "GOOD JOB"

Next day Employee "B" reported to the same manager and asked him the job for the day. The manager assigned the same task as above to this person also.

The Employee "B' before starting the task saw Employee "C" struggling in the river to reach the other side of the bank. He realized "C" has the same task.

Now "B" not only crossed the river but also helped "C" to cross the river.

"B" reported back to the manager and the manager smiled and said "VERY GOOD JOB"

The following day Employee "Q" reported to the same manager and asked him the job for the day. The manager assigned the same task again.

Employee "Q" before starting the work did some home work and realized "A", "B" & "C" all has done this task before. He met them and understood how they performed.

He realized that there is a need for a guide and training for doing this task.

He sat first and wrote down the procedure for crossing the river, he documented the common mistakes people made, and tricks to do the task efficiently and effortlessly.


Using the methodology he had written down he crossed the river and reported back to the manager along with documented procedure and training material.

The manger said "Q" you have done an "EXCELLENT JOB".

The following day Employee "O' reported to the manager and asked him the job for the day. The manager assigned the same task again.

"O" studied the procedure written down by "Q" and sat and thought about the whole task.
He realized company is spending lot of money in getting this task completed. He decided not to cross the river, but sat and designed and implemented a bridge across the river and went back to his manager and said, "You no longer need to assign this task to any one".
The manager smiled and said "Outstanding job 'O'. I am very proud of you."

What is the difference between A, B, Q & O????????
Many a times in life we get tasks to be done at home, at office, at play.,

Most of us end up doing what is expected out of us. Do we feel happy? Most probably yes. We would be often disappointed when the recognition is not meeting our expectation.

Let us compare ourselves with "B". Helping some one else the problem often improves our own skills. There is an old proverb (I do not know the author) "learn to teach and teach to learn". From a company point of view "B" has demonstrated much better skills than "A" since one more task for the company is completed.

"Q" created knowledge base for the team. More often than not, we do the task assigned to us without checking history. Learning from other's mistake is the best way to improve efficiency. This knowledge creation for the team is of immense help. Re-usability reduces cost there by increases productivity of the team. "Q" demonstrated good "team-player" skills

Now to the outstanding person, "O" made the task irrelevant; he created a Permanent Asset to the team.

If you notice B, Q and O all have demonstrated "team performance" over an above individual performance; also they have demonstrated a very invaluable characteristic known as "INITIATIVE".

Initiative pays of every where whether at work or at personal life. If you put initiative you will succeed. Initiative is a continual process and it never ends. This is because this year's achievement is next year's task. You cannot use the same success story every year.

The story provides an instance of performance, where as measurement needs to be spread across at least 6-12 months. Consequently performance should be consistent and evenly spread.

Out-of-Box thinkers are always premium and that is what every one constantly looks out for. Initiative, Out-of-Box thinking and commitment are the stepping stone to success.


Initiative should be life long.

Think of out of the box.....

3 Lessons from Alexander

There is very instructive incident involving the life of Alexander, the Greek king.

Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence.

He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would not permit Him to reach his distant homeland. So,



The mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last. He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon,

I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail." With tears flowing down .Their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's last wishes.


"My first desire is that," said Alexander, "My physicians alone must carry my coffin." After a pause, he continued, "Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury.

"The king felt exhausted after saying this. He took a minute's rest and continued. "My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin."The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes. But no one dare bring the question to their lips. Alexander's favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. "O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?"

At this Alexander took a deep breath and said: "I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt.


Lessons to learn from last 3 wishes of King Alexander... I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted..

The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.

And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world."
With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last. . . . .

Akbar & Birbal: Birbal Solves the Problem

Several courtiers were vying to be the Royal Advisor of Emperor Akbar. So one day, when they came to the court, they said to the Emperor, "We want to be your Royal Advisor." Akbar said, "No problem, but you will have to pass the test before you could be my Royal Advisor. And whoever would pass the test will be appointed my Advisor." They agreed.
The King unfastened his waist cloth and lay down on the floor, and asked the candidates to cover him with that cloth from head to toe. Now everybody tried to cover him, but in vain. If one wanted to cover the head, then feet remained uncovered, or if the feet were covered, then his head remained open.
Just then Birbal entered the court, the king asked Birbal also, if he could cover him with that cloth from head to toe. Birbal paused a moment, then asked the Emperor politely, "Huzoor, Could you pull up your knees a little bit?" The King did so, and Birbal could cover him from head to toe with that cloth.
Realizing that they failed the test, the courtiers left the court quietly and then they never thought about being the King's Advisor.