Sharespace

Every day is a Lesson - Everyone is a Teacher...

2010-06-07T17:30:00.000+05:30

While it has been a consistent endeavor for me to learn 3 new things every day...The last couple of days had been enlightening!!! I just returned back from a visit to my home town. I was there to receive my mother and my Brother's wife & kids - who were here on a holiday.

Phew!!! What a holiday I had!!! Enjoyed every bit of it...my nephew kept me on toes all the time & my darling niece was garnering almost everyone’s attention. Did have some challenges answering the intriguing questions posed by my nephew, though he is less than 5. But sometimes you tend to agree that Kids can be master teachers...they teach you some of the most important basics of life which we keep forgetting and these learning’s can be life transforming...absolutely life transforming.

Now coming to the point - it was my Niece’s 1st birthday and we decided to celebrate the arrival with some kids in a local ashram. It’s nice to have a family where your loved ones understand the value of what your are gifted with & would love to contribute back...

We reached Ramakrishna Mission Ashram by morning 7.30 Am to be awe struck by the visuals we saw there. As we entered the gate we saw a group of tiny tots not more than what my Nephews age, all bathed and tidily dressed in their school uniforms (They did not have other changing dresses - I came to know later...) entering a big hall (Later found out it was a prayer hall) in absolute silence & order.

The clock struck 7.45 Am and one child (There were a total of 53 of them - aged between 4 to 18) stood up from the group to start their prayer...the next 15 minutes was BLISS !!! Pure unadulterated BLISS !!! the kids all sang their prayer in such unison they could put a symphony troupe to shame. 8.00 sharp the prayer was over and a kid walked upto the front of the group & loudly announced it was time to take their oath. It was a oath as I never heard, never experienced - they promised with utmost sincerity to respect and love anything under the sun for everything was created by god for them...

8.15 Am, we had arranged for a breakfast for all the kids and to have experienced the gift of me being there with them then - I can be born again to say the least. All the kids sat down with their respective plates with absolutely pin drop silence. We requested that we serve the food to the kids but they declined the request saying that we were their guests and 5 kids stood up from the group & volunteered to serve us all (They should have been as hungry as others for sure...)

What food actually means & how much it has to be respected - we learnt it all again with the Kids teaching us the same with utmost humility. The food was served - but no kid (Including the tiny tots....) touched their plates or the food until the same was served in all the plates....they waited to check whether everyone had enough served in their plates as theirs (And I had tears in my eyes....). They all in unison prayed for my Niece's well being and then blessed her for giving them a meal that day.

There were kids who were orphans, there were those whose parents abandoned them in public busses & even childrens parks and there was a mentally unsound kid too - eventhough none would have known the other ever before, they were all brothers now...loved each other as their family !!!

After the breakfast, the chief of the ashram introduced us to three kids who had just then completed their 10th & 12th Std exams. With all the shortcomings & days where they might have had to sleep empty stomach these kids went on to score fantastic marks in the board exams. Each of them with the barest of resources and facilities had scored a whooping 80% + in their exams.

I spoke to them & without mincing the words let me agree with all humility that they were heros !!! real heros !!! for what they want to accomplish is not less than any heroic act. Two of them wanted to become Engineers so that they could help their ashram run a vocational training institute, the other wanted to become a Collector for he was derermined to bring about a change in the society on how orphans are looked at !!! I had no words....NO WORDS were needed....we offered any assistance that we could provide for their education and graciously they replied back that the Government does have a support system for kids like them & in case they need any further assistance they would come back to people like us.

It was time for us to leave & we started gifting the T-Shirts we had got for all the kids...thought we might add some color to their lifes - a small contribution we thought we could make in their lifes...WRONG...instead they thought us the value of true giving....when one kid said he did not like his T-shirt and wanted an other color he had the other 52 hands stretching towards him to take theirs !!! I couldnt help but laugh at people who only but crib they do not get what they want....

Those kids taught me again that did not want sympathy (You cant sympathize when you are to be sympathized...can you) they only wanted one thing that we could give them with no costs - Love !!! They seemed to have everything else and they were on their path to write their own destinies...how about us???

Destiny is not destined - it is - DESIGNED !!!

Watch out !!!

2010-03-09T12:16:00.000+05:30

I was reading through some old scrips & came across a note from the Napolean Hill foundation...the note is in reference to the less spoken concept of "Self fulfilling prophecy"...

Interpreting the message was simple - The most insidious problem with drugs is that the human body develops a tolerance for them and requires larger and larger doses to achieve the same effect.

The same is true with self-pity & self-talk. Watch out what you think or talk to yourself...be completely aware what you are seeding your mind with...

The more you allow yourself to indulge in it, the more you will require.Soon, self-pity will become a habit, one so debilitating that you will rob yourself of all the potential you possess. Happily, there is a cure. If you truly analyze the situation, most often you will find that the problems that have driven you to pity yourself are mostly of your own creation. It follows, then, that the best person to remedy the problem is the person who created it: you yourself.

No wonder the age old saying "Watch your thoughts for thoughts become words, watch your words for words become action, watch your action for actions become your habit & watch your habit for habits determine your character" stands tall till today !!!

You are what you think !!!

You will ONLY become what you think you will !!!

If you think you can - you are right, if you think you cant - you are still right !!!

I repeat..."Destiny is not destined - it is - DESIGNED"

Somethings never change - or - do they really not ???

2010-02-01T22:57:00.002+05:30

In the not so distant past, I recall myself as someone who had been written off by people who believed I can never make it up in life...never be close to being successful ( I wouldnt by faintest means measure what success actually means to them...) & neither do I consider that I have accomplished even 1% of what I want in my life...

The funny part is, this seems to be the case with my wife too...sometime ago we were having a casual discussion when she mentioned that one of her relatives had made a skeptical remark when she wanted to apply for her passport...that she wouldnt need a passport to move out of her hometown !!!

Not because am too proud...but as a matter of fact we were discussing this while sitting @ the Club Lounge in JFK Airport in the city of Newyork...did I say the Club Lounge @ JFK ??? Oh yes...that statement was in reference to her dear relative that the wheels of life never moves in a single direction - it cant !!!

No wonder my wife seems she cant agree with me more - yet she is to comprehend that thoughts could be so powerful too...She has just landed a couple of days before in Qatar from where she would go to Muscat & probably Dubai - to meet her brother & sister...she called me from the Doha terminal to share how important she was feeling when she was pampered by the First class Air hostesses througout her journey & and how excited she was to be escorted to the waiting lounge without having to wait for the immigration formalities...& all I did was smile !!!

Unfortunately for many, they think life comes to a standstill just because there are so many things which are working against their will...let me tell you something - if so many things are working against your will, you can damn well be assured you are nearing your goals !!!

I have fallen - fallen & how !!! Every time I fell I only had to fall with my face facing the sky - for if I could look up, I could get up...and your so called failure is only when you refuse to listen to your innerself & give up...life never gives up on you - you give up on life !!!

I was just writing to someone on face book in reference to a small note he had put on Dreams...I wrote back - If your Dreams are strong enough, the facts don't count !!!

Only that your Dream has to be bigger than your worst FEAR !!!

Havn't I always said - Destiny is not destined - it is - Designed !!!

The last minutes...

2010-01-14T15:54:00.000+05:30

Had it not been for the last 9 months of my Marathon practice, I might have missed some of the most wonderful learning opportunities in my life...

The first day when I did a run for 200 Mtrs...as I was exulting to the fact that my feets were still alive !!! 200 Mtrs looked a long - a very long way...it was not like pumping iron in an air-conditioned gym. I came back home telling myself people should be mad just running without a purpose, let people who want to run - run, am working out in the gym, am already FIT. (I did learn - I am lying to myself...)

Dreaded those phone calls & reminders from my running partners (I am sure they hated what we were doing as much as I did...). I suppose they were looking for cross motivation !!! (I learnt everyone needed someone to push...)

Week 2 - it looked as if our Coach had identified our concern for all work & no play - so he introduced Beach throw ball on Sundays. Sundays suddenly became exciting - we started looking forward to the play...it never pained to wake up by 4.30 on a Sunday morning - why - because we were playing !!! (Learnt that all work & no play pertains to play too...reinforced my belief that variety is the spice of life...always mix it up)

2 months down the line when I did my first complete round of the Mahalaxmi race course (2.4 Kms) I felt on top of the world - my coach officially permitted me to have a beer !!! I was never made to realize that it was not the actual running practice which had made me accomplish the task - but all those days when we were not running but preparing ourselves to run for that one day...(Learnt it the hard way - Practice makes a man - an IDIOT...its the RIGHT practice which makes him PERFECT...)

5 Months on & suddenly one of the Sunday evenings (Sundays used to be the long distance running days...Monday, Wednesday & Fridays were the practice days. Mondays were the softer run downs, Wednesdays were the mad regimed power trainings & Fridays were the dreadful hill runs) I realized - I was discussing with one of my friend that I am planning to do the Marathon...THE MARATHON ??? Did I say that - I questioned myself. But that morning I had done for the first time 10 Kms non-stop so I felt I was eligible to speak about long distance running... (Reinforced my belief - you are limited only to the limits of your thoughts...you expand your thoughts & you overgrow your limitations...)

7 Months on & the 18 Kms nonstop mark was no longer looking distant...I cleared it in 2.40 Mins. That was an achievement for someone who couldn't imagine beyond 200 Mtrs. But was the achievement mine??? I seemed to acknowledge the fact that as much an achievement for me it was personally, it was an achievement for my Coach - who till date disagrees to believe I cant do the 42 Kms mark within the next one year...it was an achievement to a few of my friends who knew if they pushed - I would do it...it was an achievement to my commitment too...

Today, as we near the last minutes for the D Day...I look back to myself with pride & admiration. I have always been someone who loves me the most...today I know I have fallen in love with myself all over again...

One of my friends was mentioning that this year we should plan to do 4 marathons...we should become "Marathoners"...He also mentioned about the wild Morocco Desert Marathon which is run for 7 days covering 240 Kms...Jokingly I said - "Dont think its madness - who can do that???" But somewhere inside me I know - if I want it, I just have to expand my thoughts !!!

Destiny is not destined - it is - DESIGNED...

Welcoming a new beginning...

2010-01-07T17:39:00.003+05:30

Just returned from a long vacation...a LONG VACATION !!!

I couldnt believe myself when I was boarding from JFK back to Mumbai that I had spent 15 days doing nothing...just doing nothing !!! I did not have my mobile, neither my laptop, nor did I access my remote log in...I did nothing !!!

The 15 days were indeed wonderful nothings !!!
Blah - Blahing sweet nothings to my sweet heart...
Asked her what makes her stick on with someone like me & she says - nothing...
Doing nothing but sipping coffee with my mother in the morning when the temperature outside was Sub-zero...
Rekindling all those days I spent doing nothing but fighting with my brother when we were kids...
Playing like a kid with my Brothers kids - with nothing worrying ...
Playing with nothing but with myself...reinventing myself

I said I did nothing - right !!!

Time to turn back - do something for me to revisit the nothings !!! My return flight from O'hare was waiting...to take us to NY. We managed to spend a whole day @ the airport - once again doing nothing...

Professionaly groomed beautiful airhostesses welcomed me. A cute girl took my jacket promising to return it back when we land @ Doha (My stop over before Mumbai...). I was guided to my window seat from where I could see the world again through the enclosed space...did I say enclosed space?

Suddenly I remembered, not long before I was in my personal enclosed space - too many thoughts, too many issues running past, too many tasks needing my immediate attention...I push my automated seat don - slowly the seat stretches to become a bed...am amazed at this transformation...but suddenly I realize the nothings did transform me too - I felt stretched.

I am ready again - I know now that those nothings have given me a reason for me to do something... to go back again to the nothings next year !!!

Welcome CM - welcome to a new beginning...

Stretching far...

2009-09-23T17:14:00.002+05:30

6 Months ago I had written that I was planning to traverse unknown territories !!! I mean working towards running a marathon...

Now as I look back - am amused & equally amazed with what I have accomplished for my self. Last week I did a 8 Km run nearing 60 Mins, the first time I did non-stop. I never knew I would stretch this far. Training 4 days a week, waking up 4.45 Am every training day including the Sundays....I am stretching !!!

I was on a short business visit to Singapore the last 4 days. Never imagined my commitment towards myself would have such an personal empowering impact - I couldnt believe myself that I was running down the Orchard Street morning 6.00 Am covering the entire stretch up& down in straight 30 Minutes !!! (I never hinted this this to my friends or family - they either ways wont believe...)

Having stretched - now I do know I would be completing the Mumbai Marathon if not in style, sure to do it with style...Am not looking at setting a record by moving in close of completion within 2.00 Hrs but am challenging myself....

No more boundaries, no more doubts, no more self limiting beliefs.
All you need is - open your mind.
Are you ready to believe?
Are you ready to stretch?

The Guy in the Glass...

2009-06-17T14:04:00.004+05:30

This is a masterpiece by Dale Wimbrow...I have read it over & over again - always get a new meaning though !!!

The Guy In The Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf,

And the world makes you King for a day,

Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,

And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn't your Father or Mother or Wife,

Who judgement upon you must pass.

The feller whose verdict counts most in your life Is the guy staring back from the glass.
He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest,

For he's with you clear up to the end,

And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test

If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,

And think you're a wonderful guy,

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum

If you can't look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,

And get pats on the back as you pass,

But your final reward will be heartaches and tears

If you've cheated the guy in the glass.

The Awakening...

2009-06-02T15:35:00.001+05:30

A time comes in your life when you finally get it! When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening.

You realize that it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that he is not Prince Charming and you are not Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are . . . and that's OK. (They are entitled to their own views and opinions.) And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.

You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself and in the process a sense of safety & security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties and in the process a sense of peace & contentment is born of forgiveness. You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche.

And you begin to sift through all the crap that you have been fed about how you should behave, how you should look and how much you should weigh, what you should wear and where you should shop and what you should drive, how and where you should live and what you should do for a living, who you should sleep with, who you should marry and what you should expect of a marriage, the importance of having and raising children or what you owe your parents.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with and in the process you learn to go with your instincts. You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life. You learn that you don't know everything; it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. Romantic love and familial love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn not to project your needs or your feelings onto a relationship. You learn that you will not be more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man on your arm or the child that bears your name. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes.
You learn that just as people grow and change so it is with love and you learn that you don't have the right to demand love on your terms... just to make you happy. And, you learn that alone does not mean lonely. And you look in the mirror and come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 5 or a perfect 10 and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head and agonizing over how you "stack up."

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK . . . . and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things that you want . . . and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.

You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less. And, you allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you to glorify you with his touch... and in the process you internalize the meaning of self-respect.

And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn, that for the most part, in life you get what you believe you deserve . . . and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it's OK to risk asking for help. You learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time. FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms.

And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes, bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening.

And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego. You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about; a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never ever settle for less than your heart's desire. And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

Finally, with courage in your heart and love in your soul you take a stand, you take a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.

This is your awakening - Welcome.

Remember- Destiny is not destined - it is - "Designed"...

The five values of CARING...

2009-05-29T16:38:00.000+05:30

Caring is the opposite of both indifference and hate. Without caring, nothing matters. That's why caring is at the heart of a decent life. It leads us to help others and to respect ourselves; it leads to actions of tenderness and protection. Sometimes people care for the wrong things or care too much about something. But people and institutions should demonstrate that they care about important things and about each other.

Responsibility - People who care must be willing to take responsibility. That means they are accountable for their actions, enjoying praise when things go well and willing to accept blame when things go wrong. Accepting responsibility is a sign of maturity; it can be frightening, because as I am responsible I become vulnerable to criticism. If I am responsible, I cannot blame my mistakes on peer pressure or what "everyone" does. Being responsible means being willing to stand up and be counted, to say "I" decided to take action. It was my choice, my achievement or my fault.

Respect - If I take responsibility for myself, others will begin to respect me. I can also respect others who stand up for what they believe is right. Respect for each other makes a moral community--a community of caring--possible. To respect others means to see them as valuable in their own right. I must listen to them and give them space. I should expect them to be different from me and appreciate their differences. Self-respect and respect for others go together, and both are essential. Self-respect means realizing that I am valuable, that I care for some things, and that I have to live with myself.

Trust - When people care for and respect each other, trust takes root and grows. If I trust you, I acknowledge that I need you for something, often support. And, trust also involves expectations. Trusting people means counting on them: depending on them and expecting them to deliver. Communities of people cannot exist without a certain level of trust. Like other values, trust can be foolish or misplaced, but a whole life without trust is impossible. Trust requires knowledge. I cannot trust myself if I do not understand myself, and I cannot trust you if I do not understand you.

Family - We begin to learn our values in our families, from the people we live with. Later our choices about love and sex create new families. We understand family to be the community that raises children, the community they leave to go to school, and the kind of community they may create themselves one day. Not all families are the same, and not all are perfect. But families have been called "the school of character," the place where values are taught and learned. And we take family stability, responsibility of family members to one another, mutual respect, and trust and care among family members to be essential to the health of our children and our society.

The best qoutes for life...on life...

2009-03-13T11:25:00.000+05:30

"If you think you're too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room." - Dame Anita Roddick

"Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: if you're alive, it isn't." - Richard Bach

"When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty." - George Bernard Shaw

"Someone has somewhere commented on the fact that millions long for immortality who don't know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon." - Susan Ertz

"I've learned that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it." - Andy Rooney

"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him." - Leo Tolstoy

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank

"Better the rudest work that tells a story or records a fact, than the richest without meaning." - John Ruskin

"The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it." - William James

"If 'A' is a success in life, then A = x + y + z. Work is x; y is play, and z is keeping your mouth shut." - Albert Einstein

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that." - Bill Shankly, 1913-81, Scottish manager of Liverpool Football Club, on the importance of passion in your chosen field

"When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only of how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong." - Richard Buckminster

On belief...

2009-03-09T15:25:00.001+05:30

Today, I was doing some inner reading - when I managed to recall the famous quote "It's not our life events that themselves directly disturb us. It's our irrational demandingness, our shoulds, oughts, and musts that largely do the job." - by Robert H Moore's in "A Guide to Rational living".

Recollecting this statement only reinforced to me the resonance of a mans ability to decide his own destiny...

I strongly beleive my qoute (Destiny is not destined - it is "DESIGNED") shall be among the "Quotable - quotes" one day...while it is easy said than achieved, the beauty of designing ones own destiny lies in this simple fact - DO WE BELEIVE WE CAN???

What an apt statement by Albert Ellis in the same book - "People and things do not upset us. Rather, we upset ourselves by believing that they can upset us."

The question is what do we beleive???

I have always questioned, answered, argued, consolled - myself to reinforce this universal truth...its I, me, myself who is solely responsible for my being what I am today...or for that matter what I would become tomorrow....

The question is what do I beleive???

I beleive, Destiny is not destined - it is - "Designed" - Chandramoorthy

Galloping ahead...

2009-03-06T11:37:00.000+05:30

When my good friend told me he was getting himself ready to prepare for the next year's marathon run - from today...I was absolutely awe struck with his commitment - or is that what I thought?

The fact was - the practice sessions were planned at one of the most famous landmarks for the rich & famous of whos'-who of Mumbai - Mahalaxmi racecourse. So what, you should be thinking ???

Guys - if you know Mahalaxmi race course, how could you not know "Gallops" the retro restaurant - serving chilled beer, while you watch the Jocks traversing on their horses to net the ovations of their prospective betters...

Suddenly I get the much needed inner motivation to stretch...I mean push myself to join the group of prospective marathoners...I do...but not before I gave near heart attacks to my loved ones - my wife nearly missed a heart beat hearing the news, my mother is of the opinion that her son would win the marathon the coming year - brining pride to India...One of my good friend seems to have taken the Mahalaxmian way...Means - he is ready to bet his entire life earnings that I couldnt continue what I have started for more than 2 weeks...

With all this in the background - one can only but be excited about life...

Total recall...

2008-09-29T15:02:00.000+05:30

I was facilitating a competency progression session for my colleagues - when I recollected the day where I came across someone who asked me four questions which would leave a mark on my life for ever.

It was four years back, I was attending a conference...a conference where it would be strategized - WHAT TO STRATEGIZE !!! Corporate Honchos all around, ties galring to break free from those double brested siuts, mobiles working hard to grab one others attention !!! A strange feel for a person like me who was yet to integrate into the jungle of no-where...CORPORATE !!!

In front of this large contingent of brain oozing people stood a 6'4" hugely built rugby player of the yester years - he had been a pastor too....Lenford Gerber - he was introduced with a fantastic edification by one of my colleagues....while introducing it was mentioned that Lenford could positively impact your life for ever & that if you WANTED to, you will learn WHAT you WANT out of his session....it really dint bother me much...I wanted to learn either ways - I was hungry to know what these corporate animals were made up of. I was waiting - but never knew I was at the wrong place at the right time - because after Lenford asked the group those life transforming questions I did not find a quite corner to just sit around & cry....

Those four questions hit me like a hammer even today - each time I think of.... Lenford named them the "Cross road questions"...but for me they actually built a road of meaning....

Would love to share them in my share space:

1. When is the last time I did something for the first time???
2. How OLD is my attitude???
3. Who am I when no one is watching me???
4. Why am I doing what I am doing???

If you find an answer to these questions - my friend, from this minute your road towards your destiny has started...remember what I always say:

Destiny is not destined - it is - DESIGNED....Chandramoorthy

On Passion...

2008-08-24T13:14:00.000+05:30

I just recollected an age old incident...

I was then working for an MNC, based out of Erode (MNC - out of Erode !!!)...during one of my routine trips (In a bus...)to a neighbouring town Salem, I couldnt fight my urge to attend to natures call & walked to a govt run pay toilet inside the bus stand...

Little did I know that the next 5 minutes I spent inside that dingy, stinking place would leave a irrevokable mark on the way I shall think - throughout my life...

The place was flirting with stink & I was choking to get out to fill my lungs with some breathable air, when I noticed something absolutely life transforming...In that place - there was a boy (should have been around 15/16 years old) who was employeed (!!!) to clean the toilet after each use.

The way he enjoyed executing that seemingly disgusting task was a splendor to watch...This boy was actually making each person walking inside - smile with his antics & laugh with him on his jokes...I couldnt think of a better way for any individual to elude passion !!!

When ever I am attending to a task today - all I have to do is recollect that 5 minutes for me to experience the level of passion with which I can DO things...

I am back...

2008-07-20T12:07:00.000+05:30

Sometimes you get into your own shell - thinking why you are doing what you are doing??? You neednt have a answer for all your questions all the time - some are better unanswered...

I was asking my self why I stopped doing something (Blog) which I started to...was I looking for others to take notice? May be yes - thats why when I did not get any notice for what I was doing I thought for whom I should do this? Surprise surprise ---- I completely forgot I am seeing what I am doing....thats amazing I forgot I am seeing what I am doing....

Now to ensure I keep myself in good stead & terms with myself I decided to do something which I love the most - be myself...

So with no compulsions that I am doing anything what I do for anyone else & without any predetermined thoughts that I SHOULD blog every week on fridays (How funny it is now to think I had done this to myself....hahahahaha) I have decided to start again...

Welcome back CM .... am sure youd love this journey too - as you have your others....

Remember Destiny is not Destined - it is - DESIGNED...

Freedom on Friday - 4th Serving...

2008-04-09T11:12:00.000+05:30

As each one of us continue to assimilate our learning’s & experiences on a day to day basis, we evolve better ways to deliver our objectives in an affective manner – hence it is obviously imperative for us to take ownership for our actions.

Connecting with the above, I recollect one of the Golden rules given to me by my mentor -

"There is nothing more powerful than taking ownership for things by yourselves…"

Accountability & responsibility are the two most powerful words in the Human dictionary. This rule retreates the same philosophy that I had read again and again and again by some of the most powerful Authors in this world who describe Leadership as 'action on thoughts'.

If I were to take ownership for my actions & stand accountable to myself, there would not be a single instance that my personal consciousness would allow me to take a wrong route. This rule strongly imbibes the most important factor for a person to develop into a true Leader. I am taking measured steps to attain mastery in this art - of taking ownership for things.

How about you ???

Destiny is not Destined - it is - "Designed"

Freedom on Friday - 3rd Serving...

2008-04-01T11:25:00.000+05:30

For me, some of the most intense learnings in my life were gifted by two individuals - one, a person who is absolutely deceptive in looks but has the uncanning capacity to inspire a dead man alive, second - a person who has inspired a thousand souls to identify their true potential...

I say I should have been such an amazing & relentless persurer of my dreams that the universe conspired for me to have come across these two people who have made my life look more meaningful.

I would love to share some of my treasured Golden rules

Justice is not sufficient if done – it has to be seen to be done

This is one of the most powerful Golden rules I have acquired. This statement has been a motivating factor for me @ many a times when I always used to wonder why people do things the way they do….

It is obvious – yet we never see, that every individual needs the acceptance, recognition & attention the way we crave for. This rule is one of the most powerful tools I use currently in my day-to-day business activity & the results are showing in terms of highly improved Personal relationship built with people across all departments.

Freedom on Friday - 2nd Serving...

2008-03-18T12:25:00.000+05:30

I remember reading somewhere - "If you are going to lead, you better have a deep-seated belief that you should be at the helm, dragging everyone into that better future - Virtually nothing about a leader is humble. I'm not saying they are arrogant, but their dreams are big." Successful leaders must find a "universal truth" to rally their followers. These universal truths stem from the basic human needs, fears and desires that unite all people, across all cultures. They also happen to be great tools for leadership.

Take, for example, one of the great human fears -- fear of the future. We all share a fear of the unknown. The biggest challenge for we modern-day leaders, of course, is that we traffic in the future, but believe me - some of the worlds most accepted & best leaders have overcome this fear -- and build confidence among their followers -- with a weapon of their own, a weapon called: Clarity.

By presenting a clear message, and backing up their message with actions that support it, top managers of companies have rallied employees to their cause and enjoyed bottom-line success as a result.

The best way to turn anxiety into confidence is this: Be clear
Clarity is the antidote to anxiety
Even If you do nothing else as a leader: Be clear

I have consciously decided to be CLEAR - how about you....

"Destiny is not Destined - it is - DESIGNED"

CM

Freedom on Friday's

2008-03-07T14:47:00.000+05:30

In my previous assingment, I had been running an initiative to share Life learnings with colleagues - I used to call it "Freedom on Friday's". These insights dont come from any management books, but from people sharing their amassed personal knowledge & experience. Infact certain values in life binds us to the core purpose of our existence - thought I could share some of my precious learnings over the years which I have accumulated from people like you.
I have chosen Friday's of all coming weeks to share some heart warming & thought provoking insights - which have greatly affected tens of thousands of people world over...I am doing this to infact uphold one of my learnings that Knowledge shared always grows exponentially...your inputs & views shall be highly appreciated...

Rules to be Broken - "Don’t waste your time with Dreams"

Let us look at a true story. There was once a parson. Let us call him Father Smith. Fr. Smith, in his congregation, would hold sermons. In his sermons, there was one called, "You can be what you want to be". This sermon was very powerful and slowly, Fr. Smith became very popular in his church because of that sermon. He was once called to Chicago to hold a prayer meeting and in that meeting, he spoke on…. you guessed it, ‘You can be what you want to be". After the sermon, when people were filing out, a small 10 year old girl came up to Fr. Smith. She was wearing braces, had thick (soda bottle) glasses, and was walking with crutches. She came up to Fr. Smith and asked, "Can I really be what I want to be?" Fr. Smith said, "Of course.". The girl said, "Father, I want to be a Wimbledon star." Fr. Smith was now caught in his own trap. He could not tell her that she could never be a tennis star, but could not tell her that she could be one either. So he said, "Child, go and learn ballet first". He had, in sales training parlance, handled the objection.

A few years later, Fr. Smith was sent tickets to the Royal enclosure in Wimbledon with hotel vouchers and plane tickets. When he reached there, he was warmly greeted by a warm and vivacious young lady, who greeted him and said, " Father, I was sure that you would come." Fr. Smith could not recognize the girl. So she said, "Father, do you remember, you asked me to learn ballet?" This girl was the Tennis super star "Billie Jean King."
To me, friends, that is the power of a dream.

So - I would like to break the first rule. I will dream and I will dream big. I will let my dream wake me up at night and will let it eat up my waking moments. For I am going to make my dreams come true.
What about you?

Signing off with a statement which I created for myself - "Destiny is not Destined - it is - DESIGNED" - Chandramoorthy...