A New Year's Gift from Robin Sharma

62 WAYS TO MAKE 2010 YOUR BEST YEAR YET

1. Remember that leadership isn't about your position. It's about your influence.

2. Get fit like a pro athlete.

3. Lift people up versus tearing people down.

4. Protect your good name. An impeccable reputation takes a lifetime to build. And 60 seconds to lose.

5. Surround yourself with positive, ethical people who are committed to excellence.

6. Remember that even a 1% daily innovation rate amounts to at least a 100% rate of innovation in 100 days.

7. Believe in your dreams (even when others laugh at them).

8. Measure your success, not by your net worth but by your self worth (and how happy you feel).

9. Take an intelligent risk every 24 hours. No try-No Win.

10. Read "Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist".

11. Watch "Man on Wire".

12. Regardless of your title at work, be a team builder.

13. Remember that business is all about relationships and human connections.

14. Say "please" more.

15. Say "thank you" more.

16. Know your Big 5: the five things that need to happen by the end of this year for you to feel its been your best year yet.

17. Read your Big 5 every morning while the rest of the world is asleep.

18. Read "As You Think". At least twice this year.

19. Be willing to fail. It's the price of greatness.

20. Focus less on making money and more on creating value.

21. Spend less, save more.

22. Leave everything you touch better than you found it.

23. Be the most positive person in every room you're in.

24. Run your own race.

25. Stay true to your deepest values and best ideals.

26. Write a handwritten thank you note to a customer/friend/loved one every day.

27. When you travel, send love letters to your kids on hotel stationery. In time, they'll have a rich collection to remember your travels by.

28. Read "Atlas Shrugged".

29. Be a problem solver versus a trouble maker.

30. Rather than doing many things at mediocrity do just a few things-but at mastery.

31. Honor your parents.

32. Commit to doing great work-whether anyone notices it or not. It's one of life's best sources of happiness.

33. Give more than you receive (another of the truths of happiness).

34. Have your 1/3/5/10/25 years goals recorded on paper and review them weekly.

35. Be patient. Slow and steady wins the race. The only reason businesses that went from zero to a billion in a year or two get featured in magazines is because 99% of businesses require a lot more time to win.34. Underpromise and then overdeliver.

36. See part of your job as "a developer of people" (whether you work in the boardroom or the mailroom).

37. Wear your heart on your sleeve. When people see you're real, they'll fall in love with you. Be authentic versus plastic.

39. Read "The Alchemist".

40. Remember that life wants you to win. So get out of your own way.

41. Consider that behind every fear lives your next level of growth (and power).

42. Eat less food and Drink more water.

43. Rest when you need to.

44. Read "SUCCESS" magazine.

45. Write your eulogy and them live your life backwards.

46. Demand the best from yourself.

47. Remember that the more you go to your limits, the more your limits will expand.

48. See everything that happens to you as an opportunity to grow (and therefore, as a precious gift).

49. Be obsessed with learning and self-development.

50. Become comfortable alone (you are the only person you get to be with your whole life).

51. Smile. It's a stunningly effective way to win in business and life.

52. Reflect on the shortness of life.

53. Be bold when it comes to your dreams but gentle with those you love.

54. Remember that success is dangerous because it can kill drive/innovation/passion and going the extra mile. Be successful yet stay hungry.

55. Read "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin".

56. Be of deep value to this world.

57. Own beautiful things but don't let them own you.

58. Use excellent words.

59. Laugh more.

60. Don't complain, gossip or be negative.

61. Plan as if you'll live forever but live as if you'll die tomorrow.

62. Feel free to pass these lessons on to those you want to help

Happy New Year and have a wonderful Year ahead...

Bhajan Yatra -South Indian temples December 2004

What I am about to write took place in 2004…it was a wonderful experience, these are just snippets.. nevertheless enjoy this as i ponder of organizing the 2nd yatra at the end of the year.Hmmm...

Pre Yatra trip-Kuala Lumpur
Wow! What kinda mess have I got myself into?.I thought. Besides arranging and getting people together(almost everyone seems to have a particular request) , the tour/travel agency itself gave me few headaches on unfulfilled promises as things ALWAYS seems to change when I visit them .Imagine when they told me (less then 2 weeks before the tour) that they couldn’t confirm the airline tickets for 8 people(despite furnishing them the FINAL name list of 32 people a month ahead).Reason giveb - amnesty and peek holiday period and gleefully suggested we should cancel this trip!!? I was furious beyond words nevertheless manage to keep my temper in check and told them under no circumstance this will happen and demanded they sort the flight tickets for all 32 of us.I also stood my ground on few financial issues. By this time even Uncle Jega started having doubts if we choose the right travel agency. At about this time,when I was feeling sad that I might let everyone down on the whole trip,I called Sis.Gayathri (Aunty Rajeswari’s daughter) regarding her Mom, brother (Prahalad)and Sis.Madhani’s Visa application and accidentally mentioned my doubt and fear that this trip might be a failure .What she said next jolted me and gave me the confidence…I will never forget those words…”Prem you are doing a wonderful job!Gods Job! How can anything go wrong? I know you have given your best and let him take care of the rest. Trust me it will be a very successful trip. I haveno doubts about it”..... WOW!!! How true her words are to became…my God!!

Kabaleeswarar Temple
All my initial doubts vanished the moment we set foot in this enchanting temple.We even had a welcoming party and from the 1st puja and the song we sang at this temple….the mood was set for the rest of the trip.I felt a strong vibration growing as we went from one inner sanctorium to another…a sense of peace enveloped me. It was amazing to see the reaction of the crowd when we sang bhajans and the way they profusely thanked Uncle Jega(he was practically looked upon as a demi-god) for coming and giving them something they never had in more the 40 years at this temple…a sense of belonging and appreciation. We became instant celebrities for a short period of time. WOW! ….this was just a beginning of a wonderful journey.

Ucchi Pillayar Temple
A sight to behold even from a far as we crossed the Kaveri River !!! Bhajan was tremendous at this temple from the 1st step all the way up the 642nd step of the temple. I had the rear privilege of seating right infront of Uchi Pilliar in the Inner sanctorium next to Aunty Rajeswari (whom Iwill come to regard as a mother-figure by the end of this trip). Felt very strong vibration. Could I ask for more??…Pillayar in front and a mother beside .Words fail me though the Bhawa lingers on.

Palani
It was an awesome experience to be at Palani and going up the Tramp (still can picture how Bro.Prahalad looked and all the stick he got from me). The scenery below was so captivating it was as though being in heaven and looking down at the Grandeur of the land of Bharat
Bro.Pritivy Raj and Bro.Nithia Nantha decided to go Bald!! Perhaps the only time in the history of Palani …where a group of people stood around, singing Bhajans as their heads were being shaven bald!!! Right there and there we had (or rather born/created) with us “Adi”(Bro.Pritivy) and“Andam”(Bro. Nantha) throughout the journey right up to Prashanti Nilayam…Two wonderful souls…or was it three?(only those on the trip will know what I mean..hehehe)

All the Guys, 7 of us , had the most auspicious puja at the inner sanctorium as we were garlanded by the priest with “Rose Mala”….All 7 of us!!!…and there was ONLY 7 “Rose Malas”

Madurai Meenakshi Amman
Of all the temples that we went to…Meenakshi Amman temple had a profound effect on me.. Something extremely close to my heart and something I cherish more then my life itself…the love of my beloved Mother. TheUnconditional and pure love only a mother can grant has been missing for the most part of my life. It has been nearly 15 years since I physically experienced this feeling until I saw Meenakshi Amman up close and personal. As we were seated in front of her for the 1st time, suddenly a surgeof energy hit me and tears started pouring profusely…tears of joy, love and peace. Tears of being reunited with a mother. Never knew a mere statue could emanate such powerful vibration and divine energy and for along period I was lost in that feeling. Swami, knowing what I desired, granted not once but trices the opportunity to see AMMA for the next 3 days. Instantly my intuition told me that this will not be my last visit to Madurai Mennakshi Amman …Iwill be back!! The bond of a mother and son can never be broken. By the way, is it coincidence that my mother’s name was Paruvathy??Strange is the divine leela. Both Amma are one.

Anadam Nilayam-Madurai
Strong and very blissful experience….a feeling of ananda no doubt.The bhajan here was good especially when the 2 in-house ladies sang!!We also felt a sense of awe and wonder when listning to swami’s leela’sand the personal experience of Uncle Srinivas, the close association of his Father with Swami and the wonderment of how this Anandam Nilayam Abode was built. Pure Namasmaran as we ate dinner while listening to their stories(by the way, Uncle Srinivas's father was the person who built swami the Golden Chariot) …what a blissful experience. A nice prelude before reaching Puttaparthi. I also learnt the lesson in modesty form Aunty Kala…an extremely humble and loving soul with such great devotion. Was a privilege to have her with us.

Thiruparakundram
My istha Deva has always been Murugan…and visiting 3 of the Arupadai Vedu (6 abodes of Lord Murugan)was a blessing itself. After the majestic experience in Meenakshi Amman, we rushed to Thiruparankundram.

After pooja and the wonderfulsight of the celestial marriage of Murugan and Devianney followed by electrifiying Bhajan…something special happened. Earlier during the pooja when I received the Mala from the priest (Normally all this mala’s I would pass to one of the ladies in the group) something urged me to hand this particular mala to a mother (Remember less the 2 hours ago we were in Meenakshi Amman and the experience I felt there?) and the 1st person that crossed my mind was Aunty Rajeswari. When I gave her the mala she was a bit stunned for a while and then sincerely thanked me (I never told her the urge I had earlier to give this to a “mother”).As we were about to leave and having time at our disposal most of us were doing shopping at the entrance of the temple. I was determined not to buy anything. Period!. Suddenly I came across a very beautiful picture of a young and playful Murugan.The picture really captivated me and as I was talking to Prahalad regarding this aunty Rajeswari appeared and insisted to buy this picture for me.I was adamant and said no. Imagine the very next wordshe said…”Prem you gave me the mala and as a mother I accepted it…and I treat u the same as Prahalad.. if you are my son you will not say no”…Now…how can I say no!!!!

I treasure this picture much more dearly now…

Some of the other temples we visited were Pazhamudir solai, Tirucendur(we were there 3 days before Tsunami hit the shores..but never touched this beach side temple), Peciamman, Azhagar (there was a myth abt this temple, were by those unmarried if they sincerely pray within a year marital bliss dawns upon them - 6 ppl from the trip got married..and within a year..including me!!! met my wife in less then a year after this trip ), Pillayar Patti, Tiruvanai Kaval… etc

Hmmm…..just my Thots...Shall we go North or South Indian Temples in December 2010??…help me decide?…and if you wanna jump in the bandwagon..gimme a tinkle

Breath

The one thing that we do without thinking is ….breathing.Have we ever stopped and THOT abt it?? How important its is to us?? Hey! its free.. why do we need to think abt it? , you may say..but what if i told you…if you stop.think.and breath properly…you could actually live longer!.

Many Illustrations could be given of the mathematical relationship between man’s(and of course woman’s too) respiratory rate and the variations in his/her state of consciousness.A person whose attention is wholly engrossed, as in the following some closely knit intellectual argument, or in attempting some delicate or difficult physical feat, automatically breaths very slowly.Fixity of attention depends on slow breathing; quick or uneven breaths are an inevitable, accompaniment of harmful emotional states: fear,lust,anger.The restless monkey breaths at rate of 32 times per min.,in contrast to a man’s average of 18 times.The elephant,tortoise, snake and other creatures note for their longevity have a respiratory rate that is less then man’s.The gaint tortoise, for instance, which may attain the age of three hundred years(Remember Nemo), breaths only 4 times a min.

The rejuvenating effects of sleep are due to man’s temporary unawareness of body and breathing.The sleeping man becames a yogi; each nite he unconsciously performs the yogic rite of releasing himself of bodily identification, and of merging the life force with the healing currents in the main brain region and in the six subdynamos of his spinal centres.Unknowingly, the sleeper is thus recharged by the cosmic energy that sustains all life.

So the next time you breath…stop and think, do you wanna live longer with proper breathing or breath like the restless Monkey?…but which ever you decide.. do not STOP and think too long…you may die of shortness of breath.

Now take a deep breath ….

Lateral Thinking Vs Logical Thinking

Phew!! I am actually blogging…never THOT i would be doing something like this..given the flow of my thots…and my poor translation of what goes on in my "Monkey Mind".Brace urself , it might get lost in translation..

Anyway..my Name is Prem and welcome to my Other Thots!

How does lateral thinking work?The traditional Western thinking system, commonly know to us all as logical thinking , was fashioned by the Greek gang of three - Socrates,Plato and Aristotle , more than 2300 years ago. It has sequential,judgemental and adversarial characteristics.while logical thinkings has immense strength, it tends to have some limitations. one of which is its inability to be creative.Thus, lateral thinking was introduced to supplement logical thinking.
Well to demonstrate the power of lateral thinking lemme tell you a story of a "damsel in distress".Can you help her and save her from her misery???

Well the story goes like this…"Many hundred years ago in a small Italian town , a merchant had a misfortune of owing a large sum of money to an AH LONG(a Sicilian Along..wow!).The Ah long, who was old and ugly, fancied the merchants beautiful daughter.So he proposed a bargain.He said he would forgo the merchant’s debts if he would be allowed to marry his daughter.Both the merchant and the daughter was horrified by the proposal.So the cunning Ah long sugessted that they let providence decide the matter.He told them that he would put 2 pebble - 1 white and the other black , into an empty bag.then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.If she picked the black pebble , she would become his wife and her fathers debts would be forgiven.If she picked the white pebble, she need not marry him and her father’s debt would still be forgiven.But if she refused to pick the pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.As they talked the Ah long bent and picked up 2 pebbles..the sharp eye girl noticed that he had picked up 2 black pebbles and put them in the bag.He then asked the girl to pick a pebble to decide her faith as well as her father’s".

If you were to advice her, what would you tell her??

Careful logical analysis would produce 3 possibilities :
1)The girl should refuse to take the pebble.
2)The girl should show that there were 2 black pebbles in the bag and expose the Along as a cheat.
3)The girl should pick the black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.

Whats your take or rather…."THOTS" on the above??!!