Sky and Water from speeding train

28.11.2010 5:45 PM

I am in the Ernakulam-Bangalore Superfast Expres travelling towards Coimbatore. It is always an enjoyable experience to sit at the window of a speeding train gazing out at the passing scenery and landscape. As the train hurtles past the huts and houses every scene is a brief vignette of a long story in someone’s life, here this moment gone the next, leaving us to wonder what happens after that.

After we streamed out of Ernakulam Town and headed north beyond Idapally, the scenic beauty of coastal Kerala could be viewed again. Backwaters and inlets; green fields; yellow flowers; and of course swaying coconut trees fringing the banks of the water ways.

As we crossed Aluva station and crossed the Periyar Bridge, I glimpsed the enchanting vision of a bend in the Periyar river. Twilight is a great time when nature uses the setting sun and the clouds to paint infinite colors and hues on the canvas of the sky. When we add the reflective capability of a large body of water such as the broad Periyar river as it flows past Aluva, we have a great montage of sky, water and not incongruously for Kerala the twinkling lights of a high rise buildings in the back ground.

Walk on Marine Drive--Ernakulam

It has always been my desire to take a long walk on Marine Drive in Ernakulam. My usual visits to this town are invariably pass throughs on the way to a training program or Sabhari Mala. This time, with a whole evening at my disposal, I decided to do it.

My walk on Marine Drive was indeed a pleasure. I went into the Subhash Bose Park and walked along the wall abutting the sea. In the distance, I could see the ferry boats carrying passengers to Bolgatti and Vypin Islands. In the dimming twilight of dusk, the scene presented a calming sight. I sat on the wall with huge expanse of the Arabian Sea behind me. I sat communing with my inner self with the dense vegetation of the park before me and beyond that the speeding traffic on Marine Drive.

The park is mostly in a state of extreme disrepair. Some of the art noveau sculptures lining the walkway are deformed or rusted. Those parts that are not in extreme disrepair are under repair! Pits have been dug up everywhere, tiles stacked on the lawns and pipes strewn all around. The park is divine and calm. It is worth better maintenance, upkeep and care.

I, then, moved on to the boat jetty. There, from a raised platform nearby, I got a magnificent view of the ships and the sea. I walked back to my Hotel with sense of fulfillment and felt at peace with myself.

Kochi--Nature and Pollution

27.11.2010

I am here at Kochi to attend the Southern India Regional Conference of the ICAI. I am staying at Bharat Hotel one of the most popular, if not the best, travel destination in Ernakulam. I asked for and got a sea facing room. The view, such as it is, is of a wide expanse of water with cranes and jetties visible. In the extreme horizon I could see a few ships.

Most towns in Kerala have a village look with moss covered tile-roofed buildings rubbing shoulders with ultra-modern high-rises. Ernakulam is no exception. Eventhough it is the commercial capital of the state, it used to maintain its sylvan atmosphere till very recently. Kochi is paying the price for progress. Many BPO and Tech Towers have come up. While the greenery is almost intact in the outskirts, the mid-city area especially near the railway track is congested and devoid of any green vegetation. The pollution and ambient temperature levels are quite high. But as we leave the snarl of the main city and its congested lanes and go into the outskirts, nature reclaims her right to God’s own country and the surroundings become again verdant and picturesque.

The weather at Kochi is balmy and cool. It looks like rain, but there were no major downpours. Much of Ernakulam town is tree-covered, esp., Marine Drive the long road on the sea shore near Bharat Hotel. Marine Drive is lined on either side by old trees with overhanging branches that form a veritable tunnel of green.

Six Steps to Success

I delivered a speeech on "The Six Steps to Success" at the Sindhi Chamber of Commerce on 24th November 2010. This is a gist of the speech.

These thoughts are based on more than a decade of practice of and contemplation on the Seven Habits of highly Effective people. As I started implementing the 7 Habits in my life, things fell in place. My definition of success underwent subtle yet vital changes. Further contemplation and discussions with other eminent trainers, thinkers and corporate leaders has led me to formulate this action plan. As you will agree there are lot of theories and “instructions” on how to succeed. Most of these “self-help” books are written by arm-chair consultants who have not tested strength of their own theories on the anvil of experience and practice. Moreover, exhortations to think positive are invariably useless because after building up the positive energy, the direction is not there and the energy simply disappears. So, these six steps are a “how-to-do-manual” rather than a “what-is-it?” theory.

Share the Same Picture

Most of the time employers and employees are not on the same page. They are referring to different paradigms or perceptions. It is therefore necessary to listen and understand and thereafter clearly state what we expect from the other person so that he or she is crystal clear on her task.

Choose the Right Response

There are many ways in which we react to a situation. But, there is only one Right Response. The Right Response is that which helps you and the other person to achieve your goals in a sustainable way. It is not necessarily the obvious response. It may not be the easy response. But it is that single response that will build long term relationships while at the same time achieving short term needs-based goals. To choose the Right Response, we should not allow our emotional brain to take over. We should rather be slow to react, think and then choose those words or actions that are the most meaningful and productive in the circumstances.

Have a Bias for Action

All said and done, more is said than done! This step is the ultimate clarion call to action. The very same thoyght is expressed in Bhagwan Sree Krishna’s words in the Baghavad Gita: “Tasmath Yudyasva Bharatha!” –“Therefore, fight O son of Bharat!”. We are so busy weighing the pros and cons of an opportunity or crisis. In the mean time the opportunity is lost or the crisis becomes uncontrollable. So doing something is far better than sitting idle! We can always learn from our mistakes and ensure that the next time we get it right.

Make Every Minute Count

God has given us a great gift: Time! Everything happens in time. Time is indestructible, unending and irretrievable if lost. Money lost can be earned again. Every possession is replaceable or will bew seen ultimately as worthless. But we are doing now this moment is priceless. It is our only tangible possession! Thus, if we concentrate on the minutes the hours will take care of themselves. Successful people constantly review time usage and waste. What we are doing at any given point in time should either benefit our individual growth and development; or it should benefit our family; or it should benefit our organization; or it should be beneficial to society at large. Otherwise, why are we doing it! This is the simple approach to time management that goes beyond diaries and planners!

Inspire by Example

I was conducting a Mentoring program at a large corporation recently. During the sessions one thing that emerged from both Mentors and Mentees was that the Mentees look upon the Mentors as Role Models. The Mentors too accept that their true influence was when they demonstrated ideal behaviour. Advice was a waste. Anyone can give advice. Only leaders have the guts to follow their own advice! This is summed up by Mahatma Gandhi in his words: “My Life is my Message.” What message will our life communicate?

Embrace Change

From the late eighties onwards one word that dominated industry and commerce was “quality”. But the next two decades of the new millennium will give more emphasize on the word “innovation”. This does not mean quality will take a back seat. No way! But, quality is a given. The constantly increasing rate of change would mean that corporations and individuklas would need to constantly keep redefining themselves to succeed in a changing world. Otherwise we may be left stranded in the side lines of progress. So the right response here is to “embrace change” willingly and voluntarily rather than resist it or follow suit when others change. Those people who are at the cutting edge of change would definitely reap the rewards.

In conclusion, we can say that these six steps are cyclical. After reaching a certain level of success, we should embrace change and create a new vision. This vision should be shared with our teams and again we will start the journey to the next height! Let me conclude with the immortal words of Rabindranath Tagore and pray that in our country, “tireless striving will stretch its arms towards perfection!’

Mentoring: The Art of Developing People

Mentoring: The Art of Developing People

What is Mentoring?

Mentoring is a process in which a more skilled or more experienced person, serving as a role model, teaches, sponsors, encourages, counsels and befriends a less skilled or less experienced person for the purpose of promoting the latter’s professional and / or personal development. Mentoring functions are carried out within the context of an ongoing, supportive relationship between the mentor and mentee.

Why should a person be a Mentor?

I am sure you will agree that giving is a great source of peace and inner happiness. This is recognized and accepted by persons from every walk of life and every kind of social environment.

Usually giving is associated with charity or giving away money. While this is laudable and praiseworthy, when we give money we give something that anyone can give. Thus giving money, after sometime, may become mechanical. Some people adopting the attitude of a Karma Yogi donate their valuable time and energy in physically serving the afflicted, especially during times of calamity and distress. This too is a great act of altruism. But it can provide only temporary relief to the affected person.

Great indeed are they who possess knowledge and experience in a field and who are willing and able to share this knowledge and wisdom with another to nurture and help that person to grow in that field. The sharing of their wisdom acts as a seed or acorn that grows into the mighty oak tree.

These are the people who act as beacon lights in a storm for the confused youngsters and novices by sharing their wisdom and experience. They are called Mentors and this process of nurturing is called Mentoring.

You have probably been mentored already!

Many people can remember being helped by someone who took an interest in their welfare, shared their experience and knowledge with them, and enabled them to develop.

Often they remember these relationships as playing a crucial part in their personal and professional development.

Pause for a moment to reflect.

Who was your role model? Who was your Mentor? What was his contribution to your growth? What feelings do you have about him? Would you like to play a similar role in the life of another person?

When this mentoring relationship comes to an end, you will want to move on. There will be other people who come along in your life who will become your mentees.

What are you waiting for? Start Mentoring!

Become a Mentor for a budding youngster and help him / her realize their fullest potential.

Cyclone Jal at Puducherry

I was in puducherry when the cyclone Jal hit TN. The wind speeds were quite high and the lake enroute to Pondy on the ECr was brimming with water. The wind whipped at us and swirled all around.

We stayed at the Mother Sea View Guest house just behind Ajanta Hotel on the Beach Road. So we got a magnificent view of the besch and the high rollers as they crashed down on trhe black rocks. We simply sat in the balcony watching the waves and enjoying a ring side view of the force of nature!

Investment Planning after 21.12.2012!

20.10.2010

I conducted a one hour session on Retirement planning for the retirees of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., (BPCL). After listening to my ideas on long term financial planning for security with growth, one of the participants asked this question;

'Sir, you are asking us to plan for the long term. But, they are saying the world will come to an end in 2012. So how to plan now?'

I looked incredulously at him honestly believing that he was joking. When assured by him that he was serious, I replied,' sir if the world ends on 21.12.2012, it's better to go short November 2012. If the world is destroyed, it doesn't matter anyway. But if due to the panic-mongering markets drop drastically, you stand to make a killing!'