This is a skill not common but certainly one that's common in successful people.
Ability to visually link different items from different discussions, locations, people and situations to make an idea/ deduction/ plan - that's connecting the dots.
Try and acquire this skill. It's worth every minute of effort.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Create OR Criticize?
Would you rather create OR criticize?
Usually you can find people who do one of this well,but not both.
Imagine a world which has only one category of people. If they are only creators,we would end up with stuff that shouldn't have been created in the first place.
On the other hand, a world full of critics alone is scary as well. What would they critique when there is nothing to criticize? At the same time we wouldn't have all those we love and cherish today because nobody would have created them.
An iPhone ,iPad, a Ferrari, a Monalisa, a good book .... Somebody had to create them first before another gets a chance to criticize.
Thankfully there are creators in this world so we can cherish these and more.
Usually you can find people who do one of this well,but not both.
Imagine a world which has only one category of people. If they are only creators,we would end up with stuff that shouldn't have been created in the first place.
On the other hand, a world full of critics alone is scary as well. What would they critique when there is nothing to criticize? At the same time we wouldn't have all those we love and cherish today because nobody would have created them.
An iPhone ,iPad, a Ferrari, a Monalisa, a good book .... Somebody had to create them first before another gets a chance to criticize.
Thankfully there are creators in this world so we can cherish these and more.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Trying to live the healthy life:
The 85-year- old couple had been married for 60 years. Though they were far from rich, they managed to get by because they watched their pennies. They were both in very good health, largely due to the wife’s insistence on healthy foods and exercise for the last decade.
But their good health didn’t help when they went on a rare foreign holiday and their plane crashed, sending them off to heaven.
They reached the pearly gates and St Peter escorted them inside. He took them to a beautiful mansion with a fully stocked kitchen and a waterfall in the master bath. They gasped in astonishment when he said, “Welcome to heaven. This will be your home now.” The old man asked Peter how much all this was going to cost. “Why, nothing,” Peter replied, “remember, this is your reward in heaven . . .”
The old man looked out the window and right there he saw a championship golf course, finer and more beautiful than any ever built on Earth. “What are the greens fees?” grumbled the old man.
“This is heaven,” St Peter replied. “You can play free, every day.”
Next they went to the clubhouse and saw the lavish buffet lunch with every imaginable cuisine laid out before them, from seafood to steaks to exotic deserts, free flowing beverages. “Don’t even ask,” said St Peter to the man.
“This is heaven, it is all free for you to enjoy.”
The old man looked around and glanced nervously at his wife. “Well, where are the low fat and low cholesterol foods and the decaffeinated tea?” he asked.
“That’s the best part,” St Peter replied. “You can eat and drink as much as you like of whatever you like and you will never get fat or sick. This is heaven!”
The old man pushed: “No testing my urine for sugar or checking blood pressure . . .”
“Never again. All you have to do here is enjoy yourself.”
The old man glared at his wife and said, “You and your bloody bran flakes. We could have been here 10 years ago.”
Friday, July 29, 2011
I am perfect,Rest of the world is wrong
As individuals,groups and companies get into conflicts, increasingly reason for breakdown is this belief. " I am perfect, rest of the world is wrong".
It is not difficult to see why this belief exists. As people and companies become successful, a self fulfilling prophecy sets in. If I am successful, I must be right.
The ego feeds into this to make this belief stronger by the day. And this makes one close minded to the possibility that there could be chinks in the armor. It does not allow one to introspect to examine any faults,shortcomings or mistakes.
As in any successful conflict resolution , both parties need to give in, swallow some ego, admit some faults and correct a bit. Not all conflicts are because only one party is wrong. In fact the issue would not have become a conflict , until both parties had some contribution to the problem.
Be open to check yourself to see if there is something you need to change on your side to make the conflict go away.
You will help yourself and rest of the world become better!
It is not difficult to see why this belief exists. As people and companies become successful, a self fulfilling prophecy sets in. If I am successful, I must be right.
The ego feeds into this to make this belief stronger by the day. And this makes one close minded to the possibility that there could be chinks in the armor. It does not allow one to introspect to examine any faults,shortcomings or mistakes.
As in any successful conflict resolution , both parties need to give in, swallow some ego, admit some faults and correct a bit. Not all conflicts are because only one party is wrong. In fact the issue would not have become a conflict , until both parties had some contribution to the problem.
Be open to check yourself to see if there is something you need to change on your side to make the conflict go away.
You will help yourself and rest of the world become better!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Mobile is the new online
Online no longer means PC connected to the Internet.
By sheer numbers, penetration of cell phones is lot higher than computer in many emerging economies. As these countries see phenomenal growth rates in cell phone user base, drastic falls in mobile communication costs (call and Internet) and more importantly cell phones becoming more critical to day-to-day work than even a computer in some cases, cell phones as a channel are becoming more powerful than computers to communicate with customers and prospects.
Taking a simple example, a plumber can manage without a computer but a cell phone keeps him in touch with his customers and gets him prospects.
The 'featuritis' or continous addition of features and reduction of prices mean the Cell phone becomes more central to our prospects' lives than a computer or a newspaper or TV. Smarter phones are making themselves mobile PCs that we can carry,use and interact with - anywhere, any time.
Are you considering mobile phone as a marketing Chanel in your marketing programs?
Are you leveraging this increasingly powerful medium for your business?
By sheer numbers, penetration of cell phones is lot higher than computer in many emerging economies. As these countries see phenomenal growth rates in cell phone user base, drastic falls in mobile communication costs (call and Internet) and more importantly cell phones becoming more critical to day-to-day work than even a computer in some cases, cell phones as a channel are becoming more powerful than computers to communicate with customers and prospects.
Taking a simple example, a plumber can manage without a computer but a cell phone keeps him in touch with his customers and gets him prospects.
The 'featuritis' or continous addition of features and reduction of prices mean the Cell phone becomes more central to our prospects' lives than a computer or a newspaper or TV. Smarter phones are making themselves mobile PCs that we can carry,use and interact with - anywhere, any time.
Are you considering mobile phone as a marketing Chanel in your marketing programs?
Are you leveraging this increasingly powerful medium for your business?
Friday, July 15, 2011
Favorite movie quotes on Life
The Bucket List:
An Egyptian belief: you are asked two questions at heaven's gates to decide if you are allowed in or not:
1. Have you found joy in your life?
2. Has your life brought joy to others?
You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you.
Shawshank Redemption:
These prison walls are funny.First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, you start to depend on them. That's institutionalized.
Get busy living, or get busy dying.
Inglorious Basterds:
I'm gonna give you a little somethin' you can't take off.
What a tremendously hostile world that a rat must endure. Yet not only does he survive, he thrives. Because our little foe has an instinct for survival and preservation second to none...
A few good men:
"I want the truth!"
"You can't handle the truth!"
You see Danny, I can deal with the bullets, and the bombs, and the blood. I don't want money, and I don't want medals. What I do want is for you to stand there in that faggoty white uniform and with your Harvard mouth extend me some fu***ng courtesy. You gotta ask me nicely.
Walk softly and carry an armored tank division, I always say.
Courage under fire:
It's not the doing shit that gets to you. It's the consequences. Imagine a life without consequences
As good as it gets:
Come on in, and try not to ruin everything by being you.
What makes it so hard is not that you had it bad, but that you're that pissed that so many others had it good.
You make me want to be a better man.
When you first entered the restaurant, I thought you were handsome... and then, of course, you spoke.
What if this is as good as it gets?
I'm drowning here, and you're describing the water!
If you stare at someone long enough, you discover their humanity.
The best thing you have going for you is your willingness to humiliate yourself.
You're a disgrace to depression.
Receptionist: How do you write women so well?
Melvin Udall: I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability.
Crimson Tide:
In my humble opinion, in the nuclear world, the true enemy is war itself.
We're here to preserve democracy, not practice it.
K19-Widow Maker
we deliver , or we drown.
An Egyptian belief: you are asked two questions at heaven's gates to decide if you are allowed in or not:
1. Have you found joy in your life?
2. Has your life brought joy to others?
You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you.
Shawshank Redemption:
These prison walls are funny.First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, you start to depend on them. That's institutionalized.
Get busy living, or get busy dying.
Inglorious Basterds:
I'm gonna give you a little somethin' you can't take off.
What a tremendously hostile world that a rat must endure. Yet not only does he survive, he thrives. Because our little foe has an instinct for survival and preservation second to none...
A few good men:
"I want the truth!"
"You can't handle the truth!"
You see Danny, I can deal with the bullets, and the bombs, and the blood. I don't want money, and I don't want medals. What I do want is for you to stand there in that faggoty white uniform and with your Harvard mouth extend me some fu***ng courtesy. You gotta ask me nicely.
Walk softly and carry an armored tank division, I always say.
Courage under fire:
It's not the doing shit that gets to you. It's the consequences. Imagine a life without consequences
As good as it gets:
Come on in, and try not to ruin everything by being you.
What makes it so hard is not that you had it bad, but that you're that pissed that so many others had it good.
You make me want to be a better man.
When you first entered the restaurant, I thought you were handsome... and then, of course, you spoke.
What if this is as good as it gets?
I'm drowning here, and you're describing the water!
If you stare at someone long enough, you discover their humanity.
The best thing you have going for you is your willingness to humiliate yourself.
You're a disgrace to depression.
Receptionist: How do you write women so well?
Melvin Udall: I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability.
Crimson Tide:
In my humble opinion, in the nuclear world, the true enemy is war itself.
We're here to preserve democracy, not practice it.
K19-Widow Maker
we deliver , or we drown.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Winners everywhere
Do you want to be original or do you want to copy the best?
It is not easy to answer this.whether you are writing a proposal, making a pitch, designing a logo or website, do you want to be original or try to copy from a winner?
With Internet making it very easy to copy, the temptation to copy a winner is quite big. Just as Google figures out that your content is not original, serious visitors will figure out that it's not your own.
You lose on two counts. A visitor thinks you are a copycat. More importantly you will be seen as a me-too and you will lose the chance to be different.
In the bigger scheme of things, the second one is worse.
Be original. Even if you fail that way, you control your destiny, not someone else.
Chances are you will win.
It is not easy to answer this.whether you are writing a proposal, making a pitch, designing a logo or website, do you want to be original or try to copy from a winner?
With Internet making it very easy to copy, the temptation to copy a winner is quite big. Just as Google figures out that your content is not original, serious visitors will figure out that it's not your own.
You lose on two counts. A visitor thinks you are a copycat. More importantly you will be seen as a me-too and you will lose the chance to be different.
In the bigger scheme of things, the second one is worse.
Be original. Even if you fail that way, you control your destiny, not someone else.
Chances are you will win.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Friends are the family we choose .. and other life's learnings
Disclaimer: these are not from me but from a 90 year old.
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. B ut don't worry;
God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. B ut the second one is up to you and
no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no
for an answer.
21. B urn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. B e eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important vital organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will
this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. B elieve in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you
did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,
we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. B ut don't worry;
God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. B ut the second one is up to you and
no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no
for an answer.
21. B urn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. B e eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important vital organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will
this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. B elieve in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you
did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,
we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Are you a good Story Teller?
Everyone who needs their place under the sun , needs a story thats different, relevant and interesting. The same applies to marketing.
How are you not a 'me-too'?
Are you just latching on to the latest 'buzzwords' or 'hype words' or do you have a story that nobody else in the market place?
A Groupon story of 'local discount deals' quickly gets copied by LivingSocial.com .
A 'Harvard Connection' story is better executed by Facebook which kills Myspace on its way.
A 'Your body is your Game Controller' story brings 'Kinect' to limelight and can help it compete with a Wii.
Whats your story and how is it different , how difficult is it to copy and how well is it executed?
How are you not a 'me-too'?
Are you just latching on to the latest 'buzzwords' or 'hype words' or do you have a story that nobody else in the market place?
A Groupon story of 'local discount deals' quickly gets copied by LivingSocial.com .
A 'Harvard Connection' story is better executed by Facebook which kills Myspace on its way.
A 'Your body is your Game Controller' story brings 'Kinect' to limelight and can help it compete with a Wii.
Whats your story and how is it different , how difficult is it to copy and how well is it executed?
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