Cliched - but very true.

You dont realize the true value of something till it is taken away from you :)

Value your time.

There's no limit to what a man can achieve...

if he doesn't care who gets the credit.- Laing Burns, Jr

What happens when you have too intimidating an alarm?

You are so focused on switching off and going back to sleep - so, though it serves the purpose of waking you up, it does not help you stay awake.

It might be a good idea to follow it up always with a softer one which will remind you that the objective is to keep awake and not switch the annoying alarm off :)

A different prespective -

"Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months." - Oscar Wilde

Beyond a point,

money has no value.

In fact, it shouldnt.

If there is no such point for you, you are in deep trouble.

Milestone

100 days of managing finances! A rewarding system.. :)

To an organized future..

When you make a choice...

Pause and think about why exactly you made that choice.

The observations are very insightful! :)

It is much easier to criticize...

Than it is to appreciate.. but that would be missing the point.. there is always scope for improvement.. but that's not the point.. the point is to appreciate the beauty - and you can always find it if you look hard enough - of the current state. To enjoy this beauty. Then, you can go about improving it.. not because you don't you don't like the current state.. but because you love what you see in it and want to make it so much better.

Practice what you preach.. but preaching what you practice may not always be a good idea.. even if you are convinced your practice is a sound one..

The BIIG picture

Anything you might face, all your concerns, your wants are insignificant - if you broaden your view sufficiently. You are then left in a state of satisfied bliss :)

Be happy, because there is nothing to worry about.

Superperformers..

could be as bad as underperformers in your team..

If everyone looks up to one person as someone to fall back on, that person doesnt belong in the team.

In short, fire Ronaldo/Gerrard!

Fascination not interest..

Interested people want to know if something works.. Fascinated people want to learn how it works.. Let fascination drive you.. And indeed, there is an entire universe to be fascinated about!

Thanks to Tejasvi for this one : http://tejasvilearnings.blogspot.com/2009/06/fascination-not-interest.html

Growing up...

a very curious thing... 

I had no idea..

.. what linear programming was and it is not easy.

There is soo much to learn. Rest not!

It is better to under-promise,

that to fall short of promises.

The first will impact the impression of your capability but the second will affect the impression of your integrity.

Over-promising can be a good way to start things off, but if promises are not kept, regardless of what you deliver, you will not be able to sustain. People will not come back to you.

So, promise less - and outdo that promise. Slow and steady wins the race :)

There is always hope..

The slim chance that it might actually work out against all odds.. The sliver of hope.. It drives us to do great things.. things that would be considered "imposssible".

Never lose hope. There is always a chance.. It is a probabilistic universe.  :)

To get the brain excited..

break the pattern.

But there needs to be a pattern first :)

Complexity is artificial.

The universe is essentially simple. We create complexity because we need something to drive us.

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

Detached Attachment.

Nothing need matter...  but atleast for the time being act like it matters..

Power transforms all people..

responsibility transforms the right people

It is far more easier to mock something/someone

that it is to appreciate him/her/it.

Be a child. Stand in awe. Get consumed by curiosity. And appreciate life. It is not that hard...

"All happy families resemble each other, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

Sleeping 4 hours a day..

 .. is NOT cool! It also doesnt mean you are working hard.

It just means that you are hopeless at managing your time :)

The big picture..

.. is essential.

There is no point plugging leaks if your dam is falling apart..

When something can go wrong..

it will. - The famous Murphy's Law. 

And it does kick into action relentlessly when you are least prepared. But that's what makes life exciting :)

When there is no one holding you up..

You will not let go.

But when you know someone will catch you, you do not mind letting go. Even if it means the other person might fall.......

Hmm...  

The best thing about the future

..is that it comes one day at a time :)

-Abraham Lincoln. 

Age old wisdom.. translated by Warren Buffet

Every new year, I adopt a couple of old maxims as my beacons to guide
my future. This self-prescribed therapy has ensured that with each
passing year, I grow wiser and not older. This year, I invite you
totap into the financial wisdom of our elders along with me, and
become financially wiser.

* Hard work: All hard work bring a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

* Laziness: A sleeping lobster is carried away by the water current.

* Earnings: Never depend on a single source of income. [At least make
your Investments get you second earning]

* Spending: If you buy things you don't need, you'll soon sell things you need.

* Savings: Don't save what is left after spending; Spend what is left
after saving.

* Borrowings: The borrower becomes the lender's slave.

* Accounting: It's no use carrying an umbrella, if your shoes are leaking.

* Auditing: Beware of little expenses; A small leak can sink a large ship.

* Risk-taking: Never test the depth of the river with both feet. [Have
an alternate plan ready ]

* Investment: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Act dumb.

you can always surprise people when necessary.

Never act smart. You might not able to sustain it. 

Beggars evoke 2 emotions in people..

1) Pity

2) Scorn

Stop complaining. Find solutions

Break freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Stop shackling yourself.. Its all in the mind. 

You are in the matrix. You can easily break those bonds.. dont try to bend the spoon.. it is you who have to bend..

Most pressure is..

self inflicted.

Break the mental block and things just flow.. There is nothing you cannot do if you put your mind to it!

Yes, you ARE that good!

You cannot do great things..

..only small things with great care -- Mother Teresa

Everyone is good at something..

.. Find this and use it to motivate them. That's what leaders are good at.

You can derive mental strength..

..from the worst of circumstances. It all depends on how you look at it. 

The worse the situation, the greater you can align your thoughts and focus. Everything else takes a backseat. But again, it depends on how you look at it. People who use this focus are the ones who make a difference.

The best way to make your dreams come true..

is to wake up! :)

Every time you get better..

and have to interact with people who havent yet gotten better, note 2 things:

1) Remember how you felt when you were not better.

2) Realise how the people you interacted with then, must have felt.

And act accordingly.

Take control of your life..

Or somebody else will.

Thank you Rohan for this! :)

Not sure what colour tie to wear?

Look at the US president. He represents the current trend!

Obama wears red tie => I wear red tie.

So Obama becoming president DOES affect me. ;)

(http://www.expressionhappens.com/wp/?p=106)

I learnt to tie a tie..

:D

When you make a task list,

write down the executable next step for every task.

Be direct..

.. when you ought to be direct.

The most fundamental form of human stupidity..

is to forget what you were trying to do in the first place.

IF you were trying to do anything in the first place ;)

Adversity..

breeds innovation! 

In simpler words, if you need innovation, you ought to create necessity! :)

Keep firing..

you will keep getting better.. and you will definitely hit something :)

Accidents..

.. are an often ignored source of knowledge. Accidents are events which do not happen in the course of normal life. So, if you observe the response to such accidents and analyze it, it can give you plenty of insights :)

Life is just a game..

Enjoy it! :)

Having a good sleep means..

.. letting your body decide when to wake up. And accepting that decision. (ie not sleeping more either)

When you are starting to get stressed,

listen to good music.. it just evaporates into wonder and amazement and peace and delight :D

Never hesitate..

when complimenting. Just say it! It cannot cause any harm :)

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" -- Voltaire

Just do it!

And give it your best! Your BEST.. when you do something to high levels of perfection, the satisfaction and the control you feel are great.. As you know something better, as you know it very deeply.. its gives you a sense of completeness. Something to really appreciate. It is something everyone should strive towards..

Not so you become the best in the world at something, but simply to understand something completely.

And practice is the only thing that makes perfect. :)

A person reveals his character..

..clearly by the joke he resents.

Very true.. :)

Try try try..

When you really want something, you will get it! :)

We hardly ever realize..

that we can cut anything out of our lives any time in the blink of an eye

if you expect a heck of a lot from yourself..

then you will never have the problem of disappointing anyone else s expectations.. :)

All problems end with you.

Nobody is responsible for your problems except you. Whatever it may be. 

Because the primary reason a problem exists is because you chose to look at it that way. 

Simplest way to solve problems and be in control is to reduce problems of environment to problems of self! :)

Smile..

.. through pain, through stress, through torture, through disappointment. :)

The reasons to be happy ALWAYS outnumber the reasons to be sad... :)

Smile consciously. :)

A smile is infective! :)

It spreads happiness and dispels negativity. If people around you are negative, then it means you are not spreading enough positivity. Keep smiling! :)

Faith..

.. can have phenomenal power. Don't underestimate it.

Nature..

is magnificient! It is so powerful yet so soothing! It has great strength and softness! It is beautiful! It is awesome! 

If nature does not impress you, nothing really will. If nature does not inspire you, nobody really will. If it does not humble you, nothing really will. If nature does not silence you, nobody truly will.

Beyond a point..

..it comes down to faith!

Opposite values complement each other..

So accept them and appreciate their significance :)

there is no point

teaching greek in greek :)

You need to input..

the right amounts of encouragement and pressure to get optimal output.

Observe!

:)

Think positive!

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the oportunity in every difficulty.

Though we claim to like things that are simple...

.. most of us have this uncanny tendency to "unnecessarily" complicate simple things. 

But then perhaps it is necessary.. I guess we need some object to apply our famed "6th sense" to..  It is very much like that dude in Memento.. hmmmmmm

Ice cream definitely

aggravates sore throat.

Help and be helped... BUT

dont help TO be helped! :)

The amount of control you have..

is directly proportional to the amount of responsibility you take.

There are different ways to reach the same goal..

..and the path you take matters.

2 smart brains >

1 smart brain. If they are allowed function independently and the results collaborated by an unbiased 3rd party.

Its called open source :)

Sometimes you see it..

only after it all adds up and explodes. But something should light the fuse.. a small spark is sufficient. 

There are therefore 2 components. The spark and and the small bits which got added up... and if you just see the spark, the explosion will make no sense. :)

Lol

When things go wrong, laugh! :D

When you are done laughing, see what you can learn from it :)

:)

:)

Awake! Arise!

- Literally! When u open your eyes, get out of the bed!!

Stop trying to hit me and hit me!.

- Matrix :)

Stop trying.. do it!

And yet again..

..you forget to keep track of the ingredients. The same ingredient in fact. 

Do an ingredient check at regular intervals into a preparation. Even better have an ingredient list with large annoying flags for missing ingredients which keeps popping up at regular intervals.

Human beings..

.. are the most complex entities on this planet. I am one.. and I love the complexity that I am... it is so freaking beautiful. And it is beautiful because of the underlying simplicity [that I see from time to time] amidst all the complexity. :D

You just need to observe the beauty around you to be thrilled.. amazed.. stunned.. to watch it mouth hanging open like a baby holding at a cool toy. And there is always something new the toy has to offer. It is just beautiful! :)

Simplify..

simplify.. simplify. 

See the crap. Remove the crap. Just simplify. But no more than it needs to be.. make sure its crap you are removing.. generally it is crap. Humans have this funny tendency to make simple things appear complicated by wrapping it with lots of crap. :) 

What you think..

maybe different from what you really think. 

And what you think maybe preventing yourself from paying attention to what you really think. 

And what you really think is what matters. :)

Your mind..

is your greatest asset..

AND

your greatest liability. :)

Forgive...

but do not forget! :) 

Dont walk................

Exxpploooore!! :)

Dont look at the other side of the fence..

just try to improve the grass on your side. :)

Some learnings..

simply cannot be spelt out :)

Its all in the head..

.. even your health.. You think you are well, you get better. You think you are sick, you are sick.

Laughter for the day..

LOL HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA ROTFL :P :D :D :D :)

Keep smiling! :)

1) Help unconditionally.

2) Observe the game, make your own rules and have fun playing it! When you feel you are taking it too seriously, remember its just a game! :)

Laziness..

.. is a sin.

Its all in the head..

Success.. is in the mind..
Pleasure.. is in the mind..
Confidence.. is in the mind..
Satisfaction.. is also in the mind..

All your ultimate desires are of the mind.. and the mind is in your control. Realise this.. and discipline your mind....

You are right..

not because others agree with you, but because your facts are right. - Warren Buffet

But this might not always be true.. Fact can mislead and infact what is "right" from one angle may not be "right" from every angle. It is very relative.. as elucidated by this inspiring story:

   The date is 1 September 1983 and the Cold War between the Soviet Union and USA is in full gear, when from the New York skies Korean Air Lines Flight 007 flies from JFK, destination Seoul, South Korea.

In the middle of the flight, while accidentally passing through Soviet air space, Soviet fighter jets appear getting close the aircraft. The Soviets, who didn't know the plane contained civilians, warned the pilot that they will shoot down the aircraft if it doesn't identify itself, and the pilot, for some unknown reason, doesn't respond.

Reports say the pilot never actually received the information, although theories about this are still unclear. An hour passes as the fighter jets still accompany the aircraft, and the orders from Soviet military is to shoot down the aircraft just as the plane was leaving Soviet airspace.

The Soviet fighter jets shot down the plane, with the aircraft plunging 35,000 feet in less than 90 seconds, killing 269 civilians, including a US congressman.

Hell broke loose. As the Soviets tried to defend their 'mistake', US President Ronald Reagan described the Soviets actions as "barbaric" and "a crime against humanity that must never be forgotten".

The tension between the two mega-powers hit an all-time high, and on 15 September 1983 the US administration banned Soviet aircrafts from operating in US airspace. With the political climate in dangerous territory, both US and Soviet government were on high-alert believing an attack was imminent.

It was a cold night at the Serpukhov-15 bunker in Moscow on 26 September 1983 as Strategic Rocket Forces lieutenant colonel Stanislav Yevgrafovich Petrov resumed his duty, monitoring the skies of the Soviet Union, after taking a shift of someone else who couldn't go to work.

Just past midnight, Petrov received a computer report he'd dreaded all his military career to see, the computer captured a nuclear military missile being launched from the US, destination Moscow.

In the event of such an attack, the Soviet Union's strategy protocol was to launch an immediate all-out nuclear weapons counterattack against the United States with nuclear power, and immediately afterwards inform top political and military figures. From there, it would be taken a decision to further the military offensive on America.

The bunker was in full-alarm, with red lights all over the place as the missile was captured by the Soviet satellites via computers. Petrov wasn't convinced though. He believed that if the US attacked, they would have attacked all-out, not just sending one missile and giving a chance for them (the Soviets) to attack back.

Petrov figured something didn't make sense, as strategically, just one missile from the US would be a strategic disaster. He took some time to think and decided not to give the order of a nuclear attack against America, since in his opinion, one missile didn't make sense strategically and it could easily have been a computer error.

But then, seconds later, the situation turned extremely serious. A second missile was spotted by the satellite. The pressure by the officers in the bunker to commence responsive actions against America started growing. A third missile was spotted, followed by a fourth. A couple of seconds later, a fifth one was spotted... everyone in the bunker was agitated as the USSR was under missile attack.

He had two options. Go with his instinct and dismiss the missiles as computer errors, breaking military protocol in the process or take responsive action and commence full-blown nuclear actions against America, potentially killing millions.

He decided it was a computer error, knowing deep down that if he was wrong, missiles would be raining down in Moscow in minutes.

Seconds turned to minutes, and as time passed it was clear Petrov was right, it was a computer error after all. Stanislav Petrov had prevented a worldwide nuclear war, a doomsday scenario that would have annihilated entire cities. He was a hero. Those around him congratulated him for his superb judgment.

Upon further investigation it resulted that the error came from a very rare sunlight alignment, which the computer read as missile.

Of course, top brass in the Kremlin didn't find it so heroic, as he broke military protocol and if he would have been wrong, risked millions of Russian lives. He was sent into early retirement, with a measly $200 a month pension, suffering a nervous breakdown in the process.

Due to military secrecy, nobody knew Petrov's heroic judgment until 1998, when a book written by a Russian officer present at the bunker revealed that World War 3 was closer than people thought, and a nuclear holocaust was avoided by a close shave.

Petrov reminisces what could have been if he didn't get that extra shift that night.

Even though the Russians have little sympathy to the man who saved millions of American lives, the United Nations and a number of US agencies honoured the man who could have started a nuclear war, but didn't.

A documentary film entitled 'The Man who saved the World' is set to be released, perhaps giving Petrov some financial help, thanking him for the incredible part he had in keeping the US and the USSR out of a full-blown war.

Without knowing on the cold Moscow night back in 1983, a badly paid 44 year old military officer saved the world, and made himself one of the most influential persons of the century in the process, saving more lives than anyone ever did.

Most of today's people don't know it, but today's world as we know it, is like it is because of Stanislav Petrov.

WIKIPEDIA entry about Stanilav Petrov : Here Petrov has said he does not regard himself as a hero for what he did that day. In an interview for the documentary film 'The Red Button and the Man Who Saved the World,' Petrov says, "All that happened didn't matter to me — it was my job. I was simply doing my job, and I was the right person at the right time, that's all. My late wife for 10 years knew nothing about it. 'So what did you do?' she asked me. And I said I did nothing."

So, here I would agree with Jack Welch.

You are right... when your gut says so. :)

You are right..

not because others agree with you, but because your facts are right. - Warren Buffet

:)

Peter Principle..

In a hierarchically structured administration, people tend to be promoted up to their "level of incompetence"

Everything..

.. can be interesting.. If you look at it in the right direction. 

Nothing sucks. Everything rocks.  It is all in the mind..

There is so much to see.. so much to experience.. and so little time.. 

Leave worries aside.. open your eyes.. experience the world and help anyone you can as u walk along... :)

Get out of yourself! And observe!

Then there is absolutely nothing to worry about... it can get bad yes.. really really REALLY bad.. but even then, it all depends on how you perceive it. Do not fear. Do not worry. Do not be jealous. Simply enjoy! :)

Nothing is impossible..

 Some things are really really really really improbable, and some things just require you to look at them very differently!

 Underlying all "impossibilities".. are rigid assumptions. Your mind imposes this rigidity on the assumption.. makes you think they are absolute.. Think again! :)

What you feel, see, hear, smell, taste are what the mind perceives. Nerve impulses, in fact.

Who controls them? 

External forces? Cannot be.. Who are you if you cannot condition your own body?

OK suppose you cannot condition your body. Then it is not yours. Why do you give so much importance to it? Look inward :)

If you can condition your body, then you do not depend on external forces. Look inward! :)

Aham Brahmam Asmi :)

Live simple..

:) Then you can simplify complexity! 

Life..

..is like a very well built extremely wide road.. with lots of people walking on it... you can only go forward or stay where you are.. you can never go back.. everyone is walking forward.. some fast.. some slow..  and the road goes on and on with no end in sight. On both sides of the road extends a plain.. full of rocks and thorns and brambles.. not unlike a rocky desert. And it extends on both sides as far as you can see.. with nothing interesting in sight..

So it is best to stay on the road.. with everyone else.. why would you want to go on the thorns when there is a nice road built for you? Those who stray either get lost or return injured.

Nobody really knows where the road leads.. its anybody's guess. you will only know if you keep walking.. :)

And the only company you have are the people walking with you.. enjoy their company... and help those in need.. you can chose to run but those with you may not be able to keep up. You can always make new friends on the road ahead... perhaps if you run long enough.. you might see the end.. You can alternatively choose to slow down and help those with you.. :)

And it doesnt matter where on the road you walk.. they all lead forward.. just dont go off it! :)

Be yourself..

.. because thats what you are best at!

Strange is our situation here on Earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: that man is here for the sake of other men -- above all for those upon whose smiles and well-being our own happiness depends.

- Albert Einstein.

True to the word. :)

Make everything as simple as possible but not simpler. :)

God..

.. is a belief to enforce humility among other things.. It is good to feel that there is someone you are powerless against. And the presence of that force is very evident in life... whatever it may be called.

The point then, is not to win favour or appease this Force. But to accept and revere the Force's presence. And be aware of your powerlessness. And certain "rituals" which at face value may seem pointless, help reinforce this reverence. And such an acceptance that you cannot control everything provides tremendous mental strength.

Disclaimer: This is purely an expression of my own belief and I do not in any way disagree or impose upon the beliefs of others.

During a crisis..

.. all the shit comes out.

Fannie Mae, Freedie Mac, Lehmann, Meryll Lynch, Madoff, the autocompanies, and now Satyam.

Only the ones with substance survive. The ones without shit. Believe in substance. Probe the inside..

Thoughts on life..

The things you do in a day can be divided into the following categories... Whenever you do something, be conscious of the category they fall into. Do them consciously with the purpose in mind.  And make sure they keep up the spirit of that activity type.

1) There are some things you need to do to inculcate discipline. These are essential. Considering the current state of discipline, the more of these tasks the better :) Their power lies in the regularity. Do them regularly. Even if quality suffers, they HAVE to be regular. Otherwise, the purpose is lost.

2) Then there are things you do to gain knowledge. Keep doing them..  It is important to keep the thirst alive... To learn.. and to evaluate.. Answers dont come easy. Keep learning.. and keep getting perspectives.. and be true to your values And finally, have a goal.

3) Then there is the oiling. There is the mental oiling. They can be mindless activities.. Yes, you keep them to a minimum, but you must also realise that they are necessary in small doses (like oil in an engine) to keep you running. And you cannot do an overdose :) Keep them small.. but keep them.

4) And there is the physical oiling. You need to take more notice of this. Or you ll have great software but the hardware wont be able to support it. Do it with obsession :)

5) And then there is the "spiritual" oiling. They have a wide range of benefits some of it you cannot comprehend. When you do these things, go into them fully. Get out of everything else. Leave the so-called "material world" behind. You need these true breaks. To just get out. They can range from praying to giving a big hug! :)

While 1 and 2 are core activities, 3,4,5 are support systems. All of them are indispensable.

Some activities however might fall in multiple categories. And therein lies the biggest learning here. GIVE THESE OVERLAPPING ACTIVITIES A PRIMARY CATEGORY. AND MAKE SURE YOU KEEP UP THE SPIRIT OF THAT CATEGORY. :)

And if there is an activity which doesnt seem to fall into any of these, ask yourself what the purpose is. If there is a new purpose, add it in this post. Otherwise, get rid of it :)

Rhythm

Being regular is one.. being rhythmically regular is another. And your body loves the latter.. And ofcourse it is much harder to practice..

It is essentiall the difference between sleeping 7 hours a day and sleeping from 11pm to 6am everyday. IT is hard.. but worth it... :)

Do not underestimate..

.. the power of the ":-)". Or more importantly, the lack of it. :-)

Displine..

is trading short term comfort for long term comfort.

You wont get the returns unless you invest :)

Compete with noone..

but yourself! And compete with yourself constantly. :)

Every now and then..

.. think whether tomorrow, when you look back,  you will be proud of what you are doing right now.. If not, well. time to do something else :)
You are your own judge!

Leave the bed as soon as you get out of sleep.