Address by Chetan Bhagat at Symbiosis - Nice one

Hi Guys,

Here is an Address by Chetan Bhagat at Symbiosis for just 5 minutes.

Don't just have career or academic goals. Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order.
There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.

Life is one of those races in nursery school where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same is with life where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die.

One thing about nurturing the spark - don't take life seriously. Life is not meant to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up?

It's ok, bunk a few classes, scoring low in couple of papers, goof up a few interviews, take leave from work, fall in love, little fights with your spouse. We are people, not programmed devices.

"Don't be serious, be sincere"!

 

Clarity in communication is important

 

 

Clarity in communication is so important
 
A woman goes to Italy to attend a 2-week, company training session.
 
Her husband drives her to the airport and wishes her to have a good trip.
The wife answers: "Thank you honey, what would you like me to bring for you?"
The husband laughs and says: "An Italian girl!!!" The woman kept quiet and left.
Two weeks later he picks her up in the airport and asks: "So, honey, how was the trip?"
"Very good, thank you." "And, what happened to my present?"
"Which present?" She asked.
"The one I asked for - an Italian girl!!"
 "Oh, that" she said "Well, I did what I could, now we have to wait for nine months to see if it is a girl !!!" :-)
 Moral of the Story: Requirements should be explicit, Elaborate and clearly communicated. 
  

  

   

A sattire on Indian Media...Judiciary system...and ofcourse...on Society...!!

 

Old Story:

 

The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and

laying up supplies for the winter. The Grasshopper thinks the Ant is a fool and laughs & dances & plays the summer away.

Come winter, the Ant is warm and well fed. The Grasshopper has no food or

shelter so he dies out in the cold.

 

Indian Version of this old story:

 

The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and laying up supplies for the winter.

 

The Grasshopper thinks the Ant's a fool and laughs & dances & plays the summer away.

 

Come winter, the shivering Grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the Ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.

 

The World is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be that this poor Grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

 

Arundhati Roy

 

stages a demonstration in front of the Ant's house.

 

Medha Patkar

 

goes on a fast along with other Grasshoppers demanding that Grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter .

 

Mayawati

 

states this as `injustice' done on Minorities.

 

Amnesty International and

United Nations

 criticize the Indian Government for not upholding the fundamental rights of the Grasshopper.

 

The Internet

 

 is flooded with online petitions seeking support to the Grasshopper (many promising Heaven and Everlasting Peace for prompt support as against the wrath of God for non-compliance) .

 

Opposition

 

MPs stage a walkout. Left parties call for ' Bengal

 

CPM in Kerala immediately ask for a law preventing Ants from working hard in the heat so as to bring about equality of poverty among Ants and

Grasshoppers.

 

Mamta Bannerji

 

allocates one free coach to Grasshoppers on all

 

Finally, the Judicial Committee drafts the ' Prevention of Terrorism Against Grasshoppers Act' [POTAGA], with effect from the beginning of the

winter.

 

Kapil Sibbal

 

makes 'Special Reservation ' for Grasshoppers in Educational Institutions & in Government Services.

 

The Ant is fined for failing to comply with POTAGA and having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, its home is confiscated by the Government

and handed over to the Grasshopper in a ceremony covered by NDTV.

 

Arundhati Roy calls it ' A Triumph of Justice'.

 

Mamta calls it 'Socialistic Justice '.

 

United Nations

invites the Grasshopper to address the UN General Assembly.

Many years later....

 

The Ant has since migrated to the US and set up a multi-billion dollar company in Silicon Valley, 

100s of Grasshoppers still die of starvation despite reservation all over India,

AND As a result of losing lot of hard working Ants and feeding the grasshoppers,

 

 

India is still a developing country!!

 

 

 

 

What Does Your Birth Date Mean..??

  
 
What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Born on the 1st
You are a very friendly person. You love the good things in life. You are very ambitious. You seek stable, long-term relationships. You have good leadership skills - if you channel your efforts in the right direction, you can go very far in life.

Born on the 2nd
You are a very helpful person. You make friends easily. You tend to be very loving and caring in your relationships. You are very optimistic and confident about the things you do. This is a quality which will help you to get ahead of others in life.

Born on the 3rd
You have a creative mind. You love to explore new places and learn about new things. You are easy-going in life. Your loved ones are very happy in your company. You have big dreams in life. Try your best and you shall achieve them soon.
Born on the 4th
You are someone who loves life. Your smiles are infectious. Your motivational spirit is undeniable. You are romantic at heart and will have a very good love life. Most of the times, you are an understanding individual but can be difficult to deal sometimes. You are totally loyal and trustworthy. Your friends love you.
Born on the 5th
You have a magnetic and pleasing personality. You have a good sense of humor. People like you to be around them. You tend to fall in love very fast. You are emotional and may suffer in case of a break-up. You love to wear fashionable and stylish clothes.


Born on the 6th
You are cheerful at heart. You are enthusiastic about trying new things. You have an adventurous streak. At the same time, you are a sensitive individual. You can maintain friendships very well. You are compassionate and caring for the people you love. You will accomplish a lot in life.


Born on the 7th
You have a shy but likable personality. You are a dependable person. You like stability and peace in your life. You are sincere in your work. When in love, you become very romantic and mushy. You like to lead a luxurious life. You are faithful towards your family and friends.


Born on the 8th
You have a calm and humble personality. You are a chilled attitude towards life. You are usually quite jolly and love to crack jokes. You are a profound thinker. You believe in God and are spiritual in your way of living. You are a magnanimous person when required.


Born on the 9th
You have a smart and stylish personality. The opposite sex gets easily attracted towards you. You love the finer things of life. You believe in living in the present. You take very good care of your family and friends. In a relationship, your partner is the apple of your eye.
Born on the 10th
You are a very charismatic person. People love to be in touch with you. You are self sacrificing in your relationships. You are like a coconut - tough outside but sensitive at heart. At times, you love to indulge in artistic and creative ventures. Take care that people don't take advantage of your helpful nature.
Born on the 11th
You have a warm and inviting personality. You are amiable and love to make new friends. You are quick to return favors from friends. You love to crack jokes and spend long hours with friends. In relationships, you seek to dominate your partner but in a non-threatening way. At the same time, you are very passionate in your relationships.


Born on the 12th
You are a wise person known for your humility. You are dedicated and sincere in your studies/work. You are an emotional lover. You tend to get possessive in your relationships. Otherwise, you are an easy-going and friendly person. You love to dress well. You are realistic in the game of life.

Born on the 13th
You are wise beyond your years. Your friends turn to you whenever they need any advice. You care for the people close to your heart. You are a very good motivator. You work very well in teams and are a team-player. You don't hold back your feelings and are very expressive in love and romance.

Born on the 14th
You are born to be a leader. You are cool in difficult situations and inspire others in times of crisis. You love traveling. You like to dress in sync with the latest fashion trends. You love to be pampered by your loved one. You prefer to be in a serious relationship. You are faithful to your family.

Born on the 15th
You have a very magnetic personality. You always stand out in a crowd. You are usually smiling and spreading cheer around. You are serious about life. You have certain goals in life which you want to reach and you strive hard to achieve them. You pour your everything in a relationship. Sentiments are very important for you.

Born on the 16th
You have a patient and introspective personality. You do things after thinking about the pros and cons. You are kind and altruistic by nature. You like to help others. Your enthusiasm is infectious. You express your love to your beloved every now and then. You take great care of your sweetheart and shower all your attention on him/her.

Born on the 17th
You are not a very loud person. But at times you lose your temper very easily. You have a creative bent in you. You like to indulge in artistic ventures. You are mature beyond your years. You try to be friends with everyone. You are born to flirt with the opposite sex. You prefer independence and seek space in your love relationships.

Born on the 18th
You are an outdoors person. You like spending time in peaceful, natural surroundings. You are a dynamic person. You cannot sit at one place for a long time. You like dressing up for occasions. You prefer to express your views openly. You are an exciting person to fall in love with but you prefer to be in a strong, long-term relationship only.

Born on the 19th
You are attractive with an impeccable sense of dressing. You have more friends of the opposite sex than of your own. You are a jolly person with a great sense of humor. This is why people want to spend time with you. Someone will fall in love with you because of your enthusiastic, understanding and free-spirited nature.

Born on the 20th
You are a person who is liked by one and all. Few people will hate you. You are innocent and very friendly. Try not to be very gullible. You have a sensitive side which very few people close to you know about. Members of your own sex are jealous with you because of how easily you mix with the opposite sex.

Born on the 21th
You live life to the fullest and don't worry about tomorrow. You like to be as independent as possible. You confront obstacles in life by giving your best. You are a beautiful person. You are fun to be with. Someone will fall in love with you for the intimacy and affection you tend to show.

Born on the 22nd
Even though, you are not very extrovert, you mix very well with people once you know them a bit. You are a God-fearing person. You are someone known for your intelligence. At times, you crave for attention. You love the company of your friends and cherish the time you spend with them. You will find bliss with the person you love most in your life.


Born on the 23rd
You are a happy-go-lucky person. You take life as it comes. Family and friends are very important to you. You are known for your wit. You possess talent to master one of the arts. Try to find your artistic ability if you haven't yet. You are very thoughtful and care for your sweetheart when in a relationship.

Born on the 24th
You are a stable and a responsible person. People know that they can depend on you. When in love, you are very charming and affectionate towards your sweetie pie. You try to remain active as much as possible. You are sincere in your work/studies but if you try a little harder, you can be very successful.

Born on the 25th
You are a friendly and lovable person. You try not to antagonize others by being diplomatic. You are very generous towards the under-privileged. You are ambitious and wish to achieve lots of things in life. Be open-minded and try to do your best, you will reach your goals soon. When in love, you become very romantic, mushy and caring.


Born on the 26th
You are a frank and expressive person. You do what your heart tells you to. You do not care much about what others say. You maintain a calm exterior. You don't lose your temper easily. You love to explore new places and learn about new things. You like to flirt and your flirting will get you the love of your life.

Born on the 27th
You have an attractive and vibrant personality. You are a social animal and like to party. You make new friends very easily. You are known for your good sense of humor. At times, you are very obstinate. You can forgive but you not forget easily. In your love life, you tend to be choosy in your search for the perfect partner.


Born on the 28th
You are a star. Your joyful attitude towards life is unmatched. You are very talkative but at the same time, quite attentive. You love luxury. You are in sync with the latest fashion trends and groom yourself well. At times, you get too emotional. Most likely, you will be in a long term relationship. You cherish loyalty.

Born on the 29th
You are an optimistic person and like to motivate others. You do not take many risks and adopt a cautious approach before trying anything new. In your free time, you are lively and relaxed. You like to chill out with friends whenever you get the chance. You are very passionate in love and make your partner feel on top of the world.


Born on the 29th
You are an optimistic person and like to motivate others. You do not take many risks and adopt a cautious approach before trying anything new. In your free time, you are lively and relaxed. You like to chill out with friends whenever you get the chance. You are very passionate in love and make your partner feel on top of the world.


Born on the 30th
You have a sexy and mysterious personality. Because of this, the opposite sex love to be around you. You are very sociable and amiable. You show good leadership skills and this will help you in your workplace. You weigh pros and cons before taking any decision. You want your partner to be good looking, dynamic and humorous.

Born on the 31st
You are a simple and honest person. You don't like too many frills. You have a creative mind. If you channel your talents in the right direction, you can go places. You have a warm and compassionate personality which others like very much. You are easily approachable. You need a lot of time to commit in a relationship. You do not get too possessive

I

The world clock-ALERT

 

 

 

THE WORLD CLOCK"
 
YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS.  CHECK THIS MIND BOGGLING
INFORMATION.  DON'T DELETE.  SHARE IT WITH YOUR
FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

You've never seen a clock like this one.

http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COOKING -GUIDE

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/58733452/cooking

 

ABC OF ACHIEVEMENT

Avoid negative sources, people, things and habits.

Believe in yourself.

Consider things from every angle.

Don't give up and don't give in.

Enjoy life today, yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come.

Family and Friends are hidden treasures. Seek them and enjoy their riches.

Give more than you planned to give.

Hang on to your dreams.

Ignore those who try to discourage you.

Just do it!

Keep on trying, no matter how hard it seems.

It will get better.

Love yourself first and foremost.

Make it happen.

Never lie, cheat or steal. Always strike a fair deal.

Open your eyes and see things as they really are.

Practice makes perfect.

Quitters never win and winners never quit.

Read, study and learn about everything important in life.

Stop Procrastination.

Take control of your own destiny.

Understand yourself in order to understand others.

Visualize it.

Want it more than anything.

Xccelerate your efforts.

You are unique, nothing can replace you.

Zero in on your target, and go for it!!

India gift to the world

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/58733196/?key=YzU3MzY3MDUt&pass=OWI0Yy00MjMx

 

The Qualities of a Good Leader<><>

 

 

The Qualities of a Good Leader   To be a good leader means that you can inspire others to follow your example, willingly and cheerfully. A good leader will both inspire confidence and give a strong example of what we should aim for. These are the characteristics of a good leader. Lead by example: If you wish your workforce to be hard working and diligent, it is important that you live up to your own ideals. There is a saying "I would never ask anybody to do something I wouldn't do myself". If your workforce see you arriving late and being unprofessional, it will make it much more difficult for them to follow your advice. Humility: To lead we need to encourage others to act in a certain way. However, if we try to lead through our inflated ego people will not respect us. Rather than stressing your self, try to lead through stressing certain principles. People will be much more willing to follow a leader who embodies humility. Appreciate your Co Workers: To be a good leader, you cannot underestimate the importance of offering gratitude to those who are trying hard to do the right thing. If people get appreciation then it will definitely encourage them to continue doing the right thing. At the same time, our appreciation should be sincere. We should not flatter but look for something good a person has done. Have a Clear vision: Often to lead you will need to overcome the resistance to change. If people have been doing something for a long time then they have an instinctive aversion to implementing new ideas. To introduce a new way of doing things you have to have the confidence and belief in the new way. People will definitely pick up on the belief that you have in your own vision. Avoid arguments: If people criticize your approach, often the best thing to do is not get involved in arguments. You can listen to their criticism politely and thank them for their concern, but often the best approach is just to focus on the new approach; look forward and don't feel the need to defend yourself. This gives your vision certain nobility. Listen to others: A good leader should try to feel part of his team rather than superior, if you listen to others, they will definitely appreciate it. Often you may find that your workers have good ideas that you can incorporate. Even if they have unworkable ideas, it is still worth giving the impression you value their opinions, even if they are not used. Create a positive atmosphere: If you try to lead through creating a climate of fear, or competition, you will undoubtedly create problems. If you can lead whilst maintaining a positive attitude, it will definitely bear fruits in the long run. Don't take yourself too seriously: There is no harm in admitting you can be wrong, or making a joke at your own expense. People will appreciate a leader who can admit a mistake it is after all a human quality. But, just don't make a habit of it.

 

 

http://www.nidokidos.org/good-leaders-attract-the-right-people-t39594.html

 

 

 

7 Ways to Make a Good Impressions

 

 

7 Ways to Make a Good Impressions      Impressions are important: They leave an initial taste in people's mouths that can remain prevalent for the entire relationship. If you are paranoid about what kind of impression you make, run through these seven list items and see if you are consistent with them; if you are, then you will probably expose the best of yourself. If not, then work to meet these standards. 1. Dress: The absolute first impression you will make on someone will be through your clothing, because that is what is seen from a distance, and cannot change throughout your meeting. Make sure to dress according to the situation-don' t over or under dress-and maintain within the limits of good taste. If you aren't sure if what you're wearing looks good, ask people for an honest opinion. One last thought: always, and I mean always, pull up your pants   2. Hygiene: Take a shower! Shave! Brush your teeth! You must be fully bathed and groomed before you meet with someone for the first time, because scruffy looking people generally don't seem as neat and mature. Pay attention to the little elements like breath: keep a pack of mint gum with you wherever you go, and periodically check to make sure you aren't killing bugs every time you breathe out. If you sweat heavily, keep a small stick of deodorant/anti- perspirant close, and if you notice you're stinking you can freshen up. People notice the minutiae!   3. Manners: At the table and with other people be civilized, polite and respectful: keep your elbows off of the table, open doors for people and address everyone-initially, at least-by their formal title. This will make an especially good impression on senior citizens, because you will prove that you aren't one of those "new fangled punks."   4. Speech: Have clean, clear diction and speak sans "like" or "you know." It is important to be articulate because that inspires a feeling of intelligence and education in the person you are meeting with. Always leave out profanity, and whatever you do, make sure to speak loud enough for all to hear, because conversationalists are easily agitated if you force them say "excuse me?" more than a few times.   5. Discretion: Choose what to share about yourself: forget to tell everyone about that time you went camping and ruptured your appendix, then fell face first into a pile of bug infested leaves-it is rude and will alienate you from the group. Try to withhold from conversations on personal subjects like religion or more disgusting topics like personal medical care. Before you speak, think about the possible impact of what you might say, then imagine its implications in the long run.   6. Humor: Humor can be your most powerful tool or your doom, because everyone has a slightly different sense of humor. What might be hilarious to you might seem disgusting to another, or vice versa. Try to withhold from any jokes that aren't family or dinner table friendly; you can tell those later.   7. Start and End with a Bang: Whoever you are meeting with will remember how you greet them, and then in what manner you left them. If you feel you have trouble with this, practice a few different phrases in the mirror, and introduce elements like: "pleased to meet you," or "honored to make your acquaintance. " Ignore the antiquity of these phrases; it often makes them more memorable.   Making a good impression will set any relationship off on a good foot. If you are in a situation where you need to be judged at face value-such as a job interview or date-then make sure to go through this list and make sure you are within bounds of reason and good taste on all of your decisions.

 

 

 

 

Tongue Twisters

1. If you understand, say "understand" . If you don ' t understand, say " don ' t understand". But if you understand and say "don ' t understand". How do I understand that you understand? Understand!
**********

2. I wish to wish the wish you wish to wish, but if you wish the wish the witch wishes, I won ' t wish the wish you wish to wish.
**********

3. Sounding by sound is a sound method of sounding sounds.
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4 ..A sailor went to sea to see, what he could see. And all he could see was sea, sea, sea.
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5 .. Purple Paper People, Purple Paper People, Purple Paper People
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6 ..If two witches were watching two watches, which witch would watch which watch?
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7 ..I thought a thought.But the thought I thought wasn ' t the thought I thought I thought. If the thought I thought I thought had been the thought I thought, I wouldn ' t have thought so much.
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8 ..Once a fellow met a fellow In a field of beans. Said a fellow to a fellow, "If a fellow asks a fellow, Can a fellow tell a fellow What a fellow means?"
**********

9.Mr Inside went over to see Mr Outside. Mr Inside stood outside and called to MrOutside inside.

Mr Outside answered Mr Inside from inside and Told Mr Inside to come inside. Mr Inside said "NO", and told Mr Outside to come outside.

Mr Outside and Mr Inside argued from inside and outside about going outside or coming inside. Finally, Mr Outside coaxed Mr Inside to come inside, then both Mr Outside and Mr Inside went outside to the riverside.
**********

10..SHE SELLS SEA SHELLS ON THE SEA SHORE , BUT THE SEA SHELLS THAT SHE SELLS, ON THE SEA SHORE ARE NOT THE REAL ONES
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11.. The owner of the inside inn was inside his inside inn with his inside outside his inside inn. **********

12..If one doctor doctors another doctor does the doctor who doctors the doctor doctor the doctor the way the doctor he is doctoring doctors? Or does the doctor doctor the way the doctor who doctors doctors?

"When a doctor falls ill another doctor doctor ' s the doctor. Does the doctor doctoring the doctor doctor the doctor in his own way or does the doctor doctoring the doctor doctors the doctor in the doctor ' s way"
**********

13..We surely shall see the sun shine shortly. Whether the weather be fine, Or whether the weather be not, Whether the weather be cold Or whether the weather be hot, We ' ll weather the weather Whatever the weather, Whether we like it or not. Watch? Whether the weather is hot.

Whether the weather is cold. Whether the weather is either or not. It is whether we like it or not.
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14..Nine nice night nurses nursing nicely .
**********

15 .A flea and a fly in a flue Said the fly "Oh what should we do" Said the flea" Let us fly Said the fly"Let us flee" So they flew through a flaw in the flue
**********

16..If you tell Tom to tell a tongue-twister his tongue will be twisted as tongue-twister twists tongues.
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17..Mr. See owned a saw.And Mr. Soar owned a seesaw. Now See ' s saw sawed Soar ' s seesaw Before Soar saw See, Which made Soar sore..Had Soar seen See ' s saw Before See sawed Soar ' s seesaw, See ' s saw would not have sawed Soar ' s seesaw. So See ' s saw sawed Soar ' s seesaw.But it was sad to see Soar so sore Just because See ' s saw sawed Soar ' s seesaw .....

How To Be Productive at Work

How To Be Productive at Work





Getting started: Start with understanding and doing your assigned task. Remember, taking the first step is always difficult, but if you do not take that one step you can never achieve your goals. Don't get worried with the task assigned, if it is new to you. Ask required questions to better understand assigned task. Once you get started, everything will come in easy.

Stay Healthy: Bad health can also be a possible reason for being unproductive. Before you go to work; take your breakfast, rest well and research about your duties.

Make an appointment with yourself: Give yourself at least 30 minutes during the day. This will enable you to concentrate and focus your attention on the matters at hand. Give yourself time to think and concentrate as you tackle your job and projects. These uninterrupted 30 minutes will give fruitful results in the long run.

Utilize your prime time: We all have a specific time of the day when we have lots of vigor and zest and a greater ability to think and concentrate. Work out when you have your high energy levels and tackle your most important work at that time. Try to arrange meetings, appointments and other activities at another time of the day.

Avoid unplanned meetings: Spontaneous meetings are real interrupters as well as huge time-wasters and productivity destroyers. They break your concentration, disturb your thought process while undermine your momentum. The next time someone comes into your office or sits by your desk and start making him/herself comfortable, say that you are in the middle of an important project. Then ask if you could get together at a mutually convenient time later in the day or week. This is called a polite excuse.

Schedule your meetings with staff and colleagues: In most offices, time is wasted when people get up from their desks to ask their colleagues a question. Fix a specific time to meet colleagues for queries. Best is the time slot which does not fall in the peak hours of work.

Take breaks: It is a fact that taking breaks periodically during the day relax your body and nerves and refreshes you for the tasks ahead. Ensure that you take small breaks all day. It could be a walk to the water cooler from your office/room or a visit to the photocopy machine/fax/ printer.

Planning required: Establish a routine of listing your daily and weekly tasks. This will allow you to have your most productive week all the time. Start your day an extra 15 minutes early to do this planning every day. Write down the top 3 important things you must do that day. Plan your upcoming week on Sunday evening.

Drop unimportant tasks: Delete the non-essential items from your to-do list. The best way to do this is to prioritize and complete your most important things first.

Enjoy your time at work: Being productive and competitive in official business doesn't mean that you have to be serious all the time. Smiling doesn't mean you're not working hard. Be enthusiastic as well as competitive. Stay positive, that way you can face and win challenges better.

Be a Team Player: Don't be afraid to collaborate with others. Don't wait for your boss to tell you what to do

Learn from criticism: Be a sport and never immediately reject critiques from others, even if you do not like or respect them. Sometimes people you do not like may be giving you more honest feedback than you can get from others.

Acclimatize: Adapting is in the nature of living beings. Those who do not adapt, become extinct.

Upgrade your learning: Always be on the lookout for opportunities to learn and improve your skills. Look for good seminars and training.

Most widely spoken languages

What are the world's most widely spoken languages?

This question is a very interesting one that has a rather
complicated answer. Estimates of how many people speak a language
are quite general and can vary considerably. For example, English
estimates vary from 275 to 450 million, Spanish from 150 to over 300
million, Hindi from 150 to 350 million, and Russian from 150 to 180
million.

To further complicate matters, the definition of "speaker" can be
vague. Some surveys of languages give information on native
speakers only. Others count both native speakers and secondary
speakers (those who use the language regularly or primarily even
though it is not their native language).

Lastly, it is important to consider not only the population (number)
of language speakers, but also the geographic distribution of these
languages. Some languages have relatively large populations of
native speakers but are used almost exclusively in a few countries.
On the other hand, other languages have relatively small populations
of native speakers but are used in many different countries as an
official or national language.

The Summer Institute for Linguistics (SIL) Ethnologue Survey (1999)
lists the following as the top languages by population:
(number of native speakers in parentheses)

Chinese* (937,132,000)
Spanish (332,000,000)
English (322,000,000)
Bengali (189,000,000)
Hindi/Urdu (182,000,000)
Arabic* (174,950,000)
Portuguese (170,000,000)
Russian (170,000,000)
Japanese (125,000,000)
German (98,000,000)
French* (79,572,000)
* The totals given for Chinese, Arabic, and French include more than
one SIL variety. See chart for full details.

The following list is from Dr. Bernard Comrie's article for the
Encarta Encyclopedia (1998):
(number of native speakers in parentheses)

Mandarin Chinese (836 million)
Hindi (333 million)
Spanish (332 million)
English (322 million)
Bengali (189 million)
Arabic (186 million)
Russian (170 million)
Portuguese (170 million)
Japanese (125 million)
German (98 million)
French (72 million)
The following list is from George Weber's article "Top Languages:
The World's 10 Most Influential Languages" in Language Today (Vol.
2, Dec 1997):
(number of native speakers in parentheses)

Mandarin Chinese (1.1 billion)
English (330 million)
Spanish (300 million)
Hindi/Urdu (250 million)
Arabic (200 million)
Bengali (185 million)
Portuguese (160 million)
Russian (160 million)
Japanese (125 million)
German (100 million)
Punjabi (90 million)
Javanese (80 million)
French (75 million)
However, in terms of secondary speakers, Weber submits the following
list:
(number of speakers in parentheses)

French (190 million)
English (150 million)
Russian (125 million)
Portuguese (28 million)
Arabic (21 million)
Spanish (20 million)
Chinese (20 million)
German (9 million)
Japanese (8 million)
Thus, if you add the secondary speaker populations to the primary
speaker populations, you get the following (and I believe more
accurate) list:
(number of speakers in parentheses)

Mandarin Chinese (1.12 billion)
English (480 million)
Spanish (320 million)
Russian (285 million)
French (265 million)
Hindi/Urdu (250 million)
Arabic (221 million)
Portuguese (188 million)
Bengali (185 million)
Japanese (133 million)
German (109 million)
The following is a list of these languages in terms of the number of
countries where each is spoken. The number that follows is the
total number of countries that use that language (from Weber, 1997):

English (115)
French (35)
Arabic (24)
Spanish (20)
Russian (16)
German (9)
Mandarin (5)
Portuguese (5)
Hindi/Urdu (2)
Bengali (1)
Japanese (1)
The number of countries includes core countries (where the language
has full legal or official status), outer core countries (where the
language has some legal or official status and is an influential
minority language, such as English in India or French in Algeria),
and fringe countries (where the language has no legal status, but is
an influential minority language in trade, tourism, and the
preferred foreign language of the young, such as English in Japan or
French in Romania). For a complete breakdown of each and an
accompanying chart, click here.

After weighing six factors (number of primary speakers, number of
secondary speakers, number and population of countries where used,
number of major fields using the language internationally, economic
power of countries using the languages, and socio-literary
prestige), Weber compiled the following list of the world's ten most
influential languages:
(number of points given in parentheses)

English (37)
French (23)
Spanish (20)
Russian (16)
Arabic (14)
Chinese (13)
German (12)
Japanese (10)
Portuguese (10)
Hindi/Urdu (9)

10 Ways to Start Living Your Life

Life either happens to us, or we take hold of life and live it.
HereAre 10 Ways to get a life and start living it.

1. Give yourself permission to claim your life. That's right ?
Permission. You're the only one who can decide you are in charge of
Your life. Even though it feels like you're not supposed to do so,
Turn off the internal editors, the old tape recordings, the "should's,
Have to's, and musts", and the rules that didn't come from you.

2. Define what living means to you. It's not as hard as it sounds.
Just picture yourself at the end of your life looking back. What words
Would you want to describe how you lived your life and who you are as
A person?

3. Stop living in the future. Every time you think "someday" or "when
I have time I will," stop. Ask yourself, "Why not now?" Think about
This sentence, "I always wanted to, but never did." Start doing the
Things you always planned to do. Choose your life every morning. Plan
One thing you will do that day to feel alive.

4. Surround yourself with people who enjoy living. They've obviously
Discovered how to have a life and live it. Why not hang with the pros?

5. Lay down your pain and your anger. Carrying them around makes
Living harder and less fun. It doesn't bring anything, and it steals a
Lot.

6. Let the losers win. Don't argue about things that you don't care
About. Unless there's some real threat, let the folks who have
Something to prove, prove what they need to. Why waste your living
Time trying to fix what's wrong with them?

7. Create energy. Jump to forgiveness and love, then figure things
Out. Most conclusions we jump to are not only wrong, they're negative.
Negative conclusions lead us to prepare a defense. Being on the
Defensive isn't living. It's hiding from life.

8. Learn the physical symptoms of when your head and heart become
Disconnected. We know when we're having a knee jerk reaction, when
We're feeling sorry for ourselves, and when we're being blind to
people's feelings. We can remember how it felt physically while we
Were behaving badly. Get to know those symptoms, and you can stop the
Behavior. Living life will feel a whole lot safer because you won't be
In danger of shooting yourself in the foot.

9. Take small risks that push your boundaries in every way. The joy of
Life is packed in learning that matches our skill set. When we stretch
Just a bit intellectually, physically, emotionally, we grow. Living is
Growing. Even your cells know that.

10. Value and protect the people and the places you care about. A job
Isn't a life. It's just a part of one. Let the people you care about
Come first, and let everyone know that you do. Re-read numbers 1 and 2.

We come into life with whatever we've got. It's ours to do with. It
Took me a while to figure that out ? That my life isn't just what
Happens to me, that I could take hold of it.

WHY EMPLOYEES LEAVE ORGANISATIONS ?

 

WHY EMPLOYEES LEAVE ORGANISATIONS ? - Every company faces the problem of people leaving the company for better pay or profile. Early this year, Mark, a senior software designer, got an offer from a prestigious international firm to work in its India operations developing specialized software. He was thrilled by the offer. He had heard a lot about the CEO. The salary was great. The company had all the right systems in place employee-friendly human resources (HR) policies, a spanking new office,and the very best technology,even a canteen that served superb food. Twice Mark was sent abroad for training. "My learning curve is the sharpest it's ever been," he said soon after he joined. Last week, less than eight months after he joined, Mark walked out of the job. Why did this talented employee leave ? Mark quit for the same reason that drives many good people away. The answer lies in one of the largest studies undertaken by the Gallup Organization. The study surveyed over a million employees and 80,000 managers and was published in a book called "First Break All The Rules". It came up with this surprising finding: If you're losing good people, look to their immediate boss .Immediate boss is the reason people stay and thrive in an organization. And he 's the reason why people leave. When people leave they take knowledge,experience and contacts with them, straight to the competition. "People leave managers not companies," write the authors Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman. Mostly manager drives people away? HR experts say that of all the abuses, employees find humiliation the most intolerable. The first time, an employee may not leave,but a thought has been planted. The second time, that thought gets strengthened. The third time, he looks for another job. When people cannot retort openly in anger, they do so by passive aggression. By digging their heels in and slowing down. By doing only what they are told to do and no more. By omitting to give the boss crucial information. Dev says: "If you work for a jerk, you basically want to get him into trouble. You don 't have your heart and soul in the job." Different managers can stress out employees in different ways - by being too controlling, too suspicious,too pushy, too critical, but they forget that workers are not fixed assets, they are free agents. When this goes on too long, an employee will quit - often over a trivial issue. Talented men leave. Dead wood doesn't. "Jack Welch of GE once said. A company's value lies "between the ears of its employees". .

 

10 Principles for POM............Piece Of Mind GUD MORNING

 

 

 

__._,_.___

 

Did You Know ? Fact about Israel

 

 

Click here to get beautiful emails Click here to join forum

 

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Did You Know ?   Did you know that non-Jewish Israelis cannot buy or lease land in the Zionist entity? Did you know that Palestinian license plates in Zionist entity are color coded to distinguish jews from non-jews? Did you know that Israel allots 85% of the water resources for jews and the remaining 15% is divided among all Palestinians in the territories? For example in Hebron, 85% of the water is given to about 400 settlers, while 15% must be divided among Hebron's 120,000 Palestinians? Did you know the United States awards the israel $5 billion in aid each year? Did you know that yearly US aid to israel exceeds the aid the US grants to the whole African continent? Did you know that the israel is the only country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons?  Did you know that the israel is the only country in the Middle East that refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and bars international inspections from its sites?  Did you know that israel currently occupies territories of two sovereign nations (Lebanon and Syria) in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions?  Did you know that israel has for decades routinely sent assassins into other countries to kill its political enemies?  Did you know that high-ranking military officers in the israeli Defense Forces have admitted publicly that unarmed prisoners of war were executed by the IDF?  Did you know that israel refuses to prosecute its soldiers who have acknowledged executing prisoners of war?  Did you know that israel routinely confiscates bank accounts, businesses, and land and refuses to pay compensation to those who suffer the confiscation? Did you know that israel blew up an American diplomatic facility in Egypt and attacked a U.S. ship in international waters, killing 33 and wounding 177 American sailors?  Did you know that the second most powerful lobby in the United States, according to a recent Fortune magazine survey of Washington insiders, is the jewish AIPAC?  Did you know that israel stands in defiance of 69 United Nations Security Council Resolutions?  Did you know that today's israel sits on the former sites of more than 400 now-vanished Palestinian villages, and that the israeli's re- named almost every physical site in the country to cover up the traces?  Did you know that it was not until 1988 that israelis were barred from running "jews Only" job ads? Did you know that four prime ministers of israel (Begin, Shamir, Rabin, and Sharon) have taken part in either bomb attacks on civilians, massacres of civilians, or forced expulsions of civilians from their villages?  Did you know that the israeli Foreign Ministry pays two American public relations firms to promote israel to Americans?  Did you know that Sharon's coalition government includes a party -- Molodet -- which advocates expelling all Palestinians from the occupied territories?  Did you know that israel's settlement-building increased in the eight years since Oslo?  Did you know that settlement building under Barak doubled compared to settlement building under Netanyahu?  Did you know that israel once dedicated a postage stamp to a man who attacked a civilian bus and killed several people?  Did you know that recently-declassifi ed documents indicate that David Ben-Gurion in at least some instances approved of the expulsion of Palestinians in 1948?  Did you know that despite a ban on torture by israel's High Court of Justice, torture has continued by Shin Bet interrogators on Palestinian prisoners?  Did you know that Palestinian refugees make up the largest portion of the refugee population in the world? And finally do you know who is the terrorist now ?

 

win

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

The 25 most difficult questions you'll be asked on a job interview

Being prepared is half the battle.

If you are one of those executive types unhappy at your present post and embarking on a New Year's resolution to find a new one, here's a helping hand. The job interview is considered to be the most critical aspect of every expedition that brings you face-to- face with the future boss. One must prepare for it with the same tenacity and quickness as one does for a fencing tournament or a chess match.

This article has been excerpted from "PARTING COMPANY: How to Survive the Loss of a Job and Find Another Successfully" by William J. Morin and James C. Cabrera. Copyright by Drake Beam Morin, inc. Publised by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Morin is chairman and Cabrera is president of New York-based Drake Beam Morin, nation's major outplacement firm, which has opened offices in Philadelphia.

1. Tell me about yourself.

Since this is often the opening question in an interview, be extracareful that you don't run off at the mouth. Keep your answer to a minute or two at most. Cover four topics: early years, education, work history, and recent career experience. Emphasize this last subject. Remember that this is likely to be a warm-up question. Don't waste your best points on it.

2. What do you know about our organization?

You should be able to discuss products or services, revenues, reputation, image, goals, problems, management style, people, history and philosophy. But don't act as if you know everything about the place. Let your answer show that you have taken the time to do some research, but don't overwhelm the interviewer, and make it clear that you wish to learn more.
You might start your answer in this manner: "In my job search, I've investigated a number of companies.
Yours is one of the few that interests me, for these reasons..."
Give your answer a positive tone. Don't say, "Well, everyone tells me that you're in all sorts of trouble, and that's why I'm here", even if that is why you're there.

3. Why do you want to work for us?

The deadliest answer you can give is "Because I like people." What else would you like-animals?
Here, and throughout the interview, a good answer comes from having done your homework so that you can speak in terms of the company's needs. You might say that your research has shown that the company is doing things you would like to be involved with, and that it's doing them in ways that greatly interest you. For example, if the organization is known for strong management, your answer should mention that fact and show that you would like to be a part of that team. If the company places a great deal of emphasis on research and development, emphasize the fact that you want to create new things and that you know this is a place in which such activity is encouraged. If the organization stresses financial controls, your answer should mention a reverence for numbers.
If you feel that you have to concoct an answer to this question - if, for example, the company stresses research, and you feel that you should mention it even though it really doesn't interest you- then you probably should not be taking that interview, because you probably shouldn't be considering a job with that organization.
Your homework should include learning enough about the company to avoid approaching places where you wouldn't be able -or wouldn't want- to function. Since most of us are poor liars, it's difficult to con anyone in an interview. But even if you should succeed at it, your prize is a job you don't really want.

4. What can you do for us that someone else can't?

Here you have every right, and perhaps an obligation, to toot your own horn and be a bit egotistical. Talk about your record of getting things done, and mention specifics from your resume or list of career accomplishments. Say that your skills and interests, combined with this history of getting results, make you valuable. Mention your ability to set priorities, identify problems, and use your experience and energy to solve them.

5. What do you find most attractive about this position? What seems least attractive about it?

List three or four attractive factors of the job, and mention a single, minor, unattractive item.

6. Why should we hire you?

Create your answer by thinking in terms of your ability, your experience, and your energy. (See question 4.)

7. What do you look for in a job?

Keep your answer oriented to opportunities at this organization. Talk about your desire to perform and be recognized for your contributions. Make your answer oriented toward opportunity rather than personal security.

8. Please give me your defintion of [the position for which you are being interviewed].

Keep your answer brief and taskoriented. Think in in terms of responsibilities and accountability. Make sure that you really do understand what the position involves before you attempt an answer. If you are not certain. ask the interviewer; he or she may answer the question for you.

9. How long would it take you to make a meaningful contribution to our firm?

Be realistic. Say that, while you would expect to meet pressing demands and pull your own weight from the first day, it might take six months to a year before you could expect to know the organization and its needs well enough to make a major contribution.

10. How long would you stay with us?

Say that you are interested in a career with the organization, but admit that you would have to continue to feel challenged to remain with any organization. Think in terms of, "As long as we both feel achievement-oriented."

11. Your resume suggests that you may be over-qualified or too experienced for this position. What's Your opinion?

Emphasize your interest in establishing a long-term association with the organization, and say that you assume that if you perform well in his job, new opportunities will open up for you. Mention that a strong company needs a strong staff. Observe that experienced executives are always at a premium. Suggest that since you are so wellqualified, the employer will get a fast return on his investment. Say that a growing, energetic company can never have too much talent.

12. What is your management style?

You should know enough about the company's style to know that your management style will complement it. Possible styles include: task oriented (I'll enjoy problem-solving identifying what's wrong, choosing a solution and implementing it"), results-oriented ("Every management decision I make is determined by how it will affect the bottom line"), or even paternalistic ("I'm committed to taking care of my subordinates and pointing them in the right direction").
A participative style is currently quite popular: an open-door method of managing in which you get things done by motivating people and delegating responsibility.
As you consider this question, think about whether your style will let you work hatppily and effectively within the organization.

13. Are you a good manager? Can you give me some examples? Do you feel that you have top managerial potential?

Keep your answer achievementand ask-oriented. Rely on examples from your career to buttress your argument. Stress your experience and your energy.

14. What do you look for when You hire people?

Think in terms of skills. initiative, and the adaptability to be able to work comfortably and effectively with others. Mention that you like to hire people who appear capable of moving up in the organization.

15. Have you ever had to fire people? What were the reasons, and how did you handle the situation?

Admit that the situation was not easy, but say that it worked out well, both for the company and, you think, for the individual. Show that, like anyone else, you don't enjoy unpleasant tasks but that you can resolve them efficiently and -in the case of firing someone- humanely.

16. What do you think is the most difficult thing about being a manager or executive?

Mention planning, execution, and cost-control. The most difficult task is to motivate and manage employess to get something planned and completed on time and within the budget.

17. What important trends do you see in our industry?

Be prepared with two or three trends that illustrate how well you understand your industry. You might consider technological challenges or opportunities, economic conditions, or even regulatory demands as you collect your thoughts about the direction in which your business is heading.

18. Why are you leaving (did you leave) your present (last) job?

Be brief, to the point, and as honest as you can without hurting yourself. Refer back to the planning phase of your job search. where you considered this topic as you set your reference statements. If you were laid off in an across-the-board cutback, say so; otherwise, indicate that the move was your decision, the result of your action. Do not mention personality conflicts.
The interviewer may spend some time probing you on this issue, particularly if it is clear that you were terminated. The "We agreed to disagree" approach may be useful. Remember hat your references are likely to be checked, so don't concoct a story for an interview.

19. How do you feel about leaving all your benefits to find a new job?

Mention that you are concerned, naturally, but not panicked. You are willing to accept some risk to find the right job for yourself. Don't suggest that security might interest you more than getting the job done successfully.

20. In your current (last) position, what features do (did) you like the most? The least?

Be careful and be positive. Describe more features that you liked than disliked. Don't cite personality problems. If you make your last job sound terrible, an interviewer may wonder why you remained there until now.

21. What do you think of your boss?

Be as positive as you can. A potential boss is likely to wonder if you might talk about him in similar terms at some point in the future.

22. Why aren't you earning more at your age?

Say that this is one reason that you are conducting this job search. Don't be defensive.

23. What do you feel this position should pay?

Salary is a delicate topic. We suggest that you defer tying yourself to a precise figure for as long as you can do so politely. You might say, "I understand that the range for this job is between $______ and $______. That seems appropriate for the job as I understand it." You might answer the question with a question: "Perhaps you can help me on this one. Can you tell me if there is a range for similar jobs in the organization?"
If you are asked the question during an initial screening interview, you might say that you feel you need to know more about the position's responsibilities before you could give a meaningful answer to that question. Here, too, either by asking the interviewer or search executive (if one is involved), or in research done as part of your homework, you can try to find out whether there is a salary grade attached to the job. If there is, and if you can live with it, say that the range seems right to you.
If the interviewer continues to probe, you might say, "You know that I'm making $______ now. Like everyone else, I'd like to improve on that figure, but my major interest is with the job itself." Remember that the act of taking a new job does not, in and of itself, make you worth more money.
If a search firm is involved, your contact there may be able to help with the salary question. He or she may even be able to run interference for you. If, for instance, he tells you what the position pays, and you tell him that you are earning that amount now and would Like to do a bit better, he might go back to the employer and propose that you be offered an additional 10%.
If no price range is attached to the job, and the interviewer continues to press the subject, then you will have to restpond with a number. You cannot leave the impression that it does not really matter, that you'll accept whatever is offered. If you've been making $80,000 a year, you can't say that a $35,000 figure would be fine without sounding as if you've given up on yourself. (If you are making a radical career change, however, this kind of disparity may be more reasonable and understandable.)
Don't sell yourself short, but continue to stress the fact that the job itself is the most important thing in your mind. The interviewer may be trying to determine just how much you want the job. Don't leave the impression that money is the only thing that is important to you. Link questions of salary to the work itself.
But whenever possible, say as little as you can about salary until you reach the "final" stage of the interview process. At that point, you know that the company is genuinely interested in you and that it is likely to be flexible in salary negotiations.

24. What are your long-range goals?

Refer back to the planning phase of your job search. Don't answer, "I want the job you've advertised." Relate your goals to the company you are interviewing: 'in a firm like yours, I would like to..."

25. How successful do you you've been so far?

Say that, all-in-all, you're happy with the way your career has progressed so far. Given the normal ups and downs of life, you feel that you've done quite well and have no complaints.
Present a positive and confident picture of yourself, but don't overstate your case. An answer like, "Everything's wonderful! I can't think of a time when things were going better! I'm overjoyed!" is likely to make an interviewer wonder whether you're trying to fool him . . . or yourself. The most convincing confidence is usually quiet confidence.