Against the Principles of Gandhi...

A number of books have been written on Mahatma Gandhi, but the most recent one by Joseph Lelyveld has allegedly given some titillating insights into Mahatma's sexual preferences. People have started demanding a formal (by law) ban on the book, and criminal proceedings on the writer of the book. This post is about to point-out some serious moral dangers behind such an action...

I ask the reader; 'Are we really talking about protecting image of someone who himself had been against any such protection his entire life...?'

Best Plan: Have No Plans!

Why we are always asked to have some plan? Why people regularly face questions like: What do you expect in future? Where do you see yourself in future? The logic is: 'If you have a plan, or at-least a goal in your mind, then your whole life becomes organized and you make right decisions at the right time to achieve that goal. But don't you think that, it's a self fulfilling logic! Because, when you have a goal in mind, then you take all the necessary steps to achieve that goal, and what about other things that you could do if you didn't have that goal in the first place!!!

Debate: Online versus Offline behaviour

It has been a very long debate. People have different responses to the question: "Why our online behavior is different (if any) from the offline behavior?" And now people have already started responding on "How to deal with the errant offline behavior?" I recently came across a post by Justine Larbalestier, where he talks about his way of dealing with such people. In his post he says:

A Privacy Law, Finally!

Today technological revolution and thence media has revolutionized the way things were being done. You can create news without waiting for a reporter from a famous news paper to come and interview you. Just make a MMS (no pun intended!), or a YouTube video or write on your blog...you can do all of it at virtually zero cost.

But these benefits of free speech and free thoughts come to society at a cost. This cost is the cost of privacy of individuals. A news paper (live mint) says, "Indian government is coming up with a privacy law, finally!" So, has government really started worrying about the privacy of their citizens? Is it so? 

Let me do a reality check before we can think of such a possibility.

Most Shrewed Negotiators! (Part-1)

Indians are shrewd in many field like: honoring guests from other country (leaving few incidences happened here and there!), software building, patronizing, patriotism, lauding, & smart work like JUGAD!  (Watch a video on shrewd Indian inventors). But, when it comes to negotiation (on a day to day basis by the common man); Indians are the most shrewd negotiators. A blog post in live mint blog on negotiation potential of Indians compelled me to write this post on negotiation shrewdness of Indians. 

Unlike their western counterparts; Indians are what we call -Value oriented people! In his post, Padmaparna Ghosh writes:

"Negotiating has got to be India’s single largest national skill. I think Indians can negotiate their way out of anything in everyday life (not even touching incidents of national and international proportions). In fact they are so good at it, that I would would go to the extent of saying that if  anyone can cajole/wheedle/argue their way through an airport with a 40-kg bag and a detonator in hand, it would be an Indian."

I have my own set of experiences with this hidden potential of Indians (although, my understanding is not limited to Indians! There are millions of Chinese, Americans, Brazilians, and Japanese out there including representatives from rest of the countries, doing the same! Suggestion for the reader: "observe people around you!"):

Scene 1: 

Lady to Rikshawala: Bhaiya...How much for 'X Hospital'? 

Rikshawala: How many are you?

Lady: What!!! Can't you see...? One person!... How much for 'X Hospital'?

Rikshawala: Taking a moment to observe the weight of her purse! Then quoting; Rs. 50. 

Lady: (Exaggerating her surprise) Whatttt! Are you crazy? 'X Hospital' is less than 1 km away from here...and you are asking me Rs. 50!!! 

Rikshawala: Madam...if you think that it's so near, then why don't you walk a little. And if you think that I am charging more than what is considered to be reasonable, then why don't to consult with other rickshawalas. (well...there was no other rickshawala around!)

//...She knew that Walking even 1 km. is worth burning 2 kg calorie for her!...so she need to bargain the situation, but not to over fight. (But for Indians, bargaining itself it like a do or die exercise...!)//

Lady: Ok...I'll give you 20, what do you think? 

Rikshawala: ??? Madam, I have five children to feed beside my wife, my father and mother! If I start accepting Rs. 20 from everyone that comes to me, I won't even be able to feed them once in a day! And you are not the first person, whom I'll be charging Rs. 50 for 'X Hospital'. 

Lady: Fine...I make it 30? 

Rikshawala: Madam...you don't understand. I don't pull Riksha, because I need money. I pull riksha because this country needs riksha pullers!  

// I don't know, when this rikshwala read Aristotle!//

Lady: Ohh... (thinking..) Look, I don't have time for such debate! Take 35...???

Rikshawala: Madam...I'll agree, but can I ask you one question? 

Lady: (little relieved) fine...ask.

Rikshawala: You are going to a hospital. Will you bargain the same way for Rs. 20-30 with the doctor and the chemist? Or is it that, you people do this only with poor and weak people? 

//...A wave of thoughts stormed her mind! Because, she never before though that way...///

This is true for most of us! We bargain where we find that, other person would not care  or his/her opinion would not weight if we go a little extra mile in our bargaining journey! But we don't bargain when we see that situation involves a perceived social status management! Are we hypocrite? I bet we are! 

Buffooned by Luck!

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|The only sure thing about luck is that it will change. ~Wilson Mizner

Post written by Anshul Gupta. Follow me on twitter.

Do you feel like luck never seems to go your way? Do you have that friend that you are secretly jealous of because they seem to fall into that dream job, or they seem to always find a way to be around when opportunities arise?

If you answered yes, then this post is for you.

Many people have the perception that the job search and developing your career are tracks you have to follow. You go to school, get an internship, and then you graduate and eventually find a job.

This is true at a certain level, however there are additional aspects to the successful development of your career.

Why is it that some people seem to have all the luck, while others don’t?

Some people believe that luck is actually an intersection of understanding yourself and what you want, added with a little preparation and calculated risk taking. When you do the work of understanding yourself and understanding where you want to go, it can help you to foucs on opportunities that may be of interest to you. Basically, the more you are aware of something, the more you will notice it.

For instance, when you are sad, you notice how many sad songs you hear on the radio. Ask yourself if there are more sad songs being played because of how you feel or if you justnotice them more because of how you feel?

Four key ways to improve your chances at creating opportunities:

1. Pay attention to yournatural curiosity and interests

What are things that you just naturally enjoy doing? What hobbies do you have?

This is the key to everything in your life. You curiosity will force you to travel a path that you dearly wanted but could not.

2. Eliminate Barriers

Instead of thinking about what might happen if you fail, think about what might happen if you succeed.

3. Plan for the unplanned

Once you have a sense of your interests and have eliminated barriers, you may start to notice more opportunities. Also, opportunities may just appear out of nowhere–so be ready to act once they do. Opportunities may appear as chance encounters, new experiences, or even random communication.

4. Take Action

Taking action can mean a variety of things. It could be leaping at an opportunity for a new job, or taking the chance to meet someone you admire in your field. You may learn about a new skill that you would like to develop and take action to develop that skill.

Think back to how you got to where you are today. How did you get there?

|"You never know where chance encounters will take you, but you can help your “luck” by planning for the day when it comes."

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More Recent Articles:

 Do what you want...

 Water-Water No where!

 Delusion of Achievements

 Martian view of Entrepreneurs

 Why you should stop reading newspaper! : 7 Reasons

 Right or Wrong

 The Rise of Social Media: Statistics

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The Rise of Social Media : Statistics

Post written by Anshul Gupta. Follow me on twitter.

There is no doubt that, the evolution of social media has a clear impact on marketing. However, a major issue is that too much misinformation and propaganda exists about social media adoption, usage and its business applications. See the statistics below (picture + power point + videos):

Industry Report Overview:

Social Media: 31 Stats & Anecdotes:

Social Media Revolution:

Rise of social media is the key to the free flow of ideas and creativity around the world. It has lifted the barriers between different countries of the world. Today we can get in touch with the people like Tom Peters, without needing a prerequisite of so called status in the society. We can listen to the top thinkers for free on sites like you tube. And we can unite on any issue and realize the true importance of freedom to speak our mind out. It is the cheapest medium to get the attention of the world, to show off your talent. It has become a source of imaginary connectedness today, where people tale solace by the feeling of connected to a larger world.

TV and print media is here to stay for a while (Today companies are leveraging that fact by using optimized marketing strategies), because third world countries still need to grapple with issue of lack of proper internet connectivity. But as the things become cheaper and technological advancement forwards, we would see an continually interconnected world via ideas.

If Google has to worry of its biggest competitor today then it should not think of Yahoo! or Bing....Because these are not its competitor anymore (with Google having more than 70% search engine market share). Today, Google's biggest competitor is you! Yes we are the biggest competitors. Tomorrow, when the whole world would be interconnected through social media, and if we need to find a restaurant in Shanghai , we won't search it on Google...rather we would ask people directly who are in our social media friend list!

Who would you believe more? A search engine or a human; who has the local knowhow...

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Few interesting posts:

 3 Tips for asking better questions

 4 ways to get the most desired thing: Attention!

 Manage your energies, not time!

 Why imitation is smarter than innovation?

 Short stories@ideas8bottom

 Why we are living in an imaginary connectedness

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Short stories@ideas8bottom

Post written by Anshul Gupta. Follow me on twitter.

Short stories@ideas8bottom

Download it for free (PDF)

So much intangible!

Post written by Anshul Gupta. Follow me on twitter.

Once upon a time (no fairytale stories here plzzz) I had a thought (a action provoking thought …amongst billions of other thoughts!), that there are so much we do daily which is intangible, which can’t be measured/quantified, which we can’t justify as an achievement in direct terms.

For example, when we read online wisdom or get a new experience…we can’t tell after a month or two that we have read/learnt, 10 or 20 books worth of material, Can we?

I suppose, generation of formal schooling/certification had somewhere this idea in mind…

Today, I can tell you very confidently, that I have done my graduation in computer science & I am on the verge of completing my MBA. I have participated in activities of a few NGOs, and getting few certifications in supply chain consulting…But what about those things that I learn every day and don’t earn any certification or degree to show you!

There are so many such things that we do every day… Shall we try to make these things quantifiable? Yes, why not…

My idea for that was to create this blog. But there can be thousands of other ways too…What is needed is a consistent thinking towards making certain percentage of these efforts on making the things we do/learn daily, tangible!

No worries…if we are not supposed to do it right the first time…But one thing is for sure in future, we would achieve some perfection in doing it…Because the main reason for which we are doing it is that, we love doing it....

read: Thought for Life

! Teacher

Post written by Anshul Gupta. Follow me on twitter.

When was the last time you heard a teacher exclaim ...

"I LOVE what I do!"

"I LOVE being with my pupils / students!" "

"My students LOVE attending my / our class!"

"It is an absolute joy and privilege to do what I do! I feel most fortunate."

"When I'm with my students, I am On-Purpose, and together we have fun / a blast!"

But what we tend to hear and feel from the teaching profession, is ...

"I am counting the days to my retirement!"

"I'd take a million bucks and a beach any day over what I do!"

Do not students deserve to be met with teachers every day who are On-Purpose rather than simply on payroll?

Is there any legitimate excuse for a teacher of students to exhibit the "Retirement, I can't wait!" attitude?

Reality check.

When on-purpose, being great at what one does comes naturally.

When off-purpose, "it's a jungle out there." And the results prove this out.

Who can afford the teacher at odds with his or her purpose?