Mentor thoughts - Part 2

Why is there so much indifference? Don't we find it so easy to look away from people who suffer? It seems the easier route not to feel responsible or connected to the tears of the world. Let there be terrorism. Let the bomb blasts go on. Let there be poverty. Let there be hunger. Let the children of my own servant-maid live in tattered clothes; so what if my driver's children don't go to school; what am I to do if my watchman's children don't have enough to eat. That's their fate and I don't author their destiny. Isn't it awkward and troublesome to be involved in the pain and despair of other people? He is suffering his cross and that's his stuff. Oh, what an indifference? As long as my life is progressing on normal lines, I am able to enjoy a fine meal, a family to live for and live with, enough to entertain and enough to promise a future, what's happening to my neighbour is of no consequence to me.
Indifference is worse than anger, more cruel than hatred, worse than revenge. At least in anger, hatred and the urge for revenge, there still exists some emotion for the other human being. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. Indifference makes a human being inhuman. Indifference numbs you of your feelings for others. In that sense, indifference is not only a sin but also a punishment.
Let us learn to feel for the last man. Let us embrace inclusive love. Let our love include the last man in it. Let there be some sensations in our eyes when we see tears in the eyes of other people. Let us relinquish indifference. Let us begin to make a difference. We can do our part. We can play a big part.
Let us not forsake those who already feel forsaken by life. I understand that even to think we can wipe every tear from every eye may be beyond us, but as long as there are tears in the world, and as long as there is breath left in us, let our work continue.
It is not that Buddha achieved a desire-free world. Neither could Christ build a world full of compassion. Nor did Teresa lift everyone out of the gutters. But they all did what they could. That's the big question! Did I play my part?
Ordinary men unfold extraordinary possibilities when they identify themselves with a goal larger than themselves. Any work that is selfless, any work that is beyond 'Me, Mine and Myself', any work where the other is put ahead of myself, that very work unfolds a giant of a personality from within me. Any work with a selfless intent becomes god's work. Those who work for themselves get respected. Those who work for a cause larger than any individual interest get revered. Barristers and schoolteachers and journalists and carpenters became revered legends only after they identified themselves with a cause larger than themselves. It isn't me, but it is what I represent that defines me.The purpose of the heart is to connect to another heart. Let us learn to feel once again… all over again… When you feel for the creation, the creator feels for you.

Golden rules - shared by my mentor

1. Business is made up of ambiguous victories and nebulous defeats. Claim them all as victories.
2. Keep track of what you do; someone is sure to ask.
3. Be comfortable around senior managers, or learn to fake it.
4. Never bring your boss a problem without some solution. You are getting paid to think, not to whine.
5. Long hours don’t mean anything; results count, not effort.
6. Write down ideas; they get lost, like good pens.
7. Always arrive at work 30 minutes before your boss.
8. Help other people network for jobs. You never know when your turn will come.
9. Don’t take days off sick—unless you are.
10. Assume no one can/will keep a secret.
11. Know when you do your best—morning, night, under pressure, relaxed; schedule and prioritize your work accordingly.
12. Treat everyone who works in the organization with respect and dignity, whether it be the cleaner or the managing director. Don’t ever be patronizing.
13. Never appear stressed in front of a client, a customer or your boss. Take a deep breath and ask yourself: In the course of human events, how important is this?
14. Acknowledging someone else’s contribution will repay you doubly.
15. Career planning is an oxymoron. The most exciting opportunities tend to be unplanned.
16. Always choose to do what you’ll remember ten years from now.
17. The size of your office is not as important as the size of your pay cheque.
18. Understand what finished work looks like and deliver your work only when it is finished.
19. The person who spends all of his or her time is not hard-working; he or she is boring.
20. Know how to write business letters—including thank-you notes as well as proposals.
21. Never confuse a memo with reality. Most memos from the top are political fantasy.
22. Eliminate guilt. Don’t fiddle expenses, taxes or benefits, and don’t cheat colleagues.
23. Go to the company party.
24. Don’t get drunk at the company party.
25. Avoid working at weekends. Work longer during the week if you have to.
26. The most successful people in business are interesting.
27. Sometimes you’ll be on a winning streak and everything will click; take maximum advantage.
28. When the opposite is true, hold steady and wait it out.
29. Never in your life say, “It’s not my job.”
30. Be loyal to your career, your interests and yourself.
31. Understand the skills and abilities that set you apart. Use them whenever you have an opportunity.
32. People remember the end of the project. As they say in boxing, “Always finish stronger than you start.”

Selvaaaa

Selva.
One of my dear pals. Got a call from him today. He has got an offer from one of the technology consulting & outsourcing giants. He was on cloud nine. Before I go any further, let me give you a quick briefing on Selva. He is a 5 foot person with weighing not more than 60 kilos. Keep changing his hairstyle and dressing sense. Born and brought up in Dindugal (Down South in Tamil Nadu), he is a very easy going fellow. He was one of my college mates. We shared the same major. His academic skills were awesome. Though he was from a tamil medium school, he consistently scored above 80% in each semester, a skill which I still adore. Some of the things I liked about him are: He never sleeps much, When it comes to responsibilities – he is way ahead of all of us, when it comes to studies – he would concentrate so much that you won’t find single MM of nails left in his fingers, he is very much attached to his parents, keeps his mother in good humour by doing mock calls and so on.

Having said all these, he was the last fellow to earn a carrier. It was nearly a year and above after graduation that he got a job. Every time he called me up, every time we (Me, Mom & Dad) discussed above Selva, we would question ourselves “Why not Selva? SO much academic skills, so much adorable behaviour, so easy to mingle, yet not a good carrier. Why ?” This call from him has answered all the questions. Sometimes God gives you what you ask for. Sometime, He asks you to wait, take some time and gives you a better one. Sometimes, He makes you wait a bit longer, and gives you the BEST. That’s is how I treat this offer to you Selva. God has given you the best. Make the most of it. Tons of wishes to you my dear friend. All the very best.

Some good work ethics shared by my Mentor

In negative instances !!
First of all accept the decision gracefully; it will save you a lot of emotional drain and also give you enough peace. Go through this experience as a learning phase. No wonder 'silent' and 'listen' have the same alphabets.

Having accepted, don't judge your new boss from a negative mindset; look at what you can learn from him/her.

Don't keep discussing with others in the organisation as to why this happened and seek their sympathy. This will show you in bad light.

Instead of asking yourself where else wrong, ask yourself where else you can improve.

Don't become cynical of any new system the boss likes to implement; instead politely bring out the pros and cons of new system and suggest alternatives. You will be respected.

Even when one of your juniors speaks ill of your boss to you, don't encourage him/her. Extend whole hearted support your boss in all his endeavours.

When working with your batchmates

You respect their experience; mutually aligh with both your expectation and style of functioning

Ensure the differences in the thought process, if any, are handled in a professional manner; else it will reflect poorly the maturity levels of both of you.

While you take key decisions, involve them. This would make him feel that they are important and their inputs are respected. They would try to reciprocate the same.

Give enough space to them to act independently.

Never judge anyone while he/she may be emotionally down, he/she will still be mentally strong to perform any job.

Every guy has both right side (positive) and the wrong side (negative). It our responsibility to identify the strengths and learn to work with the right side.

The 99 Club

Once upon a time, there lived a King who, despite his luxurious lifestyle, was neither happy nor content. One day, the King came upon a servant who was singing happily while he worked. This fascinated the King; why was he, the Supreme Ruler of the Land, unhappy and gloomy, while A lowly servant had so much joy. The King asked the servant, "Why are you so happy?" The man replied, "Your Majesty, I am nothing but a servant, but my family and I don't need too much - just a roof over our heads and warm food to fill our tummies." The king was not satisfied with that reply. Later in the day, he sought the advice of his most trusted advisor. After hearing the King's woes and the servant's story, the advisor said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the servant has not been made part of The 99 Club." "The 99 Club? And what exactly is that?" the King inquired. The advisor replied, "Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Club is, place 99 Gold coins in a bag and leave it at this servant's doorstep." When the servant saw the bag, he took it into his house. When he opened the bag, he let out a great shout of joy... So many gold coins! He began to count them. After several counts, he was at last convinced that there were 99 coins. He wondered, "What could've happened to that last gold coin? Surely, no one would leave 99 coins!" He looked everywhere he could, but that final coin was elusive. Finally, exhausted, he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to earn that gold coin and complete his collection. >From that day, the servant's life was changed. He was overworked, horribly grumpy, and castigated his family for not helping him make that 100th gold coin. He stopped singing while he worked. Witnessing this drastic transformation, the King was puzzled. When he sought his advisor's help, the advisor said, "Your Majesty, the servant has now officially joined The 99 Club." He continued, "The 99 Club is a name given to those people who have enough to be happy but are never contented, because they're always yearning and striving for that extra 1 telling to themselves: "Let me get that one final thing and then I will be happy for life." We can be happy, even with very little in our lives, but the minute we're given something bigger and better, we want even more! We lose our sleep, our happiness, we hurt the people around us; all these as a price for our growing needs and desires. That's what joining The 99 Club is all about."