Ants Philosophy ...

All of us tend to look up to big people for lessons on how to get better. We are keen to learn the secrets of their success. But we forget that sometimes the biggest lessons in life come from the smallest folks around us. Now that’s a good lesson to remember!
Take ants for instance. Would you believe those small creatures can teach us how to live a better life? Jim Rohn - the great motivational guru – developed what he called the ‘Ants Philosophy’.
He identified four key lessons from the behaviour of ants that can help us lead better lives..

1. Ants never quit: Have you noticed how ants always look for a way around an obstacle? Put your finger in an ant’s path and it will try and go around it, or over it. It will keep looking for a way out. It won’t just stand there and stare. It won’t give up and go back.
We should all learn to be like that. There will always be obstacles in our lives. The challenge is to keep trying, keep looking for alternative routes to get to our goals. Winston Churchill probably paraphrased the ant’s mindset when he offered this priceless advice: “Never give up. Never, never give up!”

2. Ants think winter all summer: Remember the old story of the ant and the grasshopper? In the middle of summer, the ant was busy gathering food for the winter ahead – while the grasshopper was out having a good time. Ants know that summer - the good times – won’t last forever. Winters will come. That’s a good lesson to remember. When the going is good, don’t be so arrogant as to believe that a crisis or a setback cannot happen to you. Be good to other people. Save for a rainy day. Look ahead. And remember, good times may not last, but good people do.

3. Ants think summer all winter: As they suffer through the unbearable cold of the winter, ants keep reminding themselves that it won’t last forever, and that summer will soon be here. And with the first rays of the summer sun, the ants come out – ready to work, ready to play. When we are down and seemingly out, when we go through what looks like a never-ending crisis, it’s good to remind ourselves that this too shall pass. Good times will come. It’s important to retain a positive attitude, an attitude that says things will get better. As the old saying goes, tough times don’t last. Tough people do.

4. Ants do all they possibly can: How much food does an ant gather in summer? All that it possibly can! Now that’s a great work ethic to have... Do all you can! One ant doesn’t worry about how much food another ant is collecting. It does not sit back and wonder why it should have to work so hard. Nor does it complain about the poor pay! Ants just do their bit. They gather all the food they can. Success and happiness are usually the result of giving 100% - doing all you possibly can. If you look around you, you’ll find that successful people are those who just do all they possibly can.

And there’s just one more lesson to learn from ants. Did you know that an ant can carry objects up to 20 times their own weight? Maybe we are like that too. We can carry burdens on our shoulders and manage workloads that are far, far heavier than we’d imagine. Next time something’s bothering you and weighing you down, and you feel you just can’t carry on, don’t fret. Think of the little ant. And remember, you too can carry a lot more on your shoulders!

Happy Independence Day 2011

Leader ...

A leader should have the following 6 qualities (by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam)
1. Vision
2. Courage to take unexplored path
3. Manage Failure
4. Courage to take decision
5. Nobility in management - Transparent
6. Work with integrity and succeed with integrity

How does competition at work help you?

Competition is inevitable at workplace. Each employee is trying to outdo another employee in his or her performance levels. Appreciation rewards and to get noticed from employers has become a very important aspect in one's workplace. It is but natural, that everyone faces competition at a workplace but stiff competition always prepares you for something tougher.
Competition in the workplace is a double-edged sword. Used correctly, you can get results; used ruthlessly, you can kill morale. A fine line exists between a competitive spirit and being aggressive hence you need to follow a healthy competition which will benefit you in many ways.

1. Compete with yourself:
Some people despise and fear competition, and some managers can misuse it. But, if viewed correctly, a healthy dose of competition can keep you on your toes, make you ratchet up your game, and inspire growth. In other words, competition can challenge you to 'be all that you can be.' And competition as part of a team can help you learn to work with others to succeed.

2. Competition validates your idea:
You know you have a good idea when other people are coming up with similar ideas. Competition validates your idea and the fact that there your boss is most likely to agree on your idea than on your colleagues.

3. Competition forces focus and differentiation:
Without competition, it's easy to lose focus on your work and you tend to divert yourself from the organization goals. Competition forces you to figure out how to be different than your competition, how you can focus on your skills. In the long-term, competition will help you build a better personality as well.

4. Career Advancement:
Possessing leadership skills and a competitive spirit reveals to co-workers, bosses, friends, acquaintances and teachers that you have a zest for life. Likewise, studying more and practicing harder, comes from an urge to do well and succeed. You may find that inspiring others is also an advantage of a competitive spirit. You hard work and successes may encourage others to be more competitive.

5. Self Worth and an Exciting Lifestyle:
Working hard toward personal and career goals can provide a person with a feeling of self-worth. Generally, competitive people aren't afraid to try new things which can lead to exciting opportunities that other less competitive people may not encounter. Likewise, the journey to achievement, working toward a goal, enhances moods and can fight depression.

6. Use others success to motivate you:
Seeing someone else succeeding at a higher level or producing work of greater quality doesn't have to lead to envy or jealousy. It can inspire you to grow, to explore, to learn more, to try harder. This is positive competition in action. Sometimes we're inspired and motivated out of fear we may lose our job or the account. And sometimes we're inspired and motivated because we admire quality and the rewards of success and want to produce quality results as well.

7. Work with others to turn competition into collaboration:
Try to learn from someone achieving more than you. Maybe they could mentor you. In that way, competition melds into collaboration, and then you and your company will see the benefits.

Source: SiliconIndia

Keep your ego in check ...

Source: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-08-09/news/29867341_1_ego-success-workplace

Many of us spend a majority of our time at the workplace and are in constant touch with our colleagues, bosses and others. In a demanding and competitive work environment, tempers can rise and small issues blown out of proportion.
When ego problems crop up at our place of work, we cannot focus on the task at hand, and this could disrupt the entire functioning of an organisation. Moresha Benjamin lists simple steps that one can follow at the workplace to prevent ego-related tussles.

Be A Team Player
The first thing to remember is that the success of any project we undertake involves team work. In many cases, one see's projects getting delayed because of ego hassles among team members. This can be very detrimental to an organisation. "The successful completion of a project should be your only focus.
Playing the game of one-upmanship or making someone look bad will benefit no one. Sink your differences and learn to be a team player. This is a key component of keeping your ego in check," says Meenakshi Roy, vice president, human resources, Reliance Broadcast Network.

Reflect On Performance
Take time out to reflect on your professional life regularly, but be honest with yourself while doing so. While it is necessary to be proud of your achievements, don't let it inflate your ego. At the same time, be honest with yourself if things go wrong in an assignment you are handling due to a mistake you have made.
"It is a good lesson for anyone who has earned success, and he needs to remind himself that success is earned and not bestowed," says Sridhar Maturi, head, HR relations, Mahindra Satyam.

Don't Get Obsessed
Most of these opinions do not matter. Rather focus on relationships and opinions of people with who you share mutual respect and friendship. This will enhance efficiency and guide your ego in the right direction, says Anuraag Maini, executive VP, HR and training, with DLF Pramerica Life Insurance.

Ask For Help
Even if you're an extremely experienced professional in your chosen field, you may not be aware of certain developments. "Do not let your ego come in the way of asking a junior colleague for help. Some of the most successful businessmen in the world openly admit to hiring people who are better than they are, when asked about the secret of their organisation's success," says Roy.

Be Humble
Hard work, single-minded focus and sincerity can make you a successful professional, adds Maini. But always be humble about your achievements. Ego affirms one's ability to take charge and keeping a check on it is critical to developing strong organisations, which can achieve sustainable results, says Maturi.

One page from a S/W Engg diary ...

I got this as an e-mail. It felt so true and real that I have posted here...

My feet were getting numb. My arms were getting tired. But I sat there, looking at the monitor, pretending to work. What if I slept off on the keyboard? What would people around me think? Am I not competitive enough. Would another night out hurt. "No it won't." I consoled myself. "Work a little more." I told myself. Images of links between tables and pages from what we call, ETRMs crossed my mind. "Why?" I asked myself. "Why doesn't my mind wander away to the more beautiful things in life?" "Why does it always have to be WORK!!!?"

That was it. I couldn't take it anymore. I pressed the shutdown button on the PC as if to say, "I hate you". As if in reply, it took me twice to shut it down. I kicked my locker and walked out of my cubicle. The security at the reception looked into my eyes sympathetically. I pretended like I am solving problems in my head. As if the world depended on my silly program. As if to justify the fact that the Security needs to respect me. I hated myself. I walked down the corridor towards the lift.

There I was, on the fifth floor. It was 3.30 in the morning. The terrace looked deserted. I loved the feeling. I was all alone. Just me, and the sky and the stars and the early morning breeze. I looked all around. The world looked much beautiful. Somewhere, far away, I could see lights. I presume that must have been another workplace where people like me are working away at their PCs.

I stood at the edge of the terrace. As I looked at the road that ran in front of our office, I slowly kept my palm on the wall. A chill ran down my spine. Tiny droplets of water had formed on the wall, which I touched. I wanted to feel it again. I touched it again. It was the most wonderful feeling. I wondered why I don't do these things often.

I decided to stay there till sunrise. I closed my eyes and waited. Finally, I could see a faint light in the east. Even though we hardly notice, these things do happen. Like sunrise and stuff. I saw the sun rise. As he rose I could see more and more buildings like ours. The breeze had got much stronger. It was like sitting near the window seat of a bus that was moving through some lonely road near a lush paddy field. I got that taste in the air. I got the feel. It was like heaven had met earth.

In the cubicle, I congratulate someone when his SELECT statement works. There I was, all alone, on the terrace, when more important things were happening and I had no one to congratulate. I wanted to cry "Thank you God". "Thank you for giving me this beautiful world to live in." But... the words wouldn't come out. I felt guilty. I knew very well that I would go back in the cubicle once my emotions wore off.

"No" I said. "I am NOT going back there again." I ran down the stairs. I wanted the glass that covers our reception to break and let some of this air in. I rushed into my cubicle and got my bag and stuff. Running out, I did not bother to sign the register. Strangely, my vehicle started with just one kick. I rode my bike quite fast, just to feel the air on my face.

When I reached the road, I realized that I was late. Considering the fact that I was in office since yesterday, I was really really late. The world had moved on. People had spent another night with their families. Kids had spent another day studying for exams. Old folks had spent another night wondering when to dye their hair. Teenagers had spent another night dreaming about their loved ones.

There I was, like a machine coming out of my office building. I saw people taking their morning walks. Some of them jogging. Some of them standing and talking. Some old aunties jogging and talking and laughing, all at the same time. There were newspaper-boys, milk- vendors and what not.

I started feeling out of place. "Was I from another planet or something?" I thought. I was dreaming I guess, a milk-vendor chap on his bicycle nearly hit my bike. "Idiot" I said. Didn't he know I am going home after a tough day? Didn't he know that I am tired, and do not have the energy for such crap? "Wait a minute," I told myself. "Are you doing somebody a favor by staying in the office so long?" "Will this world be a better place if you do that?" "Do you have it in you to buy one meal for that milk-vendor's family?"

YOU CAN'T!!! And that's the truth. You can't do anything except writing pieces of code, which you regard as full of life for reasons known best to you. I broke into tears thinking about my own plight. I hated the fact that I existed. Why was I going through this entire trauma? What was holding me here? The money?. The passion to program?. The feeling that I would be isolated if I didn't work?. I don't know. I am still searching for the answers.

Then, suddenly out of nowhere, images of my family came into my mind. My dad, who had taken care of the family since I remember him. In fact, since I remember anything. My mom who would not have slept even a little bit, since I have not reached home. "I am not alone" I shouted. "I have this beautiful world to live in, with beautiful people in it".

Friends, do go out sometimes. Share your life with the people you love the most. Share your life with the nature. Share it with the wind. Share it with the sun. Share it with the rain. Things much much more important than programming is happening out there. But it won't come for you, you have to go out and find it.