Keep your efforts going

Arrow goes forward only after pulling in to backward.
Bullet goes forward only after pressing the Trigger backward.

Such that.

Every human being will get happy only after facing the difficulties in their life path..
So don't afraid to face your difficulties.

They will push you forward.

- Swami Vivekanand

Just 3 Words !

There are many things that you can do to strengthen your relationships. Often the most effective thing you can do involves saying just three words. When spoken sincerely, these statements often have the power to develop new friendships, deepen old ones and even bring healing to relationships that have soured.

The following three-word phrases can be tools to help develop every relationship.

1. Let me help
Good friends see a need and then try to fill it. When they see a hurt they do what they can to heal it. Without being asked, they jump in and help out.

2. I understand you.
People become closer and enjoy each other more when the other person accepts and understands them. Letting your spouse know - in so many little ways - that you understand them, is one of the most powerful tools for healing your relationship. And this can apply to any relationship.

3. I respect you
Respect is another way of showing love. Respect demonstrates that another person is a true equal. If you talk to your children as if they were adults you will strengthen the bonds and become closer friends. This applies to all interpersonal relationships.

4. I miss you.
Perhaps more marriages could be saved and strengthened if couples simply and sincerely said to each other "I miss you." This powerful affirmation tells partners they are wanted, needed, desired and loved. Consider how important you would feel, if you received an unexpected phone call from your spouse in the middle of your workday, just to say "I miss you."

5. Maybe you're right.
This phrase is very effective in diffusing an argument. The implication when you say "maybe you're right" is the humility of admitting, "maybe I'm wrong". Let's face it. When you have an argument with someone, all you normally do is solidify the other person's point of view. They, or you, will not likely change their position and you run the risk of seriously damaging the relationship between you. Saying "maybe you're right" can open the door to explore the subject more. You may then have the
opportunity to express your view in a way that is understandable to the other person.

6. Please forgive me
Many broken relationships could be restored and healed if people would admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. All of us are vulnerable to faults, foibles and failures. A man should never be ashamed to own up that he has been in the wrong, which is saying, in other words, that he is
wiser today than he was yesterday.

7. I thank you.
Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy. People who enjoy the companionship of good, close friends are those who don't take daily courtesies for granted. They are quick to thank their friends for their many expressions of kindness. On the other hand, people whose circle of friends is severely constricted often do not have the attitude of gratitude.

8. Count on me
A friend is one who walks in when others walk out. Loyalty is an essential ingredient for true friendship. It is the emotional glue that bonds people. Those that are rich in their relationships tend to be steady and true friends. When troubles come, a good friend is there indicating "you can count on me."

9. I'll be there
If you have ever had to call a friend in the middle of the night, to take a sick child to hospital, or when your car has broken down some miles from home, you will know how good it feels to hear the phrase "I'll be there." Being there for another person is the greatest gift we can give. When we are truly present for other people, important things happen to them and us. We are renewed in love and friendship. We are restored emotionally and spiritually. Being there is at the very core of civility.

10. Go for it
We are all unique individuals. Don't try to get your friends to conform to your ideals. Support them in pursuing their interests, no matter how far out they seem to you. God has given everyone dreams, dreams that are unique to that person only. Support and encourage your friends to follow their dreams. Tell them to "go for it."

Avoid following blunders in an Interview

1. “What does your company do?” It is expected that you should be well informed about this before you attend the interview.

2. “My salary requirements are very flexible.” You want to know what a company will pay, and interviewers want to know what you’re willing to take. It’s a negotiation, not a game. It is expected that you should be sure about the salary you want to take. For this you should do some research for the salary ranges being offered by the company for the post your applying. Remember that if you are good, company will not leave you.
Don’t sell yourself short, but ask yourself how much you honestly think you’re worth. Do research about what similar jobs pay and what salaries are like in the region. If a company comes back with too low an offer, you can always try and negotiate up.

3. Be honest. Do not lie if you can’t. If you lie and your are caught, that’s it. Interviewers know you’ll probably exaggerate a little to sell yourself; but don’t cross the line between exaggeration and out-and-out lying.

4. Be yourself, do not try to impersonate anyone else.

5. “Sorry, I don’t know how to do that.” Rather than admitting that you don’t have a specific skill, stress that you’re a fast learner and are excited about the possibility of acquiring new skills. Most companies would rather hire an enthusiastic, smart person who needs to be trained than someone who already has the required skills but isn’t as eager to learn.

6. Don’t be over smart and try to bluff the interviewer. You will be caught for sure. Remember that the interviewer had been in you position sometime in the past.

7. “You see, I just broke up with my boyfriend (or girlfriend)” Even if the interviewer starts getting personal, don’t follow suit. You may think you’re being open and honest, but you’re really just coming across as unprofessional, unfocused, and disrespectful. Keep it businesslike and polite.

8. “What can your company do for me?” Interviewers hate arrogance and selfishness. They want to know why they should hire you. Stress the contributions you can make. Tell them about how your efforts helped previous employers. Don’t start asking about raises, bonuses, and promotions right away.
Remember, you’re the one being interviewed, and while you should use the opportunity to get your questions answered, you shouldn’t make it seem as if you’ll be doing them a favor if they hire you.

9. “I am leaving my job( or I left my job) because the company was like hell and the job was pathetic” Bad-mouthing your previous employer is possibly the dumbest thing you can do during an interview. This gives an impression that you might bad-mouth you future company also if you are not satisfied. Say that you left to look for more responsibility, you wanted greater opportunity for advancement, or you were looking out for a change.

Telephonic Interviews - Points to keep in mind

Phone interviews are becoming more and more common in the job search process. They save the company and the candidate a lot of time. If you are in the job market, it is important to prepare yourself for a phone interview.

1. Schedule it for a quiet time. If you have the opportunity to schedule the time of the phone interview, be sure to schedule it when you know you will be able to give them your full attention. However, in many cases you might not have the opportunity to previously set up the time of the call, so read the tips below to be prepared for that unexpected call.

2. Have your resume next to the phone. Be sure it is the same copy you had sent out to the employer who is calling. Your interviewer will be looking at your resume throughout the interview, and you want to be sure you know exactly what he/she is talking about. It will help make the interview run smoothly if both parties are looking at the same guidelines of your history.

3. Prepare notes. Have prepared answers ready to some basic questions like, “why do you want to work for our company?” or “why should I hire you?” Take advantage of the fact that this is over the phone. Use your notes to help you say exactly what you want to say. It is a good idea to use easy-to-read bullet points so you are not reading it out loud. Pick out areas on your resume that you might want to elaborate on. Remember, so far your resume is the only tool your caller has to know who you are. Sell yourself more than your resume does.

4. Research the company. Make sure you know the company. You should jot down a few things in your notes that you can refer to in case questions that require company knowledge come up. You will be remembered more than another candidate if you show interest and knowledge about their company.

5. Have questions ready. Show your interest in the employer rather than focusing only on yourself. Have a few questions prepared in your notes that you might want to know about. Make the interview a bit more personal and more like a comfortable conversation; ask a question for them here and there.

6. Know your schedule. If your interviewer is interested in setting up an actual face-to-face interview, know what your availability is. The last thing you would want to do is succeed in a phone interview only to tell them to call you back because you are not sure when you can meet them. Chances are, you will not hear from them.

7. Plan a closing. How many times have you thought of something you SHOULD HAVE said AFTER you left an interview? Do not let that happen again. Know that you have said everything you want to say before you get off the phone. Again, write down some notes as to any last things you might want to add or how you might want to close it.

8. Last but not the least, use a speaker phone or Hands free kit if possible. This would keep your hands free and let you shuffle through your notes or write something if required.

9. If you are using mobile for the interview, be sure to be at a place where the signal is strong and clear, so that the voice quality is clear.

What You Want To Be ? Lion OR Monkey

In a poor zoo of India, a lion was frustrated, as he was offered not more than 1 kg meat a day.

The lion thought its prayers were answered when one US Zoo Manager visited the zoo and requested the zoo management to shift the lion to the US Zoo.

The lion was so happy and started thinking of a central A/c environment, a goat or two every day and a US Green Card also.

On its first day after arrival, the lion was offered a big bag, sealed very nicely for breakfast.

The lion opened it quickly but was shocked to see that it contained few bananas.

Then the lion thought that may be they cared too much for him as they were worried about his stomach as he had recently shifted from India.

The next day the same thing happened. On the third day again the same food bag of bananas was delivered.

The lion was so furious, it stopped the delivery boy and blasted at him, 'Don't you know I am the lion...king of the Jungle..., what's wrong with your management?, what nonsense is this?, why are you delivering bananas to me?'

The delivery boy politely said, 'Sir, I know you are the king of the jungle but .. did you know that you have been brought here on a monkey's visa!!!


Better to be a Lion in India than a Monkey elsewhere!

The Unknown Facts

1. Chewing on gum while cutting onions can help a person from stop producing tears. Try it next time you chop onions.
2. To find out if a watermelon is ripe, knock it, and if it sounds hollow then it is ripe
3. Grapes explode when you put them in the microwave.
4. Onions help reduce cholesterol if eaten after a fatty meal

Whatever happens, it happens for your happiness only.

This is the text of the Commencement address by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivered on June 12, 2005.

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, its likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

My second story is about love and loss.

I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation — the Macintosh — a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.

I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.

My third story is about death.

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I'm fine now.

This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope its the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.

Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

7 Career Myths Exposed

Managing your career is not always easy. Suggestions abound that sound good on the surface, but in reality are simply just myths that you should avoid. Here’s 7 career myths you should watch out for:

Myth #1: It’s more important to be liked than to be respected.
NEVER sacrifice respect for likability. While it is important to your career to be liked (after all, no one wants to work with or help a jerk), it’s more important to garner respect. If no one takes you seriously because you’ve focused the bulk of your career on being funny, being the office punching bag, or being the office “yes” person, you will find it extremely difficult to advance your career.

Being liked has no corporate advantage to you or your career. What does this mean? Though it can be scary or difficult to express a differing opinion or to give negative feedback, these are both requirements of being a great leader. Being the leader isn’t always rosy so develop a network of support or validation outside of work, where you can be liked for who you really are.

Myth #2: Recognition is better than rewards.
Rewards, promotions, and recognition all are important in the corporate world, but those who only receive recognition are perceived as “stepped on” or as being “tossed a bone.” Many employees, however, are willing to settle for recognition alone. They are afraid to request raises and promotions when they deserve them and are likely to take on extra work without any extra benefit. One of the key principles of negotiation is to always “ask for a trade off.” Never allow someone to ask you to do something out of the ordinary career wise, without getting something in return.

Keep a notebook handy to jot down any and all accomplishments that you can remember and update it daily! You can also prepare for your salary review by listing in exquisite detail all your work-related accomplishments, then do a little research on what similar careers in your industry earn.
If you do decide to take on extra work without pay, make sure you only accept those projects that will bring you recognition by landing you in front of your boss or your bosses boss. This can be a chess game with you making only the moves that benefit your career.

Myth #3: Conflict is bad for your career.
Don’t be afraid that conflict will ruin your career. In reality, a little bit of conflict can actually be good for it. Some studies suggest that senior executives spend up to 40 percent of the day managing conflict, so this is an essential skill for your career advancement. Take a conflict management course, determine your conflict style and choose your battles carefully.

How you handle things that DON’T go perfectly will say more about you than how you handle things that do. Anyone off the street can manage when everything is going right. It’s the fortitude, judgment, and skills you use during a conflict that will help you advance in your career. Welcome those problems and challenges.

Myth #4: Letting your career “just happen.”
Never let these words come out of your mouth: “My career just happened.” Everything in your life is the result of some sort of choice you made. If you are clear on what your passion is, you must set a career plan in place and define your end-goal. We do this when thinking about the car we want to drive, or the house we want, so why do we just let our “careers just happen?”

Myth #5: The teams needs must reign supreme.
Actually, no one set of needs should overshadow another. There must be a balance between the team and yourself. While being an effective team player is critical in any business, Myth #6 is placing the needs of your team ahead of your own. The company is not your family. Help the team meet its goals, but never forget the fact that you and your career have personal and professional needs that must be met as well.
Never hesitate to ask for what you need.

Myth #6: Playing it safe is the best bet.
The risk takers in an organization often score huge bonus points for their careers. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone to try new things in your career. Forget about making sure “all your ducks are in a row” and don’t worry about being perfect. Make sure you don’t pick “safe” jobs rather than “stretch” jobs. The “stretch” jobs will cause you to grow in ways you never expected.
Playing it safe is not the best way to advance your career!

Myth #7: It isn’t nice to brag.
Learn how to take a compliment and learn how to promote yourself. If you get a compliment from a customer, another department head, or a vendor, make sure your boss knows it — if you receive a praising e-mail, for example, forward it to him or her. For those who feel uncomfortable tooting their own horn, consider it as “updating” people concerning your career accomplishments.